The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-03-31
svupethy for Crlminais.


Public opinion ia relation to criminals, has, oil
late years. undergone change, which omens badly
for the peace and security Of society hereafter The
murderer-he who had shed his brothers blood de.
hbcrately and inexcusably-was, few years ago
looked upon in the true light He was considered
villain. and no longer fit to associate with his fel
low men, but wretch who should be disposed Of as
quickly az possible, and snatched out of the midst
of the society whose fundamental laws he had
broken, by committing the deepest and darkes,
crime that man could commit Indeed, he was
thought little about, in former times that the only
warrant the Sheriff had for his execution. was a
marginal note made by the Judge before whom he
tried, and affixed to the prisoners name on the
calendar. containing only three words, and those
abbrevia'ed-sns per col sxspendatur per collmm.
"Let him be hanged by the neck"
The sun Of heaven, too, never rhone second
time on the criminal after a conviction of his most
foul and unnatural crime crime at which nature
starts and revolrs
Such is the light in which a murderer was Looked
upon formerly. But. rempora matanfsr-and for the
worse, we believe, in This resp.ct-a murderer,
nova days, is looked upon ss hero. A man that
will enter his neighbours houae and murde him
and his wife, in the silent hours of the night, imme-
distely is accounted an object of public sympathy,
and every influence is brought to bear upon his
escaping the penalty which society imposes upon the
crime.
We have seen a number of instances Of this kind
within few years; and this mawklsh feeling is on
the increase until, short time, villain may muir.
der with impuniiy. No doubt the very form Of trial
will be abandoned. As it is, man possessed of
money or Influential friends, can count beforehand
on the amount of influence he can make available
in creating sympathy and excitement in his favor
and il he have enough he can act accordingly, and
deprive his intended victim of life with IMMUNITY.
But wo to HIM, il he have not the necessary influence
II he have not, the law will be faithfully carried out
II he be an unfortunate devil, and kill man who
had seduced his wife, and deprived him forever of
the joys and comforts Of his home-destroyed the
domestic ties and affections, without which life is
blank-if he do this, and have no influential friends
or money to back him, he will certainly be convict
ed; and, as in the case Of the unfortunate Eager
the word will be per co., II, on the other hand,
man has the means of creating false sympathy
In his favor. he can watch and dog the villain who
has seduced his sister, ave. and that for days. shoot
him down like dog, as he iswhile he is attempting
to escape; and when his trial is finished although the
facts may have been proved, the murderer will 70
unpublished by the verdict of twelve men, who have
sworn to decide according to the evidence IN the
case
This is nothing but mockery OF all law and all
Justice-and will sooner or later be visited with re.
trlbuon. Let this feeling Of sympathy be carried
TO greater extent, it WILL no doubt, and society
will not be safe. Our citizens in sefdefence, will
have to convert their dwellings into arsenas They
will be obliged to have rifles and muskets by their
bedsides, before they lie down without mourning
the risk ofbeing murdered in the night by some viii
lain, f,om motives Of gain or revenge. They will be
obliged to associate together for the greater security
numbers will afford In fine, the organization OF so.
ciety will be endangered for one of Its organic laws
Will be futile, and wretches who break all human
and Divine laws are converted into demicods,
instead OF expialing their vlllany on the gal
lows. Such will undoubtedly be the dreadful
consequences, If this mawkish sensbity of taking
the lite Of murderer is allowed to increase and the
consequent uncertainty ofpunishment.
This fanatical sympathy for criminals is not con-
fined TO murders. We see it stated that a society
s about to be organised at the East for the purpose
OF affordlng aid end counsel to discharged convics
to sympa,hise with law breakers, and find en-
poyment for them, after they shall have suffered
the justpenaty for which they were imprisoned.-
What can this be but misguided sympathy or fana-
tcism and is 1t not holding out an inducement for
the commission Of crime1 Those who are 90 anxi-
GUS for the future welfare of men who have shown
themselves unfit to live in society, will pass by the
poor honest man, who never committed crime
Would 1t not be better for such mock philan thro.
plsts to organise society to promote the welfare OF
the honest poor-those whose crime alone is power
~! Would not their sy mpahy, OF which they pretend
TO have superintendent share, be better EN- ployed
10 indlng work for the struggling laborer and me-
ohaoic, who is borne down by poverty, and he and
his family probably suffering the pains Of famine
unheeded and unregarded Surely there ia room
and objects enough for well directed eympathy IN
all the large cities Of country, without hunting
after discharged convicts and murderers, and mis-.
applying it on them, while the poor but honest man
10 allowed to die without regret.
Away with such fanaticism and humbug. Search
out the widow and the orphan-minister TO their
wants il you have the means; but for Heavens sake,
let those who infringe the law suffer the penalty the
law prescribes
WHO IS TO BIZ OUR NEXT MAYOR This is "a
ther an important question at this time. |. is said
that Mr. Havemeyer will not again accept the Office.
or even the nomination from his party, and the
wings have been very uncertain in their movement.
feeling inclined to settle upon Justice Taylor, who Is
half wing, fourth native, and fourth city reform.
Ia case he does not receive the nomination from
them, they may join the natives and vote for Mr..
Cozzens, who is capital candidate, and keeps an
American House. But what are the democrats 70
do! They have in their ranks several good men,
such as Havemeyer, Coddington, &c and il the
former will not again run, why not try the latter