Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-02-25

ken journal in the United States. When the
editor has anything TO say, he speaks out plain
ly and fearlessly. In the last No. we find an
article, headed ssLynch Law" which presents
morality in New York as being in rather de-
plorabe condition. Iniquity must, indeed,
be bold and wide-spread, when such advice
is contained in thr article alluded to, is un-
hesitatingly given. We subjoin the article.
LYNCH LAW.
1t is now some three years since one of our
valued professional friends, DR.. H. P. Devices.
in an effort to secure villain who attempted
to pass upon him a twenty dollar counterfeit
note, was so severely wounded in his office,
that his life was for some time in jeopardy.
The villain left him weltering in his bio ID bat
mortified at his escape, the Doctor managed to
reach his office-window and alarm the police,
who succeeded in arresting and lodging the
scoundrel in prison. No less than four physi-
clans testified to this miscreant's attempt to
pass bill of similar amount and character up
on them on the same night-yet he was liber-
ated on straw bail of thousand dollars, and
that was the last that was heard of him, until
we saw him within 4 few months, elegantly
dressed, in Broadway, in company with de-
tachment of the swell-gang! We had the GU
riosity to visit the prison where this man was
detained till he could manage to get money
enough to get out, and examined his hands and
his countenance: he had alleged that he had
been at work in an oil factory, but his hands
as delicate as a woman's, and his face had
been severely hacked in some desperate en-
counter; he bore, in short, the physiognomy
of most determined villain.
This individual has been lately again at
work, trying his operations on some of the
brethren but our exposition of the affnir at
that time, seems to have spoiled his sport, and
he has not been able TO give further practical
assurance to .shis Honor,' of the act of good
citizenship he performed when he let loose his
ingenious friend.
The papers are now filed with accounts of
successful efforts to rob our fellow-citizens by
partial strangulation; no less than three hav-
ing been thus treated in one night, and that on
the public highway of a thronged city! We
perceive that these highway robbers are COM
mitted s.in default of bail''. viii this be cred
tied in California? What will they say of it
in London? f? What in heavens name is going
to become of us in this city, where the bench
has long been IN league with crime, and where
the adroit swindler can secure the services of
some Of the members of our profession, to
shield them from the punishment of their
crimes A peaceful country village is frozen
with horror at the discovery of one of their cit
izens, young MANA father and a husband
with his brains dashed out, and his pockets ri
fed, on public highway! Every night or
two, some wretcked woman is beaten and kick
ed to death, by beastly Irishman, the victim
of as accursed a system of mental degradation
as humanity ever groaned under-the Roman
Catholic Church.
Our markets are occupied with swindling
butchers and theiving hucksters. Our coal
is sold to us by set of sharpers, who absolute
ly are unmatched by single Inspector, and
there is not public scale within reach of nine
tenths of our citizens. The bread that we eat
is made up of a miserable mixture, in a coun-
try which could supply half the world with
-four of the finest kind. Half of our grocers
and butchers use false weights. Our light is
furnished by couple of unmatched corpora
tions at three times the price of other Cities
Our rail-cars are no better than pig-pens, in
which we are allowed to stand up like the cat
tie brought to market, and be smothered with
the filthy breath of a multitude. We have for
more than half century had no national cur
rency, using coin clipped by swindlers, who
stole half cents and cents, and insoently refu.
sed the just change; almost every mechanic
is systematic swindler, every lawyer thief,
blood of his fellow-man; criminals may have
their best efforts, and oath is more bind
ing than a straw. Half of our clergy are busy
in apologizing for and fattering their hypo-
critical hearers, who glitter in their vulgar
inery as though they were at ball and not in
a church. All this is undeniabiy true, and
our condition is becoming worse every day.
Highway robbery and murder in the streets of
the metropolis of the Union, is the proof of it,
it is the eliminating point, and the remedy
must be found.
The diversified denominations and abuses we
have enumerated, have so enervated society,
that it has allowed the most responsible offices
to fall into the hands of men who only view
them as the means OF procuring money; they
have given no hostages to the state for the full
fllment of their duties they have no charac-
ter good citizens, and being unmatched by
the silly and stupid of their constituents, they
find the best source of revenue in black-mail-
ing the robber who may get into their crib,
and by levying contributions the police
men, for supporting their re-elections. Con-
tracts for the public works are given to those
who will pay the highest bribe for the favor,
uptii nur rifv taxes have become enofm nous