The true Democrat., 1857-03-24
Mail RobbeYies in Arkansas.

Mail Robbere5 in Arkansas.
 For several years past the citizens of Ar kansas, and of other States, have suffered much from the repeated mail robberies committed within her boundaries. These outrases have been of such trequen. and increasing occurrence, and the guilty parties have so often gone un- punished, from the want of needful adminis- traitor ot the laws, that the public sense of jus tice is becoming more and more insuted, and the evil begins to cry aloud for remedy. We have just lad a conversation with Col. Harley, the industrious and faithftsi mail agent of this State, in the course of which he recited to us the numerous mail r0hberies of the last few years, within the knowe ledge of the public: and astonishing as 1t appears, tbe fact is demonstra- table that in euery case there has been a failure to convict. Notwithstanding the mail agents have, by dnt of vigilant perseverance, overta- ken and arrested the depredators in almost euery instance, which has come to light, not one of them have failed to go unscathed and unpun- ; ished. What bold encouragement to those, who have the disposition "to do hSwise." But 1 again; how plainly have the facts and circum- stances established guilt in many cases, even in the less investigating minds of the disinter- ested portion of the public, and before the yer dict of a jury could be obtained, the cuIp prits were told to "go," and that by the sage con- serVatorS and saplent eXpounderS of the laws of the country. What an utter disregard, what palpable violation of the we'll estab- lished rule of criminal jurisprudence which re- qures that jury of twelve men shall deter- mine the guilt or innocence of a crminal!- The people in their sovereign capacity have ordained and secured to themselves the great institution of trial by jury with all its inherent powers. But it seems the committing courts, in cases of mail robberies particularly. are be. ginning to undermine these powers by releas- ing the criminal without Judgment of his peers"
 l These facts are too well known, and we trust they are beginning to excite the consciences of those who have the execution of the laws in hand. In south western Arkansas, who does not recollect the case of Ira Smoote post master, who was at first stsuspected of a falling" Of extracting money from letters passing through his office, and afterwards through the sagacity of the lanented Hays actually de- tected? The younger Smoote was arrested and his case heard before the district court, but he was discharged on mere quibble. The robbery perpetratel by the scoundrel, Holt, at Napoleon is also fresh in the minds of all. The attempt of one McAlster to as- sa5sinate the stage driver below Pine Bluff was another fragrant outrage, and but for cir cumStances the result might have been more serious than merely detention of the mail. Following in quick succession was the robbery committed by the two Moores in Sebastian county, sometime since, who were held at bail of $250O each, for their appearance at court They were however discharged last year without even confronting jury. Anoth- CT chapter in the annals of mail-theft was the case of M. !. Thompson, who robbed the mail between Camden and Falcon. in Colum- bia county. He was arrested. and brought be- fore the judge of the circuit court, who admit ted him to bail in the sum oi $500, which he found no difficulty in giving. Col. Harley, knowing the bail to be insufficient, re-arrested Thompson and lodged him in prison, but be- fore he had contracted familiarity with the prison walls he was released by writ of Aa- bcas corpus granted and determined by a coun- ty judge. To add to the enorintv of these, and give the whole amore glaring complexion, is the late fragrant robbery of the mail at Aberdeen on White river. In this case the same farce called an investigation, has been repeated and the scene closed according to custom. The criminal is discharged and the law set at naught. What assurance have we that these outrages will not be rc-committed more frequently than ever? We have none. The mail agent may continue to do hs duty, but we submit the question, will those who are charged with the administration of the laws continue to mock the execution of them?- We shall sec