The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-08-04
DAVID S. CREIGH.

of this paper for stafemenS OF lsots eou-
ceruiDc the rourder Of this good and mp
right man. Whether anything more per
tanning to his pretended uil will ever GENE
to light This side of the great Judgment. ia
kaown to God only. In the meantime the
facts brought before as. AID about which
there is no reason to doubt, are too solema,
too vital in theiyeaaraoter and bearing 10
be passed over. If there breethos ia this
land man Who can lock upon this diaboli-
cal ou;rage with-an unmo7ed heart, it is on-
" because that heart is dead 70 everything
most precious in our birth right.
What are re 10 learn from tbs t'0g'dy?
Our people are now given to understand
that it is the privileges the righs Of every
vile, licentious Yankee soldier to enter eur
houses ct pleasure, abase and insult or
wives and daughters, rife oar trunks ard
drawers. II We dare demonstrate, we are
to be ordered out Ike a rpaniel, "lPhGt
are you doing here2 BRING me The %eys.'-
This ia the style Of proceeding. The villain
at the same time has his pistol dra'cn
cooked and pointed at your breast This
was exactly the case here, Another letter
from most intelligent gentleman living
close BY, and whose relation to Mr. Creigh
would lead to an Intimate acq lain!ance with
the whole matter, mentions the additional
fact that the ruff IN attempted to force his
wey into the cbamber of sick daughter.
Rut no matter; the edct of this execution
is plainly as follows: lyon infamous rebels!
not only will we kill you when we can in
open battle but we also give our soldiers
uuliudted license to visit your homes At will,
il squads, or siOgly. Your property, yoar
families are at their pleasure, Speak n
word if you d?re. Defend your lives against
a drawn, deadly weapon All the first time
we ley hands upon you, your neck' shall
be ireated to 3 halter" That. is the plain
Eug}ish Of this iufamous transaction.
Aud. let peculiar aggrayation be noted.
This execution Of Mr. Creigh is nos the
vreaking Of private, indiyilual malice nor
an outbreak Of popular vengeance. No,
it is the deliberate act of military authority.
It passed through the hands Of military
court, and was approved by General Hun
ter. This gives it great significance. This
officially jqstiA.s the la1less aggressOr; aad
the act of defending home sud life byO0r
citizens it pronOunces a crime to be e1pi-
ated upon the gallows. lie, orr people, our
government, ponder this IN tJcir hearts.
Again, let it be remarked that his trial
was n mere mockery. He was in their hands
about three weeks. But neither witness por
counsel we're allowed to appear in his be-
half And this in the case Of citizen, q
man of the highest character. And more
over, as the Yankee Congress has included
Greenbrier county in their go,called West
Virginia, Mr.. Creigh was, IN The coa'empla-
ton of their lar, one of their own citizens.
Since the sun of heaven hid its face from
the judicial murder of the Saviour of men,
has it ever Witnessed fouler transaction
at any tribunal, even the basest of earth 2.
The verdict of the country will more than
Justify the act for which this excellent man
has suffered death. In the letter Of the
Federal chaplain TO Mrs, Creigh he says
"Hs was condemned to die principally en-
his own confession, together with corrobo-
rating circumstance" From this it would
appear there was no witness against him.
As to ''corrobOratng circumstances" they
amount to nothing, The prisoner was not
man, when making statement, to give
any but full and candid one. To call it
confession is q mi8nomer. A confession Is
for the gully. But Mr.. Creigh, while own
ing the deed, yindicated its righteousness
in the very face of the tribunal that mock
ed justice in his condemnation. What he
Justified candid world will applaud. Our
enemies have long since found it g costly
experiment to meet our brothers and sons
'in open battle. With a spirit as base as it
is cowardly, they find a more congenial work
in the plumber of our homes. What can.
not be carried away, or boxed up and sent
North, is broken or burned. This wantOn
destruction of the most costly furniture, has
been the fate Of once splendid mansions, now
counted in their ruins, thousands upon thou