Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-10-13
Lax Administration of Justice.

Lax Administration oil Justice.
The amount of hGrid crime against life
and limb that is given in tho newspapers,
makes one turn almost with terror from
their columns Every variety Of Internal
violence and lustful brutality is included.
Few States in the Union seem free, though
the character OF the enormities changes with
the circumstances under which those live
who perpetrate them. The sparsely pop
ulatcd borders have more savage tales to
. tell than the densely settled districts. Yet
the origin of this increase OF crime is. we
think, not so various as its manifestations.
Tie. samo generally operate differently in
various sections, but they may be reduced
to general heals.
4 The great difficulty is in the laxity with
which the laws are enforced, the commiser
alton of mistaken philanthropy with fel-
ons and rogues. and the facility with which
legal technicalitcs and quibblcs are Suffered
to he introduced to defeat the ends of
Justice The public have no confidence
that any offender will meet his deserts
So many are the ways o: escape that it is
often waste OF time and even of money to
bring the offender to justice. And there
is often the graf flying fact that the pros
ccutor or informei will be put in the atti-
tudc of cruel prosecutor, and that eNccu-
tive clcmency will endorse the sentimental
objections to prosecution. by coming in
to shield the convict from punishment
The great fraternity OF rogues flourish as a
over in the State which no government
can overcome; recognized interest, whose
wishes are to he consulted and whose favor
Ipropitiatcd. n
The first effect of this state of things is
to make every man Judge Of his own case
The wise ami orderly may choose to submit
to wrong rather than seek amends under
such disadvantages. The hasty take the
law into their own hands, not only bccanse
they know that it is their only redress, but
because the weak law will not punish them
for violence in thair own behalf. They
take shelter for their retaliatory violcnc,
unler circumstances which. they suppose
render retaliation necessary. When an
individual thus constitutes himself his own
srbitcr, the consequence is assault and bat
teiy. or murder AMI inccndiarism; some
private crime to punish private injury
When several persons unite to inflict pun
isiIm.mt upon an offender, real or prcsum-
ed, we have mob violence, or Lynch law
public outrage. usually beyond the reach
Of punishment, often escaping even censurs
in the place where it occurs.
The origin of these acts of violence is not
in the weakness Of our government, but in
,l,o roI,o ,,,,t1,o eo,,,,,a,t tlot ,loco,t, ,I,
execution of the laws. The man who de-
serves hanging can as well be disposed oi
l.y the proper tribunal as by the mob
But those interested fear the interference
ofsome influence to defeat the Justice which
the public sense demands. And the crafty
and malicious make use Of this distrust in
the government to procure summary ven
geancc not only on those who deserve it,
but on persons who might escape. upon a
fair trial. or at least receive a less sanguin-
ary sentence. The regular tribunals, de-
privcd Of power to punish the guilty. are.
by the same srntimentaity, rendered inflec-
tual to shield the innocent. 49,.
1t is time that some vigorous measures
were taken to procure a reform in the ad-
ministration of justice: and also to defend
the sanctiiy Of the laws. One woull think
we were relapsing into a state of barbarisn,
instead Of advancing.
When, as lately occurred in the South,
one man is hcwn in pieces bya mob, and
another is killed and thrown into the river
when women. as in place in the west. tnr
and feather one of their own sex; and, in
or,lcr-lovipg New England an incendiary
Is shot to anticipate the slower working oil
justice, it is time to inquiic what prompt,
these outrages. tffaH rt4
The reasons, we arc satisfied, can only
be found ia the impunity which rogues havs
received from weak public sentiment
| There are statutes everywhere against gamb-
ling; why not enforce them, instead of let
ting the evil go on till nobody but Judge
Lynch can dislodgo the gamblers? Oul
laws against lesser crimes, in every State
and city. are disrcgardcd. until the evils
which they are devised to prevent. break
out in such formidable aspect, that no or.
,linary power of police can reach them. eil
i Look, for instance, at the notorious con.
tempt in which all the laws RESTRAINING the
liquor traffic are held. Riots and murders
are the necessary consequence But when
the felons, who have become such by pub
lie neglect. are brought to trial, their crimes
arc so refined away by legal acnteness that
the prisoner might better. SO far as the pub.
lie good il concerned, be left unarrcstcd.
Had we a population in which, as in some
communities is the case. the respectable cit.
izens were almost out-nnmbered by rogues
and their friends, terror ON the part of ti,e
orderly 'wonld teach the dangerous shiancs
OF Judge Lynch.
! 1t may be too late or rtoo'soon, to ask fol
a moro stringent penal code in the United
States. but is quito time to demand that
such laws as we have shall be respected
and that no false estimate Of pity should
] interfere between bad citizens and punish.
ment. e,8 4 <fs.sv..
/ 1t is amusing now to read learned llonli
/ lies of certain editors in favor of populsI
sovereignty, who, year ago, advocated
the Presidents Lecompton policy" AT.
ter failing to subdus tho people Of Kansas,