Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/506

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486

GOVERNMENT, FINANCES, AND MILITARY.

traction, especially in civil suits. This state of affairs has been greatly fostered by national indolence and excessive good-nature, which hold citizens from aiding in the arrest or prosecution of criminals. Fear of vengeance affect both judges and witnesses. This leniency has fostered crime, for which inducements may be found in race feeling and caste distinctions, with the degraded condition of many classes; in the pernicious church absolutions; in the civil wars and official corruption which encouraged smuggling and gave impulse to what the Spanish government termed an innate propensity for highway robbery; and in the rooted inclination for gambling. The prevalence of robbery has been proclaimed by all travellers. Even Mexicans at times became roused to protest, and to impel the government to spasmodic steps.^[1]

President Diaz recognized the need for swift and strict justice, and his efforts have procured for the country a security never before attained. The former general use of arms, and employment of combinations and escorts for even short journeys, are fast disappearing. The decrease of crime is immense, greater than indicated by statistics of convictions, which with early administrations formed a mere percentage.^[2] This has

↑ The reëstablishment was several times urged of the colonial acordada, or vigilance tribunal. Bustamante, Diar., MS., xlv. 3-11. For other measures, see Arrillaga, Recop., 1849-50, 134; Mex., Col. Ley., 1848, 176-8; Id., 1863-67, 261-3; Dublan y Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 311-19; Diar. Debates, Cong. 6, iv. 310-12.
↑ The increasing application of justice, and its effect on the diminution of crime, will be apparent from the following statistics: During the first nine months of 1875, the total number of persons taken to the city prison, including 218 dead, killed by wounds or accident, was 33,368, of whom 32,819 were at once dismissed or released after short detention; 212 were sentenced; and the cases of 119 were still pending. During the same period, the corresponding figures for the national prison at Mexico, the dead being 201, were 14,325, 13,148, 604, and 372. Mex., Mem. Ofic. Mayor Gob., 1875, 129-31, Doc. 37 and 38. In the first six months of 1881, the number of persons imprisoned in the federal district was 7,605. In addition, 583 wounded by design or accident were conveyed thither, and 178 dead bodies. The charges against 1,679 were dismissed, and 178 were released after different terms of imprisonment, thus showing the apparent number of criminals to be 5,748. During the period from Sept. 15, 1880, to Aug. 30, 1881, 15,675 arrests were made in the same district, the cases of 8,047 being dismissed. Proceedings were instituted against 9,109, and 4,060 sentences passed. The number of persons arrested for minor offences was 3,456, and for grave crimes 681, on 7 of whom the death sentence was passed. Mex., Dem. Justicia, 1881, Doc. 101 and 102.

[1] The reëstablishment was several times urged of the colonial acordada, or vigilance tribunal. Bustamante, Diar., MS., xlv. 3-11. For other measures, see Arrillaga, Recop., 1849-50, 134; Mex., Col. Ley., 1848, 176-8; Id., 1863-67, 261-3; Dublan y Lozano, Leg. Mex., viii. 311-19; Diar. Debates, Cong. 6, iv. 310-12.

[2] The increasing application of justice, and its effect on the diminution of crime, will be apparent from the following statistics: During the first nine months of 1875, the total number of persons taken to the city prison, including 218 dead, killed by wounds or accident, was 33,368, of whom 32,819 were at once dismissed or released after short detention; 212 were sentenced; and the cases of 119 were still pending. During the same period, the corresponding figures for the national prison at Mexico, the dead being 201, were 14,325, 13,148, 604, and 372. Mex., Mem. Ofic. Mayor Gob., 1875, 129-31, Doc. 37 and 38. In the first six months of 1881, the number of persons imprisoned in the federal district was 7,605. In addition, 583 wounded by design or accident were conveyed thither, and 178 dead bodies. The charges against 1,679 were dismissed, and 178 were released after different terms of imprisonment, thus showing the apparent number of criminals to be 5,748. During the period from Sept. 15, 1880, to Aug. 30, 1881, 15,675 arrests were made in the same district, the cases of 8,047 being dismissed. Proceedings were instituted against 9,109, and 4,060 sentences passed. The number of persons arrested for minor offences was 3,456, and for grave crimes 681, on 7 of whom the death sentence was passed. Mex., Dem. Justicia, 1881, Doc. 101 and 102.

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