Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-11-02
NO. XLVII.
For tho Spectator.
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Why Il TIT

| 1ea1 For the Spectator.
| Why L. TIT
| Aessrs. Editors Why is it that none of our
law-givers, in the many revisions Of our laws,
have seen and remedied the insufficiency of our
laws for the punishment of violators of the peacea
| A man is arrested on q warrant for some of.
fence; is tried and required to give bail In the
sum of 800 to keep the peace. Well, If he is
wealthy, no matter how bad, he has but little
trouble in complying with the requirement and
there ends the matter. But, suppose the man is
poor and friendess, as Is often the case, and vet
more deserving than the other-he must go to
ail for twelve months because he cannot give
bail. This is truly levelng system.
Then we have 3rd case the prisoner is q
poor, lazy, worthless vagabond, perfect nui.
sance, and perhaps terror to the neighborhood,
and is required to give bail, or 60 to Jail. he
laughs in the face of the Court and its officers,
and tells them that be has no bail to give-"I
had as soon 60 to Jail as not there do not have
to work, and will have good times" Go. Now
the Magistrate dons his gold spectacles and very
formally writes and signs q commitment and
directs it to the ailor of the county, stating that
he shall this man receive and safely keep," &C.,
for one year. Well, after he may have been
there q week or two, some unknown person goes
to q magistrate who knows nothing of the case,
and by long and often untrue story induces
said magistrate to release the prisoner on his
standing as his bail, when at the same time he
is not worth picayune; and he returns to his
old haunts worse man than ever.
Now the law does not meet these three cases.
1t bears too lightly on the first, too heavily on
the second, and has no salutary effect on the
last Of the last will give you an instance:-
Five men, all addicted to drink and other bad
habits-for some of them would whip their
wives, others steal, gamble, lie and swear
tried in our vicinity, by one of the Oldest ard
best magistrates of the county, for grossly viola
ting the peace, and held to bail in the sum of
500 each to keep the peace or abide the law.
The Oldest, perfect desperate, and father of
one of the others, (for he married man, said,
"As for my part had as soon 90 to Jail as not.
want to zee Staunton anyhow, and can afford
to live off the county as well as any man." The
others saucily echoed this brsvado speech OF
their senior. So they were committed for one
year, to be fed, warmed, and, if need be, clothed
by the Commonwealth, which simply means by
the money of the good, quiet and orderly people.
Is this just2 At the end of one week, man
not worth one dollar, went to magistrate In
Stanton and obtained a discharge for one of
the prisoners by swearing, when taken as bail,
that his property is worth 500, after his debts
are paid, (some of his creditors would rejoice to
see them paid) That man can hardly get credit
for one dollar. Thus one escapes, and soon an
other. Then the last is taken as bail for third.
Then, after week or two, the jailor opens the
door and respectfully asks the remaining two to
take q walk in the open air. They return to Us
worse than ever; for the same evening they 60
to the stillhouse, and during the night, that first
night after their release, are seen prowling a.
round the same house for assailing which they
had been so recently incarcerated. Now, hon
much better are these men than before, turned
loose with all shame gone and all fear of punish
ment banished2 Having tried the discipline of
the Jail and been entertained "hGndsomeLy," as
they express ii, for short time, they are turned
loose without restraint, for their bail amounts to
nothing. The decision of the magistrate who
committed them was q righteous one and should
have been respected; but alas how little! An
other steps in and undoes all that wiser head
had done, and inhicts upon US double injury;
that of paying for keeping them there and re.
turning them upon US before they could be BEN
fitted by confinement. See how impotent in
this case is the law.
This is more serious subject than at first it
may appear to the casual observer, for all the
expense, from the arrest down to the discharge,
will have, in this instance, to be paid by the
Commonwealth. This is out of the question
and down right injustice, and the people cry
aloud for redress-for protection, and their voice
must be heard.
Do you ask what propose in the three cases
above2 answer, if l would be allowed to
suggest to the Solons who may compose our next
Legislature, that they pass an act authorizing
the magistrate before whom q violator of the
peace is tried, to fine him not less than $1,000
nor more than $4,000 for the first offence, and
require him to give bail for one year, or go to
Jail for not less than three nor more than twelve
months, and that he be obliged to work sufficient
TO defray all expenses in his case. If he be
poor man and cannot or will not pay the line,
then let him be sent to jail for not less than
three nor more than twelve months, and be OBJ
liged to work as stated above. In this way the
Commonwealth would be saved heavy ex-
pense and the prisoners benefited for idleness
is the hotbed of vice. The proceeds of this ar.
rapgement over and above sufficient to defrsy
all expenses, should be used for the support of
the poor. Many of our cities have adopted this
plan, in part, at least, and find that it works
we'll Why should we not try it9 They might
be hired in chain gangs by the day or job, to
work on the public works or highways, or by
the corporation to keep the streets in repair.
have thrown out these hasty suggestions for the
contemplation of the people, hoping that we
may have some salutsry changes in our laws for
the punishment of violators of the peace
| A LOVER OF JUSTICE.