Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-09-07
[CoMMuNIcArED.
THE INCREASE OF CRIME.

II is notorious fact, that crime is on
the increase in our county. It is not
unbecoming then, in any one who wishes
reform in this respect, to advance
some of his opinions corrective of this
worst Of all evils. II is fact that about
ten criminals are now in the custody Of
the Sheriff of our county awaiting trial
at the next jury term of our Court, for
offences under the criminal laws of the
State. That crime is on the increase.
can be perceived by any one who will
stop to reflect. At no term before for
many years has this number of crimi-
mails been awaiting the decision Of the
Court, and by reference to statistics, il
will be seen that the number has been
increasing steadily from year to. year.
II is true that majority Of these GRIM
inals are now confined for petty Often
ces, but as crime leads on to crime, it
will not be long before the criminals
will steep their hands in deeper dye.
This subject has given us considera-
bic thought as philosophical one. We
have thought that some cause might be
attributed to this steady and persistent
increase, and We have hoped that, af-
ter discovering the cause, or something
approximate thereto, we might minister
TO the evil, and if not cure it, might at
least check it. DR.. Buckle, the great
English political economist and judicial
reformer, has asserted that marriages,
murders and suicides are the natural
effects Of material c; uses. This theory
is open to a great many objections which
we have not the time or inclination now
to debate. We have long entertained
the opinion, however starting it may
be, that crime is an epidemic. This
theory has been adopted BY greet many
Of the first judicial reformers of the
world, and its force is now being more
and more recognized. An epidemic
must proceed originally from some first
cause, and after being created, its in
lection Of the atmosphere or a commu-
nifty is communicated to other individ.
ual members, not predisposed to its pri-
malinfuence. It's well, that after an
epidemic in disease or in a community
has been inaugurated by this primal
cause. we should use precautionary
measures to check its wider range
This measure is recognized by all the
faculties Of medicine. Then il Is a good
theory and, consequently, justifies the
adoption of precautionary measures
against the increase Of crime.
hat kn &sSk ~f
crime proceeds from the human heart
its evils and its inclinations, which only
the purifying hopes Of religion can keep
in check. But when nature and sin have
been given their widest sway, then the
arbitrary corrective must be applied.
The fear Of civil punishment, we regret
to say, in our opinion, has been more
the cause of the prevention of crime
than the fear ofbreaking the Decalogue.
Let the punishment be certain, and Sc
we're, up to the measure OF the offence.
and others predisposed to commit simi-
lar crimes will be deferred. It is not
to punish the offender that the Courts
pass sentence Of imprisonment upon
the convict, but for the purpose only Of
reform. II is not for the purpose Of
ekeing out the vengeance Of the law
that q fellow-mortal is doomed to ex-
plate his crime upon the scaiIold. but
only for the purpose Of lettering others
from the commission OF like offences.
II is fact that in countries, China, ia
pan, and most of the Oriental nations,
where the administration of the Penal
codes are most severe, and where il
seems as ii the punishment is personal
ly and vindictive,y inflicted BY the law,
in these countries crime is more COM
mon and frequent, and Of a more horri-
bic nature. In our civilized country
the law looks on pityingly while body
is dangling between Heaven and earth.
We have advanced this rs an argument
that CRIME can oaly be checked by rig
orous and unerring laws, from whose
mandate there shall be no appeal-shat
when crime is committed justice win
follow its trail until il is unearthed, not
for the purpose of exercising its dire
vengeance. bat for4he purpose Of vim
dicating itself. and TO teach others that
her fair name cannot be sullied.
With this prelude to the article which
We have proposed to write. We viii de-
fer until your next issue any advance
ment OF our theory by which we think
q reform can be made, and which viii
ensure . better compliance with the
criminal code Of our State.
REFoRNKR.