The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-07-27

We have had iamentable proof of the
sy,sl..of an ineffciest and Lax administration
of Justice in the direful consequences that
have followed the admission of the negro
Lille to bail, in case where IL was evident it
would result in most unjustihable hori-
eide. From that unfortunate decision has
followed the violence and bloodshed we are
obliged to-day to record. If Lille had been
committed to prison, to await the issueof the
dangerous wound he had inflicted, public
sentiment would have been satisfied, and the
mob spirit would not have been awakened,
or, if aroused, would have been easily re-
pressed by sober and rejecting citizens. But
the indignation caused by the admission ola
negro to bail for an unprovoked assault, that
was in all human probability to result in the
death of the victim, and constitute the crime
q murder, 40 inAamed the minds and passions
of even conservative and law abiding citi-
xens, that they did not interpose to arrest the
acts OF vengeance which many knew to be
premeditated. When the spirit of lawless-
ness once breaks forth IN the community, it
does not confne itself to the object which
first excited ID, bat reeks itself upon all OBJ
jects that offends it. It's example is coatam-
mating and contagious. The excitement in
one place finds response in another, and the
acts of one community are initiated in others.
The example of washing out the Cyprians
began in Cincinnati, and similar outrages
have since been perpetrsted in, numerous
other places. Lynch law and mob rule are
nsurping the offices of legal Justice and the
constituted authorities everywhere, and an
archy and Generalization threaten the over
throw Of all regularly constituted civil gov
eminent. The aspects of the times are
alarming. The only remedy seems tc be in
union Of all good citizens 10 reform the
magistracy-to claim aud support rigid ad-
ministration of justice, and a prom OF and
the evil has been caused by an unjustifable
perversion of the guards and provisions o.
the law designed originally to protect the
weak and innocent against the expressions o.
authority, but which are canningly and
adroitly used by counsel to favor the escape
of the VIGOROUSLY guilty. The reform and
the remedy lies in a good degree with the
bar. Their duties do not extend beyond Sc.
curing to the criminal fair trial under tn,
law, and fair and exact application Of thu
rules Of evidence for his protection. To per
vert the law, to resort to any undue advan-
tage to screen the guilty and save him from
the just penalties of his crime, is an act o
rccreancy to society, treason TO the law, ant
almost IA great wrong as accedng to
crime after the fact. Counsel now feel them
selves justified, if not bound, to resort to al
and every art and means that the profession
has invented or discovered to arrest or aver
the regular operations of tho law. Their ef
forts in the defence of criminal are not II
defend the strict application Of the law. bu
70 defeat it and virtually nullify its opera
ton. 1t is not contest for the seaport o
the law, but to overthrow it; aud its maxim
: of mercy are the loopholes through vhic
attacks are made,