Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-02-21

seemed no conviction for murder could
be had, and vigilance committee was
imminent in Chicago, similar law wa.
passed. The effect was instantaneous !;
convictions followed rapidly, and in not
a few the jury fixed the death penalty,
and to-day the law is the best on Illinois
statute books. Talk as we may of the
jury having nothing to do with the PEN
atty under the present law, we know all
jurists consider it. When a man is now
found guilty Of murder, the jurors really
find him guilty to he hung, and where
there is the slightest doubt OF fear they
give a verdict of not guilty because they
cannot by the verdict do less than hang
the prisoner. The result ofihrowing the
matter wholly upon TIE july VIII prove
here as elsewhere bcnelcial. Lindsey
has also introduced IA bi.l 70 exempt in-
comes for three months in each year
from taxation. Senator Mckusic has in
troduccd II bill to restrict the snle of min
eIal lands on the 10th and Seth sections
to legal subdivisions of 40 acres,
CAPITAL PUNIsHMENT-oTEER MAT
TIERS.
The effort to abolish capital punish
ishment again took shape on Monday.
In the Senate Finney made another
strong effort to secure its passage. A mo-
ton to postpone its further consideration
prevailed, though the Senators were ready
TO send it to its fate at once. Finney
went over all the arguments Of the de-
batting school in favor Of the abolition of
the death penalty, but it was evident that
when the bill is reached for final action
on the 25th inst. it will be killed by
heavy vote.
The apportionment question has been a
warm one in the Assembly and has been
debated by Swift, tavoring immediate
apportionmcnt, and Williams, opposing
it. A large party prefer to await the
State census of 1875; some fear to act at
all, but nearly all admit that something
must be done to readjust the present sys-
tenn Of representation. Ii is natural that
the counties in the moutan-. which have
not Increased in population IN p.oppItion
to the increase IN cities and The ng,icul-
tural regions, should feel 10th 10 lose the
power they now have. There is also
deep consideration concerning the real
Interpretation of the constitutional pro-
vision on the matter. In this connection
Mr.. Peek has introduced a resolution
looking to an amendment of the Consti-
tuition, providing for an apportionment
Of the voting population OF the several
cOunlle- a. a basis OF repre-, ,entatiOn in
the Legislature, on plan hereafter to
be fixed upon, OF checks and balances Of
power, similar to that adopted in the
Federal Cons titution, so that each coun-
ty shall elect one representative for each
branch OF the Legislature. Such a meas
ure will hardly meet with favor as the
theory and principle Of representation
and taxation will be violated by such an
amendment. Mr.. Williams proposes an
amendment to the Constitution on the
same subject. Its provisions are, that at
the legislative session first held after the
taking Of the United States census, rep
resentation shall be apportioned in coun-
ties and districts to be established by
law, according to the population, eXclud-
ing untaxed Indians, and Mongoians
" But there shall not be appoItioned to
any county greater representation than
one-hfth OF the whole nun Der o Senator,
or members OF the AssemDiy.' The A.
semblymen to be 80 in number until we
have 100000 inhabitants, and after that
to be regulated by law never to exceed
I20,