Nebraska advertiser., 1863-06-18
Law and Order.

and other places. and even some Of our
W citizens. seem to fear that the peo-
pie of Nemaha County are about to
loose all respect for law-are in danger
of drifting into a houndless and unknown
Ocean without rudder, Compass or Chart
We hear it remarked that the murder
that occurred on the sixth inst, could not
have taken place three years ago, 1.-The
community wa then not so much dem
oralized." That may be true. There
were not so many rebels three years ago
as now. We do not object to this preach
ing. All good men should be in favor
of sustaining Law and Order. Sermons
are none the worse for being oft re-
pealed. Mankind are heedlss. The
truth has to be told them, sometimes a
thousand times, before they believe it,
We do not believe, however, that the
people of this county are very much de-
mOralized, or that they are much worse
than our neigbors further North, or than
we were ourselves three years ago. We
think nineteen twentieths of the people
this county. are now and always have
been opposed to mobs. There are &C.
%casionally extreme case in which commu-
mites countenance, and justify extra-legal
proceedings. For instance, if a band of
men we're believed to be armed or arm
ing for the purpose of committing depre-
dations in The community, or if they
were secretly conspiring against the lives,
or the peace of their LeighbOrs and
against laws and government, under
such circumstances citizens would be ex-
cusible if they visited such band of men,
even without due process of law, and dis
armed them. Again. Where a man or
men are guilty of horse stealing, and
their guilt becomes notorious, they are in
most n~eighborhoods in this Western coun.
try. If caught, executed by order of Judge
Lynch. There has been many instances
of this kind IN Nebraska. None, how
ever, we believe, in Nemaha County
Two or three years ago, Two men accused
of DEMONSTRATING, were taken out of jail
at Omaha, ard murdered in a most hor-
rihle manner. A year ago last winter,
a iayhawker was murdered at Nebraska
City, and if current reports were true, il
was attended with circumstance of the
most savage brutality. Both murders
were cold Hooded and horrible. fully as
much so as the one committed in this
county, and showing as much de,norali-
cation, yet nobody got frightened about
it. Nobody, unless it was some other
horse thief, proposed 10 leave the country.
Mr.. Handley had been guilty of treason,
a crime greater than horse stealing. He
had afterwards, had a fight with, and
whipped three different men, out of re.
venge for which he was murdered. There
is no necessity for any man pretending
TO be afraid of personal injury unless be
is placed under circumstances similar Il
those surrounding Handley. Most PEG.
pie did consider him in danger. If there
are men IN AtchisOn county, or in chi:
county, disposed to excuse or p~alliale the
murder, their number is very small-ten-
field smaller than those who have justified
the murder of horse. thieves in the Ter.
ritOry. We are a little surprised TO hear
men eulOgizing Law and Order. who
have for years past advised breaking
Law under certain circumstances.
We do not make these statements tC
Justify or excuse the murder of Nalhar
Handlry. We merely wish to show tina.
crimes equally as henious have been per
petrated in other places, and that VT
have at least as much respect for law al
our neighbors. indeed, the citizens Of
this county had nothing whatever TO de-
with the murder. They might, il il
true, have prevented il. if the threats
made that day, had been generally known
in time but nobody in this county was
responsible for the commission of it,
The affair viii be investigated by the
proper authorities. and the parties, we
suppose, punished as may be deemed
most just and exPedieBt.
We hope TO see the Law sustained and
enforced. There may be causes where
4 necessary to 60 beyond the Law il
ssif-defence. but those cases very rarely
occur. That Of Handley certainly was
moi one. Geysrnnen. has promised