The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-05-26
WEARING CONCEALED WEAPONS.

The worst custom to which the you'll
of America are addicted--and, indeed
not only the young men, but men ad
vanced in years, to whose shame be 1
confessed that they do not set bette
example-is the wearing Of deadly wea
pons, concealed somewhere about the per
son, or worn secretly, in stilletto shape
in the hollow of walking-cane. In
stances are occurring daily in which mer
are shot down or stabbed through tht
lungs, in open daylight, in some trivia
| quarrel, which but for the presence o.
those instruments of death--the pistO
or the dagger-would most likely result
in mere interchange of blows, and, as
is often the case, final reconciliation.
AS an illustration of the evil, we might
cite the instances of the recent execu.
tions in Baltimore, when the three young
men, Gambrill, Crops and Corrie paid
the penalty of their crimes with their
lives. In view of the melancholy drama,
whose last scene is thus enacted on the
gallOws, the Baltimore american re-
marks:
"There are multitudes of young men
in this community to whom the events of
to-day should be an eloquent and SOL
emn warning. They furnish plain CON-
mentary upon the truth, that "the way
of the transgressor is hard" From the
first departure from the proper course
each step in the downward road is easier
passed than any preceded, while the re-
turn to better path is perpetually grow
ing more and more impossible. The gra-
dations in life of wickedness, especially
in cities are well marked from the first
stolen hour spent on the street corner,
with rowdy companions, through the
club-room, the bar-room. down to the
condition of the armed bully. Let a
young man once become familiarized
with the revolver, and there is but step
between him and the halter. He who
habitually carries deadly weapon hid
den upon his person is already muir
derer in everything but the act and the
act only awaits for an opportunity and a
little more whisky than usual"
1t is startling truth that almost every
second man one meets upon the streets,
or, in public by.ways, is literally walk
ing magazine" belted with pistols and
perhaps even the walking cane in his
hand-the counterfeit sheath of deadly
weapon, ready at the first momentary
impulse Of passion to leap from its con-
cealment into the very heart of some un-
suspecting victim. 1t is useless to at
tempt a denial of these facts, when pal
pable proofs are daily presented. We
stand for moment upon a street corner,
in conversation with young man, and
the first breath of wind that lifts the lapel
of his coat exposes the mounting of
pistol in his waist band On one occa-
sion, at a concert in Odd Fellows Hall,
young gentleman, accompanied by
lady, let fall accidentally a repeater.
while the room was crowded with people.
WHO can tell what might have been the
consequences, if the weapon had been
discharged in its fall 4! We can scarcely
effect an exit from crowded theatre or
a lecture room without being pressed
against the hilt of . bowie-knife or the
butt of pistol in our neighbor's side
pocket.
Truly this is lamentable state Of af-
fairs. 1t is not surprising that Ameri-
cans are designated abroad as "nation
of bullies and assassins, and wanting the
moral courage to move among their fell
lows with only such means of self-defence
as nature has supplied" If the laws
with regard to the carrying Of concealed
weapons were properly enforced, we
should have fewer tragedies to chronicle.
and less use for prisons and jails. We
hopefully look forward to the time when
the pernicious system will be entirely
discarded, and to be caught carrying
concealed weapon will not only be con-
sidered criminal offence, but lasting
disgrace, as well as proof Of cowardice
and personal timidity. Nashville Banner
s Kissing very attractive subject to
oil ovou fhnco in 90 fh. Soro and uaiIax,,