Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-05-04
TFor the Journal


COLUMBUS CRY, April Goth, 1860.
Mn. MAHlN.-Permit me the use OF your
columns to reply to two editorials which
lately appeared in your weekly issue, and
which taken together reflect somewhat on
the citizens of this place. The first of these
articles appeared in your paper of March
the 30th last, and the second in last weeks
issue. This last article appears to have
been written from communication to you
from Concord, in this county, and signed
"W. B." Both articles, the one directly,
and the other indirectly, refer to the s'rob.
berry" case near this town, and which is yet
before the Courts for trial and conveys
the impression (whether intentional or not)
that great wrong had been done to the
prisoner by the citizens of this place than
which nothing can be farther from the truth.
"W. B." bowls piteously over the existence
of"Vigilauce COMMITTEES" which he asserts
are organized in all the small towns in
this region, and complains CT their tyranny
and injustice" He thinks that the howl of
the wild beast and the Indian war whoop in
the early days Of the county did not strike
such terror to the inhabitants as the Vigilance
Committees of the present cay. Possibly
not :; but then the inhabitants of an early
day may have kept within doors of nights,
and not disturbed the wild beasts and Indians,
and thus not have given themselves any
cause of fear.
"W. B." further says that "the Vigilance
Committees are not content to wait till a
man commits crime, but they drug him
with liquor till his reason is dethroned, then
set the best talent Of the place to make him
commit an unlawful act, and when he falls
into the snare incarcerate him in Jail, &C."
Now, Mr.. Editor, where the facts are all
understood, such malignant falsehoods as the
above have tendency to make the blood
course rapidly through the veins. Now,
what are the facts in the case as regards
this town? Simply these : For o year or
two past our town has been infested with
thieves, who stole everything they could
CORES and shops of mechanics, and helped
themselves to such things as they liked best
until the patience of our citizens became ex-
hausted. Under such circumstances is it
any wonder if the 'best talent of the place"
would associate themselves together to de-
tect the villains and hand them over to
justice1 And this has been the sum and sub
stance of their offending, nothing more, for
undertake to say that no Vigilance Com
mittee in this county for the last year or
two, at least, ever took the punishment of
offenders into their own hands; they only
arrested them and passed them over to the
authorities for trial. Is there any thing
wrong in this Can CIV. B." tell US why
he fears such men more than the wild beasts
and Indians Verify. his conscience is his
own accuser. Now, Mr.. Editor, the writer
of this never belonged to any Vigilance
Committee, nor was he aware of the exis-
tence of one in this town until after the
arrest of the person alluded to in this article.
but he is free to say that he has slept quite
a. soundly since he knew of its existence AS
before, and he hopes the organization will
be kept up until every thief and black leg
about town is disposed of, even though it
should shock the sensibilities of your
amiable correspondent "W. B." or have to
deal with persons ''well educated, of re-
spectacle connections and steady habits !"
10 regard to the Vigilance Committee drug
ying with liquor, am Of the opin on it is
Ill hoax and of q piece with the rest of the
lrticle alluded to. The men composing the
Committee at this place are our most prom.
nent citizens, who were compelled to thus
ssociate for the protection Of their property.
Zen, every one of them, who stand head
nd shoulders above their accuser, and who
would scorn to drug man with liquor or
nything else to get him to commit orimo.
|ut, Mr.. Editor, history and experience
Zach us that when men wish to commit
rime they frequently drug Memselues with
quor to drown their remorse of conscience
nd properly prepare them for their work
crime. In conclusion let me say to "W.
:" and all good citizens that if they would
md their aid and sympathy to the suppress
on OF crime, and not sympathize with it,
lat crime would in measure cease.
COLUMBUS ORR.
rive cheerfully publish the above, the more 50
it comes from highly respectable source. Our
lumns are always open for the defense of Right,
ID the attack of Wrong; and if, in either case,
. msrepresent facts, upon being apprised of doirg
we will cheerfuly make the amsnde honorable.
e are assured, and have every reason to believe,
at those who are engaged in ferreting out the
olators of law in their community men of the
CHEST standing and purest motives, who would not
ewingty injure innocent persons.