The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-01-11
The -Anti-AGonopo1ist.

tor biennial sessions OF the legislature. In |
formation Of the practical workings OF such |
alternate assemblages in other Stats, as well
as further reflection upon the subject, have
so tar confirmed my conviction of the wisdom |
OF such change that teel impelled to renew |
the recommendation. The plan seems to me |
to possess every advantage in Joint Of econ |
omy and in the avoidance of hurtful tamper |
ing with laws before they have been long |
enough in operation to test their character. |
Biennial sessions are held in about fifteen |
States OF the Union. The TACT that sew |
eral of these States are younger than !
Minnesota, impairs the practical force |
OF any objection that may be urged
on the ground of the constructive and expert |
mental necessities of new States. | again
commend the subject to your candid consld-
Grafton.
JURY POWERS
briefly adverted in my former message, to
the unsatisfactory operation OF the exist ng
law relative to the power OF juries in the pun
ishment OF capital crimes. The Obje otlonable
features of the law were fully and forcibly
dwelt upon by my predecessor in his two last
messages. The evils OF the law thus repeat,
eddy set forth, were empnatically illustraed
| by recent event, with the particulars OF
which you are all familiar. The audacions
attempt at bank robbery at Northfeld, result
ing tn the death Of two citizens and the
wounding of third, under circumstances 81
peculiar atrocity, failed to receive the runlshs
ment which both the legal and the popular
verdict would have demanded, owing to the
peculiar detects OF this law. BY the simple
plea of guilty, the perpetrators OF double
crime, richly deserving death, escape that
penalty by preventing the case from reaching
the Jury, who alone, can intiict it. No cogen-
CIV of reasoning founded upon a theory OF law,
can prove so fOrcible as such an experience
of its practice; and cannot believe you will
longer hesitate to act in the matter SO plainly
requiring your Intervention. Aside from the
question as to the righttulness Of the death
penalty, a law which is so liable to abuse,
and which adds to the ordinary uncertainties
OF the administration Of, justice demands
prompt abolition or amendment. 1t Oner5
constant temptation to the worst criminals to
cheat justice OF it's due, by making choice Of
their punishment upon their own plea: and
unless the evil be corrected, we may reasona-
bly, expect in future, an increased resort ~
culprits, to the easy expedient OF avoiding all
, risk of death by choosing the certainty OF an
,, Imprisonment. which in turn, may prove an
uncertain penalty, in view OF the chances
which cling to life. !,
, AS YOU will be asked to appropriate the
. amount OF the reward offered for the appre-
. hension OF the authors OF the Northfeld out.
rage, it may not be improper to detail here
!, the action taken in that matter. On the sixth
. of September last, band OF eight men. thor
: Oughly armed and mounted, entered the vii
= lage of Mortified, in this State, and, in mid
. day, while some OF them sought to overaw'
= the citizens by boisteruus intimidation ant
q reckless firing in the streets, which causet
# the death of one person, the remainder at
tempted the robbery OF the bank. The at
% tempt was frustrated by the heroic frmnes
4 of the acting cashier, who paid the penalty b.
4 the forfeiture of his noble life. The della.
e thus afforded, gave time for rally OF tn
l - - - <ho honn ON
"a compelled the others to fly. The alarm OF tn
" citizens widely spreading, the robbers wer
"a closely pursued, but they SUCCEEDED in elud
= ling immediate capture. Upon being advised
!, of the event, | at once offered reward to
d the capture OF the perpetrators, but .presum
le ing the speedy apprehension propaole, Irol
- the accounts that reached me, limited sue
reward to 81 500 for the culprits still at large
20 The robbers continuing to elude their pur
a. suers. subsequently increased the reward
70 81 900 for each culprit, the same to includ
a. all expenses OF capture. Pressing request
es were made OF me for the employment OF Ia
no militia and other military forces, but deem
ut ed it an OCCASION for detective vigilance an
n CELEBRITY OF movement rather than the exel
else of military force, which would have Ell
az tailed much expense upon the State witho.
increasing the chances of capture in the al
ed sence of special incentives. After lull
~ the excitement of pursuit. and delay leat
ing to the fear OF their final escape, four OF tt
n remaining robbers were finally overtake1
~ driven into swamp, and while one was Kill
or ed the other three were wounded end captu
b. ed The prisoners received their trial at Il
"a November term of the District Court OF Il
hu District. plead guilty to the crimes with whit
~ they were charged and were sen.enced to il
II prisonment for lite. Conflicting claims ha'
he been made for the reward offered for t
cd capture OF the robbers which could not
70 granted both because I could not det-rml
in. tile relative force, nor pay them 1t determl
h ed, until the requisite appropriation shou
ton to this matter, and suggest thu appoiI
"a. ment of commission to hear evidence q
he determine the just apportionment OF the
md ward.
nsr deem it source OF congraiulation tina
M band of desperadoes who have pursued
long career Of crime, and who by their dari
ma adroitness and disregard tor life, have elud
IN the Justice OF other States and kept lal
ion extent OF country in constant alarm, have
m last been overtaken by justice It is not
10. much to claim the result as due to the pers
1ch tent energy and courage Of our citizens q
ereignty OF law, which are the safeguards
tn popular institutions. Our people have ?
100 formed service in behalf OF these, not me
"; " for themselves, but tor the less forum
to communities where such defences are
the reliable.
/ o..
the ding q word OF commentator to the
cen tributes which have been paid to the ccnd
had of the brave man whose name will ever b
honorable connection with it. No tale
eso- Greece or Rome, nor the annals OF heroisn
The any age, recounts decd OF nobler persC
mai sacrifice. Without the pomp and emblaz
Acct ment which SO much impel TO deeds OF Z
ate ing. ]. h. Haywood opposed gentle firmr
had to brutal di .bolism, and calmly made chi
not of death in preference to lite, purchased
,eed 1.-THE cost OF its severest fidelity. In that ga
,ked fetal act he exhibited not alone exalted &C
.nt age. but such attributes as attest all
and nobler possibilities OF human nature.
r4he COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The absence ofany express provision Tor
ions organization Of counties which have been
aists malIy established by law, has led to m
ject, confusion and irreeularity, and sometime
ont contests between two sets OF officers, claim
ives their regular election by the people. The
must territorial statute which explicitly provi
as to for the first operation of county g0verHn
WAS repealed, or so modified, under the
alive vision Of 1866, as to indicate no method OF
and cedure. and to divest the Governor Of
the exnress authority to the end proposed.
,nestj Where there has seemed an urgent ne
AIR sity for speedy county organization, it
this been the practice of the executive to exel