The true Democrat., 1857-06-02
The Louisville Mob.


 By an article presented in another column it will be seen that Louisville has again been disgraced by a mob which committed the vilest atrocities. The victims, it is said, were not punished "without form of trial or law''-yet his does not mitigate the frightful nature of the tragedy. When the meanest human being under the protection of the law is assaled or deprived of life by a mob, it should be felt as a wrong and defiance to the entire social body and an outrage upon the majesty and dignity of the law The maintenance of peace-the preservation of life liberty and property are alike the duty and interest of every citizen or member of the social compact The pro- lection of one is the conservation of the whole. Every citizen has a vital interest then, in good and regular government, as administered by the proper authorities, and unless such is adminls- tered his happiness is ever in jeopardy and his life the sport of every tide in the current of popular feeliug-is held subject to the ebbs and flows of an ungovernable popular sentiment. A mob has neither head Tor heart-neither req oOll, StIi- iloSStSNtOI ipi oH it'ttty NiiIs guide is passion, and if we were compelled to choose between them we would prefer the do- mnion of the most absolute despot, to the un- restrained license and tyranny of mobites.- We should not forget that a peoples love of order, their regard for law, and personal safety under it, are the measure of their progress and condition in civilization, virtue and refinement. Louisville might find food for reflection in this fact
 The tenor of the foregoing remarks sufficient y indicate our utter abhorrence to mobs-yet we admit that in some instances self-preserva- ton seems almost to warrant summary punish ment of those depraved beings W ho have tram pied on the highest and most sacred law known either to the human or divine code A due reflection, however, will ever dissuade sensible men from such a course as the latter. In ex- tenuation of the doings of the mob the Louis vile Courier has the following:
 Notwithstanding our utter condemnation of mob law in every form and shape, we must confess that this one had much provocaton A long line of evils has taken from the public mind great portion of that reverence that is wore and won only by duty recognized and duty performed. IL is time that something were awakening the law authorities to a full recognition of their duties 10 society. The miserable technicahties, under which atrocious criminals walk out of the court house proudly and defnanty, are as dangerous to society as mob rule itself, and it is not surprising that the two should occasionally change places.
 The crime committed by these negroes was one of unusal atrocitv, an account of which may be seen in another column They were notorious offenders before this awful crime was brought home to them. Of their guilt there was not, nor could there he a rational doubt.
 The testimony of ti- accomplict in the crime was clear, pointed and direct; but was ming gled with statements to screen himself as much as possible. The acluttal of the three wretches was due to a statute law of Kentucky that was i sprung upon the Woseeutlou, to the effect that ] the testimony Q! an alconplce Is Ga,l and void. How the Legislature could have devised a better method of gaming immunity to as,o- cated criminals we cannot see. IL WIS the sue cesaful appeal to this law, as d shield for these atrocious wletcAes, that reused the anger of the people and gave force to the mob. And we cannot but hope that this summary punishment at the hands of the people Nil have a sal0Jary effect upon lawless whites and blacks in show ing there is point beyond which the people must not be pushed That abominable law, under which these negroes were acquitted, and under which all crimes of couspirators must continue to be acquitted, must be erased from the statute-booh by the next Legislature"
 The Louisville Journal says of the mob and its doings:
 We need hardly say that we regard this pro- ceedng as one Of the most depIorable in all the history of Louisville We presume the negroes or at least a portion of them, were guilty, but there were no legitimate grounds for their conviction, and the jury which pro- uOuuced the verdict of acQuittal was rcrnarka- bic for its intelligence and re> probability. Under these circumstances, the violent uprising of the mob against the civil authorities, and the put ting to death of the negroes, was an outrage which cannot be too severely condemned. It has done an innry to the good name of cur city which years can hardly wipe ont. l. has caused feeling of deep grief aud poignant regret in the breast of every good and calmly retlectng citizen. Some may think that the l lives of four persons is a matter Of but little consequence; but the law has been put to i death, and that is matter of momcutnas con- sequence. Good men nave been zpaously h- boring to eeStabiish the prosperity of Louis- vile by re-establj-hiug her chalactcr for Law nd order, but hy the violence of d mob the re- suits of their labors have been swept away in a single night as by whrIwiud These are some of tine horril fruits If tine bitter seed that was planted three vea,s ago.
 l. is a sal thing go have 10 state that, in the midst of the mob there were scores of boys, some of them scarcely ten wears Of age, all shouting hang 'cm,' burI 'emn with fury not surpassed bv thlt of their elders. Slch an exhibition of blao lthr>,v ra.e on thc ,,rt of mere children - shocking nseed |, ru"tcn- plate. l. Is dtpIorthle au.ury for the rising l generation.
 l We cauuot but thjnh that, if the acts of the mob had been anticipated, the police would l have made einaicnt agranGcm 'uts for the main. tenance of orler. We are willing aui al IN ous to believe that they diI a,l whiea they could ] properly b. expected to do under the circum- stances. And yet it is difficult to understand how all the preparations could be male for the raising of so large a mob, or how a feeling vio- lent enough and extensive enough to impel so many men to an unpremeditated and morgan ized outbreak can have existed without being manifest not only to the civil authorities, but to the entire commuuitv"
 (I5~ An article on the Dallas Clarendon ] Treaty" is uuavoidab,y crowded out this week.