The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-01-10

suV SAPtSasCu IAw VI Nuo PSoPsSs sAat "'' =
or mob is as ansi-republican n and as fercely
tyrannical as Tarduin or Nero, and il is q
fact that all the crowned heads Of Europe,
with the exception perhaps Of the Car,
formed into one clique would nat dare to
commit an outrage Of that cbaracter.-
Whut indeed is despolism but the assump-
tion by one or few ofpower which belongs
of rightto the many, and what more is
necessary than the principle Of Lynch
Law to place the people under the iron hooi
Of a military despotisn?
] But the mos. revolving part Of the outra
ges 10 which have before refefted. lay in
the fact that they, we're not committed as
punishments ofknown or admitted crimes.
They were done for the purpose Of compel
ling the victims to confess offences iof which
they had been accused. ltmust be quite
evident that on array Of suspicious facts
might be brought to bear upon OIL innocent
man, which would bring him under the
hands Of these Regulators, who without
waiting to give him chance Of defending
himself, would be taken out and tortured
10 make him confess things Of which he
was innocent, and thus the back OF q free
born American citizen, tho name of whose
country would be protection to hm"fsom
Indus 10 The Pole," might bo degraded by
s,ripes, and the soil Of freedom drink in the
blood springing from lashes upon innocent
flesh, do not say this has been, but ! do
say that It might be, that there is danger
II. But the torture! Is it possible that
10 this Gland, Of every land the pride" this
asylum Of the oppressed Of all nations, this
pioneer Of the civilization Of The most glori.
Gus century the world ever saw, say is il
possible that here men can revive barbar-
ism left far behind by the advancing civ
liz dion of Elrope,-yanished before the be-
nign genius Of christianity Z The trial by
torture has been expnnged Indignantly
| from the statute hooks Of every nation pre-
tending to bo at all humanized, to reappear
| in America in the 18th Century. 'Fhank
God il can only be donc here at night, only
without the city, only TO be followed by the
execrations Of the people. 6es
| Bu, this is an evil which must nat only
be execra,ed but put down. These things
present too bad an example to our children,
they are too dangerous 10 civil liberty, and
the safety Of innocent and unoiFending cit-
zens, too acceptable 10 the opponents Of
repubicanism in the ola world, TO be allow
cd 10 con,innc. The community Of law
abiding men mus. set their faces against
| ,hcmas brass. If,hey have oulstrippcd the
law in furnishing supposed criminals, lei
The law oyertake them. Iflhey arcnot con-
len. 10 abide the decisions Of the legal code
created by the people, sanctioned by long
use, and sacred from their character and
origin, lc. them be deprived of The power Of
making laws. If disiranchisement were
The penalty Of Lynching we should hear no
moro oftho crime. II men for duelhng are
made incapable Of fho!ding any office in the
gifi Of the people, why should not Lyncbers
suffer the same punishment. @s
Since writing the nboye,l have seen an
article in the North Western Advertiser,
reAeciing on the conduct OF the persons who
engaged in the last lynching operation ia
which, referred. As far as be goes the
editor has done bis duty, but be is very
merciful in his rcbuke, andtslks very loose
| II on The subject. lie describes The Lynch
ers as taking the law into their own hands,
thereby leaving strangers e infer, that they
merely inflicted the penul,y which the law
prescribed for their offence. This is not
correct statement Of the affair. No guilt
had been proved against the victims, at
least as 10 The arson, and the object Of the
Lynching gang was 10 make them confess
that crime.
Thc editor Of The N. W. A. also says that
Iynching might do in a community where
no other law is recognized. deny that
even in community without fixed laws
they are right ii Lynching. Tbeformaltic'
I Of a fair trial can always'be arranged, and
the evidence entered into, so as to spare in
nocent blood. While editors thlk %
thonghtlcssly on subjects SO momentous they
can never expect to exercise beneficial
Influence Oh society. "'s'
lleave The subject in the hands Of the
rieht.minded and order-loving. feeling ths'
! have left many things unsaid which