Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-06-17
COmmUNlCATIO ONs.
Fer the "Cslsm5,a Dsmoerst." )"
Desultory Letter. No. D.

Col. TATE I'll am at loss for terms
to express fully my abhorrance Of the as
sassina,ion of President Lincoln. Muir.
der is one Of the greatest violations Of
law. OfRcer., and every Intelligent per.
son 10 the common walks Of life, should
strive to obey the law in every particular.
When this is done by the Rulers, aud the
governed also, the Law proves to be o
shield aud protector ofall. II we do not
like certain laws, or if they do not prove
to be good, let US take bg1 course and
rPeal them.
The supposed or actual violation Of law
by one man does not justify another in
doing su illegal act, although this is fro.
quen,ly plead in palliation Of crime.--
But the plea is not a good one. No mat.
ter who Mr.. Lincoln was, nor what he
had done, /. was unlawful and wicked to
murder him. Booth deser we'd to DO arres.
ted and puui.hcd according to law, aud l
an sorry that the circumstances were such
this could not have been the case. Then
] think we should have had him, and
doubtless all others who we're engaged
with him in the dreadful deed indicted by
Grand Jury aud tried by their Peers
before q CiyIL CouRr, which l think l..
the proper, the lawful course to try, and
dispose Of all matters not strictly military.
Booths was ON awful, bold and out
rsgeous act, but lie, me inquire wha. bitter
spirit did the Mobs in Philahelphla mani
list 10 the recen. assaults upon the ISoEn.
soLLsl l can see no difference. 1t was
the very same spirit, but if possible more
mean and cowardly. Again, wha! better
was the spirit and remark touching this
subject, of Mr.. Lind, President of one
branch Of the City Council To me, it
appears that the mobs which destroyed
printing presses in Californa, and at Ports.
mouth, N. H., aud that hung men in In
diana, and other places, as soon as they
beard Of Booths woeful crime, have thus
proven themselves to be no better than
hs Had they the courage and spiri. thcy
have manifested in the unlawful proceed
ipgs just referred to in the same degree,
they would do just as he did to accomplish
their hellish purposes. All this is wrong
and desperately wicked and should be
condemned in The strongest terms by tn,
Press. the Pulpit, and law.abidDg people
everywhere, and of all Political and Re
ligious parties.
l. is presumed that all intelligent mel
know the law. and I relcat that no one j.,
justitable in violating the Law. II it i.
| believed any one has done SO, let him b.
arrested BY legal procrss; our Courts are
open, and let him be tried by the proper
tribunal. We must have law aud order
or we are doomed Nation. Imakc these
remarks in the spirit Of candor. kindness
and love. The war is over and now let
US again enjoy all our legal rights aud ex-
tend them TO others. bet US unanimously
tolerate the Constitutional Freedom of
Speech, and Of the Press.
Let u, cease to do evil ard learn 10 do
we'll. Let US reason together, and no Ion,
ger prescribe each other. Let US prom ole
union aud harmony, restore as soon as
possible what the war has destroyed. Let
us build up the waste places, that 'the
wilderness may bud and blossom as the
rose" That the voice Of PEACE and LOVE
may again be heard aud enjoyed through.
out our land. Let oil dwell safely within
our borders. For the preservation of our
National Constitution, our venerated
UNION, and our GLORIOUS FLAG, Let
US "sing praises and Glory to God in the
highest and OH earth Peace and good will
to men,"
JEFFERSON.