The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1881-07-28
For the Farmer and Mechanic

| have no doubt but that at this time
in the United States, aud probably
throughout the civilized world, til,
question which overrides all Others il
the minds Of thinking men is Uou can
tie Ire. Of chief magistrates Of nottons
he best protected from assasStnution 2
Mr.. Conkling in a recent letter says
The man who attempts the life Of IA
president, if morallyresponsible, com
"mlts an offence which the ration ought
Ito guard against and punish by the
"exertion of all the power a civilized
nation may employ"
| am far from being an admirer OF
his political ethics, but in this he i
clearly right. La the last New York
Sun the Editor, commenting on this
letter, tlppantly and toolishly asks is
the murder of a man in office any more
atroclous than that of a man not in of
hce?' The shooting of his own father
or mother by Guiteau would have been
more otrOc'ous perhaps, but would it
have been a mllllonth part so n,tschiec-
ous as the shooting Of the President ?
1t is a universally received maxim OF
legal ethics that the severity Of punish
ment should be proportioned to the
mischief likely to result FROM the crime;
else why the distinction between grand
and petty larceny: between breaking
into a house IN the day and night?
Suppose Garfield died from his wound,
Arthur seated in his place, and muir
dered by a Democrat, and a Democratic
President OF the Senate taking his seat
as President of the United States;
would not our country receive a shock
more to be feared than the worst earth
quake that ever occurred? Who can
count the millions Of dollars and the
mental and physical pain which Gui-
teau 5 pistol has cost our people? Yet
the Sun says his crime is no more
"atroclous' than if he mad shot a ne
gro or an Indian baby. Such preach.
ing ~nauseates common sense.
For the preservation Of the lives of
future Presidents [ suggest that Com
gress shall pass a law 0utlue1tag any
man who shall Kill a President in any
way or for any reason except self-Je-
fence, unless the assassin be notoriouJv
insane. This would take away one ot
the cOmmonest and strongest incentives
to the killing Of chief rulers, which is a
passion tor nOtOrlety. Let the assassin
be outlawed by law and in ali probabiii-
ty he would not live an hour after the
commission of his crime. Outlawry
Will bring tire to meet fire. Thousands
OF men will be found 20 act as execu-
toners on accOun of the fame which
the Killing of the murderer would bring
to them. Already four men are claim
Ing the honor Of first arresting Guiteau.
1t would take very many pages to say
to the public all that | would like to saw
on this subject, but l am a very old
man, and writing is painful and labor
Gus. What | have written, if it is Of
any value, is enough to set wiser heads
tina mine to thinking. III am wrong.
hr. Editor, you will say SO in your own
words without giving offence. If YOU
shall agree with me, send a few of your
papers where they viii do most rood !"
w. q. G..
The initials will be recognised az Of
one OF the Fathers" who have thought
much. But IN view of the coming NJ
d second o. third Grant. we obpose ALI
measures looking to a stronger throne
at Washington.