Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-02
THE VIRGINIA BAR.
FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF The
STATE ASSOCIATION.
Address of President Robert T. Barton
Startling Array OF Criminal sta
tistics-Law Reform.
Especial telegram 70 tho Dlspatch.l

Especial telegram 70 the Dlspatcn.I
WRITE SULPHUR SpEISGs, w. Va. August
1.-The Virginia State Bar Association
met this morning at II o'clock. The
meeting was called 10 order by Mr. +. ii.
Mcclure, introducing the president, Hon.
II. T. Barton. of Winchester. who delivered
the annual address.
THE ADDRESS.
After an able sketch of the history of
criminal law from ancient times to the
present day Mr.. Barton said:
In charge TO the United states grand jury
by Judge Isaac {. Parker not long since AZ
Fort Smith. Ark. he announced that tho sta-
tistics showed an Increase In discovered mur-
ders OF from 3,J6S In 1889 10 6,7B1 IN lSsS,
and that the whole number during those tour
years nmsuntad 20 2O,557; that tor the three
years OF 1890, 1891, and 1892 the number OF
murders discovered were ld,O91. For this nnm-
bar OF murders 500 persons were execuied ana
1J.2O7 escaped. but Of the 500 executed only
332 were executed under process OF law, wnlle
the remaining 55S were lynched
The statistcian OF the Chicago Tribune states
that IN the ten years ending December ~,
1891, there were 5lS legal executions ana 4%D
Iynchlncs In tho northern Statos. and 72S legal
executions and l, $50 lyrchings in the southern
States.
APPROXIMATIONS.
These statements can, at best, be but APP
tempis at murder and none Of those Tor which
grand jHries. for Que reason or another, have
found no indictments. 10 noting tie NUMBER Oh
murde rers exccuted nothing Is said OF those who
may have been punished by confinement in the
penitentary, aud they are perhaps TO be in-
cluded IN tho large humber who are declared 10
have escaped" This IS unloading, for while
they ESCAPED capital punishment they canhOt
be said TO have escaped punishment altogether,
but IL Is "A startling fact that less than per
cent. OF the murderers during three years were
executed by process Of Law, whllo new crimes
had TO be committed in order to bring nearly 3
per cent. Of the murderers 20 tho punishmont
thoy deserved. Equally startling is IL that only
about per cent. Of the discovered murderers
are executed.
AUST REASON.
Another startling fact which comes home most
forcibly to Us s found ia the large disf ropOrton
OF lynchings attributed TO the southern states.
There Is I'm tho forced co-dwelling OF the two
races In the South, and In the strained relations
which result therefrom, IN the Differences OF
temperament, the temptation and tba hOrrlDle
crime, the very conscious possibility bf which
puts reason to fight and scatters self-cOntro. TO
the winds. a Just reason for this difference, as
the laws are and as they are administered. To
thOse who ign0rantly rail against US ali this ~
an Gnreallzable theory, while 20 us It Is HORT
bic condition. But justify ourselves as we may,
after ali lYnching IL IN some degree purler anu
every tolerated instance OF 10 IN any community
is q lapse TO that extent into barbarism. IL
must be stopped at all hazards ii We Will pre-
serve the reign OF law IN tho country. / DO not
believe II can be stopped by 1.-The strong ari9''
for the irresistible impulses which nioye men
often good men-to sucn a deed Wouli break
the strong arm"
LOST COSFIDEHCE.
lie, however, who thinks that nothing can bo
done py the law has no confidence IN the crlst-
ence OF an enlightened and undcmagOgued pub
lie opinion and has lost taith IN the power OF the
people to rulo themselves. | have an abiding
con 4dence ia tho ultimate conservatism and law
abiding spirit OF tue American people and all
that they need are guides TO point and lead the
way.
sICKLY sENTINENrALtrY.
Instead of pInishing our criminals We often
pet aud CajOle them. IL we hang them we make
heroes OF them and watt them to Heaven with
the tear and the triumph OF tho martyr. We
let foolish women visit them IN prison aud weep
over them ana garland them with flowers, and
sentimental men crowd the lObOios OF the Tow
ornOr to pray his pardon tor the guilty II there
be "a shade less in his guilt than was true OF como
a:rOciOu5 predecessor. Thus We turn the blade
OF the law even when tits drawn for punishment,
ard tho salutary work Of tho prosecutor goes
for nothing.
It's In our power to furnish remedy for all
this Punishment tor crime should not D. too
seS ore, but It should be swift certain, lheXora-
ble and unrelenting, and for certain offences
the time which shall elnpse between the com
mission of tho offence aud i,s c1platloh on the
scaifOld should be go shcr. tlat The lyncherIwiH
End his occupation gone, aud oil men VIII learn
10 lo3k TO tho law as the sure and Just punisher
of the guilty, "a they should over find IN It the
certain protector Of the lnnocent.
FAIsEsr PITY.
Imqunity and morcy to the guilty lis the falsest
pity, for it IL piiiless unreineIn brance OF tho
innocent. In every unguarded corner OF our
seIf.goveruing republic there Turk thoi5and
foes. II we would perpctuate this grea' expert
mcnt We must see tnat lt grows pfOpOrtloEapy
In all ITS parts IL II itle 70 tax OF tne unptecc-
dented spread Of luxury sud wealth and mate
rial or intellectual development These VIII le
"a ovanesceHt AS thoy arc really evil II they aro
not accom- panied by an equal CROWN IN mOtal
qualities and IN respect for and obedience TO no
law Peace and protection people and properly
will always demand. Let it not he tnat II must
10 sought other N tho violence 0t mOD-lyhch
law or iD the tyranny Of military rule, the mt
mate destiny OF every republic which talls TO
govern.
Mr.. Barton's address was received with
great applause. He was warmly con-
graduated by the members, among whom
he IS deservedly popular.
Reports of committees were then read
by Mr.. X. 81. Hughes. of Norfolk, upon
legal literature and Mr.. K. u. II. hean;
of Lynchburg, upon the Wythe memorial
tablet erected IN the chapel at Mllllan
and Mary College.
LAW REFORM
The report OF the Special Committee on Law
Reform vas submitted, detailing tho history ot
the movement. and stating that there are seven
members II the special committee ana tnat tue
report ~ tlgne0 Dy tlN ci hl'N' tu-t NV
recommendations mado would be submitted 70
the association by s. s. i. Patteson al the eve
ning session. The committee say that u Is the
wish OF tho people and bar that she CHANGES
should be made, and there Is now no doubt OF
the practical a1Optlon O. the principles contend-
el for 80 meniully ior 70 many years by tho
Hon. David Dudley Field.
The evening session was occupied ythee
reading of the report followed by tull
discussion or the subject.
The report was supported by the
speeches of s. s. 7. Patteson, H.. L.
Barton, and j. Ii. Parker, and opposed by
". b. Pettitt and George NJ. Cochran. Dir.
Cochran submitted a substitute for the
report Of the committee, extending NJ
teen days notice to all cases at law. Ihe
ASSOCIATION. by unanimous vote. gave
consent that John Randolph Tucker
should continue the discussion OF the re-
port tomorrow morning. he advocates
the report. Sentiment seems to be divided,
but indications are III favor OF modified
reform. There was large attendance;
and the discussion was able, spirited, and
interesting.
Mr. Charles NJ. Blackford. of Lynch
burg Va, was unanimously elected pfesI-
1anf fpr tha nqNf