The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-06-20
An A.c of Crime.

The country just now Is suffering
from perfect epidemic of crime. The
criminal record of last year was horri-
blr, hut that of the present year bids
fair to lac infinitely worse. Murders,
rubberics, arson, rapcs, seductions, out
RACES upon children, and every other
species of lawleSsncsS that Il ScOundrePs
wit can compass are making a perfect
pandcmonium of the land. Not pa
per from any quarter can be picked up
Int atteSts the terrible state of the
public morals aud the fearful degree to
which crime is raging. Heretofore the
large cities have been the great cen
tres of wickedness and by far the larger
proportion ut horrible Outrages and
brutalities have been confined to them.
Now the smaller tOw,.s and the rural dis
tricts bear their full proportion of the
SUN total of infamy. Formerly
the lower aud the more ignorant classes
we're almost exclusively the law-break-
ers. Now the foulest offences against
rhe laws aud peace of society are COM
mitted by persons occupying the higher
stations and following the superior vo-
cations of life. The parties to the COLE
HISCoCK tragedy, male and female,
moved in the upper walks in society.
The murderer was famed as soldier,
the victim was distinguished as poll
tician. FRIsBEE, the Sing-Sing mur-
derer, who doubtless derived the in.
spiration for his act from the example
of the Albany assassin, was an opulent
merchant of high standing and great
respectability. The hero of the dis
graceful North Adams elopement was
\ minister by profession, talented, elo-
auent, and well beloved-too well, it is
Thought. by more than one. Th
pulpit, also, sent another representa-
tive into the ranks of infamy. Rev.
SEEESo HOWE, blackened with the
drflcment of helpless chilhood, tainted
with the worst crimes of Sodom, was a
highly gifted and widely esteemed Puri-
tan parson.
With such instances we might con-
Time the enumeration, but these will
suffice to show the fearful extent TO
which vice and crime have corrupted
the intelligent and more elevated class
es of society. Their prevalence in the
lower walks of life, where Ignorance
and moral darkness are more general,
would not he so alarming, because under
the influences Of educational agencies,
they would be expected to disappear
But their appearance and widespread
operation in the midst of the culture,
the wealth, and the refinement of the
country, may well furnish food for the
grayest reflection. Without protesting
to account entirely for this state OF
things, Wa yet think that much of the
generalization Of the day may be re-
ierred to the example of those in high
stations and to the leniency with which
large portion of the people have fol
the last few years regarded offences OF
The most disgraceful character.
IHAD. STEVENS, for example, is man
whose Righteousness, and that too OF
'he most disgusting character, is mat
Ter of public notoriety. His vicious
conduct and his mulatto paramount, have
i"ng been facts tha, admitted of neither
doubt nor question. Yet his utterances
have been quoted in our pulpits, and
ministers of the Gospel have specially
commended him to the favorable con-
sIderation of Providence. Ben. But
LERS regulations are matter OF histo
ry,yet his fame is untarnished aud his in
nnenee among his own party is unaffect'
Ell by reason thereof. Is it any wonder
when such votaries of vice are
Petted and Landed, that men of lesser
ZANE should steal other peoples purses
or other peoples wives, SIMON CAME
RoS is notorious corruptionist, of long
standing and constant practice. Never
'heless he is United States Senator
and the dishonorable character of hi.
career, undOubted and unquestioned
'nough it be, weighs not a straw
against his continuance in office.
Dropping the greater villains aud de
sending to the smaller and meanel
ones We find Legislature in our owl
s1ate whose members are confesscdl,
guilty of infamous offences against tn,