The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-16
What ore We Coming To!

This question is asked IN sorrow and
anxiety, by the Cincinnati Gdsette, in view
of the foul enurmities which have lately dis
grsccd that city, and deflcd its Courts oi
Justice. The Gazette says:
What ore we coming to! Precisely what
we are coming TO cannot be told 80 easily. |
We know things are in very bad way, aud
that they are daily getting worse and worse,
but where we shall halt in our downward
course, no one can tell. 1t may be less DIFF
ficut to check up this rapid descent, much
less stop, until we reach the lowest depths Of
degradation and crime, and our men and po-
men shall feel the necessity OF reform. Not
day passes but some new crime or disgusting
vice, or some new scene of disorder, violence,
robbery, and blooshed is heralded in news
papers, as evidence, not of our improvement
under the new Constitution und our new Of
fcers, but of an increase in the amount and
enormity OF crime. Not Of an increase in
the number of capable, efficient and faithful
public officers, but on the contrary, an in
crease in the number Of those who are too
vicious to restrain their own propensity to
violate not only the rules Of propriety, but of
law. Even Judge is in our midst-the sole
Judge of the Criminal Court.-e!ected but a
short time since by an overwhelming majority
of the voters, who, while in Court, hestates
not to violate the acknowledged rules which
have heretofore regulated the conduct of
those who have filled Judicial stations, and to
so conduct himself as to bring the Courts and
Judges into contempt. Beyond that, though
especially declared by law conservator of
the peace, himself is found engaging in street
brawls, making cowardly assaults on peace
able citizens, coming up in the public market
space behind their backs and without warn
ing, telling them to the ground.
We see Judge opening his own Court in
the morning, and charging the Grand Jury tt
inquire into and present oil persons guilty o
offences in the county-then adjourning tha
Court TO take his place in the criminal bo!
of the Police Court, where, failing to shufl
of his responsibility for violating the law, h
is tried, convicted and sentenced for hi
violence and assault and battery to pay
fine, and to stand committed until the fine
costs be paid What are we coming to! |
the Court where the Criminal Judge is trct
and during the progress of his trial, we wi
ness such Gcmonstrati ons of applause an
disapproba,on as the case took turn one wa
or the o,hcr-of such applause as is heard I
boisterous meetings, and in circuses an
Theatres, and, in addition, we witness col
tinued disturbance, which the Court is powe
less to suppress. We see in Court, durin
the trial, member of the bar, who is quietl
standing for..want OF a seat, pcrcmptoriy
insultingly ordered outside of the bar. the
seized by the collar and dragged across th
foor, and then struck, IN the presence Of II
Court, Jy an officer, tciM a colt!
Well may we ask, what are we coming t.
when such shameless proceedings are enac
cd in our courts Of Justice, in broad dayl!gh
in the face of the whole people. II thes
things are tolerated in this community, :her
is cause for alarn--strong reason for cnqui'
ing, what are we coming to! and unless tn
people arise in their majesty and strength
and good men band themselves together
put an end to these outrages and this misru
and to bring into power men of better moral
of higher character, Of more extensive leg
attainment, and Of frmer integrity-me
better suited to discharge properly the hg
and important duties confded to them. "
need not look for improvement in the publ
morals for we ought not to expect any. "
have sowed the wind, and should expect
reap the whirlwind.