The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-29

babitants of Erie. Pa, resolved to disgrace
themselves and the State of which they are
citizens. We all know how completely they have
succeeded Fora period of twenty days it would
appear that the constituted authorities have
been passive spectators of the most lawless out
RACES ever committed by Vandal mob. Even
this attitude was not shameful enough for the
Mayor Of Erie he claimed the leadership Of the
rioters, and is clearly identified with their
crimes. At the time that the mob was tearing
up the railroad track, threatening the telegraph
Office. and subjeeting travellers to every incon-
venience that bigoted malice could devise, this
worthy official alluded to his civic rank as an
honor Rumor ascribes similar sentiments to
other functlonaries, whose bounden duty it was
to preserve the public peace and protect the
railroad against these modern barbarians; and
however reluctant we may be to come to such
a conclusion, we cannot help inferring from the
scenes Of the last few weeks that the whole Erie
community is equally implicated in these out
RACES, and equally sunk in degradation. With
such conviction forced upon our minds, we
cannot regret that the law so long condemned
with IMMUNITY should at length have been vim
Dictated, and that the rioters should at last have
paid some portion Of the penalty due to their
offence.
On Tuesday last, we are told, two Of the mob
were shot by the railroad officials. On the pre-
vious evening they had again torn up portion
of the track and destroyed bridge and the
state of feeling in the town was such that there
were substantial grounds for fearing still greater
disturbances. Under these circumstances,
grievous though it be to resort to the wilful
destruction OF life, we cannot do otherwise than
applaud the necessary homicide. 1t is question
able, indeed, whether any blame would have
attached to the railroad officials had they adopt
ed this method Of defending their property at
an earlier stage Of the riot. Our laws impose
sage restraints on the use ofmurderous weapons,
and protect the life Of the guilty from the ven
geance of passion; but it is fundamental doc
trine, both Of natural and municipal law that
where the established authorities fail to protect
individuals,it becomes their right and their duty
to protect themselves. In such case, tender
ness of human life is a fault, not a virtue. I'm
punity not only encourages bad men to repeat
their crimes, but inficts grave injury on so
ciety. The law loses its claim to obedience on
the one side, and its right to confidence on the
other. One life spared in such an emergency
frequently costs many lives afterwards, and
operates powerfully to disorganize the social
frame, and to deprive the State of that respect
which. after all constitutes it's only real control
over the community.
The most painful reflection suggested by the
Erie riot is, that it is not the first nor the Sc
cond triumph Of brute force over law and
order which it has been our duty to record
within the last few months. Indignant as we
may feel at the reproaches Of foreigners, dis
passionate review Of our recent history cannot
fail to give birth to a deep sense of shame in
our own minds. A spirit of lawlessness is
abroad among us. Excuse, palliate, defend it
as we may, there is not in the people Of the
United States that respect for law and order
which used to he our leading characteristic as
people, and on the preservation Of which the
safety and prosperity of every republic must
depend. The maintenance Of standing armies
or other powerful instruments of the law would
be contrary to the spirit Of our institutions.
There never can be in this country physical
force mustered under the orders Of the autho-
rites on every point strong enough to suppress
by violence q general outbreak of the citizens.
For time, at all events, the latter, if they
choose, will always be able to trample the law
under foot. 1t follows that our chief reliance
must always be placed in the good sense and
orderly character of our people. The moment
their reputation as God-fearing, law-loving
race deserts them, the prospects Of the United
States will be gloomy indeed. And it behooves
US all to anticipate SO disastrous an event by
giving due weight to it's premonitory symp-
toms, and checking the evil in the bud.
We shall not fulfil our duty by merely vindi-
eating the law when it is assaulted. We must
go farther back, and seek the source Of this
new feature in our national habits The search
need not occupy much time. We shall find it
in the insidious writings and teachings of those
who, to gain their own ends, have perseveringly
endeavored to supersede the law of the land by
continual reference to a "higher law" The
demagogues who applaud resistance to the Flu
gitive Slave law, and who teach their hearers
to revile the constitution, are the real authors
Of the spirit of insubordination and lawlessness
which is abroad. Tell the untutored masses
that one Of those great principles which consti-
tute the groundwork of society is unjust, ire
ligious, and contrary to the spirit of reason
and truth, and they will logically conclude
that submission to the others may be safely dis
carded The men who tore up the railroad
track at Erie did not think that they we're
guilty of greater wrong than the highsr law
men of Syracuse and we confess we see no
material difference between the two shades of
inamy, though the one was glorifed and the
other assailed by the organs Of william II. Sew
ard. He may discriminate between crimes
which serve no purpose and crimes which raise
him to power, but the public, daily taught by