The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-09-04
From the Luzerne Uuaion
The Mob Spirit.
IExSact from the Charge of lAe Court ]

guOCE CoNYNGHAM's CHARGE tc the Grand !
Jury on Monday afternoon, in sddition to
The topics usually presented, dwell at con-
considerable length upon the present troub- !
loss condition of the country, and the new |
duties tha, devolved upon juries by the CIR |
cumslances that surrounded them Alter
quoting the 'treason acts passed by the
the last Legislature of this State, and pre- |
senting the consequences of an infracton
of this law, he proceeded 10 say
With such law properly enforced, the
rights OF individuals, of The public, the gov
eminent and the country al large, may be
duly protected. 1t is broad enough 10 reach
any such offenders agains, the peace and
good order of society. 1t is we'll that it is
so it is well that men should so understand
il in the excited state OF community,
when differences of opinion sometimes
lead 10 rash and uugoverned conduct, riot
and gross disturbances may occur in our
midst and an abuse Of the rights of indi-
viduals. originating sometimes only in sue
icioD, and melted by malicious feeling or
personal emnity, acting on the excitabiity
oi others. may perhaps be committed TO The
disgrace o! the county. Mob law. or as 1t
is termed, ly6ch law, should never be
counlenanced in any civilized community.
have been too long supporter Of the laws
of the land 10 ever partially countenaRce
what is thus called by strange perversion,
sum mary justice, when the rights of an indi-
vidual, without appeal, were to be submit.
ted 10 the arbitrary judgement of a preju-
diced and maddened crowd, too often excl
ted beyond the counirol of either reason or
humanity. With number of people so
gathered together, rumor is received as ev-
idence, suspicion acquires the force OF proof
and with the passions of the mob as The
courselors, they being the judges and the
executioners OF their own decisions, who
can be considered safe The law may be
slow in It's action, and somtimes defective in
execution, through the fallibility OF officers,
but it is better that this should be the case,
evil and unfortunate as it may be, than tie
olher danger of an unregulated and popular
commoton, so obnoxious 10 every cool and
rejecting mind. The law, when vindica-
| ted, comes 10 an end, but popular and iu-
multuous disturbances lead 10 reac.ive and
| retR!iaiory measures fruitful of new distur
| Dances and riot. The newspapers have
| spoken of such violent and lawless conduct
| in other places in the State, but il is hoped
that Luzerne county may no! be disgraced
| by Sny proceeding of the same kind here.
! II persons, resident among us, offend against
the provisions of the first act we have re-
ferred TO, let them be prosecuted and then
| they can be punished under tie law f: il
] will furnish but lille cause for graduation,
If those who under the sudden ebulIiion OF
alledged patriotism, seek 10 visit them with
immediate and unlawful reiribution should
thereby secure for themselves sojourn in
the prison or the penilen,iary, besides The
payment of a serious fine.
The law against all such gatherings is
plain, and renal consequences of serious
character upon offending, attend as It's sane
tioD. We read 10 you Sections l9 and 20,
Title Ofihs consolidated Penal Aci Pennsyi.
uania Lars 2ss as applicable 10 The case.
SEcTIoN I9. II any per>on shall be con-
cerned in any riot, rout unlawful assembly,
or an afffay, and shall be thereof convicted
he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
sentenced TO pay fine not exceeding FIVE
hundred dollars, or undergo an imprison-
ment not exceeding two years, or both, or
either, al The discretion OF the court; and in
case any one is convicted OF an aggravated
riot, the court may sentence The offender 10
| imprisonment oy separate or solitary con-
finement al labor, not exceeding three years
SECTION 90. II any person riolousIy and
Unanimously assembled together, 10 the
disturbance of The public peace, shall un-
lawfully and with force, demolish, or pull
down, or destroy, or begin to demolish, pull
down, or destroy any public building, pri-
vale dwelling, church, meeting house, stable
barn, mill, granery, malt house or out house
or any building or erection used IN carrying
on any trade or manufacture or any branch
thereof, or any machinery, whether fixed oI
movable, prepared Tor or employed in any
manufacture or any branch thereof, or any
steam engine, or other engine for sinking,
working or draining and mine, or any build
ing or erection used ia conducting The 5usi
ness of any mine or any bridge, wagon-way
road or trunk, for conveying minerals from
any mine, every such offender shall be gull
iy Of a misdemeanor, and being ihereo
convicted, shall be imprisoned by separate
or solitary confinement al labor, or by sim
pie imprisonment, not exceeding seven
years.
AS said 10 you with regard To the frs
law TO which | called your attention, 81
now do ! repeat, that your duties require
should any offenders against these latte
sections be brought 10 your notice, 10 &C
promptly, and without fear, favor or affec
tion my own acts as Judge OF this Cour
will be equally decisive, TO eIdeaver Il
procure the conviction Of clearly providec
offenders, and TO mete out TO them, if con
vicied, severe but proper punishment.
My view in referring thus al some length