The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-19
INCREASE OF CRIME.


England. We do not pick up paper
without finding its columns filed with
the details of horrible murders, com.
mitted from motives of gain, or for pur-
poses of a more fiendish nature still.
Robberies and burglaries and felonies OF
lesser degree are so common as to chal-
lenge neither surprise nor remark.
These being the facts we would suggest
that our philosophers and philanthro-
pists should hold convention for the
purpose of inquiring into the causes of
these evils, land endeavor to discover some
remedy for them, or at least some allie
Walton of this burden of crime. The
only way to prevent crime is by visiting
criminals with prompt and severe pun
ishment. But, we regret to say, there
has oflateyears, morbid and dangerous
sentimentality pervaded the Courts and
Legislatures and even executive man
sions, which is sustained by false pub
lie sympathy with criminals that is OPP
posed to the punishment of great rascals
with proper severity. The people and
their public servants shudder at the idea
of hanging a man even though he may
have murdered his own mother, and if
they do nota ask his UNCONDITIONAL pardon,
they think he ought at least to be sent to
some place ofsolitary confinement, there
to be left for repentance, with the hope
of some day, when his crime shall have
been forgotten, being turned loose upon
society, perhaps to commit some new
crime of greater atrocity. Thus we see
80 many tender-hearted Governors of
States either committing sentences, or
refusing to sign death warrants, for the
execution of most noted criminals. We
must reform this altogether. Criminals
must be terrified from the commission of
foul deeds, by the certainty Of detection
and arrest, speedy trial and prompt pun
ishment. They must be made to under
stand that no law Of the land can be vio-
lated with inipunity, be the condition OF
station of the criminal what it may. AL
though we are no admirer Of Lynch Law
In the shape of Vigilance Committees
for such bodies generally degenerate int
engines of private revenge, yet they af
ford us an example of how promptly
crime can be checked in community
by the summary punishment of offend.
ers. After the brief reign of one ofthese
self-constituted, IMPLYING, and infexi-
BILE bodies, the moral atmosphere ap-
pears. to be completely purified--evil
doors, who escape the gallows, are either
terrified into being quiet and peaceful
beings, or fee the country and trouble
that quarter of the world no more. The
people have long respite from crime;
for the recollection of the speedy justice
that followed murder, and wherein the
laws delay did not interfere to prevent
the execution of the peoples wrath, has
powerful effect upon the actions of the
cowardly wrong-doer-cowardly wesay
= because they are all towards, and all
fear death, and but for the comparative
immunity from detection and punish
ment they are offered by the want of
zeal on the part Of officials, and the care
less disregard Of their own interests by
the people generally, they would be care
full how they laid themselves liable TO
feel the halter draw.
Here in Norfolk, we have been try
bled with some evils Of this natu,g -
Crime has been committed-murder
perpetrated In cold blood, and in hot
blood, and we ask the authorities what
efforts have been made to ferrit out and
bring to justice--to trial and punishment
the criminals? A clergyman was
murdered in February. Were sharp
.witted and knowing detectives set t,
work to discover the murderer? Was
reward offered for his apprehension
Was all the testimony collected by tn
coroner and magistrates at the inques
that would tend to unravel the myster,
of his murder--the deep damnation @
his taking off? or did the authorize
merely content themselves with viewin
the body, and then, after shudderin
for a few days over tho horrors Of tn
deed-forget all about it? Did the
leave nothing undone that would hav
led to the detection, conviction an
hanging of the assassin? Have they
single detective in the city? We dom
believe they have-or that any interes
is taken by the people in the matter OF
proper police. Some two weeks since
soldier was shot and killed. What step
were taken to discover the murderer
man and bring him tojusticep Was there
even an investigation into the circum.
stances attending the shooting of this
soldier; and if so, what was the result ?
Is the murderer arrested? II not.
are detectives on his track? or IL
the life Of a man Of SO little consequence
that he may be slain with impunity.
Another murder has recently been com.
mitted at the Navy Yard. The alleged
murderer has been arrested, and we trust
will have speedy trial.
To prevent crime, we must promptly
punish offenders. They must be made
to feel that escape from justice is an i'm.
possibility. When our authorities,
throughout the land, shall adopt thii