New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-21

csses; the important pon. ID that British msaufsc
lures have been stretched to poin. which must
resslt In general crssA under contracted foreisa
markets, with . consequent revulsion In the
social and political stato Of Great Britain.
Tho American crisis Of 1887 and 1899 produced
decline in Brit,h exports from El2, 1861 Of
which they stood in 1886, down 10 "a, 695 22j IN
1857, to e., $3.50 in 1893. and f3 $50 Oo) 10
1872 A sin lar paralysis is already setting in in
Epslard. 1t cannot fail to produce the most i'm
pertant effects before it il over.
There 10 now in our City Prison a boy hardly
eighteen years Of sge who is convicted murderer,
snd who, unless the Executive c!emency arrests the
arm Of the law, must die upon the scsfold. Ger
taiply ssdder object Of contemplation can hardly
be inssissd. The Law knows no age in ca,es Of
this character, but in the exercise Of mercy the
youth Of the eulpiit has always been considered,
and very properly because tender years afford
larger chances Of reformation ard imply character
LET'S hopeessly hardened. But it is not merely the
ysuth Of James Rodgers which renders bis case an
interesting one. When he inflicted the blow which
sent On unofending and defen,eiess citizen swiftly
10 his account, We believe that it is admitted that
Rodgers was 30 much intoxicated as TO have no
knowledge of what be was doing. Up to this time
he ayers that be has no recollection of the event,
and there il not, perhaps any rss.on for doubling
the truth Of his statement. His previous reputa.
ton bad not been very bsd. His family speak Of
him as "a krd son and brother" upon whom bis
pareD,s mainly relied for support His entire IN
Consciousness Of the bloody deed Of which he had
been guilty is proved BY the fact that he mada no
Immediate attempt to escape. but on the other
bard went home, went to bed, and stad there
in q Drunken stupor duritg the Subsequent day.
The whole case is sorrowfully simple one.
Slsddsned BY the poisonous beverages which,
in defiance Of law are sod at every corner of this
city, he ran Malay muck through tie streets,
stirling wildly aud bhndIy, and shifting he knew
MT ard be cared not whom.
Now, xe Know Of course that the law makes this
murder. Hundreds Of wretches standing in tie
cIimi1 81 docks have been told by of dgnifed
judges that ntoIicaton forms no excuse for crime.
We have always thought sud we still think this
doctrine rather g rigid one, ard the offspring of
snother-that of presumptye malice. Now il can.
not be pretended that Rodgers had the slightest
quarrel With bis victim, or the least reason for
taking him Of. They met purely b. chance, aud
in n;Iety-nine cases cut OF hundred there would
have been no sfrsy at all. Now, mark the eI.
quisits consistency Of legal distinctions. If James
Rodgers had been perfectly sober when be met
SwaDson-had got into a dispute with him Of
peyer 80 short durs.:or, and had then killed him,
the law would have nsde the &C! manslsughter,
aid instead Of being hurg tie murderer would have
been rent to prison. Ard yet there might have
been about the crime thus mitgs led circumstances
which would be really those Of oggraystion. Very
clearly 10 such chance medley theie might be much
more Of malice aforettousht than can low be aid
fairly to tho charge Of Rodgers. II the law will
deal with motives it should do so upon some fixed
principle.
The csse of tAe Italian burglar, Ca,cemi, WHO
has just teen convicted Of shooting policeman,
affords . striking Illustration Of the iooseness With
which tie Desth Penalty is administered. This
was updoubtt dy a willful AID deliberate murder.
TIE prisoner was engaged in felonio1s enterprise.
and, upon being detected, he calmly calculated his
chances Of escape. and made up his mind 10 murder
the officer Of tie law in order 70 preserve ais own
Liberty. Such Een may decide quickly, bu: thay
also decide calmly. Isdesd, many CT them, when
they ert.r upon career of crime, determine ia
advance to stick at nothing Doubly villains as
II 81 are, they wage war upon tie rights Of prop
erty, ard are ever ready, should they be ln.erered
With, TO wsge var upon human life. Substantially
they are no better tAan tie prisoner who puts
arseric into sick mans pO.;ons or tie assassin
L. - N tha kSfsiSa af tis ain
berpg victim. If socety can ever be justified in
hunting to death ttOse Who voAte its laws, surely
,uch wIetctes are worthy CT its first atterkol.
And yet for the crins Of this aint7 heated ASSES
sir-grsat, aggravated, enormous as it is--srd FOR
that of crsz! boy WHO smites chance antagonist
TIE Law b ~ hut SIC penalty. istrus that IN each
ease 9 life has been taken, AID tie theory Of our
jurispruderce is, that fe must pay fer life; but it
is equsly true that ever in our syefor an eye and
tooth fora tooth Doctrine We ere ia. from ccrss-
tent. Life il also taken n cases Of uens,suseter;
ard YET We lave several notifications OF that
cSeIse, With corresponding penalties Whatever
nay BIZ lie profession, the law does in many cases
II gard olives; and il would be bArtarOus AID IN
tcersble if it did net DO so.
We are well aware that these ere cot times for
mistaken cIemsroy. With sur crowded c.lsrdM
Of murders, vita cltfagss contcuslly multiplying
with our ttorougtfares rendered urssfe b. rct aud
Iswler.ess, th:s Gees lot seen to be very fs7ers
bic opportunity fo- offering these s-sgest'ons But
We lave always believed ireauitabs lroistnerss
to be fruitful sources Of cins; and at any rate it
i,a mere matter Of common humanity 70 cal st.
terton 70 tie case If this boy, wto i, de'c,eed ~