The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-02-19
A sALEMITn ON THE enRRAND CASE

nm Der OF over-sensltlve persons. 1t h;
NJ been judicially determined in SPIT
70 Of female slobber and pulpit raj
Ia that murder is murder by the Law
: 1t seems, however, to be still
a. doubt whether murder is a crime Ill
70 der the law.
Il Gerrand had two trials and a
" many respites from the execution G
v the judgments which followed them
IS Every safeguard which lenient sys
o TEN OF laws throws around person
q in like situations was accessible b.
Il Kim. His case was twice fully con
= sdered by the Supreme Court.
long period of time was permitted
/ to elapse between the commission O
q the crime charged and the fna
q Judgment of the law, in which what
ever Of passion might exist could
subside and all excitement die out.
The law dealt with him in great eau
, tion and with extreme deliberation
If under these circumstances the law
is not longer to be enforced, then it
had better be abolished, and some
less costly p&stime or less solemn
farce be substituted for it.
II is the reproach Of this Govern
ment that no where among civilized
nations is life so unsafe as in the Uni
ted States; and, may ndd, that it is
the reproaeh of Oregon that no
where in tho United States is it SO
unsafe as in Oregon,
Some five or six homicides have
taken place ia Portland alone, in the
last four years, and it is matter of
universal knowledge in that commu-
nifty that some of these homicides
were atrocious murders. Many of
those guilty of these crimes are now
at liberty after having served
short term in the penitentiary and
their colleagues in crime are enjoy
ing themselves and q prospect of
early freedom, under q prison system
that secures to them all the comforts
OF life and many of it's Injuries. In
the lower portion Of this county
nearly as many murders have been
committed in as many years, and no
adequate punishment has followed.
II the sentiment manifested by a
part of the community land lam
glad to say that it is not q part that
is conspicuous for calmness or
thoughtfulness) be considered, the
state Of things to which refer will
be easily explained, Instead of re.
garding Gerrand as q felon, this class
have insisted upon making him an OBJ
iect of dramatic interest hero of
the hour. Soft hearted females and
soft headed males paid court to him
early and late. Their batteries of
and denunciations of his
threatened punishment have no ]
loubt persuaded him TO look upon
he law with complacency, if not 1
With satisfaction, II tenth of that
stated be true, then Gerrand, the t
elon, was tho delight of female visi-
ors and the envy OF the males. One |
VI these female yotaries at the Shrine
II homicidal greatness has not hes +
tated to publish in the papers an nc $
ount of the parting kiss which she t
ave this halG-breed convict-taking /
he precaution however to let it be t
,nown that the iron barl of his cell ]
Ioor interposed their chaste pres. il
nee between them at the time. OF G
curse, when crimo not only goes h
but is made the means p
y which those who commit it are in "
reduced to favor and affection, there Il
all be plenty of men ambitious of s
distinguishing themselves in crime. S,
Ii is tho true policy of society to it
egrade crime, not exalt it; to make ft
rime, and above all, the crime of ri
nurder, a thing so terrible in its
that the boldest cut Ii
lroat and tho most ungoverned pas S
on will shrink from its commits W
on. tl
| do not hesitate to say that tho p,
'eatment which Gerrand has ro- ell
aived, is calculated to destroy the Ii
which men have in the 10
Hcacy and in tho dignity of the ro
w, and it must go great way to- &C
ards persuOding men when they ru
nd their homes, their persons and fo
le members OF their families mem
ed by the dagger and pistol, to re- Je
rt to tho great law Of self defense Gu
hich nature has written on all hearts sa
I'd to dispense justice without jury ou
Judge, it
With renewed confidence in the iu,
urnalism Of my State and increased WI
spect for the DrMocRr, fet
l remain yours,
MARION,
- era
Next. As we expected, the aver an,
Q Radical paper is now boosting joe