The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1858-04-10

yhl Witiout Capital Punishment.
1 ME evidence soli the trial, has been faithfully
II goTts Y p tls aesstal he and a@cassfal psrisal,
81 'aa's's'i IL 4 sllli 81 81 g H lss'sss Z Ma 81 s. Ess1,ss
III homicide, without any ground % Justification or {
e,lse in law. The immediate cppse Of thu act q
y pears to have been the s%offense which You took
~ certain expressions used BY him aerogatory to 70
These expressions are not TO Ne Separated fro
others which accompanied them, and which pro
that they were Ileyeked by what the deceas
i charged you wfA@sfasing saidin lelation to q lad
Y But whether the Injurious express bins were provoke
or net. the law declares that 10 words, bowey,
6 %grievolls, will justify a man in killing another; oil
|, that the killing on such proyocation, where use
I made q q deadly weapon, IL murder. The arlnin
! yourself with a deadly weapon, and the seeking
wright, the assailing him and beating him, and I'll
drawing Of yonr weapon upon him while staggerin
rom the blows of your fists and the DEBILITY of
1 body nearly consumed by disease a~nsael,en til
l cutting him, first through lis bowelsYSnd neS
: through his heart, ~theseare circumstances Of malic,
i murder.
a plea was made by one of your counsel to til
pfeJuuice .of the jury, on the ground of wounde
honor. This is a plea repidiated and rcprellende
~ me law. No man is allowed to be a judge in hi
own case and the exccatSoner of his own sentence 4
vengeance. The law acts upon general principle
q reason and public policy, and deals out equal an
impartial Justice toall. 1t maintains the distinction
between the separate departments OF government
and administers the rule prescribed through honest
capable a1d disinterested II netiunaries. itistendc
Of human life, and will not suffer it to be takei
away Tor mere words, which can be retracted or ex
plaahed away or apologized for or otherwise atones
Tor, or proved to be false and turned to the sham
of the slanderer.
But the plea preferred was without force hi refer
ehce to the artificial and Illegal system to which i
ctainied to belong. Honor delights in equality. i
scorns undue advantage. 1t demands reputation be
IlOFG III SpHEgi 1urs h1npJu tc,t i,Fnat.a, 1885, NJ .At go /.
1hVltes combat it gives the challenged party the
choice OF weapons, a fair field and equal chances.
me plea, then, IN this instance was as unfnundet
III nohor O. II was in law, reason and humanity.
IN making these remarks it must be understood
mat the system Of honor, st-etiled, lis no part Of the
law, and thatits principles viii not afford. in any
case, a ground of defence, when they are incon.
sisteht WIN the wise, huHlane and inst rules of the
Jaw q thesfatd. There is no safety for society ex.-
eept IN the maintenance of the law. The d1ctrine
tlat a man shall be permitted to Judge in his own
case. and be tile avenger of hs own wrong. h Il
doctrine that subjects the weak to the power 81 the
sltong--t Tie Innocent and unwary to The arts Of the
cunning and unprineipled-aA doctrine that drives
men into combinations and factions destructive 70
liberty and equal rights; in q word, a doctrine sub-
versiVe or social order and civil government. and
leaaHg d'fee1lY TO confusion, anarchy and Iohdshed,
nay one you.h OF our country he impressed with
these truths, and may they heetltlie admonitiou TINT
There ls no safety for life, 1bes f-dr. property, except
IN the observance ofthe laws of their ennntfyt
blackwoed, the Jury that convicted yon qualified
eielr verdict by adding thereto (under the power
gwen 10 Juiles IN capital Cases by the 18th SECTION
.of the "Aet relative to crimes and offences ~ he
words, " without capital punishment: Under this
verdict the punishment for murder ii hard lahar f..
life in the State Penitentiary.
II for a moment you should consider this punish.
ment as undNly severe, You will be recnnpiled ~ tho
sastlce of your country by re!leeting That by Il shirt
OF fell revenge, and without any sufficient and
reasonable provocation. you killed the wretched
n1lSht. ana sent him out of the order Of nature,
suddenly, and without preparation, to appear before
the tribunal of his God to answer for ali The aets NJ
ms me. and that, like Yourself, tile deceased Md
ses snat oouhu MN to society that he was d fellow
creature, a citizen, a friend and a husband.
me law OF civilized man everywhere reesrds
homicide as indicating 4 wicked denTaro5
ana malignant heart, uniting the wrong daer far
the society OF MS species and accordingly. for tho
protection OF society, ind for an example IL otbe,s
elmer oeprives MIN Of life, or removes him from
human association by combining him in jmnrison.
,,neht, and suejecting him to iufany and irnonlinions
lapor. The jury in this case have used the no,yer
cohtided TO them by our law and have consirned
you, through Their verdict, to hard labor for life in
a dreary prospect Is before Won. Yo, RI o,n
man. and the journey Of. your life may he \ lons
me. In the PeniteGtiary you will be eliif or frn"5
III intercourse with your iellow.beings hut that a..
"Mea oy m, lhe stern and gloomy discipline of the
PRISON. The voice OF affection will not sal1ta vonr
,af, nor VIII the face of friendship gladden. yonr
ieatt. In the day your task will be ne,fa,msaJ II -
Hence, and in the night you will be slirendered NJ -
2 your oWn bitter feelings and reflections. In thips
81 desolatipn, of silence, of sorrnw and
emorse. there is but one source from which Won
aa derive consolation and hope--Relieion. Nav
oA ne wise enough to seek that source. ana In 6naa
May the light OF the Gospel illumine your nath
nay yon by a discreet and proper depoortmcnt 10.
ards those in authority over you. recommend
oufself to their favor and kind consideration !. and
Y, yoa by sincere repentance mike yorr peace
iyine and human law. sa'"s
IN cols'detatlon OF the verdict rendered against
ana Of the law heretofore recited. Won q q
lakewood, are hereby sentenced to hard labor far
!e in the State Penitentiary. y tf
Upon receiving the sentence. BJacka,ooa b.u.
'lfeiy' and was remanded TO prison. ICresceIt.