Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-09-09
BLACK-MAu..

everywhere upon that portion of the comInuni
ty who have property that can be destroyed -
1t is levied by boys and worthless men, who
seem to regard themselves as eatitled toprey
upon decent people at their pleasure. Every
body knows that when the season Of fruit-ripen
ing comes round those who have fruit must ex
pect to have large share Of il stolen. Apples,
pears, peaches, melons, cherries grapes and all
fruits are very unsafe when Just getting fit to
be gathered. Many time has nFIIi taken
great pains with some favorite fruit, in the hope
of enjoying it with great relish. Butjust az it
was almost ready, in one night the thieves came
and destroyed all his labor and hopes. ltseems
to be taken for granted that there is no remedy
for this state of things. The youthful scoun-
drels who take delight in prowling around at
unreasonable hours are TO be permitted to plum
der at will Very little effort is made to make
them feel the force of the law, or to respect the
rights Of property. Why2 No doubt in part
because people dislike to arrest boy or young
man for a trivial offence. But this is not the
only reason. Men often reason that they must
let the scape-grace go free, or he will do them
some greater harm than he has done. You bear
the stealing of your grapes for fear that if you
arrest the culprit he viii afterwards destroy
your vines, or do some worse thing Men have
RETAINED from prosecuting a known criminal
for fear he would burn their buildings or pOs-
on their cattle.
Thus the evl-disposed often purchase exemp-
ton from punishment for their crimes by their
very wickedness. If this is not'levying black.
mail upon society what is? But is there no
remedy7 No doubt so far as boys are concern
ed their parents, are responsible to great de-
gree for their actions. But are not others in
fault also2 Suppose that all who are subject
to be injured in the ways above alluded towere
to have a common understanding that they
would not submit to it. Suppose that they
were TO agree that detected offences should be
prosecuted The result would be that strong
public sentiment would soon be created which
would frown upon all petty thieving. 1t would
not be safe as it now is, and the young rascals
would fear the constable and the jail. A few
Experiences of the grated window would cure
them of their rtheivingpropensity. Its strange If
society cannot protect itself from the fear of
| those disposed to do evil Ii is even duty,
| sometimes, to the young TO punish their misde-
meanors. A young man has been saved, more
than once, by being punished by prosecution
| for petty crime. Had he been permitted to
| go free, from fear thatif prosecuted he would
afterwards seek revenge, it might have sealed
i L. 10 u0douhto1Ixy .,kyil ilsaf
any class of dishonest persons should feel that
they are at liberty to commit depredations on
others without danger of punishment. The fear
that 80 extensively prevails is an unworthy fear.
1t is true that no small number of persons can
correct theeviL But concerted action and a
general agreement can do much in that direction.
| And the grand motive TO this action lies not 50
much in the value of property to be saved as in
the good OF the petty offenders. ., B.
| --4-<D.H--L-4 Z -
General Butler on the Chicago Platform.
General Butler passed through Boston
on the I'd inst, on his way to rejoin his
command. We learn that he expresses the
utmost detestation of the Chicago platform
| (which condemns the continuance of the
war for the Union, and recommends ces-
sation of hostilitiss,) as paving the way Ell
ther for disunion or the establishment of a
military despotism in the country, at the
head of which shall be JEFF. Davis. Militia
rily, General Butler thinks the position Of
affairs to be highly encouraging. If Grant
had about 30, 900 more men to reinforce the
Potomac army, Lee could either be van
pushed or driven out Of Virginia in thirty
days. In answer to question put by 9
| friend, few days since, in regard to the
length of the wal, General Butler replied
that if the Presidential election were not te
take place for two years the war would end
in less than sixty days; that the southern
army was fast being used up, and that tf
save the whole Southern Confederacy il
would be impossible for the rebels to bring
| fifty thousand more troops into the field
Boston Transcript