Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-16
Proceedings in Orange County. Va.

At meeting Of the citizens of Orange
County. held at Union Church on the 9th
inst, for the purpose of forming Il Vigilance
Committee to suppress rascality and crime,
and to rid themselves of Il certain set Of mid
night robbers and thieves, vino had been en-
gagged for some time past in crimes too nu-
merous to mention, the following preamble
and resolutions were unanimously adopted:
I'VE the undersig ned citizens of Orange County
having suffered severely from the dcprcdations of
certain persons in the neghborhood, who have
been engaged with slaves in unlawful traffic
encouraging and assisting them in stealng-for
our mutual protection and security, have united
ourselves into Il Vigilance Committee for the pur-
pose of expcling such Objectionable persons from
our community, and preventing their return to
our county. Should any loss arise to any iudi-
vidual member of this Committee from his connec-
ton with it, mutually pledge ourselves to aid
in reimbursing him for such loss. Witness our
hands, &C.
This preamble was signed by about l25
names.
1st. Resolved, That in all the acts of this Com
mitce for the purpose of Furnishing suspected per-
sons, and all other business of this Committee,
shall require two-thirds vote of all the members
present to carry any measure.
Cd. Resolved That each member of this Com
mittcc unite upon ballot the names Of all sus-
pectcd persons in the ncighborhood and deposit
them in Il box to be made by the Secretary.
3D.. Resolved That we move in u body to the
house of the Kendy's, and order them to leave the
county by 10 o'clock on Saturday morning next,
and to meet ut this house Saturday at9 o'clock,
and go to the house of said Kcdiny's, and if they
have not left the county, to then and there in
tct such punishment us the committee may dccm
proper.
In accordance with the Sd resolution, the
Committee moved in body to the house of
kcnidy's and feathers and after paying
them for their personal! effects, ordered them
to leave as above stated. They then adjourn
ed to meet at Union Church on Saturday the
9th inst at o'clock
Agreeable to adjournment, the committee
assembled at Union Church on Saturday
June 9th with largely increased numbers,
and after disposing Of the immediate bust
ness before it, the following resolution was
unanmousl Y adopted.
"ReSovcd, That i'll consequence Of certain
threats made against certain members Of this
committee by Wcsiy kendy aud his brother
Trenton, should any one or more members sustain
any serious injury within the next seven years,
and il DO not known by whose hands such injn-
~ was inflicted, then, that this committee do
forthwith cmH0dy themselves, and ma, II possible,
the aforesaid kcnidy's and hang them BY the neck
until they be dead
The Committee having executed all bust
ness before it, proceeded in body to the
house of the kenidy', to see that. they had
left, and finding no one there burnt the
houses and proceeded to the feathers, which
house they also burnt Hearing that the
kenidy's had entrcnchcd themselves at
Orange 9. H.. for the purpose Of resistance,
they immediately proceeded there and finding
one OF the Lcathers' and one Of the kenidy' $,
who decming flight the most prudent course,
and after Il severe chase by the guard OF ten
men detached to take them, and innumerable
balls fired at them some passing through the
coat, others in close proximity to their cr;tnl-
ums, they succeeded in capturing them,
when they were given Il fair and impartial
trial by the whole Committee, awarding to
Leathers - lnshes upon his bare back, and
to kenidy -, to be put on with Il cowh!de
and ordered to leave the county irnnedl-
atcly, and the State as soon rs possible, and
if caught within the county again that they
be hung until they be dead. The Commit
tee then adjourned to meet again at specl-
fled time. - Oranys rh1o"irie.