Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-12-13
BLOOD.
This is an era of blood. Nota week passes

This is an era of blood. Not week passes,
even in the young State of Michigan, that does
not chronicle through its local press some mur-
derous assault upon human life, more or less
successful, according to circumstances This
state of things is horrible, and the very worst
feature it oil is, that the very familiarity which
results from the frequent recurrence OF acts OF
violence, breeds an Indifference towards the
whole subject.
Look at the circumstances Of the late murder
in Shiawassee county; of the brutal murder OF
Mrs. Foster, in Oakland county; of the man, in
October, near Pontiac, for small sum OF mon
ey; the murderous assault upon the man and
boy, left for dead in Wards office, on Tuesday
night; Of the late murders in Saginaw, Branch,
Hillsdale, Alegan, and other counties of this
State, and are not thinking men reminded that
some cause, traceable to inefficient laws are con-
ducive of this state of things? We are comp-
ing, with the aid of the respective prosecuting
attorneys and clerks of the different counties OF
the Lower Peninsula, statement showing the
amount Of aggravated crime by violence for the
past year; which, although it will be almost nec-
essarily t,inasmuch as very many offend
ers escape with impunity, will we think, never
theess, serve to attract the earnest attention OF
the Legislature.
One thing should be done at once, it seems to
us, and that thing is to reinstate upon the Stat
ute Book the death penalty for murder. Mich
igan now has, by the favor Of God thro' the ex-
ertions of true men, n body of public servants in
the House and Senate, who have not received
their election thither, by catering to GRIMM
ais or fawning upon those who live by rapine,
blood or theft; but who, on the contrary,
have been placed in power despite Of the gen.
era and united effort of those classes Of men,
and we doubt not, for our own part, and will
not doubt, unless dire conviction drives us to it,
will, with grim determinaton and fearless re-
gard for the manifest needs of the State, stand
up boldly and persistently for that policy
which will tend, at least, towards saving the life
Of the citizen from the club and knife of the mid.
night murderer, and the daylight brawler and as
sassin.
Let US take the instance of Foster, of Oak
land county-the account of whose offense was
published in the papers of the city day or two
since. He returned from California 10 meet a
wife, who, as we were yesterday informed by a
neighbor and man ofcharacter, had passed her
time industrously in his absence without sim
gle word spoken against her, giving no offence
or ground for scandal, but with careful hand
keeping the household together, and with anx-
ious heart waiting for the returning footsteps
of him to whom she had plighted her faith
He came at last, after long absence, and the
meeting was all that two loving hearts could
WISH But shortly after his return, some mis-
chievous tattler aware of his jealous disposition,
whispered some insinuations Of the falsity of his
wife during his ABSENCE and, without waiting
for an explanation, he took his knife and struck
her to the heart. His doom should be death, if
ever death was deserved for mortal act; yet
demagogues have said that he shall make short
visit to States Prison, where he shall be well fed
and clothed, and otherwise cared for, being pun
ished with just enough light labor to keep him
in health, and at the end of year or two, or as
soon as demagogues and sycophants can regain
their power that he shall be pardoned and let
loose to find a new wife.
We, Of course, have no dictation to give, but
we hope to be enabled to present such facts as
will induce body of the majority to act with
out fear or favor, to adopt such laws and to take
such measures as will tender some slender secu-
rity to the citizen for the life which God has CIV
en- him. Detroit Inquirer.