The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Worcester:
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1827.

Increase of Crime.

Notwithstanding the multiplicity of associations designed to improve the state of public morals, and the increase of the ordinary means of religious and moral instruction, which has marked the age in which we live, it is to be apprehended that acts of fraud and violence are keeping even pace with the growth of our population. We hope they are not exceeding the proportion of former times, but the frequent occurrence of events of this nature betraying on the part of their perpetrators a contempt for the good order of society, and the laws of heaven, admonish us of the frailty of our nature, and the corruption which exists in the best regulated government. The robbery committed by Snelson, the fraud achieved by Redmond, the sanguinary personal combats of Mr. Vance, and another in South Carolina, of Graham and Barton in New Jersey, and of Conway and Crittenden in Arkansas, are events of recent occurrence. To these are to be added two duels in Mississippi, one between Mr. Dangerfield and Mr. Buckner, in which the former was killed, and the other between a Dr. Newell and Gen. Coffee, in which the former was wounded. What is most surprising is that several of the individuals concerned in these atrocious proceedings appear to have hitherto sustained a fair character, and enjoyed no small share of the public confidence. Two of the number have had a seat in Congress—one was an officer in a bank—another a general—another kept a respectable Hotel in New York—another was Secretary of Arkansas! It should be remembered, however, that Redmond has not yet been convicted.