The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-03-16
The washington Tragedy.

We are not surprised that the persistent at
taeks of a portion of the public press upon
Mr.. SIcKLEs since the tragedy of Sunday, the
9th of February, have awakened a counter
! sentiment in other quarters. The Cincinnati
Daily Times, of the 4th of March, speaking
of the New York Euentng Post, and designa-
ting 1t as one of the "most ably conducted pa
! pers in the United States" adds that its t'per-
sistent and violent assaults upon Hon. DANIEL
} e. SICKLEs will not tend, by any means, to en-
large the muster roll of its friends" The Post
"should remember" says the Times, "that it is
not SIcKLEs, but society, that is interested in
the Washington tragedy" 1t is conceded
that Mr.. SICKLEs, during his active public
life, has been compelled to antagonize many
formidable influences. He is a man of posi-
tive character, persevering in the accomplish
ment of his designs, of untiring industry and
uncommon ability, and it is natural that he
should have made many unforgiving enemies
and yet it is highly creditable to him and to a
large number of his adversaries, that up to this
moment hehas received the warmest testimonials
from friend and foe, including not merely those
who have opposed him in his own party, but
many who have strongly differed frem him all
their lives; in significant connection with which
we may recall the voluntary judgment, in his
behalf, of a number of the religious papers OF
the country. We make all due allowance for
the shock which this sad event has given to So
c;ety-for the sudden grief which has fallen
upon the numerous connexions of Mr.. KEY,
and upon the extended circle in which he
moved, including MANY who have been most
devotedly attached to Mr.. SICKLEs; and we
can sympathize with much of the feeling which
has been awakened in behalf of the three fam
lies that have been plunged into mourning
But that 1t can subserve any good purpose to
recall the past life of Mr.. KEY, or that of Mrs.
SIcKLEs, or that of Nr. SICKLEs, we utterly
deny. Certain it is that the attempt to make
Mr.. SICKLEs chiefly responsible, and to hold
him up before the community as an infamous
man, upon fabrications too monstrous for ere
dence,l can only succeed by elevating the
wrong he was forced to punish, as above the
laws, and as worthy of the support Of a Chris
tian and moral community: And is this to be
desired !?
Let US admit, as we most cheerfnlly do, that
up to the catastrophe of the 9th ultimo, Mr..
KEY was enc of the most popular young men
in Washington, and that up to the same period
of time the hapless lady whose name has be-
come so sadly associated twith his, was an ac-
cepted favorite in the fashionable circles of
that gay and attractive metropolis. It is equal
ly clear that if they were esteemed, Mr.. SICK
himself was, in his turn, greatly honored
admired. He lavished upon his wife not
only the most ehdearing affections, but constant
and costly marks of the pride he felt in her.
himself struggled to a high position,
through many years of conflict with c~alumny, I
he was looking forward to a future in which he
might be of service to his State, and prove him S
self worthy of the confidence Of all parties.- /
of his young wife. happy in the admira- {
ion she elected from others, and assured that 4
she saw in his increasing influence an ~instinc-
i've necessity TO keep within the bounds of {
,ropriety, he could not have enforced a rigid i
nd ~eigilant restraint upon her without draw Il
ng upon himself the ready censure of those n
Who, in the city of Washington, will not dis "
between the easy and enchanting II
and pleasures of high life and the a
and cnylous suspicion and scandal WHICH O
90 frequently attend upon and punish such in W
.ulgences. The only son of wealthy parents, al
a lucrative practice in his profession a
n the city of New York, and thus supplied n
nth abundant means to maintain an elegant
nd expensive establishment, he felt proud in
cstowing upon his wife every advantage a
rom her early years he had been her admirer, II
although her name, as it now appears, was m
onnected with questionable rumors before the tr
tie event, the position which she had attained NJ
him induced many gladly to disregard :
1ese rumors, who are now only too glad to re-
we them. Those who have seen Mr.. SICK
Es in his own household, and who have no. ,
ced his devotion to his wife, need not be re-
minded how easy it was 10 blind such a man
the faults of one he tenderly loved and St
lose who have observed the frank and gener-
US Intercourse which subsisted between him N
nd the unfortunate KEY, need not be recalled ~
a sense of the heightened and gallant bear Al
g of the former. :,
Much that has been suggested by this trag- 90
ly is true, and we respond to it. The eager
ess which men and women manifest to obtain La
mission into what IS known as good society"
in Washington city, and the conse- 70
lent neglect of the sterling virtues of do ST.
este life-the appetite for display, and the
necessity for large expenditures Of
oney-these are evils which cannot be too Sc
on abated, and too severely denounced. The sh'
sson taught in the death of poor KEY, while 1e'
: think it might have been averted,. and 60.
(for the sake of his four helpless chill n h
en-, and his aged and dying mothGr) we deep all
deplore it, will be productive of good in an ses
her respect. 1t will teach those who should abe
t an example to be more careful Of their de- apn
in what is known as "high life" 1t "
II admonish educated men and women of the Yor
niger to themselves, and to those who are the
ly too glad to initiate them, of forgetting On
restraints which, however agreeable such
may be to them, must produce a 7
rvest of remorse in after years. We, who -
in the habit Of reading over the reeking
tails of vice and crime as they daily come to
ht-vo;ces, as they are, from those who G .
We no advantages of education-should re- n
lhper tudU every such uepTaFlty is mucn -
to be forgotten than an offence commit por
AGAINST Con and man NV +bose wbo +rood tien
shining paths of prosperity and of power.
Z let US take care that IN cr1tlclslng the in
ID (Which, bold and sudden as it was, no 10.
n who .counsels his own heart can but ac- all
was inevitable we do not set an Will
er example which may give the rein to IL RRen
ana make the marriage vows as Off
Sc as dicers' oaths.-Phi1adephia Press. L
The "No More Free State Party"
What man is there that don't remember the
.ners extended across the streets Of our cit an
and TONS by the Republicans in 1856, and
RED in their PROFESSIONS; in flaming letters
No No~e Sidne Sta p Those banners II