The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-12

California.
From the Alta California, Aiach4
The COURTS AND THE pEopLn-t has long been eus
tomary the Parliament Of Great Britain for the major
ity when the OF the ministers have become
Objectionable that they cannot support them to pass
resolution expressing want of confidence in the
monaIchs advisers. A leading recommendation of the
ministry defeated is looked upon by that body
misakeabe indication OF want OF confidence. Another
result usually follows such an act Of the Parliament
The ministry resign their positions, and thus give the
head OF the nation the opportunity OF forming ne cab
net, who carry with them into the exercise of their
duties the confidence the sympahies and the respect Of
me people, and especially OF the legislative department OF
the government
lar position towards our people as do the British minis
Try towards Parliament after a OF csnsure and il
Their officers possess tenth part Of the dignity, self
respect. and patriotism which usually predOminate in
British counses, they will al resign There be
neither decency nor honor in holding offices after
the almoslay, the unanimous condemnation passed upon
Them and Their administration OF the laws BY the
elgn people. With one consent the people have taken
ias their own hands The adjudication ol law aud pscr,
tribunals. And why has the community come to this
concluslon Simply because courts, instead of being
terror 10 evidoers, have proved themselves the pro-
ecoIs to villains and thus encouagers Of crime This
IS a hard accusation, but II IL true.
There can be no doubt that in California five hundred
murders have been committed And yet with enactcnts
defining the crime OF murder and ahxng the penalty of
death for the crime, on our books, not single
offence has been punished by these courts. Every muir
derer who has passed through the mummery OF an ex.
animation trial has been lei loose upon society again.
with the endorsement of the court upon his character
that he is not guilty Thus he has been made
coin of the community, while before he was at best but
bogus in pubic belief, even ii suspicion alone rested
upon him. Courts have thus gendered crime by nour-
sng the criminal 1t will not do to tell people that
this utter mpuny has been the result Of causes beyond
the courts control No one will believe ii, no one
ought to believe it, simply because il is false, and the
people know il to be false.
Trials have been postponed upon the most frivolous
III
delay is equivalent to mistria acquittance. No
witness be retained sufficiently long to be used when
the trial occurs Our readers call to mind instances
enough to prove our assertion These postponements
and qubbllngs. rifngs with justice and sacrifice Of all
decency, have made all penalties a nuty, all trials
farce, all law mock and reprsach, and nearly all the
Judges and large portion OF the bar objects OF thorough
distrus, not OF heartfelt execraon The people feel
their confidence in law and order, their safety, their pro-
ectlon their rights, have been sacrificed by sci Of un
prnciped who have by c0nnvance OF the most dis
reputable character stood between the criminal and the
gaows. rather than where they should have slood-be-
tween the criminal and the community.
The result has been seen and felt. There is no mis-
take about IT, The people, outraged beyond endurance,
have calmly, not with not, denounced the pseudo imbod
iments OF law and order caed administrators OF Justice
There not PARTICLE OF respect felt for the o-
OF the courts Ii they bold 10 their Offices, they
will do II at the expense OF all decent respect for public
opinion and their own dignity and to the entire prevention
OF wholesome administration of the laws BY good and
efficient whom the people Will be certain TO put in
their places If they will bu, vacate them Their conun-
uance ofhce can be oil no prActc2l gOOu. lOcy are
in public estimation beyond all hope OF ever
reganing the confidence and respect oil an outraged COM
munity 1 ta1. .5t t.. HlsI las ! ~
be done. by the lax and wicked Of sung over
crme through quibbes and hair splitting, Ignorance and
sel6shness. The people call upon them now TO make
The citizens OF this city no less lovers OF law
and ORDER OF and legal processes than they have
ever been. II is part OF Their creed. And they will
gladly hail the rs possible chance oil ,estfyng this faith
BY electing whom they believe be honest and
lable 10 The places filed for particle OF good by
hose who never command respect enough 10 give
heir position any weight or influence.
Our peope have thus far acted with much decency
.arnestness in this matter. As soon as men in whom
hey have confidence appointed to try the crmlnas,
hey adjourned peaceably as they had assembled II
thirst for blood which aciuates them, but rev.
.rence OF right and justice, and deep-rooed conviction
hat they get either through present lnstiu
ions. They will have no rihng-they will submit TO
no useless delay They know that the only chance OF
me ting punishment to crime is % stem OF legal ad-
Indication which shall be, like the country, quick aad
effective.
We therefore call upon our legislature TO
aid and TO our representation from this city parc.
uarly appeal Their constituents ask OF them and ex-
pect iron them immediate ejort to perfect aud pass
for us a code OF laws suited 10 peculiar condition
one which neither judges nor iuries nor the bar can
triHe with We for this city criminal courts in
sion every day, and without the power oil IostPoning
trial beyond very moderate time. In case an
absolute necessity existed for longer delay, let the
power grant il be deposited and guarded that II
cannot be abused. We must have strngen, laws-must
have firm, honest, and stern men 10 administer hemor
mohs riots and lynch Law will become the order OF the
law and the palladium OF our safety be lost forever We
do not advocate lynch law Wel-reguaied conffs, in
,esen, Iures learned and honest judges administering
well digesied code. what city and State requre
more perhaps than any other State in the Union And
when our legislature shall give us such-wheh can
do and should do imnediaely--our people will be found
not only willing give all necessary confidence, adhe-
son aud support 10 them bat viii hail them hxrba
gers OF better day We appeal TO our Legislature,
the part OF suffering and abused community, 10 come 10
our relief