The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-10-07
ENFORCEMENT OF PENAL SANCTIONS.

Ii cannot be denied that there is in nearly
every community some partial infusion OF
sickly sentimentaism which occupies Itself
with the exciting concomitants Of crime to
the comparative neglect and Oblivion OF the
penalty due to its turpitude, as also spurious
philanthropy which. while ready to denounce
vice in the abstract, is frequently iannd
to relent frnm its rlgor in the presence OF ac,
tual criminals and conycts. Both OF these
unhealthy sentiments are inimical TO the vel.
fare Of society, which demands 4 prompt and
impartial enforcement Of those penal sane
which are meant to be a terror To evil doors,
but which cease 10 exert their salutary intlu-
ence under that relaxation Of the moral sense
in any community which allows the guilty 10
20 " unwhipt Of justice" Oh this head we
find the sabjoined observations in Tennes.
see contemporary, the truth and pertInence
Of Whchare confined TO no locality, but are OF
general application. Nat. IateL
From The Memphis Eagle Of Sept. 10.
The necessity Of prompt and impartial al;
ministraiion Of oar Penal Lars.
The most eursory observer. VIM notices
the frequent crimes and nis,lemeannrs which
are chronicIe,l by the press. and VIM extend,
his observations to the subsequent immunity
VI the guilty. cannot but conclude, either that
We have no penal laws, or that those who are
entrusted with their execution are lamcntA-
bly remiss ii the performance u their duties
/ From whichever Of these two causes the
offender escapes the penalty Of his nisdeels
une thing is very certain, that unless we have
penal code which Is strong enough to hold
acriminsl, executive officers who will prompt.
I " arrest those who are suspected of crime
and iuries which will chnvict upon proper
evidence, there will be no safety to person o.
property.
We 10 nntadyocate severity. but ceriaint.
If punishment Tor crime. We would no
have society become yindictiye. even agains
tile criminal. But the criminal should mi
go unrestraned nor unpunished. We're thi'
allowed, not only weuld life and property b,
unsafe, but the material progress Of the com
munity be retarded. A penal c.'de shpnli
be specific in defining crimes, and the penal
ties attached to each should bear a prnpel
~ "I,rrl tim "a ais Is's-i ed Jsd-e0
in passing sentences wherein the amount o
the penalty IS left 70 their discretion, should
be particular to graduate those sentences Il
the crimes for which they are respeetiyel,
imposed. 50 that the community would a
once recognise the .mpfrtiality II their judy
menis. Juries, too, should take hishs
grounds than they have hitherto occupied.
Wepraie in this eountrya great deal abnu
democracy. But in regard TO the elemen
nf crime, we are far, very Ear behind Grea
Britain in her democratic tendencies. i
England the rich and poor. the high and Inv
are equally amenabIe 10 tie penal LAWS ~,
/ tice j. both swift and sure. Fur this reaspl
more tan any other Great Britain has attain
I'll TO tie highest commercial rank in III
world. Over tie whole globe il IS know
That crimes in Great B.ltian etnaot be com
mittetl with impunits. Consequently capi
tal center. there. The aggregation If pi
tai. tor. make. tie interest Of money low
aud with a national debt @hirh would crusi
ans other nation, Great Britain can indulg
in expensive wars, aud YET maintain her psi
lion a. the financial arbter and regulator 0
tie World.