The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-10-14
The Late John jenkins Fac,

In the long catalogues Of casualties, outra-
ges, and bloody murders with which the ample
columns Of the Louisville Journal are stored from
week to week, the recent brief announcement
that "John jenkins Esq, editor of the Vicksburg
Sentinel, was killed in street sight, was prob
ably passed over by most Of its thousands of
readers with hardly thought-perhaps with
the brief reflection, how common these things
are in the South! To us they contained one of
the most painful announcements that ever star
tied the quiet tenor Of our daily life. We knew
Mr.. Jenkins well for several years, whilst some
thirteen years ago, We were students together
at Hanover College. Ii seems but yesterday
since We saw him, though we have not met
since, and even now his portly, manly figure,
the bright eye beaming with genius aud kind
ness, and the face reoolent Of fun and wit and
good nature, are wildly before US. Gifted
with rare endowments of genius, taste, and
ready eloeuence, with a sweetness Of temper
which nothing could disturb, and flow Of spir-
its which made him the charm Of every circle,
he was the pride of the College, and almost idol
ised by his llow-students. His talents justifi-
ed the highest expectations as to his future ca.
reer. and would have proved themselves equal
to any station however arduous or exalted Our
paths in life have since been far spart-he re-
turned to his native State, and became, we be-
lieve, practising lawyer. We have heard Of
him since, as distinguishing himself by his elo-
quence in heState Legislature. and subsequent
ly as having become connected with paper, all
of whose editors seem destined TO die violent
death-and now we hear that he has fallen a
victim to the bloody code, and, in the attempt,
slas but too successful. II feared) to take the
life Of fellow-citizen, has been hurried before
the Bar Of the Supreme Judge.
But this melancholy case is but one of thou
sands, and Mr.. Jenkins is not the only victim
Of violence who has left an "amiable wife and
several children" to mourn his pntimely end.
The truth stands staring out on the pages Of
every newspaper that, all over the States where
slavery rules, Human Life is lightly esteemed,
and sacrificed without scruple and without loss
Of character. to the passion, the interest," or the
within of the moment. Professional men, repu-
table farmers and merchants, fathers Of families
in the free States, do not take each others lives
n the streets, or resort 10 the laws of homo rabe
murder. for insults. real or imaginary. As to
the eIuse Of this difference, who doubts mo
ment7 Is itpeculiar to the present year,
EIsren years ago, the Governor Of the State Of
kentucky, in his message to the Legislature
1881 used the following language: "welong
to see the day, when the law will assert rs mai.
esty, and stop the wanton destruction Of life
which almost daily occurs within the jurisdic-
ton Of this Commonw ealth. Men sloughie,
each other rith pc ytecf impunify. A species Of
common law has grown up ia Kentucky, which,
were il written down, would cause her, in civil
ised communities, to be re-christened in derision
the laad Of biosd."
This waseIeven years ago: has the case mend
ed any since7 Let the open, atrocious, and un.
punished murders since, make reply. A mans
life in Kentucky is at the mercy of any desper-
ado Of reputable connexions, who may chose To
take it; for a jury Of noble-hearted Kentscki-
ans would never think Of sending gentleman
TO the gallows or the penitentiary. Fathers.
Mothers! is this the fate for which you destine
your petted darlings, dearer to you than life
And do you wish to have your gray hairs
brought down with sorrow to the grave, as were
recently those of a most respected citizen, glad
to lay down the intolerable burden of life EN-.
Uttered by the agonising Consciousness that
the son of your love had imbrued his hand in
the blood Of his fellow, and was wandering over
the land of his nativity with the brand Of Cain
on his brow and, he'll already In his hearth II
you do not, oh. lilt your remoustrances and
your prayers against the cet,tinuancs, extsn.
sion and Perpetuity now attempted to be given
to this giant wickedness.