Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-01
COMBINATIONS FOR CRIME.
An Appeal for Justice to the Public, In
stead OF BoIsterins Criminals.

An Appeal for Justice to the Public. In
stead OF Isoisterins Criminals.
EDs. RECORD UNION In this day of par
dons and petitions for Executive elemency,
is it not about time to cali halt, and see
whittier we are drifting? We understand
petition is, or has been, circulating in
this county asking his Excellency Gov
ernor Stoneman to commute the sentence
of one French to imprisonment for life
We also understand that the Judge before
whom he was tried, the prosecuting attor-
neys, as well as portion of the jury, have
signed said petition.
We premise that the Judge was impair
tial in his rulings, the attorneys true 10 the
cause of the people, the jury faithful to
their obligations and true to the evidence
brought before them. We lay no blame at
the door of his friends in the presenting of
said petition. If granted, it will only be a
slight salve to ameliorate the disgrace that
otherwise might accrue. We honor them
in doing all in their power to give the pris-
oner all the benefit that was or could be
derived from a proper presentation of the
case before the Court and jury of his
peers. This has been done, a verdict ren-
dered, an appeal taken, and the judgment
of the lower Court sustained. The Judge,
the attorneys and the jury are officers OF
the people, and occupy their respective po-
sitions for the enforcement of the law of
the land in meeting out justice for all citi-
zens of the commonwealth.
We ask, are they willing to bring odium
upon themselves and the official positions
they filled through the suffrage of the peo-
pie, by indorsing petition to the Gov
ernor asking his executive clemency in
this case? Is Justice done? Is the law
answered? What are the ameliorating
circumstances? If committed to life i'm
prisonlnent, one mans power from his
position, must balance the weight of twelve,
and the peers of any other twelve men in
the State.
Yes, life is sweet. 1t was sweet to the
murdered man, and his life was sweet to
to his wife and children, but this sweetness
did not stay the COOL red hand of deliber-
| ate murder Grant this petition and what
follows? In a few years another petition
| will follow asking for his pardon. Nine
chances out of ten il will be granted.
We ask of you Governor Stoneman, to
see that justice be done, not to the pris-
| oner; that has already been ordered, but
| to the offended law, whose giant arm is the
protection of the strong and the weak, to
the people of this county, and to the clti-
zens of this State.
If justice be not DONE the time is not
| distant when the people will take the law
| into their own hands, as was lately done
near Plymouth. and our California climate
will be an admirable one for those who
commit lawless deeds to migrate from.
More than two years, in this case,
has justice been delayed. Some one,
perhaps innocent parties, in the near
future will answer to the laws delay"
An outraged people will not forever stand
with folded hands and bated breath, but,
like prairie fire, will sweep this scum of
! civilization from our midst. Let the laws
be vindicated and the transgressor know
that punishment will follow swift and sure,
and the moral atmosphere will be fragrant
with peace and happiness, and life and
property become secure as the birthright of
all. JUsTIcE.
Oleta, Amador county. Nav 2S. 1856.