Valley Spirit

We notice this word now much used which is not to be found in the Dictionaries, and we suppose was never before used in the English language. It has been introduced by the radicals of the Wendell Phillips school, to soften the horrible ideas which are conjured up by the term amalgamation. When under the rule of wise and great men our country was prosperous, and happy, we needed no word to modify the disgusting idea of white people marrying negroes, or of having negro babies without being married. But when the worship of negroes has been introduced by the dominant party--when Massachusetts girls are sent to Hilton Head to carry out practically the ideas which the term 'miscegenation' was introduced to represent, there is ground to fear the disgusting pit which has been dug for the degradation of the white race. The Devil is busy still.--Ex.

In our last issue we made allusion to a growing sense of uneasiness and insecurity in the public mind with reference to the execution of the laws and the administration of that even-handed Justice which secures every man in the enjoyment of his rights of person and property. In another column of to-day's paper will be found a communication touching on the same subject, written by a highly intelligent citizen of our town who is, in every respect, well qualified to discuss the subject on which he writes. Of the truth of the facts alluded to, those familiar with the proceedings of our Court are as able to judge as ourselves.

That any Court of Justice could so far forget its sworn duty as to be governed in its decisions by political bias, or any consideration other than a desire to execute the laws fairly and impartially we cannot believe. Yet it must be admitted, we think, that the facts mentioned by our correspondent show a strong tendency in one direction, and this apparent leaning of the Court, (we say apparent for we cannot think it real or intentional) in our judgment, has much to do with that feeling of distrust and apprehension to which we have alluded.

But whether the apprehension is real or imaginary, it is the duty of all good citizens to use all proper efforts to have it removed, for if it be permitted to run on it will sap the very foundations of our civil rights and eventually cause the whole fabric of human society to totter and fall. And in this connection we conceive it to be the duty of all persons entrusted with the administration of the laws, in whatever capacity, to studiously avoid everything that bears even a resemblance to partiality or favoritism in the performance of their high and responsible functions. In this way only can the confidence of the people in our Courts of Justice be maintained.

That political feeling has much to do with this matter there can be no doubt. Party feeling has become so intense and embittered that one party naturally distrusts the other, and each is regarded as incapable of doing justice to those of opposite poiltical [sic] opinions. To such an extent does this idea prevail that at the recent session of our court, the most strenuous efforts were made by over-zealous counsel to obtain Juries composed entirely of Republicans in some cases, whilst in others equally strong efforts were made to get Democratic Juries. Now, in our opinion, this is all wrong. Instead of pandering to the supposed prejudices of the people, it should be the aim of all, but more especially lawyers, to elevate the minds of the citizens above political prejudices or partisan influences. Their highest object should be the aim of all, but more especially lawyers, to elevate the minds of the citizens above political prejudices or partisan influences. Their highest object should be, on all occasions and under all circumstances, to inculcate into the minds of the people a just appreciation of the sanctity of the laws, and the imperative necessity of their rigid enforcement against all offenders of whatever creed or party, "without fear, favor, or affection. If this were done, there would be no need for partisan Juries.

A deep and profound reverence for the sanctity of the laws on the part of the people, and the rigid and impartial execution of the same on the part of those whose duty it is to administer Justice, is our only safety. Let it be once understood that the law no longer affords protection--that suits at law are decided through motives of friendship or malice, or any other motive than that of an honest desire to see the law vindicated and justice satisfied--then indeed will we have fallen upon evil times. Then will it be realized that we have embarked on a sea of anarchy, confusion and blood, which would find its only parallel in the horrid scenes of the French revolution.

Messrs. Editors: One of the duties of a public journal is to keep constantly before the people the necessity of a high regard for and faithful observance of the laws of the land. The security of property, person and life demands it. Once yield the right to any citizen to violate the law with impunity and society will be torn by innumerable dissensions and fearful anarchy will hold its sway. The majority, the vast majority of our people are law-abiding citizens, and they should see to it that every man who transgresses the law should receive his just punishment. In times of great political excitement, party spirit runs very high, violence is committed, life is taken and through political bias or legal trickery the offenders or unwhipped of justice. Some men there are--blind, partisan bigots--who exult in this for they would stop at nothing to gratify their political animosities. Party spirit has become so strongly rooted and grounded in their nature, that it gives coloring to their opinions on all subjects. Like the wild, mad revolutionists who deluged France in blood they would erect the guillotine here if they dared, in order to stifle the voice of antagonistic public sentiment. Such men would willingly act the part of the bloody Jeffries on the bench or commit shameless perjury in the jury-box.

Other men there are, whose minds are frequently biased unconsciously, by their political feelings. The mist of political prejudices shuts out the light of truth from their reasons. Human nature is weak and frail and partisan principles, partialities or antipathies so warp the mind that they yield to these influences without a struggle. They may not do it willingly, but so secret and powerful are the workings of party spirit within the breast, that the judgment bends to its low whisperings almost without knowing it. Party spirit thus becomes the fatal poison which taints the life-blood of a Republic. Under its influence, social ties are severed, business relations are disturbed, schisms arise in the Church, trial by jury becomes a farce, Courts are deemed a solemn mockery, and the State totters and falls.

