Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-06-22
FIAT JUsTITIA.

the crime of murder The period
Of their execution by the laws Of
our State must be fixed by the Ex
ecutive. That funrtionary posses
ses likewise tie privilege of COIN
muting the death penalty into per
petual incarceration. A strong and
Jealous effort IL now making to ap.
peal to the clemenuy Of Governor
Moons In behalf Of the culprits. and
TO induce him 10 transmnte their
sentence from death to imprison-
ment for life.
We believe the hnbitual readers
Of the Bee will give us credit for as
large a share OF observation-disclosures
and mercy as are evinced by most
journalists. We cannot witness
the taking Of human life. even in nc.
oordsuee with law, and for the most
heinuus oiIenses. without profound
regret; regarding the scailold ms n
cad and revolving necessity which
we would rejoice to see abolished
by the widespread influence of a
higher aud purer civilization. but
The statute which declares that
whatsoever take human life wanton.
ly and deliberately. shall perish by
the halter, ia part and parcel Of our
penal code. lts enforcement is de.
mauded Ivy the strivtest oonsidera
tons Of benefit To- society, not by
any sentiment savoring Of ven.
geance OF resentment towards those
who come under it's fatal ban
There are times when misplaced
lenity Ia a weakness aud q crime I.
when nothing save The stern, IN.
yielding and rigorous execution
Of the laws can reassurn n com.
muui,y sorely shaken by the enron.
10 terrors of daily assassinations
and outrage. If public safety re-.
quired that the murderer should ex.
plate his terrible crime by death, IL
IL surely now"
Then with the Bee. who gives OK.
precision TO n wide spread senti'
ment--"Let justice be done though
the Ravens shall fall" Conscicpti.
ously aud consistently opposed IA
we have ever been 10 the death pen.
atty, Il in the law--and whilst II In
let Il be enforced. Society owes a
duty to itself in the discharge Of
which IL should DO just and fear
not. Murdercrs are becoming too
common and prison walls seem TO af
ford no protection TO society against
them. The jury is awcre OF the fact
that II may qalify it's verdict by
imprisonment for life. and where
there are any mitigating circum.
stances, has shown It's willing
ness to do 40; but where sucb mon.
sters are arraigued IA have of late
years outraged the ordinances of
God IA well an man--wbere by n
terrible instinct they revisit the
scene of their brutality and are ripe
and ready for fresh victims--let the
halter have them. Not for their
punishment; because as far as NOR.
tai eye can ace, death is their re-
lief; but 10 remove tho possibility
Of their power TO spill the blood Of
others, which with hands once
stained, they seem TO have n thirst
for.
With our contemporary we do
hope that the Governor will not ex.
ercise the authority Of his Office in
this direction. Let him do SO in
one instance and he will have TO
do so in many, lie is newly in of.
fee and may expect his door to be
besct to the end of il, by relatives
and friends Of the justly condemned,
who in obedience to the common in.
stincts of humanity are forced to
plead and beg on their knees for
mercy, at the expense of justice,
NA machine has been invented by