Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-29
Carrying Arms.

Mr.. EDITOR: Your remarks in the
CHRONICLE of yesterday morning
touching the destructive consequen-
ces and irreparable mischief Of the
la Eless practice of going armed,
doubtless meets the appreciation OF
all peaceable, orderly, industrious
citizens. cannot say, with many,
that none but towards will carry
arms, for have known brave men to
wear them but I do say it is q
coWardIy habit, unworthy of a brave
man and that in a short time it Will
make bully, braggadocio, and des-
perado out of man who otherwise
might by q reputable and orderly
citizen And, moreover, it seems to
me slat man who will wear arms III
a crowd, who will shoot at men on
the streets Of an orderly city, is as
much a foe to society SIS the man
who would turn a 1nad-dog or a wild
beast loose IN 8 mixed throng
of men, women and children
But | ''took my pen in hand" not
for homiiy, but vindlcation OF tn
law, which you say, "shou d make
Imprisonment a part Of the penalty !"
Doubtless you thought impr SON.
ment no part of the penalty, because
you have not heard of any Of the
many violators Of this law in our
community s'ffr ring su Ii penalty Tor
such mis- onduct
But listen: ''Auy person gui ty
of VIC alton of the provisions OF
this section (that il, guilty OF wear
ing arms) shall be guilty Of mis-
demeanor, aud subject to present
"ment or indictment, and on con
eviction shall pay fire OF not less
than ten nor more than fifty dol
lars, and may be imprisoned in the
county jail not more than three
months; provided, however, the
court may commute the imprison>
"ment altogether, &c" In Knox
vile the court commutes; and men
wear arms and deadly afhrays oc
cur; and our sons and brothers are
killed and a tender hearted jury,
for PHYS sake, find a reasonable
doubt IN favor of the prisoner;
and he goes scot free, or is but slight
ly punished for killing a man, and no
one is afraid Of the court; and men
continue to carry pistols and brag
and quarrel and shoot, and make
cheap regulations for courage; and
the boys emulate their example, and
seek noH me tdngere name, because
"they'll Shoot" and, lest they may
not advance with sufficient rapidity,
we buy them toy pistols for presents,
and tell them not to be afraid; (and
they are not, but soon call for pis-
tol that viii shoot; and SO boys,
youths, and men have the pistol habit;
and the shooting and killing still
goes on, sometimes purposely, some
times accidentally; but no one goes
to Jail, and the CHRONICLE complains
Of the law.
Indulge mo but little longer
while [ recount history.
For twenty five years previous to
1878 Memphis had the reputation, fair
~ earned, / doubt not, of ia hard CT Y.
Crimes of all grades were frequent;
property rights were disregarded;
human life was trifed with criminal
prosecutions were numerous, and
the expenses thereof were enormous.
The criminal judges were men Of
good reputation, and lawyers Of fair
ability, usually chosen, however, by
political preference, and probably
tempered justice with mercy;" be
cause doubtless ''the quality OF mer-
cy is not STRANDED but the crimi-
nails We're, and most OF them pass d
through the seive. In 1878 the
best criminal lawyer in the city was
chosen for the Office of criminal
Judge. Familiar with all the sharp
points Of the criminal practice, and
schooled likewise in the philosophy
Of criminal law, he entered upon its
administration inteliigently, vigor-
ously, efficiently, and impartially.
Old offenders, young bloods, and
cranks, were all alike made 10 under
stand that public order would be en-
forced, and public peace ga sranteed;
that q man would as certainly be pun
ished for killing fellow nau as for
stealing a ham of meat. NJ one was
excused for carry ing weapons, except
those whom the law excuses; law
abiding is rewarded and law break
ing punished. Three years have
passed. Mark the result. Memphis
is now known as a quiet, orderly
city; expenses are diminished by
sixty per cent; young men are dis
couragea or deferred rom crime or
vice, not only by wholesome dread
of fearless and efficient court, but,
better, by the healthy public senti-
ment which such court has aroused
and attracted to its support. Men
have given up wearing arms, and
shooting afrays and homlcides are
rare occurrences. Will not the CHRoS-