, 1859-11-26

a4stssl gathed and mangled by the fight; we find
jury composed Of their infuriated enemies
eEaFely put through the Ysries of ofinterogatories
which the letter Of the Law prescribes. ID order
70 nscertalu their perfect iu,partiality, such
as 70 Tue absence Of any opinion as TO the guilt
tae prosecuting attorney constantly drunk, very
1lsty, and his face bruised and cut By fighting
IN the Streets and tile other openly directing the
1uase what rulings to make on the various points
raised; md to crown ull, we find the prisoners
aasocate threatened with personal violence BY
tae aud:ense If he persists in finding fault With
tSe Indictment or extenuating the prisoners
offence. It must be confessed that this is
athofoughly South American or Turkish scene
Aaa to 1t all the repeated avowals of the prose.
eutlng counsel, and Of tie spectators in the
nearing OF tue prisoners, Of desire to have
thera hanged, Of positive pleasure in the anti
e!pa!on, and q variety Of jokes as to the mode
OF atsposing Of their dead bodies, and the bar
oar1an a caricature upon civilized legal procedure
out Of doors the caricature Of "martial lawn
IS no less perfect than the czricatuse of judicial
procedure. MARTA! lAw" is, in, reality, The
sn1]ect'on of the whole community to the or
oefs & Of Gne military officer; and though this is
oas community generally resolves itself With
GFeat 1nc!i.ty there does not seem to be amongst
Inc sirglnians enough Of the elements Of order,
enough capacity for the simplest kind Of organ.
lzaaon, 70 produce tolerable imitation Of it.
Accordingly. the militia at Charlestown ia
nothlng more than an armed mob, pAtrolling the
ROADS IN disorderty, ind often drunken array.
under the orders Of half u dozen " colonies" Of
e4ual rank, and occupying the position Of re-
sefre to the crowd in the streets. This ls eyi-
Gent from the statement Of "Coloner Davis
10 Messrs. Jewctt and Hoyt, that be could
not answer for the lives Of the prisoners
counsel If they remained in the place on their
lawful husiccss. If real martial law pre-
f"iled, the officer in command Of the troops
would not nuke such degrading md huuaii-
atlng confession. His position is evidently
that Of chief Of banditti- The real power seems
to be lodged in the hands II the rabbe congrc-
gnted in the streets and the bar-rooms,
amongst whom, blythe by. the judge of the
Goart WAS IN the habit OF passing his evenings
der the control Of any chance orator who
mounts . fight Of steps or barrel, and hnr-
angues them, and it is they and no. the troops
exercise the police Of the town, look after
strangers. inspect the jail, give orders TO the
lailer, follow und hoot ut generous northern
women, and direct the Aayorin the discharge Of
his functions.
1t VIC look into the newspapers to ASCERTAIN
whether the men Of thought, the Instructors If
the community, the more educated portion Of
II, sanction this state Of things, We find that
these articles are mainly wild appeals
TO the passions Of the popu1ace, un.
granlmatically written, full Of coarse abuse
and ribaldry, ferocious regrets that the pri-
soners we're not murdered instead Of being
tried, pointed recommendations to commit acts
OF violence upon unarmcd strangers, women as
well as 1neu. and hideously joyful anticipations
Of the pleasures Of the day of execution.