Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-08-22
Connuuicatton.
FOR THE GAZETTE.

raper, few weeks since, a public atom OF
ne grand Jurors Of this county, concerning
anerlect in the execution Of certain laws,
AID eyincing their determination 70 use
their endesvors thai transgressors should
IN future be noticed, and that the laws
should not be suffered 60 Semain dead let
Ter. The laws II question relate to the CT
servanee Of the sabbath, the regulation Of
licensed houses, 70 profsne swearing, &c.
II cannot be concealed, that there is prev
Alent, open transgressiun Of these laws ;
still. they have not been executed, but Of
tenders are suffered to pass unpuDished
This neglect, in them whose duty It Is TO
execute the laws, or complain OF breaches
ofthem, has probably arisen from an idea,
that these evil practices have become 50
common, and the habits Of many 50 rooted,
that an attempt 20 enforce obedience would
Be vain, and perhaps aggravate the evils,
II this be not the cause, i IS perhaps DIM
cult TO Imagine what excuse tythlngmen,
seiectmen, sheriffs, &c. can iralne Tor them
selves, in neglect OF their duty, and their
eaths Of Office Iftlis be the true reason,
it argues deplorable state Of our civil So
ciety. II vices are so common, and SO deep
y rooted, that the laws must exist only IN
books, and no attempt be made to bring Of
tenders to justice, surely the virtue OF The
people is low indeed, and the situation Of
society alarming.
Let Us examine this plea. and the conse-
.quences Of adopting it. If these who are
placed as guardians Of the laws may neg
lect their duty IN one instance, why not NJ
another, and every instance II they take
no notice Of the transgression Of these laws,
they may IN those cases which more imne-
diately eldanger the property and lives Of
the citizens, and the safety Of tie state.
y this principle be adopted with respect w
crimes comparatively small under similar
circumstances they may refuse to convict
tie thlet and the rJbber, and turn the muir
derer loose upon society And while small
crlmcs are tolerated, we arc fast approach
ing 70 those circumstances where the same
PrInclpie may be applied to more enormous
crimes Besides, how great a temptation
would be required TO persuade men, who
can prevail upon themselves 70 desert their
posts ~ the execution Of these laws, from
the Ic.ea that il IS common, TO extend he
same principle, BY degrees, to more eu0r-
nous crimes, and even 10 The most afro
cIous But admitting That the principle
will not be extended to other crimes. does
not every allowance Of transgression pro-
duce IN the people a contempt Of tile law
It IS Of no consequence TO say, that these
are minor crimes, and may be punished OF
overlooked at pleasure, without any bad
consequence. They have been deemed
crimes Of sufficient magnitude to be forbid
den under heavy penalties in the laws Of
the state and certainly All who are &C
quainted with the exercise Of family author-
lily, or OF any cove nment whatever, know
Of what imp rtanCe and necessity is a strict
adherence to tine rules prescribed All gJv
ernments have found the necessity Of beng
respected, IN order for the security of thcu
authority. and The happiness Of the people
Neglect Of enforcing laws il the written
cade, invariably embOldens offenders, and
produces s want of confidence ii COVE Ill
mant, even among those who are well dis
posed. Ii Is 0f the first consequence there
fore, that good laws should be enforced, <
that those which are found bad ia In. exc
cuaion, 81 ould &c repealed.
Perhaps it viii Be commended, that with
res pect To tire statutes under considerable
officers appointed to attend 10 their obscr, \
ance have a Discretionary power, and may e1
erelse their own private judgment with res
pee to the necessity pr propuety Of pros
ecution. With respect To few Of the
crimes, they must undoubtedly exerc
their own good sense IN determining
whsther a particular case, comes witair
the intention of the law but IN evident
acts Of offence, within their knowledge,
Iothi..E IS left 10 their discretion.
With respect to All individuals entering
complaints, the law bears on a slender reed
individuals have not sufficient inducements
70 render them faithful in complaining OF
offenders. When a man has been robbed,
has lost his property By the thief, or tinds
his character has been tr&Iuced by ca
lHmHiator, he can exert himself TO dett Ct
and appre bend the offender, and evince a
strong attachment TO ,he laws Of his coun-
Try But when his neighbOr profane5 the
sabbath, gets drunk, quarfels, games, sells
liquors coatcary 70 law, &c. he does not feel
hfTlseE Immediately affected either in per-
son, property, or character, and therefore
ieels no immediate interest in executing
The laws. RE sees indeed The public good
intrlnged, and laments, perhaps, that the
Offender Injuries himself.
Is It SAID the crimes Of which we speak
are sDlGll cliaes, and that federation OF
them IS OF little consequence It is ad-
mitted that they are neither robbery nor
murder, but it is asserted that they are des-
uuctive of the good order, peace, happi-
hess, and prosperity Of the community, and
etten productive Of the destruction of The
property and lNes Of the citizens. We
heed not mention the degradation Of char
acter even below the brutes, which man
sustains By drunkenness and profanity We
need not insist OF he degraded and demor-
alzed state Of Tat society, where such VII
'ses prevail. Lcl Us only advert to the eff
ieets Of such viteS In the offenders them.
selves. L he drtt place, one i these vices