Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-24
F,ona, c'ari5ae,Tla- A15s.al. Of m.ya.

From NE Char'9ussrfH, Adrseais Of Afayo
ALBEMARLE SUPERIOR COURT-CASE
OF SEMMES.
The recognz1nce OF bail entered into by Semmes.
who shot the late Professor Davis Of the V,rcini,
Cn7e'si'y having been forfeited by the failure Of
me prisoner to appear ut the ast term Of the Supe
ror Court OF this coUn, md legal proceeding nav.
ing been Instituted 70 suhjcci his bail in this State
70 The amount Of the fecognzance VIC learn that al
the present term Of the Count. the whole nmouo, nr
The ba; bond has been paid into Court, by rela
i've Z" Seume- from Georgia, amounting N nc sum
OF iesn'y-iiV' thousand dollars. Thu, hss been ne -.
tnaNy cOnsummute', what was fpfeseen nnd IRE
dicted by many when the apullc8'isn f,r bel ,y,s
granted ~ the General Court. deed mos, f,ul
ana injurious has beer nerp tr4ted upo1 N. rers,o
~ nm u0a'med 1ni IN II nd'ng ci' 70, in he per.
'orm1ncc NJ high official duty-Iha cri,,,' b,.
been Identified md arraignsd-tte otn-re p,ovet IN
The satisfaction Of three preliminary fr.i,ir-s rbo
love'lg1ief ~, and when the chance of esetee d,
the prisoner s reduced ~ the iis, cast Of the die
jlsnfo M the l'~s IRE about IN virdicpt. Their
oflmsto popular respec. md 70 fdenro 10 the ri.tt
eous punishment of the of. nje- the r.vV., ~
~snth and social rank IS invoked learning an
tiehts Of eloquent and able counsel are brought uf
Der lIbnie, ond aided by warm and urgeot appe,l.
70 the sympa ny and humanity n the minister's Of
justice these miseulding influences suffice 10 one
,i'e me enlargement oi the culptirom rrison, who
has now escaped with impunity Thus The ,t,,,,
arm Of the law is para yzed--the hand Of iu.,ice
Ernsps only the poor alternative Of p,cuniarv fine
which, be u ever great, the law cefta .nlv mover
ueHgned 70 bc received as the price Of blood or tb,
piuiui penalty ~ crime.
without any Zee ings r resentment towards ,le
accused Than that which the crime is natur,liv cal
cno'ed To excite, We do deeply deplore tie W ,iod
WhlcH by his escape has been nn cfed unon tb-
pence and safety Of society and tho conteoop, viii
I which the majesty Of the law is thus visited Tbi,
occurrence is we'll calculated 10 produce deem AMI
abiding nl icnce upon the minds of TIE minister's
! ~ INC law, and I'll DO bcnehcially felt We hone In
B future occasions Of q similar character When MI
ever happen in our country that ono charged " itI
/ m unjust or ruthless Punishment We boiicv,
we may answer nsUcr. The annals Of crime. H.
our land, wo believe, do not oToid on instance o
Iuch on mlorn1iy, for such il would be indeed. Tn,
INe'hs ana fe3,foin.s, tho numerous defencss nnt
Sa', guards whci the wisdom and humanity q
'y ~" nave devised for the safety of the indivi
uu' w criminal trial are more thar sufficient r.,
ms security, and become bot too olten the ve,v i,
sfumonis BY which the guilty eqcapc. while ,b
innocent nre always unharmsd III, bie,o,y q
criminal trials IN our State, particularly within m
cent years affords too many Illustrations. n NJ,
causic hut just criticism Of the moralisi who com
pared criminal laws 70 cobwcbs. whose almsv 10
s'fainls caught the TUE Giss whilst the lqrgsr on,
broke through
Il i'hiighly propable that the fr,quen, recurrence
lNy Of such De inquonces rs this in which IA
sumy ore allowed to escape, under the speciou
pfeieNl Of security by hail, will lead 10 Tevis,o
aho amendment OF our statutes IN regard 10 tina
branch Of our criminal code bv which MOI. -
sofous measure Of restraint would be rrsieJ on, +,
.uendsn-o contamination which we doub, M
/ society. " VIC V7S' interests