The daily gazette., 1878-03-26
MARCH goth. 1878.

committee mad upon the Governor in
behalf of the negroes, Chambers and
Collins, on Thursday last. But 1t had
not its origin as like acts of supposed
humanity, have heretofore, mostly
had with the Friends. A veiled lady
called upon ene of the counsel interest
ed, and her movements were mysterious
in the extreme. Her movements no
doubt awakened feelings in other ladies
equally susceptible of emotion, who
hoped to achieve something in the line
of notoriety in some sort allied with
Christian charity, of which they have
been more remarkable for lacking than
possessing. The object of the yelled
lady was primarily to induce Kate Smith
to PROSTATE herself before the Governor,
and plead the respite of the prisoners
She doubtless had her prompters but the
yelled lady, although she received letters
of introduction, did not complete her de-
sign, it may be she was too late; or it
may be that Kate Smith was not found
TO be the willing tool they thought her AT
all events she did not accompany the
Committee, and instead of being the
chief intercessor, Doctor Kane,
loomed up in that capacity, if we are to
give credit to three of the papers of the
city that had expressed great horror AT
the "respOnsibillty which devolved upon
the Governor-one "that is too awful
for man to take upon himself volun-
tarily."What this gentleman presented to
the Goyernor-what his document con-
tanned or what he said, is no where
shown; even the organ that has "blowed
hot" and "blowed cold" on the question
the vituperative gas house of the corpo-
rationis silent. But nevertheless theHsrold
is afforded, from this respectable COM
mittee, with its respectable spokesman,
a backing in its masked attacks upon the
Governor that savors more of enmity
than honest criticism. We maintain that
there was no just cause for this self-con-
stituted committee going to Middletown;
and they themselves assent to this-and
perhaps they now see how ridiculous
they appear to the public-how trifiing the
intellect must be that allows itself to be
carried away from all propriety by rumors
their own organ now represents as mon
strous absurdities.
"These facts, after discovered, raised Z
doubt" says the Herald. But there wer,
no facts touching the vital question
And where was this doubt raised? No
in the mind of Governor Cochran, bu
probably in the minds of a few men sucl
as were influenced to go to Middletown
like poor urchin with his hands in IN.
empty pockets, searching where othel
boys had played hoping to find a marble
TO help him to a game. But those who
started in the game had let fall only sucl
as were of clay, that crumbled 1T til,
touch, "These facts were Just wha
were not, and are not. The Herald talk
of facts but the committee had none
and even the yelled lady was not to b
found, neither was Mrs. Kate Smith, tn
poor little white woman who had bee
dragged as she believed to her excel
ton ground-a light delicate woman, nc
weighing over about 80 pounds. But sh
was poor and had drunken HUSBAND
Alas how hard it is-what crime it is I
be poor; even virtue is not to be will
held, by such, when the "boss" negr
with his whip appears upon the groun
to demand it or life. We tell the Heral
that Pennsylvania people are not yet t
assume the government of Delawar,
lnt
assumption. We quote from the Heralc
"Ihese facts, after discovered, raised
doLDt-that doubt demanded the inte
position Of the Governors perogativ,
until 1t had been judicially decided"
The Governor had not a doubt of I'll
guilt of the prisoners; neither had IL
Attorney General, who had visited Phi
adelphia and Kate Smith and her hu
band, and gone over the whole groun
where the counsel of the negroes ha
sought for proof; neither had the Seer
tary Of State any doubts. The Govern,
therefore could do nothing in the cas-
The Heraid again says
"Going over the ground to point out Il
locaIty OF the struggle, and altering to
up All night to hear arguments again
the quit OF the negroes, was not with
the functions of the Executive, and
advisers ought to have admonished hi
against tins grave mistake. The Cove
nor Is on the brink OF trouble"
That is certainly the end of the whist
The Herdlds argument has certainly o
down to very fine point. And the col
mittee; what must they think since,
review the "lccation of the struppl,
and "hear arguments against the guilt
the negroes, was not within the functio
of the Executive" OF course then
was to obey the order of those who W,
without facts.
The Governor has made no "mistak
He is not con the brink of trouble"
has acted wisely and with great disc
ton. The people of all classes of soc
are ready to compliment him, as a fiji
considerate Executive, whose actions
this case from beginning to end hi
raised him far above the estimation Il
held him in before he was subjected
the criticism to which he has, with Z
Democratic manliness, and so much
rpInplicba6 orooa p,,I,,;..aI