Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-06-30
DEFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF
THE ECRIMINAL LAW-LYTCH LAW.

on the surface. We hear of Regulators
of Vigilance Committees, of fronIie
murders, and of UNPUBLISHED wrong ans
outrage. From small numbers they have
come to be numerous; from little magni
tude, they come 10 be giant iniquities
and the peaceful citizen, as.he pursuel
his avocations, even in the great cities
or the distant frontier, knows not how
soon he may fall into the hands of pri,
vate or public Robbers. He wonder.
what has happened 10 cause these com
motions, and as he walks 10 his business
inquiries Of his neighbor, "What is The
maiter?" He, who never before though
much of crime, or disorder, in this happy
country, begins TO say with Cowper-
-"My ear is pained
Ny soul is sick, with every days report
ofwrong and outrage with which earth is fill'i.'
These disorders are not merely skin
deep. They originate in a corruption o
the blood, whose cure Is absolutely nee
essary before we can cure the disorder
The final cause of all these disorders is
that the public sentiment of this country
has been corrupted in regard 10 the ad-
m;nisiration ofthe Criminal Law. 1t has
been corrupted by men who are really
humane, and who, by an excess of hui
mainly, have been led to receive and
inculcate false views. These false views
have crep, into The minds Of Legislators,
of Judges and of Jurics, and finally into
Executive officers-till the laws which
should punish the guilty, can no longer
be executed. 10 at least foxr cases out Of
tipe-we speak advisedly-ihe criminal
has gone free OF punishment for want of
witnesses to appear; or, by law prevent
ed by judges; or, oaihs violated by jurors;
or, pardons granted on the petitions Ct
benevolent citizens! What is the result
of these false opinions and perverted
acts? The result is, new crimes and
new outrages on every side, till the out
ragged community take the law into their
own hands, and vindicate Public Justice
Then We hear good citizens talk loudly
of Law and Order. They see at once
the evil and the horrors of furnishing
men by lawless mobs. They call out
the military, and are for settling the mat
ter with balls and bayonets. This is
very well. 1t is even necessity, when
We have lost the authority OF government.
1t was necessity for Napoleon 10 sweep
the streets of Paris with grape shot; ard
it was almost, if not quite, a necessity
for him TO drive out The Council Of
Ancients, and assume the Military Dicta-
torship of France.
But before we arrive al that point, it is
worth while 10 inquire, whether we can
not govern ourselvesf la the frs; place,
let every man who denounces Lynch
Law and Vigilence Committees, inquire
whether he has not been in part the cause
of them? Let him ask whether he has
not stood by, and seen law after law vio-
lated with impunity2 Whether he has not
refused 10 give testimony? Whether he
has signed petitions to the Governor 10
pardon some double-dyed william, or cold
blooded murderer Whether he has not
sympathiZed more with the criminal, than
with The poor family, whom he has ruined,
and the society whom he has injured?-
When this class of men, (quite numerous
among the educated and the wealthy,)
ask the Government 10 project their lives
and properly with balls and bayonets,
they should ask themselves, What they
ever did TO enforce the law or protect the
victims of robbery and murder!
These sentimenlalisis in crime, mistake
entirely both The object of the criminal
law, and the real sentiments of the peo-
pie. Not one man in len believes the
law ought TO be relaxed, or the criminal
pardoned; but the tenth man, filled with
false theories, and sentimental visions,
is actiye-Petitions the Legislature 10
repeal the law for hanging murderers-
cries cut against the inhumanity of pris-
on jury and refuses 10 con-
vict-petitions the Governor to pardon or
the sentence, and figures in So
ciety as a great philanIhropist, a man of
liberal views and mc~ humane senli-
ments, altogether superior to the vulgar
people, who believe something in the OBJ
legations of law. reason and religion
LYNCH Law arises simply from the pant
9f laV. Ii is the necessity of 4 people,
among whom the law is not enforced
Ii is the spontaneous effort Of society TO
protect itself. 1t is the boil bursting on
Oh the surface, 10 carry off the corrupted
blood within. Let US take some of The
m ost noted cases in this country, and see
b ow it has acted. The hanging cfMe
Vicks6urgh gamblers was a moral neces-
sity, and evidently did good. The law
was against gambling and its kindred |
atrocities, but was not enforced till the |
gamblers governed the town. Property |
was no longer protected, nor life secure
Society stepped forward and committed !