The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-02-16
The Origin of Lynch Law.

ana interesting article on the origin oflync
Inv. It says:
Lynch law originated in what is know
rs the Iiedmont country of Virginia, whcl
was at the time the western frontier. Th
nearest court of criminal jurisdiction hel,
its session at Williamsburg, which is bu
seven miles from jamestown, w C th
hrst settlement was made. W. :, the con
dition of the country at IT,: time is dul,
considered, 1T will be seen that PARTICULAR,
the inhabitants Of the Piedmont country llat
no law, and were actnally forced to be a law
unto themselves. Misdcmcanors and crime:
OF every sort and of frequent occurrence
and yet the apprehension and delivere Of =
criminal involved All arduous Journey of
hundreds of miles, mostly through wilder
ness, which not only occupied weeks, but
inonths-a journey such as suggested the
propricty of making ones will before under.
taking it. But even suppose the arrest to
be made, and the criminal safely delivered
TO- the officers Of the law at Williamsburg
esen then his conviction was next TO i'm
possible. The prosecuting attorney WAS of
course entirely ignorant Of the fcis and of
the evidence which: might be adduccd. lie
could not spend weeks telling on horseback
or on foot, amidst the spars Of the noun
tains, through sparscly settled country, to
hunt up witnesses, and ascertain what
knowledge they had of the circumstances
connected with the criminal transactions.
In every district there arc men of sound
judgement and high character, to whom con-
trovcrsies are constantly referred, and whose
decisions were regarded as final. Promi
ncnt among those was man named Lynch.
whose awards exhibited SO much Justice.
judgement and impartialitv, that he was
known throughout the country as Judge
Lynch. In the course Of time criminals
were brought before him, and he awarded
such punishment as lie thought was Just and
proper. lie considered every case calmly
and dlspassionatcly, and when he entertained
doubts as to the course to be punished, he
would consult with calm and dispassionate
men before hc pronounced the sentence from
winch 'licre was no appeal. There were
other persons in different districts who acted
as arbitrators and who awarded punish
ments; but Judge Lynch was the most con-
splcuous, and consequently the system took
his name and was called Lynch law. This
was compliment to his integrity and high
character, but of late years it has been
regarded as rcproach because violent and
unprincpled men, such men as he was wont
to punish have set the laws at defiance, and
whilst inf1amed with passion or maddcncd
by thirst for revenge, have usurpcd the
prcrogatives of the courts of Justice"
~
EXERCISE IN TIE CoUNTRY.-WalkinnI
is good; not stepping from shop to shop, or
from neighbor to neighbor, but stretching
out far into the country to the freshest fields,
and highest ridges, and quietest lanes. How
ever sullen the imagination may. have been
among its gricfs ut home, here it cheers and
smiles. However listless the limbs may have
been when sustaining a too heavy heart, here
they are braced, and the tagging gait be-
comes buoyant again. However pervcrse
the memory may have been in presenting all
that was agonizing, and insisting only on
what cannot be retrieved, here it is first dis
regarded, and then it sleeps; and the sleep
OF the memory is the day in Paradise to the !
unhappy. The mere breathing of the cool
wind on the face in the conmonest high
ways Is rest and comfort. which must be felt
at such times to be believed. 1t is disbc-
lieved in the shortest intervals between its
seasons of enjoyment; and every time the
sufferer has resolutions to 90 fortl, to meet
it, it pcnetrates to the very heart in glad
surprise.
FLORIDA 1NDIAss.-Thc Tampa Herald
learns from Capt. Casey, late from Fort My
ers, that the few remaining Savages, or a ma
jority of them, manifest an invincible deter
not to accede to the proposition
for their peaceable removal beyond the lin.
itstof the State. A considerable number of
theiparty, ayerse to this step, were in attend
ance at Fort Myers, tmaniesting much
excitement and ,solicitute to know what the
concentration Of troops at that point meant.
-. This party, In the most adroit manner,
to prevent nm interview or talk by
Capt. Casey with thai. portion of the tribe
which had, on previous occasions, eyinced
a, a,disposition TO- enigrate. Aaportion otihe
troops stationed at & Fort 4 yers are now pen
etra.ing the interiorof that country, Quitting
roads and making other nonstration that
the war spirit is sdp, and that tie kind. over
tnres Of our Government ;aIejpos longer TO
be treated with contemp$, Z
& sgyannakh leorgi giq,s
Az EAdEE cA63ootrr ar a 1Srr4Is 81.
We baye been reliably informed III, a1arge
Eagle was caught IN tFisl 30 istiict re-.
IGeasty by son Of AIr. sDanials Hufson who
lives on KeoWee q. few fii les; ab6ye this
place. His Eaglghiifs had { ponacsd @ Upon 4
duck, expecting no 3. aaiin ns s8 0Sod