The hydraulic press., 1860-06-30
MOB EkW.

MOB LEW.
Nothing could present an aspect Of more
terror to the orderly, well-beaavedi citizen,
than the unlicensed proceedings Of an infd-
rated mob. Those who lead NE rabble, sse
not always themselves aware o. the alarming
extent to which their deeds may carry them.
Actuated in the first instance. it may be, by
a desire to avenge somereal or fancied wrong,
they are borne along by an irresistible inn
pulse, to perpetrate acts Of horror which,
daring moments ofcool reflection, they would
be ashaued TO acknowledge, and from which
the soul Of man sf sensibility would shrink
with loethisg and disgsst.
As general thing, be who heads mob
has biography, which, If It were open for
public persssly wesld discover life that
had not been entirely blameless. Ten to one
but at some time be has fallen under the
dispieasuye Of the law, or that he has good
reason to apprehend its terrors. He is the
kind of man who is haunted by vague suspi-
cions of attack from some quarter; who goes
armed among defenceless women and chill
dren, and has sometimes even been known
to use the pistol and bowie-knife upon this
unoffending class of cummunity. He insults
proyokes quarrels with peaceable citizens,
and plays the bully at time when none are
willing to dispute with him the claims of a
vulgar and brutal superiority. In an argu-
ment, he renders himself prominent for his
defence of the principle of claw and order,' y
and draws weapon against his opponent to
convince him Of the truth Of its theory or,
he denounees the law, because it is powerless
to punish, wheny if the truth were known,
he is the very man who hang the jury, OF
used the most vigorous efforts to trump UP
testimony for the acquittal of the prisoner
Such men sometimes have the reputation
of being brave. Under the cover of dark
ness, they would put rope around the neck
of an unfortunate victim, without stopping
to inquire whether the offence he committed
was jasti6able; without positively knowing
that an offence has been committed; or for
moment taking into consideration, that il
the object of their wrath was guilty, they
become doubly so, when they assume the
right to punish, which belongs only to God
and the majesty Of the lawI
A mob seldom stops after performing what
it sets out to do. One of the legitimate
consequences Of its existence is, to proceed
from one step of crime 10 another. After
hanging the victim, it proceeds to demoIish
his house-to wreak vengeance upon his i'm
mediate friends and protectors-,and finally
to an application of the incendiary's torch
that they may revel in robbery and Gendish
exultation, amid the spreading flames of q
city's confagration
These terrible consequences were feared or
Sunday night last. A storm was rafset
which, if it had gained full force and head.
way, its leaders would have found it impos.
sible to control. The imminence was fear.
fuf, and should serve as a warning to oul
citizens in future Bad men are ever to bt
found in the ranks of such bodies, who
when the prime-leaders, appalled, and intimi.
dated at the desperate length and nature o
their proceedings, shrink back and resigr
their, command, are ready to assume it, ant
lead onward in the work of rapine, outlawry
and violence. The history of popular mob.
and tumults in all countries, goes to prove it
When prominent teftisens-men ofproperty
and influence in commnnity-engagein sucf
movements, it is time for the press to speal
OUT and it it fails or refuses to name then,
it shows more respect to their standing il
community, than the circumstances unde
which they were placed, would admit Of thei
showing for themselves.