Daily Republican., 1881-02-10
THE COUNTY PRISON.


gent Christian community could be-
stow.
THE COUNTY PRISON.
The county prison, with the excep-
tion OF the vagrant department, is in a
credltSbls condition. Prisoners confn
cd for long periods OF time have as
much opportunity for reouperative ex
erciSe as is consistent with law and the
rules Of the prison, while the restraints
which are necessarily imposed upon
the bad passions and immoral tenden-
ces OF many who are sent there, must
undoubtedly exercise, iu some degree,
a sslutary.iunuence upon them. Va
grahts are becoming by far too numerous
in Jail. Many Of them, from sheer
laziness seek our prisons 10 order to be
taken care OF, without any effort on
their part TO help themselves, unless it
be by petty stealiug. Ii law could |
be enacted TO compel them to work |
out the expense they entail upon the
county, there would doubtless, be few
er of them in prison. II, however,
LBtJ al y VI Ntullhub luflt ihuuLGbl
habits aud live In Jail, it will be- ne
ces5ary ts provide some means of ven
tilsting the cells allotted to them, for
at present they are in no condition
even for vagrants to remain in any
length of time. The impurity OF the
atmosphere about them reaches up in
to the dwelling of the Sheriff, and is
at times foul enough to invite disease
in tAAs ofhcer'G ramily.
TuB cRrNB or RAPB.
The disgusting crime Of rape is an
oGense CT Aigh degree In the eyes Of
tho law, and should be met with prompt
and osrtsin punishment in all eases
wherein conviction follows trial. The
protection Of every household demands
this the safety OF society requires 1t.
The wives and mothers and daughters
OF the land expect the authorities TO
Zee that every safeguard be thrown
arOuud them which the laws OF the
country and morality have provi1 led /;
and common decency would seem TO
dictate, that every well-ordered, re-
spectacle member OF the community
shOald consider himself a s0lf-enroled
protector OF the chastity OF woman.
For the first time in the judicial his
tory Of Delaware, the spectacle is pre-
scented OF a thus far successful attempt
to urest from the hand OF our laws a
hlthy eulprit who had been fairly tried,
souscientiously sdjudged and legally
convicted OF the horrid crime OF rape
upon respectable woRan, living With
in the borders of New Castle county.
Hitherto no attempt had ever been
made thus to abrogate the laws OF our
State, laws upon which the great mind
OF tbe laneuted Clayton is impressed,
and which have received the sanction
and support Of every distinguished
Judge who has administered justice in
Delaware from the adoption Of cur
State constitution TO the present time.
suscsss in this effort will be dangerous
to the peace and order Of the commu-
nifty. II may be taken as an invitation
to supercsds the statutes, which may
no longer be effective in the dispense
ton Of justice within our borders, by
the code of Judge Lynch. THIS cruel
judicial excrssoence, rifs as II is with
: disorder, bloedshed and death, may
) become the foremost arbiter OF out
criminal code, when 1t shall be known
that the barriers of State justies are
broken down by Federal interference
Surely the people of Delaware are
not yet ready TO place the governing
power OF their State in unauthorized
hands nor are they willing to yield
the constitutional sovereignty, gu&ran-
ts9d TO them BY the fathers OF the re-
public, and exercised, unmolestsd, fol
century Of time. They are still com,
petent to maintain social order and in,
dividual freedom under the laws Of tht
State, and therefore they should pre-
test against all attempts at federal en-
croachmspt Rpon their lHws, theil
institutions or their hitherto unais
, puted right to manage their own Affairs
-andsr our republican government
as to them may seem most conducive Il
the peace, the happiness and the pros
perity OF the State.
LcoSE MANNER IN WHICH EEGRoES RE6ARL
MARRIAGE.
While in the pursuance of its duties
| the grand jury has observed that there
is a growing tendency on the part OF
' negroes to disregard all the obligation:
of marriage, as defined by law and Gus,
: TEN, and in their habits to resemble
D more nearly the brute creation thar
. human beings. Cases are numerous in
the grand jury room, where parties
under examination admit these habite
and look upon them as matters OF course
with the race. This unlawful and in,
discriminate cohabitation affords sug'
gestiVe theme for moralists, especially
g in view of the fact that these people
q have been endowed with the right to
: exercise unqualified citizenship, and
Q are regarded by many persons as heirs
presumptive Of political power. 1t Ii
Q not the most direct nor safe method ol
= establishing governments and purify
ing the body polite Of its minor defects
: and frailtiss, bat the investiture ol
these privileges has bssn deoreed to
, them, and therefore the grand jury
! deems i: nece ssary to refer to the evil
Q and recommend that legal measures be
/, adopted TO prevent the Wholesale in,
7 dulgence thereof in the future.
CoRRUPrLgs THE ELKcFEoNs.
The grand jury would fail in most
q important part Of it's duty were it not
Q to call attention to the recently intro.
= duced practice Of eorrupting our cleo
t tions by an unlawful and dangerous
Q use of money. 1t is not attempted to
!. bs denied that the purchase Of votes
9 was leading feature Of the late can
o yass. The voice OF the people was, to
-, 4 L. IL