Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-05-06
The Sickles Affair,

Mr.. Sickit8 has been acquitted OF The mu70eI ol
Philip Barton Key as was to have been antlcpated-
No Jury could well have found verdict of guilty in
such case But there two other verdicts yet to be
rendered One by society, the other by conscience 1t
is terrible thing to tole mans life, when be Is de-
fenceless ard surprised 1t is assassination, alike ID
law morals and honor This the rule There Is the
exception The perpetraton of the homicide, under
burst of passion and in defence O! marital right where
the parties are caught i'll yilaghac dellcto Was this
Mr. Sickcs position al the time he shot down Key -
Let the courage OF manhood whether OF society or an
individual, answer. Let conscience answer. Trough
out the CIVILIZED world the form Of redress has been set
ted by the experience Of ages, by the chvary Of uni
versal spirit By the conservative judgment ct social
reason Ec who has not the TO grow cool, and,
when cool the manliuess not to STAY the deenceess, de-
serves not tn have under his charge either male or e-
male honor It Is ray al round, but one tEallty does
not excuse auotieI AL the world over tie universal
verdict stans recorded that the frailty of love IS more
tolersble than tl, fratv Of coardlY vengeance. No
one could or should say 1t would not txcnse Slckes,
vet there Is something i'll the very heart OF hearts which
whispers that the day may when he would prefer
to occupy Barton A. grave. There Is courage i'll
even bearing wrong not 81 or NJ" Hl0f'Hg' pot none
IN assassin, tj.jj,
Another marked feature III The c the "omGn BE-
traucd the {orer Was not enough TO have dishonored
the husband, without di2hOnoring the love which could
alone palIatc redeem Tho wrong 70 him constitute
the excuse for ir@"?
There Is much truth in the above article from the
Charleston Eucn!ng NeilN. 1t assassination But
terworths published statement shows that It was
done as a c.ruaton not au impulse, AMI the conduct
OF Mrs Sickes is rightly characterized The man who
dreams even -IOuch less the who proclans to the
wor!d-lta female honor is only safe under such guar
dianship Us Nh Scke8 counsel did instead Of receiv
ing the pIaudits Of yirtuous and OF the defend
ers of female virtue ought to receive: as h deserves
only their contempt and eXecration A honest Vlru
GUS woman is her own best guardian. If she tails, OF
what use are reyolytrs and stilettos? None: for il
soul if not III fact she is fallen and the who looks
for and treasures an empty caske after the jewel has
been stolen deserves neither cnsket Jewel. A FOL
Mrs. Sickles, she is
The remarks Of Mr. Guild for the prosecution, strike
us as not only manly, but infinitely more respect
full to female virtue and family honor than the rant and
usan of the company of forensic actors who appeared
for the defence We quote from the report:
Mr. Oud denounced the doctrine that the protection o.
the Wifes daughter virtue in this Dstrlct was only
to be found the husbands or the father eVoVer 1n
might do other countries and under other forms oil soce
ty but in Christian community Ike TINS, me DesC saie
guard is found in her own purity and virtue Every woman
can carry that with her, and no seducer or adul
terer can resist it. That is far potent than all eX
ternal safeguards the instinct OF woman teaches mel
whether the intentions of honorable or dlshon
orable and she can stife, not in death but in shame
the unworthy assaults Of the libertine The very mo
nrotecnG female honor sacrifice female honor ant
unless can protect ITSELF it is unworthy OF protection
Where yer has been left alone for the protection OF ne
virtue, and man has kept Tie contamlnatng hahu
violence her for the purpose OF protecon, sn
has risen her purity far above the attacks OF those "h
would destroy her,