The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-08-26

that which should be answered by silent contempt
Another powerful incentive to wrong doing is the
absolute hullity of the civil law in such cases No
matter what may be the proof, if the criminal 70
well liked in the community. "Not Gailty" Ii
almost certain to be the verdict Of the jury, despite
the efforts of the Judge and prosecutor. If the
offender is a monied man, we'll popular citi-
zen, the trial is only farce-grave and prolonged,
it Is true, but capable of Only one terminatIon-a
verdict of acquittal. In afser days, when police
magistrates in cities deal with crime they do 50
promptly Costs are absolutely fr,ghtfgl, and lines
tremendous. An assault provoked by drunkenness,
frequently costs man as much as thrashing forty
different policemen would do, in New York. A
trfng eight is worth from $40 to $50 IN dust, all
expenses told, and so on One grand yfry that We
wot of, presented that it would be better to leave
the punishment of offenders to the Vigllantes, who
always acted impartially and who would not permit
the escape of proved criminals on technical and alb
surd grounds-than to have justice defeated as In
certain named The date of that document Is not
ancient and though of course refused and destroyed
it the deliberate opinion, oath, OF the Grand
Inquest, embodying the sentiment of thousands of
good citizens in the community. M
Finally, swift and terrible retribution Is the only
preventive of crime, while society is organizing, In
the far West The long delay of Justice, the weari
some proceedings, the remembrance of old friend
ships, ETC., create sympathy for the offender, 10
| strong as to cause hatred of the ayenging law,
instead of inspiring horror of ths crime. There
is something in the excitement of continued STAN
pedes that makes men of quick temperanents uncon-
trollably impulsive. In the moment of passion,
they would slay all round them but let the blood
COOL and they would share their last dollar with the
men whose life they sought, day or two before.
Habits of thought rule communities more than
laws and the settled opinion of numerous class Is
that calling q a liar, thief, or SON OF BIB
is provocation sufficient to justify instant Staying
Juries do not ordinarily bother themselves shout the
lengthy instructions they hear read by the court
They simply consider whether the deed Is a crime
against the Mountain Code; and if not mot guilty
ist tha ct Thieylnr.
action which miner calls MEAN, will surely be VS.
tied with condgn punishment, st the hands OF
Territorial jury In such cases, mercy there Is nene
but in affairs of single combats assaults shootings,
stabbngs and highway robberies the civil law with
its positively awful expense and delay worse than
useless.
One other main point requires to be noticed. ANY
person Of experience will remember that the unver
sal story of criminals who have expated their crimes
on the scaffod, or who pining away in the hard
ships of involuntary seryitude-tells of habitual
Sabbath breaking This sin is general in newly
discovered diggings in the mountains, that remon-
STRANGE usually produces no more fruit than few
, iocular oaths and a laugh. Religion is said to be
"played out" and protesting Christian must keep
straight, indeed, he will be suspected of being
hypocrtical member of tribe to whom it would be
, very disagreeable to talk about hemp. #
Under these circumstances, it becomes an absolute
necessity that good lawlovng and order-sustaining
men should unite for mutual protection and for the
salvation of the community. Being united, they
must act in harmony; repress disorders punish crime
and prevent outrage, their organization would be
failure from the start, and society would collapse
in the throes of anarchy. one but extreme penal
ties inflicted with promptitude, are of any avail to
auell the spirit of the desperadoes with whom they
have to contend considerable numbers are required
to cope successfully with the gangs of murderers
r desperadoes and robbers, who lnfest mining coun-
tries, and who, though faithful to no other bond,
a yet all league willingly against the law. secret
a they must be- in council and membership, or they
fort q
in country where equal facilities for the transmits
sion of intelligence at the command OF the Grim
inal and the judiciary; and an organization on this
q footing is VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.
:. Such was the state of affairs, when hYe men In
Virginia and four In Bannack initiated the move
ment which resulted in the formation of trbunsl
e supported by an omnipresent executive comprising
within itself nearly every good man In the ierrtoy
and pledged render impartial justice TO friend and
b foe without regard to CLINE, creed, race or politics
e In few short weeks it known that the voice
Justice had spoken in tones that might not be disrs
garded. The face of society was changed as IT by
o magic; for the Vglantes, holding in one hand tn
invisible yet effectual shield of protection and II
the other the swift descending and inevitable swort
of retributon, struck from his nerveless grasp tn
% weapon OF the assassin; commanded the brawier q
from strife warned the thief to more
< bade the good citizen take courage, and compelie
is the rufians and marauders who had so long main
u tained the "reign of terror in Montana, to fy ID
DR. Territory meet the just reward a their crimes
Need say that they ut once o6eyedl yet no
Of before more than one hundred valuable Lives had bee
re- pitlessy sacrificed and twenty-four miscreants ha
he met dogs doom as the reward of their crimes.
ss To this hour, the whispered words, "Fuginf
ly Vigllante" would blanch the cheek OF the wildss
and most redoubtable desperadO, and necesState
H. instant election between flight and certain doom.
er The administration of tue lex talions ny setcor
stituted authority is, undoubtedly, In civilzed an
or settled communities, anoutrnge on mankind. 1t
st there wholly unnecessary; but the sight OF fe
7 G Ill, fria pds ardv
sr ued citizens the whistle of the deperados bulle
d. and the plumber of the fruits of the patient toll
all years spent in weary exile from home In places wnei
,rt civil law is powerless as pasied arm from sne'
sh lack of ability to enforce its decreeater the oaS
ne of the reasoning and reverse the conclusion 4
of the case of the Vigilantes of Montana II mast
Prs also remembered that the Sheriff himself wss II
he leader of the Road Agents and bis deputies we're q
,at prominent members OF the band.
TX The question of the proprsety OF estaoisninB
l." Vigilance Committee, depends upon the ansve
go which ought to be given the following queries;
ty it lawful for citizens to slay robbers or mnrcere
Ia when they catch them ought they to walt Il
policemen where there none or put them In pc
lrd itentiarles not yet erected!
.. Gladly, indeed, we feel sure, would the Vlglant
from their labor and oyfully would they M
the advent of power civil or military to take th
I'D place; but, till this Is furnished by Governmer
society must be preserved from Generalization a
ch anarchy murder, arson and robbery must be pE
ra vented or punished aud road agents must de- u
the tce and protection from wrong to person or pro
,ot erty the brthright of every American cltzs
tn and these must be furnished in the best and me
my enectuai maIuHf tnas ueunis.'uoeI -;
nd Furnished however they must be BY constitution
,av law. undoubtedly, wherever practical and emce
,es provision can be made for its enforcemsnt. d
rir where justice is poweress well as blind the stro
arm of the mountaineer must WELD her sword
eg - -,-.l---...,,
lis- . ... F|,.- t1S"s N'''s"'e~/ .l fnuE
lin - -. =. al,
lille liz should never be forgotten tnat u
.t,. a. =, IL. 49, -.