The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-04-23
Law ana Order.

They have luxuriated in variations of the
Sacramento lynchings; they have present.
cd to their readers views of those excited
scenes us from every point Of observation,
and have thought whole pages well devoted
TO informing the world ofwhat fierce and
burning flashes cnn be struck from those
rude, untempered minds whom nught excl.
ting impingca on them. But some exton-
uating circumstances should be considered
when we sit in judgment upon California.
Evory nation under the sun has been liberal
to her of its surplus villainy; gamblers,
robbers and cut-throats infest the cities and
swarm over the country: to such charac-
ters tho tardy operation Of the law holds
forth few terrors, and, whena crime ia com.
mitted, those who desire security feel that
the first law Of nature justifies the immcdi.
ate and vigorous inf]iction of appropriate
punishment upon tho offender. Peaceful
men, in the pursuit of their lawful business,
arc set upon thro Igh revenge or desire of
plunder, OF, arfesting their steps to give aid
TO one in extremity from the hand of vic.
lence, become themselves the victims of the
wrath they had endeavored to stay; the air
rcsounds with the cry Of foul murder done,
the crowds throng to sec and punish the
wrong, but, though impatient and aroused
to Indignation, rude Justice seems to rise
above and triumph over their fierce pas
sons; they satisfy themselves by nvesti-
CATION ofthe offenders guilt, and then, in pro-
nouncing his dread doom, they but antici-
pate tho settencc which, inevitable though
delayed, the tribunal Of the law would pass
upon them.
We cannot justify sucl, nets; when men
take the law into their own hands they as.
sumo fearful responsibility; when they,
without the authority Of law, punish vio-
lence, besides the dangerous consequences
to society, reflection brings doubt and often
times rcmorse in it's train, and their whole
lives would not be long enough to assure
themselves that they too had not done great
wrong.
But we think those more cxcusablc, who,
in new and unsettled country, anticipate
the law by violently and extra .judicially in.
f'ic'ing what is apparent justice. II an those
who, in land Of law and order, deliberate.
ly violate both natural justice and ennctel
law. The Sacramento lynchings are wor-
thy deeds when compared with the rutous
resstnnces ofthe law in Boston. To which
class Of offences should Northern Euitors
givo greater prominence Of exposure, upon
which should they infiict the severer cnsti-
gn,ion T? But, besides that reprobation which
impartial justice demands of them. n proper
regard for their own safety, for the security
ofl'fe and property, for the permanency Of
the Duhlic & s& ,5iia .l.anlA irnns,l the Prnss
to throw itself. in opposition to the lido of
lawlcssn So which threatens to sweep over
the whole North. The mob is becomiho
fcarfully powerful there; tho will of the
people, Of the unthinking passionate, lust
iui populace overrides ertler and Justice,
statutes and constitutions those who seem
to be leaders uuckle to it; Cabinets and
Presidents cover before il; it exhibits itself
III riots and bloodshed, in legal enac,mcnts
which loosen the grasp of Justice upon Ex-
travaeance and Fraud, in Agrurian laws
which cut off offencouragements from industry
and energy and stimulate only to sharpery
and cunning. The rescuing of fugi,ive
slaves in Boston is but another exhibition or
the same spirit and principle which, one or
Two years since. made Philadelphia like
den OF wild beasts, which, in almost eve.
ry part of tho North, at ono time or an.
other and repeatedly, has broken ou, in yio-
lence and blootlshed. Scarcely a month
passes without an eruption, Of greater or
less violence, of these hidden fires, and still
tho more intelligent Of that people either arc
blinded to their danger or affect ignorance
oft. One paper brings us intelligence of
three late occurrences, perhaps of inconsid-
erable moment. cxcep, when viewed as
symptoms OF the virulcnt disease which has
WIN 'hS'u'ous step anu deadly progress,
crcpt through every vein and cankercd per.
hnps incurably, the whole body polite.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, recently ;,
sec'arian discourse was interrupted bv a
mob, which proceeded to acts of violence
and outrage. We have seen no statements
OF these evil doers being brongh, to justice
and punishment, but the police and fire com.
panies were called in to protect the lecturer
who finished his discourscs and left. The
clergy and laity Of that denomination which
was the subject of the lecturers inyectivcs,
published u card reproba,ing the conduct OF
those OF their own faith who were engaged
in the riot and pledged their bes, efforts for
the support OF law and order" and for
the restoration Of the property injured The
inhabitants also met and unanimously re-
qucsted the City Corporation to make an
appropriation sufIicien. to dcfray the expense
OF repairing the Church which ON The pre.
ceding Sunday was injured by the hands
OF ruthless mob The New York Sun