Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-02
The Bost II Riot.


which there preyailed-the violent attack upon
the Courthouse-and last and most to be de-
plored, the murder of an officer who was faith
fully dischargng his duty, are well CALCULATED to
lead the peaceable and well disposed-those who
respect the laws, aud who recognise the authorl-
ty of properly constituted governmental re-
fleet upon the nature and tendency Of tie insane
efforts which are making to rescue an alleged fn-
gitive from the custody Of the United States au-
thorites.
If unrestrained passion is to be allowed full
sway-if lawless violence is to 20 unrebuked,and
men high in social position are to become the
leaders of meb--if law of the United Statesis
to be ttamped under foot, and the officers of the
government shot down in the discharge oftheir
du.y, and this without rebnke then indeed will II
blot rest upon the far fame of our city, and Bos
ton will be degraded in the estimation of the
whole Union.
We take Il more hopeful view of the present
excitement We know that the great majority
of our citizens are well disposed. They will mp
hold the constitution and support the laws. They
will sustain the authorities in the firm and deeid
ed stand which they have taken to put down mob
violence and will aid in the preservation of order
The law will triumph over the passions of AN in
furated mob. OF this we have an evidence i'll the
promptness and success with which the city au-
thories have met the crisis, and in the readi
ness with ich the citizen soldiery--who are
with the pc, pie and Of them-haye responded to
the call of duty.
The sell-constiluted friends of the alleged flu
gitiye, have certainly taken very iniudicous
course, and one which has tended TO cmbarrass
any properly directed efforts to rescue the UNI
fortunate man from Il return tos,slayery. They
did not wait to try tie virtue of legal proceedings.
In tler cugerness to trample upon the fugitive
slave law, they forgot that inilammatory appeals
and mob violence, instead of increasing the sym
pathy which every one felt for the unfortunate
prisoner, would only arouse feeling of ndigna-
ton, and deep settled determination among the
law abiding portion of the community, to sustain
the authorities in enforcing the laws. The cause
! of Burns has thereby suffered, and the man who
might now have been flee by the voluntary trans
fer of the claim by Theh h hinder h9 guard of T.
States troops, and in actua bodily fear lest some
indiscr, fir ends should endanger his life rather
! than see hum returned To slavery.
We are glad that the excited and violent leaders
of the mob have been allowed time for their pas
! sions 10 cool and for reflection upon their unwise
course. The real friends of the alleged fugitive
can now devise some means to secure his fretd dom
without tran crossing the laws There is evil
IDENTITY disposition ON the part of the Commits
sioner 10 extend to Burns all the favor which is
consistent with his duties and proper admins
tration of the law. We have fear, with the
able counsel WHO have been employed in his be-
half, that the case viii be summariiy disposed of
and il the worst fears of the friends of Burns
should be realized-f he should be remanded by
the Commissioner to the custody of his claimant
his rescue from slavery may yet be effected
without rcsortng to violent means, which under
any circumstances are uniustihabe.
In the holy hours of the Sabbath, by the quiet
of the domestic fireside. let those who have been
instrumental in melting to deeds of violence and
boodshed reflect upon the deplorable consoquen-
ces of their rashness, and upon the duty which
they owe their country, republican citizens
to the State, whose fair fame should be above
llpree-a and 10 the city upon the maintenance
of the peace and order of which their own person
al security 81 intimately depends. Let them
consider well how they can best serve tie cause
of the poor fugitive, whose rescue by violent
means they cannot hope to effect. rather than in
what manner they can most strongly show their
contempt and hatred foran obnoxious law. A.
bove all, let them consider whether the deep
earnest, and abiding feeling which exists at the
North in favor of human freedom may not be
made moro available in its opposition to the slave
power, II more moderate measures and wiser
counsels should mark the course of those ho
claim to bel peculiar champions.