The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-05-01
.Jaet0e Jur.kf1. O,s Local Optto,..

telrJ county, ~ Lne ItSpaOiiCan PFeS1
dent Judge of the Juniata, Perry an
Cumberland district. He held court i
Carlisle last week. A number Of ladies q
that ancient and historical place, com
m"nded by strong minded sister by tn
hame Of Hillman, believing or supPosini
that they had right to believe, tina
J@dse Junhin had not enforced the ioea
.tion Law in Cumberland county, one C
the counties in which the people endorsed
il, marched into the court house wher
coart was in session and through the
aforesaid Mrs. Hilinan read an address t
Jud sc Junkin ON the subject to which
we have referred. The judge received
/ Mrs. HillInaR, and the ladies with her, in
+ the most courteous manner, and to IheI
memorial made the following reply, which
we think viii prove interesting 10 all who
read it
LADIES: We have anticipated your COM
ing, and yet we do not conceal our surprise
1t IL prohable that since the organization of
courts Of justice, the like has not occur.
red. There must be some cause inducing
you to leave your domestic cares, and pre-
sent yourself in the character OF petitioners;
amt being here, it will not be our fault If
You 60 away empty handed. You will now
hear what You have not hitherto had the
means OF knowing.
Your petition implies much more than
your innocent hearts have 1:eamcd or in
tended; II means one or two things, if not
both, Whether that this court has failed
In lis duty IN the past, or intends to do so in
the futIEe. We are satisfied that you have
arrived at this conclusion honestly in the
usual womanly way. Some one told Won
and your hearts have gons out in a good
cause, and your zeal has made your present
action 4 duty.
Has any of you ever taken the pains to
examine the records of this court to see how
many mon and women have been punished
within the last one hundred and fifty days
Tor selling liquor without license? For your
information the clerk will read the record
Clerk read record as follows:
II shows that twenty persons have been
convicted and sentenced, all for the first
otfense, and the fines exceed 5000 and with
costs quite 81 ,000-in all So COO
You thus perceive that the fines and costs
lnulcted within six months exceed So, ,0OO.--
The number convicted is twenty and the
number acquitted one only Now, ladies,
what think you of this? Does it occur TO
You that the court has been idle or indiffer-
ent? Had you heard of this before? You
VIII ber that these are nnimpeachable
records. They impart absolute verity.
4hey Will remain and speak long after all now
present are dust. Have you heard auv ner
son speak of this evideuce:or have your adxis
ors been so unjust as to conceal all this7 If
they have failed TO inform you of these fact.
they have borne false witness against us-for
conCealment of truth is the eouivaIan+ of
faisehood E"n will be just-let Others do
as they will. You are far too pure in heart
10 Intentionally wrong, by word or deed n
tribunal which its own self respect cop,neIs
10 slience, and which is not expected to en-
ter 'he neId IN self defence; and we recoo
nize our obligation to you for the opportu6-
i'y and occasion your presence gives for
pointing TO the records Of the court as its
shield against assault. The duties of ,ba
court are often delicate and intricate TO
weigh out the precise measure of punish /
lnsnt FH
The local option principle Is, as Won are /
ware, an experiment, and its abruUt en- I
,oTcemoDt Is attended with great difficulties /
ou viii remember that il cut IN laroa in /
ierests by the roots, and from this his
sprung bitter and determined onnos;t;oD
such as never before has ruauifesIed Itscif
against any law Of this commonwealth and /
there Is no question but il encounters tba
hostility OF majority of the yot.rs Of +L !
state But you answer the law is strong
Le7' Wnen public sentiment backs il mn
Suen II has great majesty. You will remen- +
@ oet 'ist IL mas no armed forces at its com
tiaHu ordlnarIly-it executes its Durnos. in /
on its own Inherent ire-
ice for respect. You will readily sec 60
'f the difficulties in the way OF the nerf.c,
enforcement Of this particular law
We say to you, that there have bean "a
many punished for violating this law in
> uih oeFiana as IN any other county of
qua4 population il the Commonwealth ~
"niata county there have been four-in
'orry not one.
But you have bees told, and this vo, csr-
iot deny, that the sentences have h,sn IioLt
ne court too lenient The punishment for
ue AlSt Is mo from $50 to 5000 for &c
~ ~ . Hlo subsequent offense a tiua of not
COS IMAM 500, aud in the djscretion Of -
ourt Imprisonment not exc.edine, ; nc
lays. hlhety
NoT, there have been no conviction.
,'I I've LOT ihs hrst otTenSe, so that imprison-
neht could not hitherto be added 10 tha e.
LoN understand the legislature 1ixes ~
'IhIshnient, not the court-tho discretion
'et"eea the minimum and maximum is
e:t TO the discretion of the conrt
Your ready Intelligence will teach Won
l|' tnls ulsc=etlon IL lodged with III. cGrrT
u wise Purposes-it could not safely he /
'uSeu IN town meeting. You know th,t ,
"ihus must be tempered to the shorn =
'mo, and II marks the progress of ~
tTat Master S cause, that with the adyapao !
. Ale h'hSuom the prison doors are OMEN :
y ctuei and degrading punishmepts are
" ana The criminal law admins :
Htn,', -. sP!rlt Oh reform, not of revenge \
AHoW me TO remind you of the punish .
eHts ihnlcted IN England within two csn
'.4ee last past. Then had poor starv- =
= pSesar stolen but one of your Jewels :
Nv - L'shihg S before me, even though ex- :
'Hoeo lot oread-nay but feather froT,
1nr Hat-Geath would have been his nor
on anu thousands died upon the scafToId I
= no greater crime than that.
~ u any fair girls face, as soft and bright
i'h eyes as mild and loving as anv nov h.
S ne me, Tor stealing but an article OF nsr-
no Lo+IAs - n'Asnt, ring, or precious stone II
= r,r,' hened IN The sunlight, and her sun
nj r-,jsno lSsitteileo IN the Winds. Were such i
uei punishment inflicted in our a. S'.Cn ~ il
ouid hear an earnest protest from % we b
arm hearts, but no such specIacIs LII b
CT cross your vision, thanks to tbnt - 81
re OF human nature which even the tTa;I 81
the serpent could not obIiternte t. a
Sslng sentence IL is wise TO consider oil s.
. circumstances, and there cannot iustIv 5,
Al lhneNlole measure of punishment. u
=
READING on A SNAKES TAu.-Tbe IA +;
'e shAke story comes frcm Cnnnsctic,,. =.