Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-08

<s"ns Nte Oreans Bee 81 .1pr0xS.
The msih are burdsned With the records Of vii.
sn'es pespssrsssd in every corner ofthe land. The
Pseest appotts for the rehearsal OF tales Of crime
cosed TO safety by narratives OF the most henous
ouences against the Law, and ever ard anon comes
gospnic description Of an expiration on the gall
'oN dished up IN most approved keeping with the
@ taste that take. delight in such reeas.
,ne general fund Of criminal incidents the city
o. New Orleans has furnished of late, more tina
ner lus' quota. Not day uanspires without some
snockine development, and scarcely night passes
ou. me morning unfolds some dreadful deed perpe-
.ateu IN the silence thereof. FIRES have been so
frequent late To warrant the belief that the city
Is infested with incendiaries. Robberies arc COM
m"ted IN mid day. Swindlcrs and pickpockets
mong inc places OF general resort, and the penal
oocke' IS blaekencd over with ranging in tur-
p.uoe hon pe'i, larceny to brutal violence upon
the person of child.
Recent disclosures have implicated persons, here
'olore above suspicion, in embczzIemen,s Of large
sums OF money; and the sudden absconding VI in
oVouais, respectfully connected and ot good report,
unoer circumstances that leave question Of their
oeihg concerned in extensive breach<s OF trust has
oewildered the good people ofths s,y, who ale seen
squsos, each morning at the corners OF the Streets
speeuiatng upon what the day may bring forth. A
moral blight seems To have fallen society; law
mas lost It's terrors and religion its sanctions. Pub.
TIC reprooation and the good mans scorn, Il would
seem, are not now dreadful things. The restraints
~hich were once omnipotent TO prevent crime, are
no longer heedcd.-The nation appears 10 be strick.
en- with hardness Of heart.
why Is thisi Would 1t be arguing too curious
" 10 trace these denq uenc es To political causes,-
many a time have we endeavored to demonstrate
inc oaneu influence Of official turptude upon pri-
vste morals and often predicted the present state
W social depravation as natural consequence of
.ne lattnd'nar'an ethics of pubic employees. The
morals OF no people can long withstand the force Of
omeal corruption; and above all others are the ci-
uzens OF republic susceptible to the conasion Of
crime IN nigh places. The personal qualities Of
those IN power are eStolled by those who promoted
'hem 10 Office, and the excuses set up Tor known
aueasances and stout denial Of suspected fraud III
tehu 10 weaken popular abhorrence Of tolerated
wees In republic the practices of high function.
aries should conform to the siardard 81 good citizen
SNIP and just as far the line of strict proby is
uepar ed from, does the authority of government
sanction the commission of evil. Perhaps no one
act has made more terrible havoc of public virtue
man substituting for the old republican ca,echism,
rs he honest, is he capabls?" the inquiry ais he
an active electoneerer7 Honesty and capacity lost
'her eeauiy IN the eyes OF men, when they were
no longer recommendations to public confidence
ihey were troublesome virtues and inlereIed with
ones advancement. The fist fruits of this polni-
cal bunder was the mos, appalling deterioration of
ofhcia prohlty, and social integrity has at length
oeen undermined by the Influence of high example.
what else could result from the known comm.
vance OF Mr. Woodbury. at peculaiions-the know
', ~ w "n'SH YVES drought nome 10 him Public
ieis"iters were allowed to 90 unwhipped of justice,
ana not unrequently rolled in their carriages (the
purchase of oEime) by the honest citizen who had
before ms eye an example of successful vlainy that
might disgust him with the homely virtues that kept
him poor.
When the government refused TO stamp the brand
OF niamy upon the plundcrer of the peoples purse,
the people began 10 think that It was not very dis
reputable TO thIevo and when treasury robbers were
seen peramhuatng the streets in perfect security
dressed IN fine raiment, thievins got 10 be respec
table. It's known fact, that led dela.catIon,
and The lmpuni,y OF the defalters SO benumbed the
'ensio'ics OF the public that thief was respected
Ia proportion 20 the magnitude of his deprcja,ons
upon the vaults OF the government. Could this
state OF things long eSis, without corrupting the
minds OF society," What else could il end I'm but
mat state OF morals which has converted the news
papers OF the day into Newgate calendars1
i he public must look 20 Washington Civ for A
reform tn the distribution of Offices and n vigorous
prosecution OF every deflul;er the first step ne
,esSary TO retrieve the character OF the country-
virtue ana capacity should be rewarded, and crime
visited with eon6Isn punishment. Thieves should
oe treated as huc; and no excuse be allowed TO ius-
NY ROBBERY. The brand of infImy should burn
deep into The bone Of every peculator's forehead-
! ne country should he purged by fire and sword.
Let no exalted rascal escape. The Penitentlary is
oereit OF IT'S charms as long single official felon
5 without us walls. Let the councils of the nation
be regulated by a high sense OF moral obligation.
and all the evils which sprung from base and yena
administration OF affIirs will shortly disapnenr
That consumTaied, the people can look back upon
ihe abyss they have escaped and forward that thew
iii not into the like again.