Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-10-29

that the Q61en0anL Is guilty,
but he cannot tell the jury SO, or in
innate his opinion in that respect.
If the defendant is acquitted by the
jury, whether he be guilty or limos
cent, that is an end to the case. The
great responsibility rests with the
juries. Where there is sound pub
lie opinion with reference to the
punishment of crime, as in Memphis,
the officers engaged la the adminis-
tration of the criminal laws approve
and strengthen it, and the juries
give voice to it in returning their
verdicts But where there is indif-
Terence as to whether the laws are
executed or not, corresponding in
difference may be expected in the
courts.
One might laugh, if the subject
were not too serious for mirth,
when he hears men complain that
the criminal laws are not more rig
idly enforced, who are not willing to
give an hour of their time to public
interests. These men are never
seen on juries- They nearly always
excuse themselves, and some of them
when summoned pay no attention to
the process of the court until per
suaded to do so by fine. The duty
of serving on iuries devolves equally
on all good citizens and if these
men decline to perform this public
service they ought to accept things
as they are and quit complaining.
They spend all their time in their
own business and pleasure, and then
express Indignation that the state of
affairs is not better. They are UNI
willing to give any of their time to
aid in the administration of justice,
and that, too, when they know that
all they hold dear depends on the
maintenance of the law. That man
patriotism must be contained in q
small compass, who declines to de-
vote any of his time to the perform
ance of duties, which devolve upon
him in common with other citizens,
and the discharge of which is of the
first Importance to the community.
Let those men who profess ideas con-
corning the punishment and suppress
sion of crime, in advance of the sen
timent now prevalent, go upon ju-
ries and thus aid in bringing popular
opinion to correct standard. When
ever they manifest willingness to
perform this duty be assured place
will be found for them.
The duty may not be pleasant.
Many duties in life are not. Crimi-
nal courts are not rose scented.
The breezes therein are not laden
with perfumes from Araby the blest +;
but much of human nature may there
be learned, and broader views of hu
man life attained. Let us then do
all in our power to create proper
public sentiment, and let us uphold
the hands of those engaged in the
administration of the criminal laws.
The old man of the Chattanooga
: Times is mad Oh, he is indignant,
and writes us down a fool, for nc
3 other reason than that we had the
efrontery ~ to meet and retute the
l false and unfounded statements made
t by him in regard to the ministers and
= the press of this city and the viru>
y lent old fellow is not content with
: abusing us, but he invades the sol
emnity of the tomb, and condemns
e our illustrious predecessor, the la
e mented Senator Brownlow, for hav,
s ing set us such bad example; which
, is but another fair illustration of the
g ass braying over the lifeless form o.
n the dead lion. And he further says
s that we ought to be kicked out O
d the editorial department of the CHRoN
n IcLE office. Now, just allow us to sug'
it gest that the editor of the Times
: form himself into a committee oil
S one and undertake that operation
it and if he doesn't meet with NOR,
e cordial reception than he did at tn
h time he took charge of that blacl
d regiment during the war, it will no
W be our fault; for, while we are TO
y peace, concordand harmony all aroun,
ID yet, just so long as we continue a
ct the head of the editorial department
g. of this paper, we do not intend t
ar sit idly by and allow any one, bu
Sc more especially the editor of til
st Times, to denounce the good peopl
at of Knoxville without taking motto
ne of and hurting back the vile Sian
ne ders
er Now, the Times insists that "
he were guilty of the objectionable 81
nd of not speaking out again'
OF and condemning in unmea'
u ured terms the participant
in the recent lamentable tragedy {
ne Gay street, in which they all 10
OF their lives. Well, that may be b
les idea of true chivalry, but we ha