Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-04-17
AN rxnRY.pAY SERMON.

~ heturOPj anu is PupAio
Of number Of the congregation. IL Is
what we would call a very live and prac-
teal Sermon; and, withal, justly So
we're in its criticisms Of the administra-
tors of the law and politicians generally.
We would ask a careful perusal ana
study over it:
GEN. w, l0.-"The roice Of thy drother .
blood crieth unto mo from tho ground"
Gods words. spoken upon the occasion Of
the first death our world knew, a death oy
violence, . brother slain BY a brothers hana,
the frat ~dinseousnce Of the first SIN. .
will readily. understand that / intend TO refer
these wordsSt TO an event which has lately oc-
CURED ia our midst, and which has sent sucn
a shock to the hearts Of the men and
Of this portion of our State, as has never Pc
fore been experienced. The words OF the
text are true Of each Of US to-day. AS inc
sleepless eye Of God ranges over eaftn, u
rests upon a spot not far distant from wnsle
I stand, from whence goes up to him sne
voice Of our brothers blood. There, not nVs
short DAYS aeo, a citizen, a husband n
father; in the discharge Of his legitimate
business; upon the high road; in daylighit,
or Just as the sun, as Il unwilling to behold
so foul a deed, had withdrawn his evening
beams, and sunk behind our western noun.
tains ; almost within hail Of his home, where
brother, wife and little ones were waiting MS
return, and wondering why he stayed SO long,
was set upon BY men, or hends IN human
shape, and murdered, with circumstances OF
deliberate malignity, and revolving cruelty
too dreadful for detail, almost for belief. A
feeling deep, intense, has been reused IN the
hearts of our people. 1t ought to be SO,
I wish to direct this feeling, and to make It
accomplish some permanent and perceptible
good result, that il may not die away, as
Heeting and as ~frui.less Of effect, as the foam
that nantes on the pillows crest. And II 1t
be said that I am stepping out OF my place,
and dealing with that which is beyond my
province, / anuwer as l hold up commission
to Him who gave it: I am not; l am a pub,
lie teacher; am a citizen OF the United
States, and Of the State Of Nevada; public
sentiment Is to be elevated here, public opin-
ion to be guided, and il / am silent who
shall speak, No, my influence may be small
or great, but it shall be thrown on the right
side my voice may not reach far, but It shalf
be raised. God will hear it II. men will not.
Some truths which it concerns this people to
know I will utter. :.
But what does our brothers blood as i
goes up before the majesty Of Heaven, call
upon US for mot for vengeance, as such,
upon those who have committed this nefa-
rious deed. To rouse in you any such spirit
Is contrary to my Office, and to the teachings
Of my Masters faith. Nor do I wish especial
ly to direct your minds to that great truth,
which this awful occurrence does thunder in
"BE YE ALSO READY"
Little thought our friend as he left his
home that fatal day, the light Of love in his
eye, as he babe his wife and little ones good
bye, the glow Of health upon his check, the
yigor Of early manhood in his step, that never
again In life should he behold those dear
ones; little thought his friends with whom
he conversed that afternoon, that death was
mutilated body should be all that remained
Of him on earth that his hand would so
soon relax its grasp Of things below, and his
eye close to ali OF this world. And as l took
around this assembly, I ask, who next? By
whom here does death sit to-day Whose
hand does he hold?
l wish first to urge upon those who hear
me the duty Of using the utmost endeavors
to see
THAT THE LAWS OF THE LAND ARE IKE
CUTED.
Is it not notorious, SO common that 1t is in
the mouths Of all, that though our laws are
good, they are not carried out? A law unex-
ecuted is much worse than none, for it creates
contempt and disregard Of all law. 1t Is not
q matter Of omnon consent, that criminals
here, il possessed Of money, do not, and can
not be convicted Of their crimes, however
great, or however clear the evidence against
themi Are not now men guilty Of fragrant
violations Of law, walking our streets, sun
whipped Of Justice !" More than one man has
said to me Should this infamous crime which
has filled us all with horror, be brought home
to lbs perpetrators by proofs indubitable il
their bloody hands are full Of guild, they will
not be convicted; or II they should be they
will not be punished. These men have been
here longer than have I; they have seen
more and know better Of these things than
do I. Is it true that our laws are mere dead
letters on our Statute books e~xerting some
restraining force and having some Furnishing
power, as far rs the weak, the poor, and those
guilty Of trifing sins are concerned, mere
cobwebs when raised as barriers against the
rich or influential, or those who have COM
mitted great crimes2 Is this truel II it is,
let US exert ourselves by every honorable
means to bring about a change. Let us rouse
those in this State, who feel right, and wish
to do right, and to see right prevail, to exert
all the influence they can bring to bear, that
II o law be enacted here, it be put in force, be
made to bear equally upon all. We, who do
thus feel and wish, form q power in this land,
q power because we are right, besides that
derived from our numbers and influence,
which Just SO soon as we determine to exert
II, and do so with discretion, will tell, It will
not be disregarded nor fail Of its effect. We
may not succeed at once, but ultimate sue
cess Is certain. Gould l make the right
thinking men Of this community sensible Of
their power, and rouse them to e%arnestness in
It's exercise in this direction, I should be sat
is6ed. Will you not see to it that hence
forth your influence, not silently and passive
", but openly and actively, shall 90 towards
sustaining the majesty, enforcing the sane
ton, executing the penalties Of the law
And In this connection / must refer to an
evil among US to which much Of the failure
TO carry out our laws is attributed, and for
which some who hear me are responsible
that is
SEEKING EXEMPTION PRoM DUTY AZ Jury
NEN.
The right Of trial by jury Is one Of
the first rights Of freemen, and the duty Of
acting a. . jurori 10 one Of the most impor-
tant and responsible devolving upon citizens.
Doubtless the duty may at times be irksome,
but when we think how dependant we are
upon the laws for the protection Of our per-
sons and our property, that they form the
bond which holds society together, surely
we can spare . little time from our business
or our pleasure 10 attand to 4 duty Of 30
much consequence, and which 10 each Of US
personally Il Is Of vital moment that It should
So rightly performed. But very many Of our
best men shrink from this duty and seek one
and another position for the express and
ayoSed purpose Of .eyading il No mar
should SHARE the benefits without being willing
to bear the burdens Of society. And because
so many good men arc in one way and an
other exempt from jury duty, oftentimes men
are empanneled who are in direct sympathy
with the criminal, or who are by no means
impressed with q sense Of the responsibility
devolving upon them, or who are in no way
competent to discharge II for the honor OF
tho State and the yindication Of the law.
This evil should be corrected, and the means
are In our power.
A second point directly connected with the
first and growing out Of Il, the direction which
our efforts should first take, is
H ELEVATION OF PROPER MEN TO oFPIcB.
Is Il not true, that the going through the
forms Of an election primary, for nominating,
or secondary, for determining; is, for the
most part, = mere farce; that q few manae-
ing, talking men, possessed Of little charac-
ter or standing, having little or nothing at
stake in the community, and little scrupu-