The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-21

nOnbns lOT CuIeluB tuc Qlecus Ibteins
that this Leatbam was an ignorant person
who had been talking about taxes and sup
posed, because they were deDominated
"queen's taxes" that they we're collected
for the queens individual benefit; and go in
church, and during church service he,
spontaneously" as he says, twice aud
libby cursed the queen, and, on being
demonstrated with, became so violent that
he was elected from the church, four men
being necessary to thus dispose of him.
All Of this 10 proper subject for ridi-
Guile and sarcasm, but would 1t not be well
for US to cast the beam out Of our own eye
before attending to the mote in our BROTH
er's eyer In looking over the criminal rec
ords OF Rutland for the past five years, we
might, with equal force as this London cor
respondent, ask if the institution of the
christian Sabbath rested on 80 unstable a
foundation that q mere breath would, not
only ''set il rocking" but entirely over
throw itP Within that time, young man,
not having the fear of God before his eyes,
was wicked enough 10 60 fishing Sunday,
and one of our astute Rutland prosecuting
officers entered complaint against him
for the crime, and he was tried and con-
victed, and but for the fortunate circum-
stance that he had friend who was will
Ing to loan him eight dollars he would have
been condemned to life imprisonment in
the county Jail. As it was, he paid-or
rather bis friend paid for him-some eight
dollars into the town treasury. Where is
the difference in princlple2
Do our courts OF justice rest upon 80 un-
stable foundation that mere breath sets
them rocking" endangers their efficiency
and threatens their existence Our law
makers seem to think so, for they have
made 1t a crime to defame any court of
| justice, any of its proceedings or sentences,
or any of the magistrates, judges or JUS
''tices of any such court, touching any act
Tor sentence therein passed" So that If
any disappointed sutton or attorney shall,
as we fear Is too often the case, "damn
1.-The court even one holden by justice
of the peace, he is liable to q heavy fine
and, in default Of it's payment, to perpetual
imprisonment. In the same manner one
who publicly denies the existence of Su-
preme Being, or who shall "coDtumelious-
''ly reproach his providence and govern
''ment' is subject to life imprisonment in
the county Jail should any dot be found
sufficiently stupid to prosecute therefor
| And that such dolts exist in our midst
every mans experience attests. Is it pos
sible that the security of our courts and
the existence of the christian religion de-
pend upon such enactments? Our law
Rakers seem to think so-for hardly cor
porals guard Of them could be found who
would dare vote for the repeal of these stu
pid laws.
II is all very laughable, to be sure, that
in Great Britain man who disturbs pub
lie worship by audibly cursing the queen
should be imprisoned for two months, but
how much better of are wep How much
less absurd are the contrasts of our crimi-
udi idWsI Ouo VIM WHiuly anu mail
ciously burns the dwelling house of anoth
er msy be imprisoned in the state prison
not exceeding ten years; while one who
" takes drop too much" may be condemn
ed for life to the county Jail. One who
breaks into bank and steals hundred
thousand dollars can be imprisoned not
more than fifteen years, while one who
steals a ten cent loaf of bread to keep his
family from aiarvina 10 liable to perpetual
Imprisonment. If one, armed with dan
gerous weapon, shall rob another, be can
only be imprisoned by ten years imprison-
ment; but If the same person was guilty
only of the crime of visiting from house
20 house, on Sunday, life imprisonment in
Jail stares him in the face. If an attempt
to commit murder by poisoning, drowning
or strangling 10 made the penalty is ten
years imprisonment; but for keeping a
glass of ale with intent to sell the same,
the penalty may be confinement in Jail for
life.
But we will not pursue these contrasts
further. These laws are upon our statute
book and will probably remain there for
years to come, aud until we have class OF
Legislators who believe that the proper OBJ
servance of the Sabbath, an honest belief
in the existence Of God, and christianity,
morality, and decency do not depend on
mere human snactments. These laws are
but the relics of barbarian, but while they
, remain it would be full as we'll for us to
: cast the beam out of our own eye befol q
4 attending to the mote in the eye OF oui
: British brothers.