Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-08-01

for ! lens sad useful Iifs~ia The i"por'sns fed
Of b prastise. 81 :
How Law is Administered in, California
Our readers are doubtless fan,sl;ar " III the ~
cumstances connected With the KILN. nf senatir
Frederick Of California who fell in duel. into
which he wa. enveigIrd BY judge Terry, his mar
derer, on account Of his political opin,ons. To-
~ was. wha. is known in the psrlanee Of gentle
| tlemen who hold to the code Of hnnor' 3" >,
dead shot" and knew that he could di-patch h'-
victim with unerring certainty. Though occupy
ing high and responsible position that of Chef
Justice Of California. sworn. not only To main
tain the supremacy oil the law. but IN define =
boundaries. and see that is was enforced again
all transgrcssors. he descended from hi high ro-
siti,n, consented to soil bis judicial rnhcs. I'D.
entering the political arena involved him .elf in
personal quarrel with United State- Senator.
that he might slay him. and thus remove n hnci
opponent of a corrupt national Administrations
There were those who did not hesitate 10 attY..
butte the blame Of B.odcrick's death, indirectly.
to the Buchanan Administration. \ farmer
bs,m friend Of the President made the charst
d rect and in the most unqualified terms.
The Administration. bowever, has Gins en"neh
T To bear and we will not endorse the eharge T.
which reference is here made; though III o."
thing we have no Doubt To wit that Bro1rrirk
was pursued and murdered because If the stani
lac took against The Administration in ts L"c"nlf-
ton policy. Enough has trauspired 10 decide tia
matter beyond all possibility Of cavi Sueh Wa
the overwhelming testimony in the ease, thai
Tar an. md esf md "A 1triual trial n.
signed him ~ the frat place. tho Powers thai
be-" disposed to show favor to u person who la
al themselves and the National Admini.tra'1an
under contribution for having removed n hat
fe.-changed the venue to another county, he
cause public opinion was against tho murderer IN
the region where iis crime was committed, n,,l.
ns is frequently alleged in similar cases. il VI
asserted that an impartia! jury could not There
30 had.
But mark the sequel The trial was to be hell
at N p'int distant from the scene Of tho mnri !.
anl of course, the witnesses for the { mmonwrullh
Lad 10 be Transported thither. TIE beat 10 wen
they werejourneying To the llncc oil trial. was i
tainel on the way,-possibly its owner were lr.-
bed,-and the was committed 10 the july
without The examination of witnesses. aud fbs
accused, or course acquitted. And tn n -
cimen of the manner in which o4r American II.
minnl laws are enficcd. seed anybady wol.i,r
that crime stalks abroad aud that la nan L..
upon the slightest pretcxt, is taken to well tat
fearful holocaust that is constantly bong olrrrl
at The shine Of perverted. and ,cp,a,cl Tu4d.t
opinion? Nor, will there he any i'm .rovrueh'.
until the majesty Of thu law is yindicatcd ia -"
Southern and Western States.
l. ia thu glory Of Mnssachnsctts, whatever d.
may exist u her shamc--thnt she cnfIrrpd L,r
laws ngan% Professor Webster. under crcne,-
stances width would have failed t. piorure W..
dict in any Southern State.
II nolicd influence, or high p,siti Al, or innu
entail friend. are To prevent the due eSecn'ipn o
/ the laws, and secure immunity to uHea iers lcs-
ter repeal all law. blot out our penal cle aud rf
the old Jewish law prevail. which nli,wed cv.rJ
nun to regardthe life Of the mahslnyer as lure.t
We do not hc'iatc to say that there would I've
more safety am less murder under such crcun
stances. than there il now under the mere form ut
law, which il too frequently but dea l,ttcr.