The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-22

ceiy, And whe ware, therefore, ssssd a. danger
Gus beasts are, TO prevent them fiom annoying the
community; and yet the chief magistrate of the
State voluntarily becomes the antagonist of the
courts where these men have been tried, and, set
ting aside the sacred character OF the penal law,
says, in effect, to the murderers, robbers, swim
oilers and others: "It's all farce, and now that
sentence Is past, the play is over, and you can 60
about your business" The old motto, 4" Fiat
justitia ruat cslum," the wisdom Of which used
to be universally acknowledged, is by these ex-
ecutives thrown aside as obsolete and vaueless.
What peculiar arguments have been used to pro-
ducs such soft spots in the hearts of men holding
the pardoning prerogative, within few years,we
cannot conceive 1t is true that in one of our sister
States, here at the North, there was Governor
who was troubled with this same weakness who
could not bear to see his constituents breathing
the foul air OF the State prisons; he, too, found
most agreeable duty IN signing pardons; and
what was most singular in this case, he seemed
to be prospered, for although he entered the gu
bernatoral office as poor as rat, he came out Of
II so rich as to be the envy of many of his less
fortunate companions, who, poor, envious
wretches, used to write down the names of par
doned convicts, and place opposite to them
amounts, large and small, but which, when add
ed together, made up the sum of his riches
but these were poor benighte people, who could
not comprehend the hidden meaning and beauty
of the saying, "virtue is its own reward;'' or
Of ShaAspeare's lines, in which the quality of
mercy is described
90 = 1t is twice blessed,
II blesseth him that gives and him that takes
There xiv sentmenf lizinU lind nf
counterfeitphilanthropy abroad which does more
mischief by a meddlesome interference with
the administration of Justice, than can be ba-
lanced by the good VIII CHI is accomplished in the
reformation of delinquents; and the mawkish
appeals of these associatlonists are, doubtless,
made Cat any rate ostensibly) the excuse on the
part of Governors for pardoning culprts out of
their merited and adjudged confinement. 1t is a
sort of fungus growth of something which is
mistaken for benevolence, and the less the com.
munity experiences of its effects the better
Your regular, professional aw-breaker, is more
business like in his affairs than most persons
suppose. When about to break open house or
burn a store, or waylay traveller, he counts his
chances-frst, of being detected, and secondly,
of escaping punishment in case he should be
taken; and finally, he weighs the punishment it.
self. Against all ofthese he places the proposed
amount to be gained, if he should succeed, and
viewing all with an eye aided by experience in
crime and its contingents, he prosecutes or aban-
dons his enterprise, whichever course seems
warranted by comprehensive view of the proba-
bilties of the case; and his calculations he al
yslncludes the chances of be; NC pardoned We
have often heard this systematic mode of calcu-
| bv,t ~ II, ac
officers of the law, and others whose business
calls them to the investigation Of such matters.
| There is no security except in the certain
ty Of punishment. Let us have mild laws, if
| you please; but let them be administered with
certainty which gives no room for hope to the
offender who de6es them. Let justice, at least,
temper your generosity, Messrs Governors.
RUMoRs OF PEACE WITH MExIco.-The rumors
of peace with Mexico are again revived by the
last intelligence from that quarter, and seem to
have some form and pressure. These rumors
seem to be mixed up with British diplomacy
and British anxiety for a settlement of our
affairs with Mexico, and were conveyed in a
British ship of war to New Orleans.
We have no doubt that the British government
is very anxious for any kind of peace between
the United States and Mexico, so that the
American army may be Withdrawn from that
| country. The possession, or holding, or annex
alton Of Mexico, would be terrible blow to
British supremacy and British capitalists in this
hemisphere The moment our army receded to
defensive liue, would see the British govern
ment taking steps to take possession of Mexico.
For this reason, we trust that no treaty may be
made between the United States and Mexico, but
that annexation may become the permanent
result of the present anomalous condition OF
things. We want no peace with Mexico-no
termination Of hostlities-no withdrawal of our
troops Our Mexican relations are in an excel
lent condition, and may be permitted to shape
themselves, in their future course, without any
difficulty or trouble. In our view, the annexa-
ton Of Mexico is as important and will be as
beneficial, to New York and New England, in
manufacturing and commercial respects as the
annexation OF Louisiana was nearly half GEN.
fury ago. The manufacturers of New England,
and the commerce Of the world, will be more
benefited by holding possession of that country,
! than by any other event that can take place for
the next half century. We are therefore, in favor
of holding on to Mexico, precisely as we have
her at this moment. Let the army spread itself
over the country--let all the mines and the best
/ portions of tina, country be taken possession Of
/ let revenues be collected, and let the whole of
that ignorant and malignant people be set to
/ work, in proper way, under North America
superntendence, and there is no doubt that, in
less than twelve years, the opposition of New
Englsnd will sisk into nothing, and that that
portion of the country will be glad of the annex
at,on of Mexico We frust the President will
agree to no treaty, and that all rumors in regard
to peace are idle and baseless.
England wants Mexico-France may want it !;
but we want no such thing as treaty with
Mexic
| MORE BANKS BREAKING.-We have list OF
] half a dozen hanks in this and nfher States