The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-06-28
RIcHM0ED. vi.

RIcHm0 0ED, IA.
THURSDAY MoRNlNG.-.-... JUNE % 1855
MURDERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Baltimore American has an article on
topic which is attracting notice by the
press in various sections of the United States,
and is the subject of mach comment abroad,
the remarkable frequency Of murders in the
U. States. This fearful condition of things
is attributed by the Patriot partly to certain
peculiarities III the American character and
temperament, and partly to the partial and
imperfect administration of our criminal
code. We cannot assign as the cause of so
many murders social degradation, poverty
and IFS attendant evils, or an Inherent bru-
tality. On the contrary. Americans are an
Intelligent and refined people, and extreme
poversy is of rare occurrence. La the opin-
ion of the Patriot, it is de.aonstrabIy true,
that tout of . high toned and ehivalrous
sense of selfrespect. has arisen this fearful
criminality." 1t might be well to consider
whether Americans have SO much more rea-
son for "a high toned and chivalrous sense
OF self-respect" than any other people, that
they should adopt 9 method of vindicating it
which is known to NO other nation on the
earth. fsa p b.
"Io England" says the Patriot, III you tell q
man be lies, Otherwise call 10 question his psr-
sousl character, he either promptly knocks you
dow with hiI hst or more deliberately appies i1f
protection to the arm OF the law. Ii you return q
the blow. and he kD0ckz cnlrn apai0 a Ytlda
native spirit OF courtesy resrains him from striking
you SO long az you remain PROSTATE; but the me-
ment you rise 10 your fee', he knocks you down
sgsin-i he can-apd then quietly pauses until
you confront him once more Wien you consider
your Tse battered sufficiently, you cry out Enough I
and the battle is over. He coolly puts on his coat
sad walks of, leaving You to bear your bushing
honof' in whatever direction you may think
prOpsr.
In Ireland the cudgel obtains a decided pre-.
terence over the Tat, and, q general rulo, the
preliminary insult is not all necessary TO provoke
its application. Heads are broken and blood nows;
but IL Ia very rarely that life 10 sacrificed In Ger.
many, SIS 10 England natures weapons are the
most prevalent. In the more serious dusls Of the
Burschen, students, the RAP ier indeed 10 used
but it is guarded to within an inch of the point,
snd, therefore, seldom punctures a vital organ.
I'm France, an insult among the pppuiace is suc-
ceeded by an almost interminsble squsbbIe, which
10 followed, ss last resort by huggiDg, wrestling,
and vigorous, indiscriminate use of the fee, and
until the strongest gains The victory. Other ma.
lions have their various modes of setting their pri.
vate disputes; but their aptsgonism mostly ends
10 torrent OF words, and only in rare instances
closes with homicide.
with us Americans a quarrel IL q dangerous
thing, and an insult deadly We neither res sort to
our fists for protection, the law for damages
Ine offensive word is spoken, and Q blow from q
knlfe or bullet from pistol, promptly follows 1t
false sentiment of honor; and a hyper sensi.
tiveness 10 what the world may say an imperfect
appreciation of the value of human life. and de.
nans disregard OF consequences-mingle perhaps,
With vague expectation of escaping uuWhipped
OF Justiee-sE ipstieats to take this barbarous
mode of aveuging insult. An iasult which at.
taches to rs only the more, II the words We have
thus bloodily avenged were true; and which could
never have radically injured rs If they were
FALSE"
Certainly there is no lack of courage or OF
manly spirit among those nations whose "self
respect does not require the use of deadly
weapons, and whose rude native spirit OF
courtesy" I'VE shonld rather call it u real,
noble chivslry,) prevents them from striking
fallen foe. The prevalence of murder in
this country has familiarized our own minds
in degree with the evil, but if we could see
ourselves as the whole civilized world see
US, our ''self.respect' would probably be
somewhat abated. AS the Patriot truly ob.
serves, scarcely journal can be opened tina.
does not come to US freighted with its own
tale of murder; of murder ranging through
all degrees of criminality, from the deliber
ate, premeditated taking of life, and the sud
den stab in the ungovernable heat ofpassion
to the blow so frequently alleged to have
been givon in self-defence. Even now our
eyes rest upon the following paragraph taken
from Southern paper:
Murders are said to have become very frequent
in Mississippi, aud the ciergymen are strenuousy
urging the more rigid enforcement of capital pun.
ishment. The frequency of murder there, howev.
or, is nothing new, for Gov. Foote once remarked.
that for every two days of his term Governor ol
the State. there was murder perpesrated. Socie-
ty seems to be HI a disorderly state, or such q
prevalence of crime could not occur .t