The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-11
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The Army of Law and Order.

The Army Of Law and Orders
1t has been long since discovered that
armies are very expensive, but doubtless
necessary appendages to civilization. The
spirits of darkness seem never to weary of
striving against the peace and order of So
ciety; and Notwithstanding their invariable
defeats and often severe punishment, like
the tenacious Cubans, they contrive to
maintain constant guerrilla warfare which
keeps the country in state of more or less
excitement.
The army of law and order makes less
noise and creates less terror and apparent
destruction and waste, than the trained
bands who keep step to the fife and drum.
and WELD the musket and saber, yet in its
silent, insnuating, constant drain upon
the wealth of the State is little if any less
expensive than its great rough iron-heeled
comrade with the bloody front.
The legions of the battle field have long
intervals of repose between their destruc
tive campaigns, while the cohorts of justice
are almost constantly on active duty. The
history of the campaign of 1872 of the
grand army of peace and order, which has
Cecil county for its field of service, will
probably be interesting to our readers, and
we have prepared brief chronicle of its
exploits, together with the cost to the
county of keeping this army in the field
for single season, to protect the good
people from the incursions Of the restless
spirits of evil.
The army is controlled by a Command
erin Chief called the Court, who directs its
movements, and exercises general supervi-
sion over all its parts. The officer next in
order are Sheriff. who is changed by the
vote of the sovereign people every two
years. The term sovereign is applied
to the people in their political capacity in
irony, signifying weakness instead OF pow
er. The Sheriff has two lieutenants who
are termed respectively, deputy and turn
key The deputy is sent out by his supe-
rior officer to capture indicators, while
the turnkey, is on duty at the prison, and
locks the prisoners up, and attends to their
wants while they are kept in duress. The
next officer in Importance is called the
Clerk, who also employs two deputies. lie
issues all the orders, and acts as general
secretary of the organization. The Clerk
is a very important officer who intuses Or
der into every department of the service.
and without his organizing hand every
thing would turn into chaos, and the spir-
its of evil carry things pretty much their
own way.
The States Attorney has Immediate COM
mand Of the forces in the field, and is the
fighting general Of the army. 1t is his
business to lead the forces into the fire and
direct the movements of the battle. There
are six minor officers attending the court
when on duty known as Crier and Bailiffs.
The Crier sits nearest to the Court, and
his duty is that of herald to make procla
nation of the going out and coming in OF
the Court, which he does in loud voice
after the manner of the ancient heralds of
the East, who ran before the King and
proclaimed by loud shouts his majesty's
coming, so that all the people might bow
with their faces in the dust, while the King
and his attendants passed. During grand
encampment or session of the Court, the
"crier's'' voice is heard every morning
at ten o'clock sharp, shouting from the
Court House steps, sob yes! Oh yes! All
persons having business in Cecil county
Court, draw near and give your attendance
the Court is now in session, God save
the State and the honorable bench" mean
ing the Judges who are seated in very
comfortable chairs and not on bench at
all. This prayer which closes the criers
proclamation used to be the honor of the
bench" but that part of the formula has
been changed, and Divine protection is now
invoked for tue safety of the Courts person.
The special business of the Bailiffs is to
sit and dose, and in cold weather to make
the fires in the Court House, or coax or
hire ''nigger" to do it. During court
hours they occasionally rouse up from their
slumber and maliis their presence on duty
by cry out "silence in court In addi-
books for the Court and bar, watch the
doors of the Court House and jury rooms.
hand a glass Of water to the lawyers, &c
When Court adiourns the Crier and Bail
ifs sing out simultaneously, g Court adj
journed," and Immediately bolt for the
street. 1t being the hindmost mans duty
OF this corps of officers to close the Court
House and right up the furniture, there IS
race among them to escape this onerors
duty.
The rank and file of this grand army of
peace and order is composed of two battal-
lions, called iuries; the Grand jury num-
bers % members, and the Petit jury 90
The Grand jury is detailed on secret ser
vice and Bailif is always appointed by
the Court to watch them, precautionary
measure to keep outside intruders beyond
earshot, and convey messages back and
forth between them and the Court below.
There is another irregular body called wit
nesses who receive the least pay and the
hardest usage, being kicked about by the
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all the court officers, and turned out at
night to lodge where ever they can find
quarters-sometmes in Jail. These fel-
lows are the spies and informers, and are
indispensable to the Court, but are treated
with little ceremony, notwithstanding the
invaluable services they render.
There is another independent order who
accompanies this grand army of justice, call
ed in their organized form the :" Bar. -
They are a species of free lances and con-
stitute what would have been termed in
the Middle Ages the Chivalry of the army.
The Court hold a nominal control of this
body of lancers, but they are oftener found
fighting on the side of the enemy than on
that of justice, privileged abuse which
custom has sanctioned so long that it is
hard to eradicate. This body of knights
occupy an arena in the centre of the field
appropriated exclusively to themselves