San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-06-08
DIR. Claiming on the Punishment OF
Great Public Crlmlnals-Apropos
10 the Jesse James Case.

II may be considered rather late In the
day 10 discuss further the manner OF the
taking of of the late Jesse James, which
was for some time under debate in the
newspapers aud in private oirclesi but tho
following extract from the eel brated essay
of Rev. DIR. Claiming on Napoleon Bona
parte, seems 10 us 80 entirely pertinent, that
we cannot refrain from laying il before our
readers. In fact we selected il for insertion
some weeks since, but have not been able
10 find room for il sooner. We venture to
say there is no higher authority on ques-
ton of this kind than this justly famous
preacher and moral reformer. We com
mend what he says TO those very tender
consciences which were 80 disturbed Mt the
mode in which the great outlaw, robber
and murderer met his end aud especially
10 those who, like the Galveston News, saw
n threatened destruction TO the constitution
and public safety in the result, and who
argued the observance of all the legal forms
and technicalities in the case which might
be properly used by a county prosecuting
attorney in case of petty larceny. Bona
parte had just about as much right under the
law of nations as Jesse James had to protec-
ton under the civil law The cases are al
most identical. We should like to hear the
wise men of the Galveston News in re-
snonse IN the following.
1--WE should be weak indeed, if the NOR
al judgments and feelings, with which Ma
poleon's career ought to be reviewed.
should give place to sympathy with the suf-
ferings by which it was closed. With re-
gard to the scruples which not few have
expressed rs to the right of banishing him
TO st. Helena, we can only say, that our
consciences are not yet refined to such eX-
1uisite delicacy rs to be at all sensitive on
this particular. We admire nothing more
IN Bonaparte, than the effrontery with which
he claimed protection from the laws of Ma
ions That a man, who had set these laws
| open defiance, should fly to them for shell
ter; that the oppressor of the world should
claim its sympathy rs an oppressed man,
md that his claim should find advocates
hese things are to be set down among the
events of this extraordinary
lge. Truly, the human race is in a pitiable
state. IL may be trampled on, spoiled,
oaded like = beast of burden, made the
prey of rapacity, insolence, and the sword;
ont it must not touch hair, or disturb the
J.l!ow, of one of its oppressors, unless 1t can
ind chapter and verse in the code OF nation |
i law to authorize its rudeness towards the
privileged offender. For ourselves, we
hould rejoice to see every tyrGnt. whether
usurper or hereditary prince, fastened to
onely rock in the ocean. Whoever gives
lear, undoubted proof, that he is prepared
nd sternly resolved to make the earth
lnnghterhouse, and to crush every will ad-
erse to his own, ought to be Gagged like a |
Wild beast and to require mankind to pro-
eed against him according to written laws |
nd precedents, rs if he were II private citl-
ZEN in quiet court of justice, is just as ra-
iolnl as to require u man, in imminent |
,eril from an assassin, to wait and prosecute |
is murderer according to the most pro-
racted forms of law"