New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-02
EOMICIDES,

HUMlClDES,
This city has long been noted for the fire.
quency of its homicides, but they were
not of the heinous character that has
marked murders of a receut date. To Kill
with malice aforethought, to deliberately
plan and commit murder in order to con-
summates the further crime of robbery, is
what the law constitutes capital offense.
| This class of offenders, until recently,
rarely disgraced our city with their deeds
Of blood; and Notwithstanding there may
have been too lenient disposition mani
tested by our people toward another class
OF criminals of less malignant character,
we feel confident there never has been a
disposition to shield from prompt pun
ishment those guilty of a cool and delibe-
rate muNer perpetrated for the sake of
gain. Murder committed in the heat of
passion, prompted by anger and revenge
may be palliated and excused by the more
forgiving of our people who know the
weakness of poor human nature; but even
they, in the goodness of their hearts, will
find no excuse for the inhuman monster
who deliberately takes the life of human
being for the sake of pelf We are
aware that the passions may be controlled,
and that where individuals do not, by a
wise exercise Of those reasoning faculties
bestowed on them by God himself, re-
strain their bad passions, and keep from
violating the laws, human and divine,
they can be made to do so. The certain
punishment of crime invariably has a
wholesome effect. Persons soon learn
the necessity of controlling their passions
when they are convinced passion that
leads to crime will meet with condign
punishment. The fact that the laws have
not suppressed crime is no proof that they
are insufficient. Properly executed, our
penal laws would strike terror into evil
doors. They can not be fully enforced,
however, without the cooperation of the
people-the law-abiding classes from
among whom our juries should be select
ed. The police may do their duty in
arresting offenders; the officers of the
Criminal Court and lawyers may do their
duty; but unless our juries are composed
of men who will do their duty, the ends
Of justice are defeated. Enforce the laws
efectually; let capital offenses be prompt
ly visited with capital punishment-with
the death penalty instead of imprisonment
for life, and minor ofenses punished as the
the law directs, and the time would soon
come when all classes would learn to con-
troll their evil passions; would learn to rely
upon the law fQr safety and redress. Men
would then cease to walk our streets loaded
down with concealed weapons; would no
longer find it necessary or think it proper
to redress wrongs, or imaginary wrongs,
by making violent attacks upon others,
thereby committing breach of the peace
themselves becoming criminal in the
eye of the law.
1t is terrible to take human life under |
any circumstance; terrible to see the body
OF human being dangling under gal
lows; terrible to see the uplifted pistol |
or dagger ready to be used against a |
fellow creature; terrible to see human be- |
ings, in defiance of law, taking matters in
their own hands. and in our crowded |
thoroughfares undertake to settle diff |