Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-12

altar the result Of n malicious mindg Human laws did not
shield Us In defending all our rights. Dur legal system nIi
not reach the case Of certain wrongs which sometimes be'ah
m-u When they do not, We have u right tn throw ourselves
OH our Instincts, the law OF nature, ~ protect US. IL Is
only the Law Of nature that allows a man To defend himself
against an attack. The law comedies that social laws must
Weld nj times to these Instincts which are planted In the
human breast by nature. To u certain extent. natures
law, vrr- our protection; and In those cases the great
council chamber oi the heavens was the Po~erifof whence
that law j. TO come.
lie Insured II a man -hould not be as safe ngains, the
adult-rer as the burglar. Yet he was Justified In Staying
the burglar who entered hi lss-c. In This District there
had been provided no protection against the adulterer. and
the result Was that the citizen was thrown on he law o;
,rlf,i The law, hy not rro'iiiiis i"r ms great
crime. LEFT II, 4, every man to protect himself: AMI there
VA, nothing revolutionary III IL. We might assume That
when n right l., given rs the Law Of God, even when
40, expressed by human law, tn exercise tha' Hehl WAS ao'-
Ing on the principle Of seli-deience.
iva. u more aggravated crime surely 10 enter ones
house as ALI aiulter-r, than 10 do 50 IL 4 burglar. IL s"ci'
~ has not protected you in the enjoyment ~ % ~
il l. proof that society deyolyrd on You the nght u lrosect
II yourself To The extent "i hiliiiE. l. uc'rnn "Ie
against its violation, l. acting on the principle OF 'ei''de,
fence. II you can blamelessiy Kill In defence "' !Vu'ss''
under human law, under the divine law you can mus de-
fend your family against such an offence. not provided i"F
hy human law. II will be said that hy u civil action u man
could defend himself asains, the adnl,erer. But where was
the husband whose wounds could he .taunched 10y The di''y
money u his ~ife's srducrr
Mr.. Graham then proceeded. In a mastery and elaborate
style. to point out the rnormiiy Of the adu!terers sin, quot
up the subject OF the statco Mr.. Sickles' mind at the time
he slew hey, con;eudlns that he labored under an insanity
o! the will, brought oil by the great prOvoca;iSn he hal
received. lie WAS still arguing this point when the hour for
adjournment arrived, and he took III, seat. having spoken
for four hours and u half, with powerful eject Oh the ra-t
audience, most Of whom had stood m tip,or during the
whole time.
Prior TO the adjournment the District Attorney rose 20
ask formal permission that the Jury should have the priNi.
lcge on the next day of walking on, under proper superv!-
sion.
Tie Court a.scnted.
Mr.. Stanton then suggested tia; the jury might be allow l
20 attend church OH the morrow.
Judge Crawford said he himself was I church.golng man:
but, In view u the fact tina, The jury belonged TO different
denominations, and would also In leaving church be liable 20
csmr In contact with many persons, though; il no! proper
10 act upon the suggestion.
The jury were then conducted 20 their quarters, the pri.
sonrr was remanLed, and the colr; adjourned.