The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-04-09

meat b healthy, such proeeeunss may possaeays =
special cases be equitable and saiutary; but cor
rupt community, = one temporarily mislsd BY
passion, or BY dscspsivs array Of circumstances,
WIN Often do eross injustice even 70 individuais-
The Sensrdl consequences Of such Irregularities
must be always evil and that continually and In
ersasinsly; they destroy that respect for law
which q the only safe anchor amid social Ind po-
atical storms. The God Of nkture has implanted
in our hearts hatred Of strocious crimes, which,
II they escape Judicial punishment. sometimes be-
come violent enough to prompt ifreeuiar and sum
mary executions. But. such encroaehment once
tolerated, Judge Lynch. true to the instincts Of
bis vocation win soon extend his Jurisdiction Into
every criminal ease which sxcites the passions Of
his constituents, the multitude.
But lawlessness IL exhibited, not only in extra.
judicial executions, but even more in the acquittal
Of many clearly guilty, either through . morbid
sympathy, or from causes more unworthy. we
are told by Cicero, that, in his days was gene
rally believed that . pecuniosus homo could 90
any thing with impunity. There are sometimes
indications that this assertion may be realized IN
our own experience Bribery Is perhaps seldom
used but constant recourse Is had to other means
equally easy and efiicacious.
Money will employ advocates Of reputation and
ability, who not only discharge their professional
duties zealously and faithfully, but are active
agents In manufacturing public opinion. Their IN
genuity and influence can effect much In that way;
but even the public press. which ought ever to be
the guardian of law has sometimes, prhaps &n-
consciously become a powerful auxiliary in de-
festing public justice. The press usually denoun
ees manifest and atrocious criminals nay. inssan.
ces have not been wanting, in. which, fearing
court might not deem the evidence sufficient to
crafty the popular thirst for blood it has dared to
threaten those whose solemn oaths forbade them
to 60 one inch beyond the ,av and the testimony.
When, on the other hand. justice has been gross.
ly outraged by the acquittal or pardon of the
guilty, the lolessness of the age il less striking
" evinced in the means of redress adopted. In
ssead of submitting quietly, and from principle to
the decision of the proper tribunals, even when
apparently wrong too many at once resort to
threats denunciation and violence. When muir
derer escapes the condgn punishment, believed to
be due to his crime, community. which, under
other circumstances, might very possibly have re-
joced In the acquittal of equally guilty, seeks
to right one wrong by another by denouncng the
jurors and counsel, even assauiting the latter
Such proceedings remind US forcibly and mourn.
fully of the condition of Rome, where for 30 many
years. the violence of the plebeians was counter.
acted by the violence of the patricians, and the
abuse Of power In one officer could only be check
ed BY the opposite abuse in another.
We must seek redress for illegal violence by ap
peal to legal tribunals, and those general princi
plies which ought not to bend to men or to circum-
stances, and the redress, thus peacefully sought,
must be invariably granted The sense of security
derived from the protection of the laws. is fast
giving place 10 insecurity and distrust. Men must
have protection, and if they cannot get it from the
constituted guardians of the law they will seek it
in individual or combined prowess; they will exc.
CUTE with the pistol the bowie knife, criminals
who escape the gallows. Every case of crime will
be regarded as peculiar, as demanding summary
justice Passion, individual and local excitement,
will utterly supersede law.
We shall be rapidly precipitated into the gulf Of
anarchy, from which no hand can rescue us, but
that of q vigorous and energetic despot. Nothing
can save US from that gulf but cordial and unani
nous determination, in all weathers, and amid all
breakers, to rely solely and entirely on the sure
anchors of Lae and Constitution. So 70 $3.50
We do not make these admissions to crafty
those meddlesome foreigners who forget their own
excuses and shortcomings, In denouncing ours
but we believe that know myself Is q heaven.
descended motto for nations as well as individuals
We, IS honest men and IS patriots, owe II to truth
to country and to humanity, to oppose national
tendency, SO obvious, SO strong and SO dangerous.