The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-16

times; and If the agitation now going on is not
speedily arrested, matters will grow worse, in
stead of better. The people will FIX the re-
sponsibility where 1t belongs--on the party of
Seward, Sherman, Helper, Greeley and John
Brown.
The Logic or Haskin's Ptstol ON the Floor
OF Observation-Disclosures OF Our DeIibo.
rattve Assemblies.
In the midst Of the momentous discussion
which is now going on all over the Union,
threatening to involve our best and highest in
terests in civil conflict and ruin, the good sense
Of the country is startled and shocked by the
sudden dropping of pistol on the floor Of the
national House of Representatives, during
heated and angry debate.
There is redeeming point in this untoward
event, in the fact that the sense Of propriety
of the members themselves, small as it is, was
awakened by the occurrence, and that it sub
dued instead Of aggravating the heat Of the
moment Mr.. Haskin, the republican member
for Westchester, in the State of New York, who
dropped the weapon, felt the incongruity Of
his position, and explained that he had not
drawn it, but that it dropped by accident from
his pocket The apology may have been salts
factory to the House Of which he is member,
but the country demands something more from
Mr.. HaskiD, and from the republican party,
Of which he is a member. What did Mr..
Haskin with loaded pistol in a delibera-
tive assembly, where representative men
meet to discuss and decide upon our common
affairs as a nation Did he contemplate using
the arguments Of powder and lead TO decide
where the majority stood? Did he suppose
that it would be necessary to exercise or resist
intimidation? Is the republican party pre-
pared to resort to violence and bloodshed on
the floor of Congress as well as on the soil of
the South? We know that Mr.. Hickman vaunts
bis willingness to march and conquer the South
with q handful of republican aboltionists; but
we took this for the vaporing boast Of foolish
braggart who comprehended neither the posi-
ton he occupied nor what is due to the body OF
which he is member and the constituency he
represents.
These indications of bloodthirsty DISPOSE
ton, and willingness to resort to violence,
should awaken the country to the danger of
entrustiDg their national representation to
fanatics and registering blackguards When
we compare the temper, logic and argumenta-
tive ability displayed in the Congresses of
other days with the brutal preparations which
Haskin and the staggering bluster which a
Hickman bring to the discussion of great ma.
tional questions, blush of shame must tinge
the cheek of every citizen of New York and
Pennsylvania, which send these men as their
representative statesmen. They are stain
upon the fair fame of their States, and a blot
upon the institutions which place them in high
position. The principle Of selfgovernment,
which we claim as the proudest boast of this
country, presupposes the gathering in the ma
tional halls Of representative men with equal
rights, who shall calmly deliberate upon the
common interest, and be guided in their de.
cisions by the wishes of majority Where
fore, then, pistols falling from the pockets of
Haskin in debate, and Hickman clustering of
his prowess to march as conqueror from this
point to that? Does it mean that the republi-
can party is determined to carry the brutal and
bloody doctrines of Seward, the cutthroat
teachings Of Helper, and the fanatical ruffian-
ism of John Brown, into Congress?
When Brooks assaulted Sumner after the
close of the session of the day, the black re.
! publican journals howled with simulated
horror at the introduction of brute force into
the Senate chamber. Where now is the
| mandlin Indignation Of the Tribune, the
puffy ire of the Courier, and the malicious
anger Of the Erening Post when one
of their own party Is caught in the
act Of going armed into the assembly
to enforce the doctrines they proclaim? They
are silent now. No horrid phantoms fit before
their vision at the sight of Haskins pistol.
They have not even word of reproach for the
indecent discovery. These facts prove the hol-
lowness Of the virtue they assume, and should
carry conviction to every honest mind of the
necessity Of some other rebuke than that of
partisan prints for these indications of blood
thirsty spirit. They are part and parcel of
the same disposition which is narrowed up and
urged to aggression upon the South by the ia
natical abolition outpourings of Seward, Help
er, Greeley and John Brown, endorsed by the
support of all the republican members of Con-
gress of Sherman for Speaker. We commend
to the calm consideration of the men of sense
in Haskin's and Hickman's districts the reproach
which reflects upon them from the conduct of
their representatives.
The FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW AND OUR PorrcE.-
New York, which owes its great commercial
prosperity to its dealings with all sections of
the Union, has always been remarkable for its