The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-04-02
From the BardstOwn lKy.l Gazette. !
THE WASHINGTON TRAGEDY. =

From the BardstOwn (Ky.) Gazette.
THE WASHINGTON TRAGEDY
We copy into our columns to-day from
the New York Times extracts from a detailsi Y
ed account Of this monrnful story Of shame
and crime Considered in all its aspects, it I
is one Of the saddest tragedies it has ever
been our painful duty to record. Its melan-
choly interest is greatly enhanced by the
fact that all the parties concerned in it,
moved in the highest circles Of Washington
society.
Philip Barton Key was the son Of the dis>
tiuguished Francis Key, (whose honored
name will live as long as the immortal
national anthem, of which lie was the author,
shall thrill the hearts Of his countrymen.
Mr. Key was lawyer of high and increas-
ing reputation. He was fitted by nature
land by requirements to tread with honor
the highest walks Of his profession, He was
10 the full bloom Of his manhood, with
brilliant prospects and high hopes in his
heart. But, alas for these He defled
the bed of husband, and terrible was his
penalty. His brilliant prospects are all dis
sipated now and his high hopes are gone
out in the starless night Of the grave.
In an evil hour he strayed from honor's
path, and committed an offence forbidden
both by the laws of God and man. And
4 summary, indeed, was his retribution. What
Il an impressive warning should his horrible
fate be to that beast Of prey, the heartless,
i self centred seducer;- that envenomed
!, human serpent, who crdwls into the bosom
! of the happy home, breathing death upon
jail that is sweet and beautiful in domestic
!. life-who selects the light, the comfort, the
lovely ornament, the perpetual JOY, the sOite,
the mother IF that home, and fastening his
baleful eyes upon her, charms her to his foul
; and deadly embrace. To all such the fate
Of the unfortunate Key should be whole
some lesson. But our sadness is deepened
! when we turn from the dead to the living -
from the slain to the slayer. When we
$ think Of him, the frenzied avenger, r,-hnn
!, the betrayed, the heart broken him, the
! ! wronged beyond all reparation; him, whose
a life is darkened eyermore BY sorrow and de
Z SPAR; when We think Of him, our hearts are
! flled With the deepest pity. What can be
! more saddening than to contemplate tbs
ruined sorIoxer as he is,--thc proud mau
f stricken to the earth by the eruelest of mis-.
J fortunesY
! Gifted, ambitious, powerful in debate, de-
termlned in purpose, he was already promi
: nent among the leaders of the Democratic
] party, and gave promise Of a Brilliant an
$ useful career as statesman. Thatcateer i;
most probably ended forever The undont
/ husband will dream no more Of glory
: What, to him, are times short-liyed honori
IS nowg She, the cherished, the tenderly
\ loved, the frail aud fallen one, cannot shar.
them. All the houors an admiring nation
! ! might lavish upon him could not cure hi
grisf The tenderest yet the strongest tie
that bound him to life are sundered. 1t i
j his fate TO suffer and be desolatc. The wifi
] he idolized has fallen land the blood Of be
y partner ID guilt is upon his hands. We ar
! mot one Of these who hasten to condemn hin
Z without mercy, for taking the life Of th
& defler Of his house. That killing was bu
"a poor aud imperfect ayeugement OF tn
is greatest wrong husband can suffer. Il can
it not restore happiness to his dark and desc
if late home. It canBot purify his pollute
! wife. It cannot cure bis heart.aehe. Th
1i taking away Of fellowman' s life is rarel
ii excusable except in self defence but wa
v there ever case in which it was more ex
i cusable than in thisy But an hour befor
J. he committed the bloody deed, if we ar
correctly informed, he had heard the haI
e rowing tale Of guilt and iufamy from til
}, lips Of the guilty and infamlzcd wife |
d utter agony he walks to his window an
Al what does he behold I The gay destroyer (
IS las happiness vaUing HE concerted sigls'
Moi assignaiionl Had be been an asge
/. would it not have ihfuriated himS He W;
&c human, it demonized him and, in a fert
es esparoxyism Of wrath and revenge, be sic
i. the man who dishouored and ruined hin
Z. and the world viii excuse him.
s But what shall we say of the poor, RUNE
b woman. Wretched, desolate, hopeless, ute
4 ", aud oh how remoFscfnl mast she b
lylShc knows that BY her fatal lapse from II
i tue she has blasted the happiness and q
be fortunes Of husband BY whom she vi
passiooately loved n)r can she feel gull
10 less Of the blood Of her paramour. III
he ordinary sorrows which fall to the lot
ng humanity can be aothing to the life lcl
ssIaaony she IS doomed to suffer. All Of
81 have our griefs and disappointments. No
q are exempt. All Of US have our carkii
y. cares which more or less etabitter our live
y but who can have any adequate concepti