Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-01-26

shambles. Honest Legislation in protec
tlng the right of all by wholesome laws
is the great safeguard of the people, and
they have right to demand that at the
} hands OF their representatives. 1t is time
this clamor ceased, or the guilty parties
were exposed and punished The self
respect which every Legislative body
should feel, should lead without hesitation
10 exposure of wrongs and crimes. No
countenance should any longer be given
TO causes of reproach agasint high and
honorable body of public men. Public
morals like private morals are never i'm
proved iy winking at delnquencies.-
Covering up crimes after they have been
committed, neither operates as a punish
meat to offenders or to deter other men
from the commission of like Offences
Legislation should be as pure in motive
and action as the administration of Justice
or execution of the law. If the law ma
king power is suffered to become corrupt
with lmpuniiy, the administration of the
law by Courts of Justice will be suffered
to become corrupt with like impunity, and
the rights of the whole people be ieopar-
died, Iustlceto the Legislature upon which
the corruption IS charged, Justice to the
people of the State who have been out
| ragged, if the charges, are true, and JUS
tice to yourselves, demand that the Leg
| Is'ation of this State be purged of these
charges, If they are but charges, and of
| the offences if offences have been COM
mtted. | will sustain the Legislature, to
the full extent of the power of my de-
partment, in any investigation upon this
SnbIpcf without .rdt ,bnr he
blow will fall. 1t is question which con-
Germs the honor of your department. l
submit the whole question 10 your self
respect, your honest convictions of duty,
and your obligations to the law and to the
people, as to what your duty is upon this
subject
The manner in which the Rail Road
companies 10 which the grants of land were
given by the State, have fulfilled the con-
dltlons of the law will necessarily come
before you. A strict compliance with the
material requirements of the law must
be exacted. Stockholders in many of the
Rail Road companies of this State, and a
large class of the best citizens of the state
who have encumbered their farms to aid
Rail Road companies, have suffered great
losses and are lIabe to suffer still greater
losses, on account of the criminal misman-
agement and br caches of trust of their
agents and officers. As far as possible
the Legislature should establish safeguards
agaIns: 5 uch wrongs, and pass laws max
ing 1t a criminal offence for any director,
officer, agent or servant of any r. r. Co.
to appropriate, sell, transfer, or in any
manner dispose of any funds securities be-
longing TO any Rail Road company, or TO
the stockholders thereof, for any other
purpose than for the necessary and legit-
innate purposes of such road.
An alteration should be made in many
of our criminal laws, which in cases of
light offences, and particularly with youth
full offenders, will give the courts great
er distinction in imposing punishment.
The law on the subject of gambling
needs amending. The penalties against
this vice operate as invitations to indulge
in it. AT every session of the Legisla-
ture, gamblers and black legs throng this
city, dogging the footsteps of citizens, en-
ticipg the young and confirming an evil
habit in the old. Severe punishment
should be imposed upon these profession
al gamblers, armed with all the para
phernalia of disgraceful profession, to
drive them if possible from their pursuits.
Officers should be compelled 20 strict
performance of their duties in this respect.
[ shall take great pleasure in attending
to the execution of any law that may be
made on this subject.
More stringent legislation is required,
to compel public officers 10 the perfor-
nance of their duties. Bold and wealthy
criminals are too frequently suffered to
escape punishment, for no other conceiv-
able reason than the high respect felt by
public officers, for the dignity and magni-
tude of the offences committed. The value
of all criminal law in the protection of
persons and property, and in the preven-
ton of crime, is in the certainty of it ex-
ecution. In this age, more than at any
other in the history of the civIlize world
crimes are increasing with astounding
rapidity. There is more learning and
comparatively less WISDOM more profess |
sions to virtue and comparatively more
vice; more religion and comparatively
less true Christianity, than the world ever
witnessed before. Art and science pay
tribute to criminal rapacity, and are made
auxiliaries to aid In successful violation of
the law. Unless greater efforts are mad e
to secure punishment. for offences; if the
boldness and frequency of public wrongs
are to secure their impunity, but a little
time must elapse before an aptitude for
the commission of crime will become a
confirmed defect in the character of the
American people.
REVISION OF THE EAwS.
The Commissioners appointed to revise
the laws have been engaged with great
industry upon their duties. The ability
and character of the gentlemen compos-
ing the Commission inspires confidence
that that revision of our laws will be wise
ly and satisfactorily made. l am assured
that their report will be made to you in
an early part of the session.