The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-12-28
THE RECENT FRAUD.

in their Consequences, as to form, as il
were, fitting climax to the long series of
breaches of trust, forgeres and embezzle-
meni, which have Of late years succeeded
each other with frightfu rapidity, have "a
wakened feeling calculated, we hope, to
lead 10 beneficial consequences. Hereto
fore it has been TOO much the fashion 10 hush
up such affairs-to pass them over lightly.
The press was content with bare allusion
lit referred to facts as briefly as possible,
but with mawkish sensibHity "refrained
from comments"-the public shrugged
their shoulders and wondered-"who
would have thought it!-and the sufferers
were left TO digest their losses as they
might There seemed to be general un-
derstanding in the community that offences
upon the large scale should be bern with
that "sIanding and connections" or some
other extraneous influence, should inyaria-
bly inlerpose as a shield, and the natural
consequences Of such false benevolence are
now before us. Forgeries, sporting with
trust and the betrayal of confidence, have
gone on from bad TO worse with acceleraling
Iapidity, until at last, Philadelphia a place
boasling of her character and integrity, can
furnish quite as large list of such crimes
as any other city in ,he Union.
Ithas been given out, though we cannot
assent TO the conclusion, that our laws are
insufficient to punish the generally Of these
offences If this really be the lact,--fur
we must confess that we doubLit-wo must
have speedy and effective legislation to Sc
cure the punishment Of offenders. Our
statutes are severe enough upon the ragged
miserable wretch who stands trembling at
the bar of the Criminal Court for stealing to
the value OF few cents to sustain life--lhe
poor, the debased, and the !riendIess are
sure of punishment for their small aberra-
tons from the line Of honestv--deeds which
in1ict the slightest possible inconveniences
upon society are visited with retrIbulon
aud the larceny of a few sticks of wood, a
hat or cloak, sends the offender to toll,
for months; perhaps years. in the peEiten-
tiary. This is doubtless ecessary-!here
is no sound objection to it; hut the people
now demand enactments that shall secure
equal justice, or if possible, make the most
striking examples of those who sin almost
without temptation none in fact which
does not aggravale their offence and it is
hoped that the legislature will at the earlies!
moment devote their attention TO this i'm
portanl subiect-that breaches of trust IN
volving pecuniary losses, whether public
or private--whelher the work of the agent
of an individual Of a state officer, or of the
managers of banking Institutions, may be
punishable as felony o; the deepest die, if
indeed it he the case that they are not so at
present.
The public are weared with the record of
sentences against the petty rogues of the
time, when they look over the list in vain
to see what fate is awarded to the man who
has deprived thousands Of their hard earned
means of support--who has stripped or
phans, widows, and old men of the little
property upon which they relied 10 sustain
themselves in hard world. They see
that single case Of purishmen, under such
circums stances--ihaL Of Dyolt--is to be re-
garded more in the light of an accident than
anything else, and they feel that, until the
lot of this individual is the sure consequence
Of frauds of an analogous character, there
can be no safety to indyiduals-no check
to the torrent of extravaganza and cor,up-
lion which seems TO have spread its poison
every where. Even in instances which
are brought by some means or other nnder
The notice of our Courts, there too often
appears TO be disposition, ballying and de-
lay, to yield TO the old system OF afordiug
mpunty, or chances Of escape.
Il was evident that at last there must be a
change. The mortal sense of lhe cOmmu-
nifty, however relaxed be the effects o
speculation, extravaganza, and the gam
bling character which business has Of late
assumed, is now we trust, regaining il!
wholesome tone under the influence Of ex
perlence and suffering and as it is evident
that if honor and honesty furnish no safe
guards, we must by legislative means have
those Which will be operative. A few Sc
, we're examples, and a convicion of the un
erring certainty Of punishment purify tn
atmosphere, and aid in the restoration OF ;
} sounder state of things PennSyiUuniGH.
!, gz.zgsE-zsz sa.slslE-@
, A Speaker eiecied.-Mr. HUNTER @
! Virginia, it will be perceived from our Con
S gressional report is elected Speaker of tn
4 House of Representatives. MIR. Hunte
i has never acted with the Nothern uVhigs
e and his avowed political principles are i
- J;raot oopHici ,,ith tba;re o., oyar,, 30; -,