Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-11-18
From ihs Rich~nd Republican.
TIE SPREAD OF LAWLESSNESS AND
CRIME

The Louisville Courier presents painful picture oil
the prgfess ii swess scis In Kentucky. II ssss.
They cninusly On the increase; scsrr.ly ken
lucky paper thst does detail OF these
genire and resIsctahe murders, aud the laws ri Men
tuckt have sficscy CT putting ead In hen,
than has the ~histlng nj the rh~ghnsn As he fnfrss
he land, The Courier rciers Ia rrccnt unpfososed
rase IN Jefierse rnny ard also To murder IN BAH,
where the teacher IT school who found II nscsss1fs 10
DISMISS ci his pupils afirrwsrd Killed by
th- young gentleman. Kentucky. ha~esef. Is by no
neans alone. for the papers from all par. OF the unon,
istd daily instances al equal awessuess and nnpuns-
I'd cHme. Neither Nofth South has much sdsan-
ag- IN this respect. II the South send hs
roghbuf Ia sn.aher world with IMMUNITY, fish efitn-
nal ia the NofIh grls verdict 81 acqI,,l III that ~
other strctes with cqcal II is al tins moment
doubtful wheiheresen the woman Rrsell. "ht seems 10
be aeAno" LEGGED asa monster VI nquly, vi" mol escape
UNIV hipt Of justice"
II ia fact. clear and nd.puiabe that justice is moro
prompt. certain and impartial IN the mother country than
in oar own Yet the crinin,l laws, and uode Of trial
the same, and wealth there "a well as here, will com
mand The services Of the ablrs lawyers But neither
wealth nor tank however exalted saves the Eng sh cri
mnal The nch and the poor when hey Hampde
under foot the law meet the fate, though that
fate be the gsll1~s
10 far as the taking Of life is concerned, there IN
many paris of lhls country t~p laws. One Is The law
which proceeds from The legislative authority, and 10
found IN the bpoks That does not lack ceafness precI
sioh OF s"Nefliy IL comes ullN up 10 Inc Jaw oi on,
which ipfbds killing and declares that "huprver shed
deth mars blood. by shall his blood be shed. |,
takes no notice Of mere proyoraton aud insult pefemp
loTlly ofbds man 10 STAY hs fellow except when alta"
uley necessary ior the preservation Of hs own life and
limb, OF tina, ID his kindred. When pefpeiraed without
such neces-y pronuunces the ac, murder and the pen
ally death
Bui then, there exists another law much more power
full and which The child has learned before lie Is
bic to read the letter Of the statute 1t The law of pub
lie opinion. According tn this law. killing i. excusabe
not only IN defence o life and limb but OF honor. and In
retaliation fr insult whether by sp,orh blow. The
who strikes another with his clcnchcd hand my be
slam. That ind goiy deserves death Yet he who nst
only strikes but aciuslIy kills. regarded deserving
lesser punishment II IL obvious that while public sent
nent redress Of injured honor by the sword the
sword " III bs used.
One or other 81 these conflicting l,ws ought 10 be
rendered. The existing law Of the land should be either
enforced oNpnngcd Ii the latter, 1t would be- we'll for
future Legislators 10 FIRM their criminal codes IN harno
with public sentiment and ascertain and define with
precision what kind aud Of provoca,on will
rant resort to deadly weapons At present. ihe author
ities upon this subject somewhat vague and cnira
dietary, each man deciding for himself and acting
ding 10 his own private Judgment. by htile legislative
industry and sc-lmnalion, killing might hcnceorth be-
c nducied scientifically. and courts and jurcs be saved
tho necessity of those legal discussions with which
their time and patience consumed.
The principal objection to this course is that it will
be .omc~ hal old fashioned very considerable distance
behind the times and partake largely II the spirit ofdark
ages. The same objection however lies against the ex
ising Practice, by preserving the present laws. our
counlr, men are nuaying not only the civilized woda
gsinst them but convclng themselves AZ wore pu Of
their own mouths