The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-05-18


Probst in Philadelphia. It is as fol-
lows:
From the Chicago Times. April "a.
A HERO AND HEROIC ACT.
The slaughter Of the Deering fami-
lly, near Philadelphia, rises beyond
the mere crime known as mui der
IL was no common opera ion; IL was
something which may be regarded
as q chef Teupre; and the individual
who executed 1t as one Of the mas
ters.
Why not2 Murder, rs everything
else, depends for its character upon
something besi.les the mere moral
quality which 1t involves. The quail.
tiles which go TO characterize human
action are manifold. Much depends
upon extent, time, circum stances
Putting period TO the lives Of q
good many men Is, as every one
knows, quite different thing from
killing one or two. The former
mounts often into what we call hero
ic, the latter sinks into what Is term
ed crime. The Deering slaughter is
among other slaughters what the
dead OF Waterloo or the Wilderness
sre to the dead of skirmishes. In
its magnitude, it hos n distinctive
quality which gives it an alto reliepo
effect. 1t stands out prominently in
this respect, and thus possesses one
of the features which go far towards
the makeup OF all great actions.
We generally find, in examining
or analyzing those actions called
great, that there is a good deal de-
pending upon what may be called
scarcity. The brilliancy of the dia-
mond does still more to make it val.
liable. SO of actions. One of the
essential qualities of great actions is
rareness, the exceptional character.
In respect to being uncommon and
exceptional, the Deering slaughter is
perfect II has few, if any imitators,
and no rivals.
Regarded as a human action, the
killing OF the Deering family has a
magnitude, a rarcness, an exceptional
character, that places it on a par
with the most distinguished actions
of modern times. Examined beside
battles, ana we know OF none that
will bear comparison with it, unless
il be some of those fought around
Spottsylvania Court House, it has
all the breadth, the sanguinary whole
saleness, of one of those memorable
contests.
II we find this slaughter of this
family to be on a par with heroic ac.
tions and great battles, the individu.
al who did the killing is entitled to a
niche among heroes. He is, so to
speak, the very lieutenant general OF
murderers. lie exhibited all the
qualities OF a great general, or OF
some great generals. He had an OBJ
ject to accomplish. That object was
to obtain $500, and a pair of second
hand cavalry boots. This money
and these boots lay in what might bs
called the Richmond of the murder
er's plans. Between him and the
Richmond lay the Deering family.
Now right here is where the muir
derer showed the possession of such
qualities as are found in our greatest,
or some Of our greatest military lead
ers. lie concluded to take the boots
and money by what may be, or rath.
er what has been called 'attrition.
This 'uttrition' resulted in the killing
of great many people. 1t was 9
success. 1t resulted in the gain by
the assulting party of the Richmond
in which lay boots and money. The
path was doubtless bloody, most
tremendous, and, many people will
think, an unnecessarily bloody one,
hut it was crowned with success. II
the end does not excuse the m, ans
in all cases where success results,
then we have read history to little
purpose.
We have in the murder of the
Deering family, n great act, and in
the murderer a great hero What
shall we do with them? The former
will take its place IN the chronicle of
the heroic; the latter is unassigned
lie needs honors of some sort. 1t
would he sufficient acknowledgment
TO make him n brigadier general of
murderers. A major generalship in
the grades of slaughter would still be
beneath his deserts. We must look
higher. He outranks the regular
and highest of the customary official
distinctions. He should be at the
very least lieutenant general.