Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-07-12
Securifx of P.r.a,,

One of the most crying evils of the day, per-
haps the very worst within lea III the law. i:
the disregard OF personal Security. The papers
all over the Union, habitually TEEN with account:
of assaults and batteries, the most audacious and
brutal outrages and dnprovoked attacks upon in.
dividuals. The records of punishment. in con-.
parison, are as one ~ a thousand. and OF Those
upon whom any punishment is inflicted it is usu.
ally light rather to incite than to deter and
of even these few, majority, large majority
are speedily pardoned and let loose on society,
and we habitually see the same party repeatedly
taken up, imprisoned, and pardoned, again and a.
gain.
The punishment for stealing an old shoe, or old
clothes, or even morsel of bread to avert starva-
ton, is long and severe imprisonment, and is u
sually most vigorously enforced, and the parties
allowed to serve out their full time. But for as
saults, alike wholly unprovoked and brutal and
dangerous, we constantly see inflicted the slight
punishment of fine of few dollars and costs
Where is the person who would not rather be
robbed of almost anything rather than be knocked
down, trampled upon, and beaten to ajelly. The
revolving and disgusting offence. besides the dan
ger to life and limb, and the sufferings it inicls,
carries with it such sense of degradation, that
any one who will shoot down, like dog, any one
thus making an attack. will be justified by any
jury and by public opinion. 1t is fate most
richly deserved and the world is well rid OF a
human hyena. But people generally are not pre-
pared thus summarily and deservingly to punish
such villains.
We had a! one time intended 10 collect and
publish LIST Of assaults and the responsibility 10
which the guilty parties were held, but we found
that the records OF single year would make
large volume.
There is no evil in the country which calls SO
imperatively for prompt and efficient legislation
everywhere, providing the most severe penalties
for pers NAL assaults. and excluding from the ex
ecutives tie right Of pardon.
The horrible extent and frequency Of rowdyism
can only be ouelled by the severest punishment
in every case. We have seen sentence PASSED
upon a party for an assault alike villainous, un-
provoked, and brutal. OF triling fine and COST
Ne were al nust ten.n,ed to offer the scoundrel
twice the amount of the fine imposed, to wayhy
and assault the Judge precisely as he had done 10
he party for assaulting whom ne had been SEN
fenced. We WISHED to see hcw the Judge would
consider the matter. when the man should say 10
him, after having beaten him almost to death.
that as his honor had fixed the price for Just such
an assault at the few dollars fine he had Imposed,
he thought he would continue to indulge in the
luxury Of beating men, while it could be done at
50 cheap rate.
We wish we could induce the press every
to take up this question OF predominant evil and
make the person Of every citizen at least as sa
cred from outrage, as is his old shoe from theft.
The list OF outrageous attacks by rowdies upon
persons passing indscriminately, without provo
cation or cause, before having seen the parties Is
daily incr asng.'
The person Of every citizen should be sacred,
and projected by laws alike efficient in the exact
ment and in the enforcement.
Whoever attacks another does so at his peril,
and it is better that ten be shot dead il the at
tempt than that the person of citizen be desecra-
ted by brutal utrage.-WaSlins Ton Sentinel.