Government is founded on law. It is absolutely essential to the existence of Government that its laws should be founded in wisdom and justice. But this is not enough. The people must respect and obey the laws, and the Court must administer even-handed justice under the laws. A Court is a place where justice is judicially administered. The people respect it as such. They look to it for protection in property, person, reputation and life. They regard the Judge upon the bench as the expounder of the law which is the custodian of these great interests. Hence they would have him to divest himself of all personal preferences or dislikes, and all political bias or prejudice, for if he be influenced by any of these, be the laws never so wise and never so just, they become to them of no more value than the paper on which they are written. Jurors, acting under the charge of the Court, thus become the instruments in its hands of the grossest injustice, unless they have the manliness to speak out trumpet-tongued against such a pernicious influence. Judges and jurors must make their personal and political feelings succumb to the law and the testimony, or our whole governmental fabric must fall. The people must be brought to think deeply upon the subject, to anticipate the consequences of a disregard of law, for the times and the signs of the times around us, imperatively demand it. They must remember to sit as jurors in any case, that, higher than their own private feelings and sympathies--higher than their social relations--higher than their political affinities, is the sanctity of the law. And, that above all these, higher than their duty to the accused, to society, to the Commonwealth--higher than the sanctity of the law even, is the solemn oath, taken in the presence of men and registered in Heaven "that they will well and truly try and a true deliverance make between the Commonwealth and the prisoner at the bar (whom they shall have in charge) and a true verdict give according to the evidence.

A man is arrested by citizens (himself a citizen) without warrant or process of law, is taken before a Justice of the Peace who demands excessive bail. In default of bail, he is sent by this Justice without a written commitment, without even making so much as the scrape of a pen on his docket, to the County Jail. He remains there one week and is discharged because no one appears against him. He prosecutes the parties who arrested him, for false imprisonment. On the trial testimony is admitted showing every thing that the man said in his life, and under the charge of the Court, the jury saddles him with one eighth of the costs and acquits the men who committed the outrage. The man is a Democrat.

Another, a stout, hearty man, makes a gross, unprovoked assault upon an inoffensive weak German citizen and beats him terribly. The German prosecutes. The jury finds a verdict of guilty and the Court "making allowance for the excitement of the times" fines the defendant five dollars and costs. Defendant is a Republican.

Another strikes one who calls him "a traitor and says he ought to be hung." The testimony is conflicting as to whether he struck with a club or his fist. The man who receives the blow wears spectacles, a piece of the glass enters his eye and his sight is thus destroyed. He prosecutes for Mayhem and Aggravated Assault and Battery only, and recommend him for mercy. The Court sentences him, making no allowance for the excitement of the times, to one year's imprisonment in the Eastern Penitentiary. Defendant is a Democrat.

A private soldier pretending to be a Lieutenant enters the house of a citizen at 11 o'clock at night, breaking in the door, presents revolver to the breasts of the aged couple inside, swears he will blow their hearts out if they say a word, and passes through the house under pretence [sic] of authority to search for soldiers. He is indicted for Malicious Mischief and Assault and Battery, is convicted on both indictments and the Court sentence him five days to the County Jail. Defendant is a soldier and as a matter of course "loyal."

Another soldier is indicted for the murder of a citizen. The homicide occurs on the night of an election. The deceased was a constable in the discharge of his duty. It is admitted that he came to his death by means of a pistol in the hands of the prisoner. The prisoner says it was done by accident and offers evidence to prove it. The Commonwealth's testimony if believed, altogether precludes the idea of an accident. There was no post mortem examination made of the body of the deceased but he expired in three minutes after the fatal short was fired. The Court held that there being no post mortem examination and the testimony being conflicting as to whether deceased came to his death by accident or design he would instruct the jury to render a verdict of not guilty. Deceased was a Democrat, the prisoner a Republican. It seems to me the question was for the jury whether the death was the result of accident or design.

I impugn the motives of no man or set of men. The feelings and passions of men, shut up within their narrow prison-houses, may be as pure as the sparkling water or as foul as the miasma of the swamps. I only say that the people ask, why?

While I would cultivate the highest regard for Courts of Justice, I would have the Courts show themselves worthy of that regard. Let Courts and Juries be governed by the law and the testimony and all our rights will be secure. It is unsafe for any party to seek to attain its ends by overriding the law while holding the reins of power. Men's minds change. Parties are born and die in a day. Those who sow the wind to-day may reap the whilwind [sic] to-morrow. The refluent wave of public opinion may sweep to obscurity and to destruction the men who perpetrate and those who sanction such enormities. The only security for all is an impartial administration of

Justice.

On Tuesday last Dr. Brotherton, Sr., who for some time, has been infirm, met with a serious accident by falling on the pavement, his head striking the stones and causing a severe contusion. His situation is critical.

The Hotel proprietors of Waynesboro have increased the price of boarding, liquors, &c.

Together again.--The notice published by Mrs. Grayson, a refugee from Virginia, a few weeks since, desiring information as to the whereabouts of her husband, who was compelled to abandon his home in 1862, has, we are pleased to learn, been the means of bringing the couple together. The notice was copied into the Baltimore American, and coming to the notice of a friend of Mr. G., near Sharpsburg, Md., he was at once apprised of it, and the next morning set out for this place. When within about two and ahalf [sic] miles of town he was observed by Mrs. G. from the house at which she was stopping, and consequently their first meeting after so long a separation was upon the public road. That it was a joyful one the reader can well imagine. They are represented as a worthy and intelligent couple, and have been kindly and hospitably treated by the family with which she had been staying.--Record.