| cams_benton_b028_f012_002_020[upper right corner]
20
20
became almost an impossibility. Hence, out of more
than 100 murders committed within a year – not
more than a half-a-dozen of the assassins have been
convicted & executed by due process of law. Crime
has stalked abroad with impunity. Organized
gangs of villains, by the aid of accomplices outside,
by witnesses suborned, & false swearing, – have over rode [overrode]
ridden justice. & gone scot free. When arrested
they have made their own terms. No one who chanced
to be in the secret of their movements was safe; ex-
-cept by an active cooperation, or a prudent silence.
Many a man has compromised his honor with
them; – at first reluctantly, – because he wa unwilling
to expose his property & life to their vengeance,
with so small a chance of redress, or protection,
as the authorities & courts of law afforded him.
The adoption of so mild a code for crim-
-inal cases was a serious mistake; & has proved a ter-
-rible misfortune. Then the coming of so many vagabonds so encouraged,
from the ends of the Earth, & the inefficiency of some of the courts,
& the corruption of some of the officers of the law have
added disaster to misfortune – & have precipitated
evils upon us, in an avalanche of destruction. We
must bear it as best we may. We must remove the
evil as cautiously & carefully as possible. How well the
people there cared for themselves some of you can remember. | cams_benton_b028_f012_002_020[upper right corner]
20
20
became almost an impossibility. Hence, out of more
than 100 murders committed within a year – not
more than a half-a-dozen of the assassins have been
convicted & executed by due process of law. Crime
has stalked abroad with impunity. Organized
gangs of villains, by the aid of accomplices outside,
by witnesses suborned, & false swearing, – have over rode [overrode]
ridden justice. & gone scot free. When arrested
they have made their own terms. No one who chanced
to be in the secret of their movements was safe; ex-
-cept by an active cooperation, or a prudent silence.
Many a man has compromised his honor with
them; – at first reluctantly, – because he wa unwilling
to expose his property & life to their vengeance,
with so small a chance of redress, or protection,
as the authorities & courts of law afforded him.
The adoption of so mild a code for crim-
-inal cases was a serious mistake; & has proved a ter-
-rible misfortune. Then the coming of so many vagabonds so encouraged,
from the ends of the Earth, & the inefficiency of some of the courts,
& the corruption of some of the officers of the law have
added disaster to misfortune – & have precipitated
evils upon us, in an avalanche of destruction. We
must bear it as best we may. We must remove the
evil as cautiously & carefully as possible. How well the
people there cared for themselves some of you can remember. |
EN