Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-08-15
VIGILANCE COMMIT.
TEE.

ABOLITION VIGILANCE COMMAAe
TEE.
Several times since the breaking out
Of the rebellion have the abolitionists OF
the country made an effort to establish
themselves 10 the inquisitorial chair.
They arrogate to themselves all the pa
triotism and loyalty Of the country.
They set themselves up as the standard
and measure every other man by it,and
if he falls short, he is at once marked
down as a rebel sympathizer. Where
there is q sufficient number of these
miserable bigots in one community they
make or endeavor to make their ideas
practical by issuing bull to the public,
and giving individuals the preference
Of getting down upon their knees before
them or become the subjects of such
vile abuse as unbridled fanaticism may
choose to infict.
A case in point recently transpired in
Green county, Wisconsin. The fan ,tics
being in the majority there, they held a
meeting and appointed committee,
whose duty it seemed to be to tender
the oath Of allegiance to all persons in
the entire county not belonging the alb
clifton party. Refusal to take the oath
when prescribed by the outlaws was to
be punished by expulsion from the
county. The resolutions Of the meeting
were in part As follows:
Resolved, That any person refusing
to subscribe to said oath shall be con-
sldered and IS our enemy, whom it is
our first duty, as good aud loyal citizens
to expel from our midst.
Resolved, That judicial committee
Of fifteen of our best citizens be appoin-
ted to investigate and take judicial cog
nizance OF all refusas to take and SUBJ
scribe to, and violations OF said oath,
and that the Home GUARDS organized
here tonight be authorized and ordered
to faithfully execute the DEGREES OF said
judicial committee. "
The committee thus established COM
mcnced its labors. In the most dictato-
rial manner they presented the oath to
such as they pleased to, and if any man
dared assert his rights as freeman, he
was taken by force OF arms, buffetted and
driven from the lines of the county.
The following is a sample of the bratal
and hellish operations Of this committee,
as set forth by a republican paper print
ed at Rockford
"Mr. John Stoves, well known cit.
izen of Durand, and very radical re-
publican 10 politics, we understand, had
occasion to visit Monroe, Wisconsin.
last week, and while there vigilance
committee OF which tn. vicinity boasts
had taken into their hands supposed
secessionlst OF The place to administer
to him the oath of allegiance, and if be
refused to do so, to infict upon him a
proper punishment. The operations of
the committee had drawn together a
large and excited crowd. MIR. Stoves
looked on and SAW that their victim was
an old man, perhaps seventy years old,
whom they were handl,ng,as Mr.. Stoves
thought, with a degree Of violence hard
ly removed from brutality. TO see an
old man treated thus aroused his sym.
patty, and without stopping to consider
the merits OF the case as charged against
the old man, in the name OF common
humanity he demonstrated with the
crowd, telling thcm that they ought to
treat him more eivilly, an. cons der up.
on his case more dispass.oDately, tina,
the worst criminal who was to be hang
ed within the. next halt hour was entitled
to decent respect and inviolability OF
his person in the meantime.
The excited crowd Immediately turn
ed upon Mr.. Stoves, and he fund him.
self in their hands and at tho mercy Of
their excitement. The vigilance com.
mlttce took his case in hand, as be
learned upon beng informed til at thew
we're then considering as to what should
be done with him. In a few minute,
one OF thu committee told him that he
had one minute lett to take the oath ri
allegiance or leave the town. ,S,ovo.
told them that he had not one word =.
objection to the sentiments OF the oath
and its purport, aud as volun,arv
transaction would take it a thonsand
times; but that be had not said a WORD
or done thing which gave them an,
reason to suspect his loyalty, aud b,
should decline to take the oath unor
compulsion. ALI that he had said wa,
. plea for commonly civil, persona
treatment towards an old gray haired
man whom they had taken into tbei,
hands, and when in the excitement o.
their anger he thought they we're treat.
ing him lnhamanely. He asked to see
the com nittee as boiy and make !
statement 70 them. believing when they
heard oil, they wonld see his oaas in The