Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-10-18
MINING JOURNAL.
j. b. ODER, Editor.
rRosTBURG, MD, OCTOBER 10, 1873.

UGH. uuCSooA Ia booNO1A SAAS ANSNAS
Of a difficulty thrust upon him-to-
gether with other prominent similar
instances constantly before the public,
suggests the depreciating value of hu
man life and the ascendency OF ruff
anism. This alarming development Of
our social system may well attract
public attention 10 the proper means
of correction before it goes too far to
defy arrest.
In importance thia problem is
scarcely second to any in this country.
Tie number Of those who have taken
and are taking the execution Of law
into their own hands for real or fam
Died wrongs; the laxity and futility Of
legal vindication therefor, might pru-
dently employ the thoughtful consid-
Grafton OF liberty and life-loying peo-
pie everywhere. In many localities
no citizen is absolutely safe one is at
any time liable to become unwillingly
involved in quarrel, in which hasty
word or act may be appeased by his
blood. This has occurred and will
occur until the rule Of disreputable
code" is happily extinct.
The vindication Of law by the exc
cution Of its penalties under the e1-
listing system, seems au inefhcacious
preventative OF crime, and we may
hope for little or no improvement I'M
til moro potent forces, direct or indi-
rect, impel to rigorous, unsparing ad-
ministration Of justice. Every one
who wilfully takes the life of another
forfeits his own, is the primal statute,
vet so assailable is it to subterfuges,
bubbles, and evasions, that its signifi-
canoe is more or less belittled and
belied in every criminal case which
comes before our courts.
In proper estimation the sanctity Of
human life is inviolable by individual
hands except as last resort in self
defence. No other circumstance will
morally Justify murder. Even this
extremity i. sad one. That it is
better to lose than take life scarcely
admits Of religious doubt. To implant
this idea is the first step in the march
Of reforming criminal jurisprudence,
and should be at once on all occasions
the labor Of the pulpit, the press, the
legislature and the Judiciary.
But nearer way may be found by
ssking-what people pay taxes for !?
'For the protection of their lives, lib
erty," etc. But citizens lose their
lives; are criminals alone amenable >
Il the paid government irresponsible
to those whom it has suffered to be
robbed Of nearer protection Why
should it not as far as possible make
good the loss Of those who pay specii-
cally for protection ? 1t compels in
surance companies to measure fully up
to obligations scarcely more special !;
it forces railroad corporations to pay
huge indemnities for accidents result
ing from carelessness or incompetency !;
the State pays nothing for the aiItul
murder Of it's citizens. Why not ap-
ply rules, 50 just in the one case, to
tho other also?
The adoption Of responsibility Of
this character it seems to US would
surely and speedily compel the State
to look after and inaugurate measures
for the certain suppression of crime in
order to save damages throw
itself upon the great first law-salf-
protection. 1t would soon be match
for legal trickery by making evidence
less liable to distortion or impeach-
ment ; tax-paying juries would assid-
uously guard at once its statutes and
their own pockets; the dignity of the
law would be upheld in the same ratio
as the people saw and felt economy in
rigorous enforcement the hand of the
legal avenger with right to vindicate
and indemnities to provide against,
would be doubly nerved to execution.
However impracticable or liable to
abuse this may appear to some, the
principle is sanctioned by law and ex-
perience in analogous instances. where
companies and corporations with obi
cations no more specific are made to
stand squarely to the bargain.
LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE.