The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1857-07-18
The Penal t0de Reviewed.

The Penal tode Reviewed.
No III.
Title /, Part II Of the Code con,
tains genera. definition aud division OF
aaeuces. An offence is defined to be q" an
act or omission forbidden by positive Jaw,
and to winch is annexed, ou conviction.
any punishment pre- cf.bed 90 dis Code.
Offences arc divided into ieioniss, and
ui.demoauois ltioules are divided iaio
capital ollyuce. and those not capita, Mis-
demeauogs W,aIu the jurisdiction Of Inferior
courts AZ that OF justice Of the peace, srs
denomiaatcd petty offences. Besides these.
there are variety OF subdivisions Of
offences.
This lille affords another proof Of the
position taken to the FIR; nf.,,s 81 this
review, tina, the Code atrogatss the Whole
OF our lofmor sfsiem eli laws aud limits
the whole resignation on tue subject oil
crimes, and puC.shments e rs e"1ciments.
II limits Offences to acts aud omissions 10
which are affixed any punishment by the
Code. rs necessary tesalt any act or
omiss.ca. not mado penal by the Code, is
40, az offence he lights %! heaven are
extuguished b8'ore Us, aud al, tAat re-
mains to diree, the path Of legal rescarch
on the subject OF crime is the Code. be-
elouded as Tvs
AnrlcLr Gl. P.Rr H.. IItfr II pro,
yides that when the penalty affixed TO
the commission Of any offence Is depuva'
ton Of political right, such reh's are 'a'
tended 10 include the right OF holdng Office,
Of serving on inries, and OF suil age and
It 5 Discretionary with the Jury whene'e f
such punishment Is annexed to az offence.
90 deprive the defendant OF one. ~ bot. OF
these sights Or &c suspend the exercise Of
one o. both Tor united time. Let Us
pause here. and consider the effect OF tbs
prov slou In CAGES OF felony, regard 50
Of tie magui,nds Of the offence, Il IT,
penalty is not death. L j. Discretionary
w,ll lus nus, to drc.de whether the con
Wet, after sewing lbs time ~ The pcu..en'
ttaFY, may bold oa.se. vote, or serve on
leres " here i. tue citizen whose hear,
contains one ounce OF respect TOR the
cogu,rs. OF is goral condition, that wouid
tolerate a jury of leIous or be willing 90
see the ballot box, or any oiiice OF the stale
opened to them Strange t would be Tor
man, "ho or account 90 ei'" '''iF'
would bs disqualified to vote ap1 ,c. vrr'
nitted ta aod any Office ia Che 4ta.e Nr
ifom the same cause dobgtted li1m e..lar.
aud yet allowed 10 81 as a Juror 10 br''
ac3 decide causes OF 'he nee. mHs"iig'" 30
the state aud The c'ufen' eft To pass ~r'N
tho guilt or unoeeoes oil E''" charged
wih the oh'Aee' 'o' ""'on o. "''"''" ""'
hesa inea-refA'ed 70 mo e"le"'''''
hyefy lusI "'od feeo'la rom 'be Pf'po''"'n
as -oon 40 u IS saDm'Ur" '"' sue" "''l
be the result OF We enactment u"',' goa
sldssaion' tof the lH'N 'nPH""'''d 20
trA case "l lr'obf' may ses !" '''"'V'
OF guilty, iAa' 'he defendant "''o' 49, term
oi imprisonment eAI''s' "'t o. ""' w"
to vote, hold once or s'l'H as j''' ''
the JafY may preserve 10 ASA Il" 90 '"'7'
r'ehis, or suspend al or any "'o e' mem
too gwen ""'e' 'AAI '' "g l''' '""' ''''
penitenti"f> Is " s9'a''' pace 10 '"'''
una'e ma" 70 'n' "A'e' % '''''' ''
3l-eet or juror 40" u ""' wy
ense une"' 81 u' N''' wv
thc's'ns p"Ne''" "'' 10 no "''''' "'''
e'safIy assumes t'"' e''e''n''''''' "'''
50 combine, as 10 'e]"e' sue H"'"'' 40" 49,
proper ana 'n'' '"' -" '"'v''' ''''
act TO ne done. - o'''' N'.'' ''' 20
authorizing l"''' 10 l'''''''' WV
lsHA 81 '''','' y ''' 'a''','' W. .''I
may ana our sN.'''''''A " %. W. .'''
t1 compose the JIfies oi the county, Nl