The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-30
ELom the Boston Courier

From the Boston Courier.
The annexed remarks from the London Morning
POST are such as any common observer must feel TO
be appropriate Their application is as proper here as
in England, though, perhaps 1t might be ibeous to
discriminate and apply
1--WE have often though that the tenderness shown
by our law presumed criminals is as injurious as It
is inconsistent and excessive. A miserable beggar, a
petty rioter the wretch who steals loaf to satisfy the
cravings of his hunger, is roughly seized closely ex-
amined, and severely punished; meanwhile the plain
common sense of our mobs, if not of our magisracy,
has pted the offender, and perhaps acquitted him.
But let some apparent murderer be caught Almost IN
The fragrant deed of his arocity; let him, to the best
of all human belief have killed, dsemboweled, and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS him have united the GOODNESS OF con-
summate craft the boldes daring of iniquliy and
s,raiphtway (though the generous crowd may boot
and hunt the wretch with yelling execraton) he finds
in law and lawyers refuge defenders, and apoogists
Tenderly and considerably is he cautioned on no ac
count to crminae himself; he is exhorted even by
Judges, to withdraw the honest and truthful plea of
ispuilty--now the only amends which SUCH an one
can make 10 the outraged laws of God and man
he is defended to the desperate length of malg
nant accusation of the innocent, by learned men,
whose aim it is to pervert justice and screen the gull
ty. he is lodged and tended with more circumstance
Of outward comfort and consideration than he proba-
bv has ever experienced in all his life before and If,
notwithstanding the ingenuity Of his advocates, and
the merciful CLOSES of his judge, simple minded
British Jury capiay convict him, and, he Is handed
over to the execuoner, he still finds pious gentlemen
ready to weep him in his CELL and titled danes to
send him white cameas to wear upon his heart when
he is hanng.
Now what IS the necessary consequence of this, but
n mighty or fearfully influential premium crime
And what is its radical cause but the absurd ndul-
oence wherewth law greets the favored, because
tbe atrocious criminals Upon what principle OF
nronriety. or of natural justice, should seeming
murderer not be-we will not say sternly but even
kindly-catechsed and for his very souls sake coun-
seIled to confess his guilt Why should the morale
Of evidence be so thoroughly lost sight of and male
factor who is ready acknowledge crime, or unable
when Questioned to conceal it, account be lis
tened to- lest he may do his precious life irreparabe
harm Il is not agonzed repentance or incidental
disclosure that makes the cuprit his own execu-
TONER hut his crime that has preceded it, it is not
the weak avowing tongue, but The bold and bloody
hand
We are unwilling to allude specifically to the name
any recent maefactor in connection with these PLAIN
remarks for, in the absence alike of hindered vo-
untary confession and of incomplete legal evidence
we " oud not prejudge--that is, prejudice a case
Rut we do desire to exclam against any further ex-
bbiton of that morbid tenderness wherewith all per-
sons are sure to be treated if only they are accused
Of enormities more than usually disgusting; and we
snecapy protest against that foolish, however an
Gent rule in our criminal law, which discourages
and rejects the senderest approach to confession,
while Il has sacrificed many an innocent victim to the
uncertainty Of evidence, supported by nothing more
safe than outward clrcums'antiah