The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-06-03
FOR CONGRESS, Arm DISTRICT,
HON. O. r.. SINGLETON,
Or MADISON.
'.For forms of government let fools con.

test;
Whatever's best administered is best"
That the citizens of Canton have
an abundance of the written law, is
evidenced by the columns of
our contemporary, tho American
Citizen, during the past two
weeks. There our citizens find
the new Charter and the amend
ed ordinances which constitute
the constitution, the law, for
the government of our city. 1t
matters not how this Charter was
procured it is, nevertheless, in the
absence of the old charter, the law.
1t matters not what our opposition
to it, insofar as it affects us individ-
ually, may be, we are willing to be-
lieve that the trainers of it were in
huenced and moved in the interest of
public good, wo will at least concede
this. On the other hand, that lawless-
ness, riot, bloodshed and licentious-
ness are on the rampage in our city,is
also manifest, and if doubted, the
records of our city court, for the
past few weeks will attest the charge.
Why is it2 Not that we haye not
the law, the written law, for the
suppression of crime and the pun
ishment of offenders, but for the
cause that, in the administration of
that law, crime is not rebaked and
offenders are not punished CON-
mensurarately with their crimes.
The penalty for the violated law
has no terror to offenders. The ar
rest and fining of q party, the
paltry sum of thirty dollars, for in
vading tho family circle, and as
saulting the head thereof, the ia.
Their in the bosom of his family,
with his wife and innocent chill
dren about him, is no rebuke to
crime, is no terror to the perpetra-
tor thereof, but rather a license for
the repetition of the crime and for
the obstruction of the barriers Of
protection that every citizen has a
right to expect from the admins
traitors of the law. Again, it is no
rebuke to crime, it is no terror to
the offender upon his conviction of
the charge of willfully destroying |
the property of a public institution,
to discharge him from custody up
on the payment of the Insignificant
fine of twenty-five dollars and cost.
Neither is the ma jesty of tho law
vindicated, the ends of justice sub
served, nor an outraged people con-
soled. The lax Administration of
our laws does not receive tho sane
ton of orr people, but, on tho 9TH
or hand does receive their earnest
In their behalf we
appeal in all sincerity, with hon.
esty of purpose, and void of preju-
dice on our part, and imputing no i'm
proper or dishonest motive to our
and ask that they
hear us and grant to our people
escape from the wholesale
and crime that stalk
day and night in the limits
of our city. Hold the rod of Justice
firmly over offenders, vindicate the
law. and tho people will be blessed
and your reward will be the plaudit
swell done thou good and faithful
Do this, and soon will cease
the tramp of lewd women on our
streets, drunkenness and debauche-
~ will be on the decrease, tho gam
blers avocation will be gone and his
hell deserted, and law
lessness of all kinds will skulk away
before the onward march of high
of morals, truth and justice;
not because we not only have the
written lew, but also have its pow
er and effect in its just admInistra-
lion.