Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-10-27
The Origin of the Lynch Law.


the Piedmont country Of Virginia, which was At tt
time the western frontier The nearest Court &c
criminal Jurisdiction held its sessions at Wilamshnr
which is but seven miles from Jameston, where tIn
first settlement was made When the condition &c
the country at that time is duly considered if will
seen that practically the inhabitants of the PiedmoOe
country had no law and were actually forced to h.
law unto themselves. Msdemeanors and crima
oil every sort were of frequent occurrence and W..
the apprehension and delivery of criminal inyoIyoS
an arduous Journey of hundreds of miles, mos,I
through wilderness, which not only occupied waoL
but months-a journey such suggested the nrn
priety of making ones will before undertaking +
But even supposing the arrest to be made, and tho
criminal safely delivered to the officers of the law "
Williamsburg, even then his conviction was nov,
impossible The prosecuting attorney was of conrso
entirely ignorant of the facts and of the evidpn
which might be adduced. He could not spend wao
tolling on horseback on foot, amidst the spurs f
the mountains, through sparsely-settled country T.,
hunt up witnesses, and ascertain what knowIad
they had of the circumstances connected with ~
criminal transactions.
elm every district there were men of sound ;rJ
ment and high character, TO whom controversies ua
constantly referred, and whose decisions were repard
ed as hnal Prominent among these was man
named Lynch, whose awards exhibited so much inc
tice, Judgment and impartiaIiiy, that he was know
Throughout the country as Judge Lynch In tba
course OF time criminals brought before him
and he awarded such punishment as he thought wo
and dspassionately. and when he entertained doubts
as TO the course to be pursued, he would con>uh
with calm and dispassonae men before he pronounc
ed that sentence from which there was no appeal
lhere were other persons in different districts who
acted as arbltrators, and who awarded punishments
but Judge Lynch was the most conspicuous and con
sequently the system took his name and was called
Lynch law his was compliment to his inteoritv
and high character but of late years 1t has been re-
garded reproach, because violent and unnrinc;ri
such as he
the laws at defiance, and whilst infamed bv nassioo
or maddened by thirst for revenge have usnrnoI
the prerogatives of the courts OF justice"
The Diplomatic Dress question has again caused a
great difficulty in Europe. At Bordeaux, recently,
when the Emperors birthday celebrated by the
government officials, circulars were issued bv the
highest authority of the department to the various
civil judicial and military functionaries and to all
the Consuls except the representative of the United
States, inviting them to appear at the Cathedral in
tull costume and participate in The ceremonies A
letter says
The American Consul (Levi K Brown, ESQ Of
Baltimore county) was not invited because of his re-
tusal to wear diplomatic costume. On that day
he happened to be on visit to the country, but the
acting consul. IN view of the slight did not close the
once OF the consulate during the fete display the
American flag, and the Captains of the American
vessels in port, vic had hoisted their coors hauled
them down on hearing of the occurrence When this
was observed, of the city officials went alongside
OF the vessels and directed the captains to hosther
flags but again they refused. Orders were then givpp
to French naval brig in port, on which were dis
played the flags OF all nations 10 pull down that of
the United States, but upon reflection this order was
countermanded. Next day the acting Consul sent a
note to the Project of the Department. calling his o
tentIon to the breach of etiquette, and demanding
whether T." the slight was from any sentiment of disre,
spec to him personally, or officially, or Otherwise"
TO which, after lapse Of severaI days most apoo,
genc reply was received, dlsavowing any intentional
olsrespect and containing earnest assurances that
similar neglect should not again. When the
Consul himself returned he fully approved of all his
representative had done.
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING LARGE TREES
The Glasgow (Scotland) Commonwealth gives an
account of M'Glashen's Patent Transplanter an ap-
paratus that is likely to be of signal service in Or
namental planting and other operations connected
with rural improvements, enabling gentleman to
buy an estate, build a mansion house, and embosom
1t IN woods and groves all in the space of year or
two. The operation of transpIanting is effected BY
driving into the ground large spades or cutters around
the trees these are held together by light frame
work OF iron, and extension rods being attached To-
the upper part OF the spades the tree is lifted
: the earth (by lever screw power, according TO-
sze,) with large adherent hall of earth, SO that
the roofs are not at all disturbed nor is it necessary
to dig trench around the tree In this state, the
tree with Its adheent ball. be transported to any
distance IN safety The tree operated upon in the
presence of the writer in the COmmonace was a
olodu anu DuoHy HOlly IN the Edinburgh Cemetery.
1t was about twelve feet high, and estimated to be
thirty years old. 1t was lifted with large adheren
ball OF earth, and being drawn by a horse to anoth-
er part of the Cemetery, safely and expeditions
~ placed IN the pit prepared for it. Much larger
trees have been successfully transplanted by this
process
CHINESE PERJURY-The "Celestiar' children in
alItonIa, seem to have internal habit of living to
Judge by the papers Recently in a case between
An Linn and All lin, wherein All Lin accused the
other All of absractng his money while he was qu-
city engaged IN row, which charge he had distinct
~ maze IN the primary examination, but on the trial
the complainant didn't know" anything about the
matter his honor the judge was provoked to say
that he wished the hastinado could be introduced as
a part OF court discipline to exact the truth. The
Jury IN the case returned verdict of not guilty with
a recommendation that the complainant be shut up
for sixty days
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.-The organ of the abolition
Isis IN tins city, the National Era has caught the
gan OF the Wings, the National Integencer, in the
act OF appropra'ing to itself abolition thunder, and
administers the following significant rebuke
"lhe National lntelgencer, with serene self-assu.
rance, puts down all the Congressman elect in Ohio
as Wh1gs-such men, for example as Timothy Day,
Edward Wade Joshua r. Gliding, Mr. Nichols, &c.,
Our venerable neighbor has not yet heard, we pro-
sumo, OF Inc fusion movements in the West, by which
a republican party has been substituted for The wing
democratic and independent democratic parties
there are but two parties in Ohio and Indina-G
slavery party and republican party. 1t is the vic
tories of the latter which intelligent contemporary
Is recording as whig triumphs!"
! We think the abolition organ is rather hard upon
It's ally when it talks OF its serene self assurance The
lnteligencer has done good service in bringing about
the Late VICTORIES and ought to have the poor priv
ege OF enjoying them as Wing achievements Wash
Un,on
M