The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-06-18
TAE DAILY DlSPA | u
r.nr.sn. Mo.stns. June rs, 1857.
i~-,"",~ xn.s INV anti her Laws.

..--o-.->-~-~ .7--~~~~~ry~~>~
Ivnch Law an,t her Lawn.
7,.,ecep, execution of notorious scoundrei An'
t,.,n.r.do, In Rockingham county, has given oceA'
.,ou for the usual amount of lusubrions WHINE
-heh 1. sure to take place upon every such event.
before . single fact Of the case is know" sn' va,
IL is impossible to determine whether '"'
not have been q controlling Necessary o"' -
manded by the great supreme Ia" o' 'e"
vation for the act of summary )uS''se
Ing Ii turns ont, 10 the Koce'nku"'" '~'.'
unless the respectable ana eh'ei''n'
who composed The Port Repuohe ''s'Ah's "'''>
mit,ee had proceeded a. they did, ihcS ~ou'' nave
had their houses burned over their BEADS, or oeeh
sIaushtered in their beds. Randall had Geen p''t'
ting the assassination Of numbers OF worthy cn.'
zaus of Rockingham, and employing negroes hs
bis Instruments, whose testimony OF course ccuio
not be brought into court of justice and this was
one OF the most important elements IN ms ceIcnia-
lions Nigh, after night he was burning barns and
committing rcbberies, and watching for opportuni-
ties TO murder. The farmers in the neighborhood
were absolutely exhausted with their nightly
watches 20 prolsc: tLeir property and their lives
until at last there was alternative between the"
own slaughter and the execution OF Rautah--
Uowev er, they gave him chance for his HE w."
him TO Ohio and paid his expenses there ah' ."
the return of the committee who conveyed Inn ~
his place of exile, found tina: the willy anc i"A'.,''u'
desperate had absolutely gotten back oe'o''
On this fact being known, q large hu'uoei y.
most Law abiding and respectapie '"'
neighborhood met together anu 'he'o "oNn
mode Of reaching the offender un"oi Any
the supreme law of self preser7auoh' 'n's "nop''"
the only mode OF saving their own lives oy taxing
his.
Whilst we are opposed TO what is called lyhen
law In general we believe that there are cases ~
whichit ia jas,ihabe and prsiseworfhy anu We iee'
very sure tbs. the action OF the Fort Hepnohc 'isi
lance Committee presents one OF these cases H.
stesd Of regarding II r. dsgracefui 10 moss oop'
cerned we lock upon it Is highly honorable anu
tha. they would not have deserved then own lives,
or the possession of their properly, II they hsd
failed 10 yindcate and protect tlem IN the oniy
WAY in .ter power. And here, on the general
suffice. of lynch law, we may remark, that we car
uudsrstsnd the deep horror with which 1t is re-
garisd in old AID settled communities. like Erg.
land and F.ance whels the laws o. the land afford
ample security for the protection Of property ard
iifs. and where the administration Of the laws is
ALWAYS lust and rssble. But In our own country
not osiy are the laws sometimes Inadequate to
protect society but they are ofGen nethcient!y sd-
ninistered 1, being the most difficult thing IN the
world, even in the principal city Of the Union, TO
bring 81 offender to justice. We do not charge
nor believe that such is the case ia Rocking CHAM,
but, taking the country at large. and looking At
the mssra Die farce which distinguishes :he admin"
issration of criminal justice, our only wonder is
that the people do not more frequently lake the
punishment of offenders into their own hands.