Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-06

g SEE. LIZ &E |
The 18th Of August viii be memo.
rable one in East Tennessee. On that |
day three murderers viii suffer the e1-
IRENE penalty of the law-at Knoxville, |
Rogersyille and Tazewell, respectively. |
Theirlcases have been carefullyIreviewed |
by the Supreme Court, now inf session
at Knoxville, and the sentences of the
lower courts affirmed. Honeycutt's
crime was a cool, calculating murder
for money. Barry took his wife's life,
that no obstacle might exist to his
indulgence In another crime still more
unnatural and unholy. Webb was a
hired assassin, and slew his victim for
price In referring to these men and
their fate, the Knoxville Press and Her.
aid editOrislly says: While there can
not very fifty be said to be anything
pleasant in such announcements
as we have found it our
duty to make in the cases of Honey
cult, Barry and Webb, there is much
in the results of their trials to give
confidence and encouragement to the
law-abiding people of our State. The
majesty Of the civil law, sternly and
honestly maintained by the courts,
affords the best possible guarantee of
social order-of protection to life, lib
erty and property. Laxity Of Judicial
administration begets holiness in
crime, and distrust in society. Lynch
law may terrify evil-doers, but to
greater extent fills peaceful communi-
ties with apprehensions and alarm. The
prompt inhicti5n of legal penalties, by
the just processes of the courts, is the
only remedy for lawlessness. There
fore, without any squeamish senti-
mentality, We hail it as an encour-
aging fact that, by the three executions.
next August, murderers are to be
taught that the arm of the civil law is
now strong enough for their speedy
punishment in Tennessee"
In another place-on its local page
the same paper has this, in a spirit far
different from that characterizing the
extract above given:
Last spring much complaint was
made and opprobrium sought to be
heaped upon the Supreme Judges by
correspondents of the Nashville press
for their unanimous Judge Turner ex-
cepted) recommendation TO the Gov
ernOr to commute the death sentence
of a half witted young negro from
Bedford county for the crime of rape
on negro girl, in consequence of |
which his punishment was committed |
q to confinement at hard labor for life. |
To such of the sanguinary citizens
of the good county of Bedford-and |
especially the bloodthirsty scribes of |
Shelby yille-as desired to witness a |
vindicatiOn Of the majesty Of the law,
We extend a cordial invitation to our |
East Tennessee exhibitions on the 18th |
of August next. They may choose
their ground. If the metropolitan air
Of Knoxville is not agreeable, the an
cient town of ROgersvIlle will be found
accessible; or, if that is too populons,
they may retire to the bucolic vicinage
of TaZewell, where the more ardent
may view the scene at arms length,
while those of poetic taste may get an
enchanting view from distance on the
top Of Cumberland mountain. On that
day We can crafty the hanging tastes
Of the most fastidious.
Whatever amount Of truth there may
be in this thrust at the.people of Bed
ford county, we cannot but regret the
way in which it is put. The harsh and
unjust criticism of the action
taken by the Supreme Court in the Holt
case cannot justify it; nothing can JUS
tify it. Our public taste is, alas! be-
coming too fippant In these matters of
life and death. When we make a Jest
of the gravest questions passed upon
by the supreme tribunal Of the State,
we lessen the respect which should be
entertained for 1t by every law.abldlng
citizen. Those who sit in Judgment
over US are not infallible; ike us all,
they are human, but their experience,
their ability, their knowledge of the
law, their unimpeached integrity in
duced the people, by a vast majority of
votes, to single them out as peculiarly
fitted for the places they now occupy
upon the bench as arbiters from whom
there is appeal to but one court. To
them we owe althe reverence attaching
to so solemn aud responsible a trust.
Let us not bring them, and the law and
ourselves into contempt by unseemly
testing. 1t will be the worst day Ten
nessee ever witnessed when her people
can hear m. 600 such things without an