The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-04-13
The NickleS Affair.


be regarded by all civilized communities,
and, indeed, by communities not civilized,
| with so much more horror and loathing than
| other crimes the effect of which is far great
er positive injury. is one of those inexpca.
| BILE mysteries which absolutely sci explana-
| tion at defiance. The cold, but somewhat
philosophical solution given by DR.. Johnson,
| will not do Our nature revots at it. John
son says the great injury which results is.
that man may never know his own chill
dren: while the mother necessarily does
This he gives TO show more particularly
that the crime is of greater enormity in
woman. But who of US would weigh this
as reason under circumstances such as
those Sickles was placed in? What man in
the hell of cuckoldom stops 10 make calcu-
latlons so cold as these? The despair which
comes TO the heart of a man who has fondy
and doatlngly loved his wife, vixen he dis
covers that she has defled herself. mol him, ,
is so absolutely blasting that reason has
little or no Influence over his conduct lie
does not stop 10 inquire hOto ii is and for
sooth the inquiry would be a vain one, but
he knows he is ruined; gone, gone, forever !!
But here is the mystery Of mysteries. In
the eye of the world there is no such de-
Element of man. That he should prove I'M
true, may cause great grief 10 his wife; but
a little contTiiion on the part OF the hus-
band, few caresses and few promises
and all is as before. Besides, there is no
finger of scorn pointed at the wife, The
world forgives as complacantly as she, and,
as they say when steamboat blows up, no
blame attaches in any quarter.
This may be wrong but it is nevertheless
fact and this is why the stroke is so with
ering 10 Mrs. Sickles and this is why the
world will think she is as much TO blame as
the unfortunate Key. Ii is argued in the
hearts of all men, that one having no object
upon which to lavish his or her affections,
is less criminal in indulgIng in an iligili-
mate love, than one who has by solemn
vow selected a sole repository for these af-
tccIons. Key was free to love, under re-
slrctions, where Ec listed Mrs Sickes
was foreswom. She was a sealed vile
These are the views Of the world Now,
under these views, how far was Sickles jus.
lifiabIe in killing Key? Or was he justfi-
able al all Thee questions must be consid.
cred in connection with the law on the sub
ject. The law justilies the killing OF anoth-
,t, l,,E,, 4 4
tenders of Sickles ask, if man is justified
in killing another in defence OF his life, is
he not justified in killing that other in de-
fence of that which is dearer than lile-his
honor! The answer is, the killing of Key
could not have been in defence of his hor Or
because Sickes was already dishonored, and
that, necessarily, it mast have been vindic-
tive killing. So much for that part Of the
worlds argument which is based upon the
legal argument. Another popular argu-
ment is, that the law affords no adequate
punishment for offences like this-that the
law places it in the category of ordinary
wrongs, and prescrbes penalty graded
to correspond with the offences with which
ii is classed while in reality ii is the great
est of all wrongs. Now this may be so; but
if so, why should society see proper TO be-
come revolutionary on every separate and
distinct occasion ? why not right ths law, if
it is wrong, instead of c!amoring every ninth
day in favor of pnvae vindcation of what
are properly considered public wrongs !
Why make mockery of Justice and of Law
by !arcically arraigning and trying a man
whom the country; TO which lie goes, on tri
al, have already agreed to acquit?
Until good reason for such conduct, on
the part of "the country" is given, we need
go no farther with the argument. A proper
adherance 10, and vindication of the laws
are all that can save US from anarchy. No
man under mig circumstances, can with safety
10 genuine liberty, take the law in his own
hands. That is such an encroachment upon
public and private rights as every good cti.
zen should frown upon. If the laws are
wrong, let them be amended. Until then,
let them be enforced.
Next week we will give full synopsis OF
the case OF SicEles. His trial is now pro.
crossing. The evidence for the prosecution
closed the 7th inst The next morning Mr.
Graham opened for the defence. The eXcle-
ment continues. We would have given a
synopsis this week, but upon reflection
thought best 10 defer it ull next week, so
that it could be more nearly perfect.
CONSERVATORY JoURNAL.-We have receiv-
ed the first number OF new paper bearing
this title, published in Boston, Mass, devo-
ted 10 establishing Massachusetts Conser.
vatory of Arts, Science, and Historical Rel,
les. This work is ably endorsed by The
names of near ten thousand signers of me.
MORALS 10 the Legislature in aid of this
! plan, the greater portion of whose names
can be seen i'll the first number o. this jour.
nal Every one of these signers has thus
sgnified and declared his or her readiness
10 cooperate in the good work. Conse
quenily it cannot help but succeed. The
Journal is printed upon most excellent pa
per, and presents very crcditable appear
ance. 1t also exhibits considerable ability
in the editorial department.
The New York WEEKLY has found III
way into our sanctum, and probably for