The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-09-17
Insecurity OF Life.

The Union and american observes
how cheap of late human life has be-
come, and how frequently life is taken
and man plunged into eternity for the
| most trivial afIronts. Thists contrary
to the laws of God and man, and should
be corrected. It can be done by q
strict enforcement Of the law as 1t now
exists or if necessary by the enactment
of more stringent laws or by calling
forth in the public mind that moral
sentiment, which is open in its denunci-
alton of crime and bold in its demands
for its certain punishment.
Such a sentiment requires crime in
all its various phrases to be surely
punished, and will frown down and
drive its perpetrators f,om high places,
is more determined for the punishment
of high than low illiterate offenders.
To permit crime to pass unpublished is
to license its commission. The safety
Of society itself requires that 1t be pun
ished according to law, it matters not
the character of the crime, how high
the position Of the offender, or with
whom connected.
1t will be recollected at one time
during the existence of the late civil
war, that crime become SO defiant that
it was unsafe at MONDAY to travel
beyond the limits of the city upon any
of our public highways, or even to be
out after nightfall Iii the city. Why
was this? 1t arose from the fact that
the execution of the civil law was in
allegiance, and from the idea entertain
ed by bad men that they could commit
any crime and go UNPUBLISHED and
'unwhipped of justice" and that the
military authorities would convive at
is commission. About this time, how
ever, the late VIM. Heffernan was torn
out of his carriage from the side of his
estimable lady, and in her presence
brutality murdered for money by four
ruffians, two of whom, we have been
informed, did not even conceal them
selves. The murder sent a thrill of
horror through the community, and
the authorities determined that punish-
ment should be speedily and heavily
inflicted. The murderers were arrested
tried by court martial and condemn
ed to die, and although they boasted
| that they would be pardoned under the
gallows, yet Oh the day. appointed for
their execution they all expiated their
crime by hanging.
This community we'll remembers
that the effect ofthus summarily bring
ing these offenders to justice, was
extremely salutary, and as far as the
commission of crime was concerned,
produced most remarkable lull, and
the community was, i'm fact, free and
safe at least for time.
! There Is an extreme example, but it
shows what the experience humankind
has always-taught that if the violator
of the law be surely and certainly
punished, crime will be less frequent.
The law is the governing and controll-
1 ing power in this country, and must be
respected and obeyed, and in order to
secure respect and obedience it must be
enforced without fear or favor. It's
majesty must be acknowledged. AS in
England, no influence should be allow
ed to obstruct its certain enforcement,
and bad men must be made to know
that punishment is the sure conse-
quence of its violation. In the Ian
guage of Mr.. Burke, 1--WE may bite our
chains if we will, but we shall be made
to know ourselves, and be taught that
man is born to be governed by law and
he that will submit to anarchy in the
place of it Is an enemy of God"
1t may perhaps also be we'll to remove
n any of the causes which sometimes
induce crime and incite to a violation
of law; such as bearing concealed
weapons. This in our opinion should
be prevented by the passage of and
enforcement of more rigid laws, and
the many murders and deaths which
shock the community will never take
pace.
And now since the conservatives are
i'm power we trust that conservatism,
moderation and q disposition to obey
law and uphold its supremacy viii
charac: crize their action, but when the
law is violated that the offenders shall
be punished even if they he legislative
school lind REGULATORS.