The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-03-17
Religious Views of the Recent TRACED,
~ Washington.

Religious Views of the Recent Tragedy
Ia Washington.
| FROM tho New York Evangelist MarehA
TUX TRAGEDY AT rBE CAPITAL.
Before this paper will come into the hands
OF our readers they will have seen in the
daily press. and have read with horror, the
details Of n shocking tragedy which startled
the city OF Washington last sunday. Phil.
Up Barton Key, the United States District
Attorney for the District Of Columbia, was
shot dead In the street by Daniel f.. Sic.
klcs, member OF Congress from this city
The character Of the parties the place which
WAS the scene of the encounter. the day on
which II took place oil will serve TO fix NJ.
teution on this dreadful deed Mr.. Key
was Nh officer Of the government, and con.
nected with families of tho highest respecta.
bili,y In the ncighboring city OF Baltimore.
lie was u nephew Of Chief Justice fancy
Ills father was the late Francis u. Key. q
lawyer OF Baltimore, who was distinguished
not more by his professional attainments
than by his high character a. nun and
christian. lie wins also known M u writer,
having been the author Of the national song.
The Star Spanglcd Banner" Mr. Sicklss
had been Secretary Of Legation In London,
At tho time Mr.. Buchanan was our Minister
at that Court, and was now u prominent
member Of Congress. The attack was made
IN our national capital. IN the open street,
and near the Presidents mansion. and on
the peaceful Sabbath day. Thus at once
was Gods holy day deiilcd ith brutal pas
SONS, our national legislature was disgraccd
aud the streets OF our capital stained with
blood.
Tho circumstances which lcd 10 this fear.
iul doed only add TO the universal feeling Of
horror While they take from the act the
character Of deliberate murder. by showing
II to have had terrible provocation, they
only make us tara away with ioathiny aud
disgust from tho social corruption which
they reveal. The offence which provoked
this bloody revenge was n scnndalous In.
triguc between Mr.. Key and the wife VI
Mr.. Slcklas guilt which was not the
subject oil mere suspicion, bn' which was
fully proved, and finally confessed Stung
by this sudden revelation, II may well be
Imagined that man Of high spirit should bs
driven 10 the verge Of madness, and when,
after this disclosure. he saw the seducer pass
before his door, aud wave his handkerchief
asa signal for another meeting, IL is not
surprising that bis Impotence Tor revenge
should hurry him beyond control
IL must be confessed that the prOyocstion
was beyond almost any power Of resistance.
ssch wrong Ia doubIy exaspefsting, by
the reflection that il IL one for which tbs
law provides no adequate punishment, I'm
I'll society prcscribes some penalty Tor in
vadlng the saDctity OF snothers home. which
shall be in proportion 10 the cn0rmity OF
the guilt, and until its execution shall be
more swift and certain men will take law
into their own hands Who eau expect
man, whose blood 10 burning with convic.
ton OF household Disgrace 10 wait the slow
process oi the law--to wait for months or
vears-and this time. perhaps, 10 have the
finger Of scorn pointed al him and al last
perhaps TO have the destroyer Of bis
p'aace punished by paltry 1ns 7 No {;
until the sedncsr Ia not only punished, bot
punished in way 10 infict disgraoe upon
him imprisoned dre~~d AZ ielon, put In
the plllory, or 1ubjccted tJ..somii guotninious
punishment which shall brand him ~ dis
bonored nan-such tragedies will occur.
But while such an outrage on ones do
nestle peace may excur . natural violence
and isry, and even 10 some degree pslliate
and extnuste sudden act Of retaliation, IL
by no means jastGe. such decd vs. this Ia
the eye u God this wrctched man ID guilty
Of his brothers blood Men may applaud
bis spirit in taking such savage revenge,
but there 10 another voicr within his ssul.
which answers ~ the voice Of ODD, which
tells him that bis hands are stained with
crime. lie has cent a fellow man n the
bar Of God, and no appreciation Of society,
10 aequ'tal by court, no approval by the
code Of honor, will ever wash away the
bloody stain
When snch horrid tragedies occur, il IL
no, merely the law which il at fault, but 30
eiety ia at fault These foul blotches on the
iso Of society shows tina, there is rottenDesa
beneath. The laws Of honor are utterly
imIotent 10 restrain the passions OF men
Probably mi py who will applaud this hon.
eide are conscious. 10 their Owl souls, that
thsy are guilty Of the very outrage Tor
which they Justify another 10 taking human
life. Tbcy justify this s~ii, revenge, when
they have no principles Of religion add no
sense u honor Ia restrain them from iniilct-
/ inv The same wrong on their ssighbOr or