The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-04-21

temptations, which acts and temptations
were the direct and natural result Of the
husbands own folly.
In my humble Judgment, founded upon
careful perusal Of the publications in regard
to this affair, Key was not the seducer, but
the seduced, and all this Indignation about
adultery, belongs 10 the head Of the adulte.
ress, and not TO that OF her victim. think
that the deputation Of women who made
sympathetic visit to Sickles' father, might
have been better employed in guarding
their own regulations. would not give
much for the virtue OF a woman that needs
for its preservation the pistol or knife OF
her husband. II is too common blunder
TO attribute oil the censure of such sin TO
the male SEX To suppose that Mr.. Key
sought the seduction OF Teresa Bagioli, sur.
rounded as she was by all that was necossa-
ry for her guard against such advances, and,
moreover, by all that would tend TO discour.
age them, and even prevent the indulgence
Of an intention to make them, without be-
ing first encouraged thereto by the amorous
glances and sighs OF Teresa herself, is To
disregard all experience, and all knowledge
of our human nature. Her subsequent con.
duct, transcendng, as it does, in sensuality,
the most highly wrought pictures Of De
Kock and Sue, proves that she was not on
ly capable Of but prac,iced in, oil the arts
Of seduction.
How man Of Sickles knowledge Of the
world, with such u confession OF his wife, in
writing before him, deliberately and vol
UNFAIRLY made, could ever dream Of re-
gsrding Key as her sedueer, | cannot con
csive. OF course no one who has not been
tried, can say confidently how be would act
under such circumstances. Yet II does
appear to me that his impulse would be to
discard the vile thing from bis house, and
mours, whom she might have thought proper
TO expose. What would be thought Of
person who should seek TO vindicate the
honor ~ of Mary Hall or Kate Hastings,
or any other notorious courtezan, by killing
some one OF their admirers, however nearly
such person might be related to the injured
female' 1t is not likely that the plea Of
insanity would avail him in his defence,
although it might be plsusibly urged that
no sane man would be such a fool, and il the
plea Of insanity in Sickles case is to be sup
ported by an appeal to reason, and not TO
prejudice and unsound public feeling, II had
better be put upon that ground. The most
that can be said OF Key is, that he was
guilty Of yielding to temptation when II was
bis duty az man and Christian 10 resist
it. Far be it from me to extenuate his
fault In the least. But is his pon.resistance
Of the amorous wiles of Teresa To be pun
ished by shooting him down in the street
like dog Apply that punishment as
penalty 10 the conduct OF all men leading The
lives that Sickles and Key have led, and
what carnival Of blood there would be.
Dan Sickles own blood would. long ago,
have moistened the streets OF New York.
had the measure that bc has metcd 10 Key,
been measured TO him.
II the learned < n,lemeD who are en-.
gagged in the prosecution Of Sickles do not
demolish the labored effort Of Mr.. Graham
in opening for the defence, they are unwor.
thy Of the responsible position occupied 10y
them. Although il is probably as good q
speech or argument as the weakness OF the
case Of the defendant in law and common
sense, admitted Of, still il is nothing more
than q tissue OF extravsganty extended
sophstry. II is not an opening Of defence
intended TO be established by proof and al.
tbority, but il is verbose appeal TO false
sympathy. founded upon the fact that such
sympathy has been successfully appalled, 10
Is similar cases before. Mr.. Graham urga
that because A, B and e., father, husband,
and brother, in times past, took upon them
selves the high prerogative OF judges, jurors
and e1ecutioDers. and murdered the iBdivI-
daals whom they supposed to be the ssdu-
GERS OF 9 daughter, wife, OF sister, in viola.
tion Of oil law, and were acquitted by par
Gel Of fools called jury men---that therefore
Dan. Sickles ought 10 be acquitted Of the
charge of having murdered the man whom
his wife has seiuced Mr. Graham is right
10 presuming that az jurors have made asses
Of themselves heretofore 10 such Gases. the
Jury in this case will do likewise, and have
20 doubt il viii 80 turn oot ba, considered
a. m address 10 the intelligence and reasDo
Of rneu. such speech is the nerest trash
Mr.. Graham Alse rSsrts 10 poetry 10 bis
extremity. and makes a quotation from
Othello' How absurd 70 compare Teresa
BagioIi, with the Gentle DesdemonA :"
"a msidss never bold
OF sprb 40 si.ll aud qaist, tia, her rnsis0s.
Blash d at bsrsth;
Who. 10 speaking % her ia,ber of her daiy
10 ber husband ssid.
- Bat here. my husbAnd
And 90 mech duiy a. my mother shov'd
To yos. prsfsrrlny yog before her fsthsr,
H.. ~. -