Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-18
Execution of the Laws.


Execution of the Laws.
There is, perhaps, no one thing that contributes
more to the moral elevation OF society, and the
peace and safety of the people in their persons
and property, than prompt and impartial en-
toreement of the laws of the land-"without
fear, favor or affection" In our own State we
regret to observe an increasing indsposition
to inhict severe punishment upon offenders, a
growing inclination to mercy at the expense OF
Justice. 1t has become trite saying OF late
years that ''it is impossible to hang white man
in Virgins" and the history of criminal prose-
cution for some time past, has afforded just
ground for the opinion so generally entertained
and expressed. No matter how bold and daring
the crime; however unprovoked and without
excuses and especially If it be capital offence,
the criminal, as general thing, may calculate
with tolerable certainty upon a verdict OF ac-
ouittal by jury of his peers. One man arms
himself contrary to the known laws of the land,
with secret weapons seeks out another against
whom he entertains some grudSe, offers an I'M
provoked insult and receives in return for it q
provoked blow. He draws his pistol at once
and shoots his adversary down, or plunges a
dagger to his heart. lie is arrested and the
plea of self defence is piled by ingenious counsel
until the brutal murder assumes the form of u
iustifable homicide. The deep anguish of a
widowed mother and agonized relatives are
held up before tender-hearted jury, and the
tears of father and mother, sister and brother,
relatives and friends, counsel and judges are
poured forth and mingled together, not over the
bereavement of the relatives of the murdered,
but in profound sympathy for the agony of the
murderer's family and friends. The man whose
life has been ruthlessly taken, and all who are in
anywise connected with him, are forgotten in the
lively interestfelt in behalf ofthe unfortunate prs
oner at the bar. Public sentiment is manufac-
tured, through the press, in the courthouse, on
the streets, and in the highways, by the con,
versation of friends and the side-arguments of
counsel. The feelings of the jurors are touch
ed; they partake of the general feeling of SYM
pathy that seems to pervade the community
insensibly, perhaps, their judgments become
blinded and they lose sight of facts They are in
the melting mood when the fate of the crimi-
nal is committed to their hands, and if they do
not acquit they are at least unable to agree upon
verdict. A change of venue is the next STEP
and at the next trial the murderer steps from
the prison-door and stalks abroad again in the
land, perhaps to mbrue his hands once more in
his brothers blood.
But the escape of the perpetrators of such
crimes is not the only, nor the principal, evil
which results from a failure to execute the GRIM
iminal laws rigidly. Others are emboldened by
the good luck of him who last avoided the pen
atty due to the offended majesty of the law, and
reasonably conclude that they too may per-
petrate the darkest deed, with impunity. Hence
it is that crime is fearfully on the increase in
Virginia; hence it is that people in some por-
tions of the State have declared themselves un
der the necessity Of taking the law in their own
hands hence it is that men are waylaid and
robbed upon our public roads; and for this rea-
son. even the youths at our institutions of learn
ing, with premature depraYity, stab each other
to the heart.
To remedy these great and crying evils, then
it is necessary to secure by some means more
exact administration of justice--a more rigid en-
forcement of law. The laws are good enough
in themselves and all-suffcient to prevent the
preparation of crime, if the penalties attached
to their violation be executed to the utmost lin.
it, When man steals chickens, whip him al
the public post, and the Shanghais will rest in
peace When q man commits arson, or larceny
or burglary, send him to the penitentiary, for q
longer or shorter term, according to the grade
of the crime. When a man commits murder III
cold blood, hang him, no matter what his pre-
vious character or history-no matter what his
family connection or social position-hang him
1t is solemn and painful duty, but nevertheless;
u duty that ought to be sternly, firmly, faith
fully performed. The happy effects of this rigit
execution of law has been illustrated in the his
tory of Illinois. When that State was first or
ganized the killing of man in duel was made
q capital offence. The first duel was fought
the survivor was hung as be ought to have been
and from that day to the present there has never
been a duel fought within the limits of the State
And so it would be here, if crime were visited
with such prompt punishment. Let the conse
ouences be certaia, and the violations of the law
will be less frequent. Let there DO fewer dea(
letters in the shape of laws on our statute books
and there will be fewer dead men found in oul
streets.
In order to accomplish this desirable object
however, there must be revolution in public
sentiment. Those who have some stake il
the communicable law-loving, law-abiding
people-the men of morals and conservatism
must set their face against the prevailing ten
dency of the age to wink at vice and call the
blacklist crimes by the prettiest names. The
virtue of the times is too easy. The halter o
the law hangs too loosely about the necks o
bad people, and it is high time that those who
feel an interest in the we-ordering of society
should take hold of the rope and make "a Ions
pull. strong pull, and pull altogether"
st. Charles Hotel.
Mr.. B. +. Eakle, late Assistant at the Virgin
ia Hotel, in this place, is now occupying the
same position at the st. Charles Hotel, Rich
mond. Mr.. E. is experienced and very popu
-,