Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-13

resist the course OF public justice, Will DrlnS ines-
table ruin upon their own heads, and may be ms
cry and desotation upon their innocent fdna"ses a.
In testimony whereof, have hcreunto set my
hand and caused the great Seal OF the
State to be affixed, this Fifth day OF
L. ). August, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine, and OF the State
the second.
HENRY H. SHELLEY.
By the Governor:
FRANCIS BAAsEN, Secretary Of State.
From all the fools in the world, Heaven
save the people from fool clothed in little
brief authority"
The terms in which the foregoing Pro-
clamation is conceived, is in the brutal style
of the Austrian Count D. Urban, and not in
that which should characterize such paper
issued by an American Chief Magistrate.
A whole County of people-polng near
thousand votes, and counting some five thou
sand inhabitants-is in the above summary
declared in " state of insurrection"-
under martial law-and /" misery and desola-
ton" pronounced on their " innocent families"
and all for what?
Let us see what are the facts. A murder
er, escaping by the technicalities of the law,
proceeds afterwards to the bloody scene of
his crime; he there braves the public opinion
Of the vicinage of Rockford, an interior town
Of Wright County and under violent ex-
element of the populace, thus stimulated by
himself, is lynched by hanging to tree
Next proclamation is issued by the State
Executive, offering reward of $500 for the
apprehension Of any of the Lynchers And
next one Of the rioters, named Moore, is cap
tured, and duly escorted by the Chief of Pc.
lice of st. Paul up to Monticello, the County
Seat of Wright County, and there placed in
the hands of the officers of the law Of that
town, to be examined and committed for tri-
al. Next, while in the custody of the Consta-
bic of Monticello, band of less than hun
dred men, disguised as Indians, came in the
night, and forcibly liberated the prisoner,
Moore, and run him off to parts unknown
These are briefly the facts of the case.
Now, we are at all times zealously in favor
Of the rigid enforcement of the laws We
have an intense adherence of mob law in ev.
cry shape. We abhor it because it is a des.
potism and tyranny, which is as likely to
punish in its rage the innocent as the guilty.
AS evidence Of our feeling in this respect,
It will be remembered that when Rhinehart
was by force taken from the Jail of LIE Sueur
County, and murdered bys a mob under cir.
cumstances of extreme brutality, the MIN
NEsoTIAN called in vain upon Mr.. SIBLEY and
the State authorities to take steps to punish
the actors in that tragedy, and maintain in
that instance the violated supremacy of the
laws.
But, alas, we then spoke to dull and heed
less ears. Not movement was made-not
even proclamation of reward issued. Had
something been done on that occasion, show
ing determination to vindicate the laws, it il
most probable this last outbreak in Wrigh
County would not have occurred.
Let us be understood. We do not con
denim, at this time, all proper efforts being
made to hold the Wright County lynchers
duly responsible for their outrageous conduct
Fhe interests of society and the dignity O
good government demands this.
But, what we do object to is, the D'Urbar
sort of ferocity indicated in Mr. S1BLEy's proc
lamation, which would punish the innocen
with the gu1ty-which talks of ''misery an,
desolation being inflicted upon innocent fami
hes"-and which denounces aoar upon thou
sands of people for the lawless conduct files
than a hundred!
How often have prisoners been rescue,
from officers, even in this very city ofSt. PAU
but would any body be absurd enough t
hold all St. Paul responsible for the delinquir
cy and lawlessness Of few--still less an
State Executive venture to declare all Ran
sey county in Estate OF Instruction Pr
This is precisely the absurdity and wrong MI
SIBLEy has been guilty of towards Wrigh
county.
The word instruction means "to rise,
against civil or political authority. Has tn,
county Of Wright, as county-have the PEG
ple-the five thousand people-the Thousand
voters of Wright county-as q community
rissn against the authorities No one dares in