The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-05-28
Correspondents
For the Republican.
Alexander Bailed.

Missouri, without the lear OF TOu bcloIc
their eyes ora proper respect for the
preservation of law and order, rendered
Il decision recently in the Alexander
case, which, to say the least, is odlouS
to the feelings of the editor Of the Pa
trOn.
His scnsibilities are shocked, his fears
for the wcIl-bcing of society, are arOuS-
ed, his wisdom invoked, and his opinions
unsolicited and uncalled for freely eX-
pressed. It is to be hoped, however,
that his criticisms will not find their
way to the learned ~jurists who blunder-
ed upon this decision, lest they sink I'M
der his severe cha>tisement in an agony
OF confusion and despair. Behold how
eloqucntly and ~lcarncdly he discourscS
upon the law, with what depth Of re-
search and understanding he condemns
the Supreme Judges, whose verdict
happily prccedes his own.
Having himself lived a life of unpol-
lutcd honesty and chastity, how we'll
qualified to judge Of the motives of
those who are fortunately or untortu-
natcly the subject of his criticisms.
Having been Il citizen Of the State of
Missouri for nearly one Wholc yea', he
has pre-eminentiy distinguished HIM
self a the great reflector of the crimi-
nal code, and hence mtcliigcntly may
he determine the inevitable consequent
ces of this decision upon her people,.
How carefully has he boarded up i
treasure of reputation for himself, which
radiates and p~uriiies the atmosphere
that surrounds him. With what unim-
pa>sioncd tcrvor he dilateS upon that
>ystcm OF Jurisprudence on which the
liberty and happiness of the community
depend. Thus fortified and endowed
with these noble attributes of mind and
soul, fully possessed with these remark
able qualifications, he seeks to expose
what had long since been published, the
action of the supreme Court i'll render
inr a decision which in his wisdom he
regards not only Il scaIdalous evasion
OF law and Justice, but a gross insult to
the common understanding OF the citi-
zen.
1t is nevertheless n true maxim, that
well-carned ability and deserving merit
seldom reap ti,eir lust reward, and an
unapprecia;ive public is ever eager to
question the motives which actuate their
tcll0w-maG, more especially If their
written sentiments cannot be roconcilcd
with their oral declarations.
Are YOU in earnest sir, when you
ba>clv ~in>inEate that the friends of AL
exander had no more worthy or humane
object in view in procuring his adm!s-
sion to bail, than that Of providing for
him the means bv which lie could evadc
the law by Il forfeiture OF his bond?
If SO, let me assure You then were |
personally Your cnemy, | should dwell
with a malignant rlcasuro upon the
strong probabilities, that you yourself
will be called for at the Court House
door and II" response. while Alexander
will he q third time undergoing u trial
for the offence with which hG is charged.
BE it so his friends will then be spared
a repetition of the hypocrisy YOU prac-
t;ced during the progress OF his former
trixl.
You have s'no desire TO express an
opinion" in your schoOl-boy article"
and vet you have betrayed Your opinion
by the very care You have taken Ia com
zeal it. by a constitutional intirmity. In
stead of acting that open. generous part,
which becomes Il liberal minded man.
YOU seek to irAame the minds of those
who have hitherto been accustomed to
read your paper. against a man who
should be permitted to stand his trial
unbiased lay public opinion. If YOU had
other motives i'll view, why did YOU not
in charity say. that the prisoner had
been twice tried by competent jurors
with a vigorous prosecution for this Of
Tense. and not Il single .juryman out of
the tW~enty-tour was in favor OF intlict-
ing the death penalty?
Why did you not in charity say, that
eighteen iurymcm out of the twenty-fOur
were in favor of an acquittai? Why did
YOU wantonly pervert the truth. and
grossly insult the sheriffS Of our county.
by intimating that they had been kribed
to procure 4 single iuryman Ito hang
the jury" What reason III you assign
for charging the counsel for the defense
with bribery and corruption?
In some men there dwells a malig-
nant passion to pervert the truth with
an aSnerity that knows no limit. but
fortunately for mankind the intrinsic
worthlesSness of q large majority OF
them destroys their influence and sub
verts their motives. Without politics,
without morals, without character, with
out any of the more noble sentiments
that control and actuate honest men in
their daily intercourse with their fellow
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