The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-25
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1866.
Lynch Law.

rested. there was some danger that the mob
would seize and execute him on the spot.
The police, however, prevented that; and this
community may be glad that it was saved
from the contemplated outrage. The main
tenance OF the supremacy of the law should
be with all true Americans matter of pride.
They have proclaimed the doctrine that man
is capable of selfgovernment, and have in
corporated it in their institutions. But events
which occur almost weekly in various parts
OF the country furnish sad commentary on
the soundness of the principle as illustrated
in practice, and are calculated to diminish
the force of our example on the rest of man
kind.
1t is admitted that crimes Of the darkest
dye are decidedly on the increase, and IL must
be acknowledged also that the lenient treat
ment of the worst offenders, and the facilities
afforded them to scape"unwhipped of JUSTICE"
have operated to swell our criminal statistics.
We know that it is natural for an outraged
populace to feel indignant when, either for
lack of legal evidence, or from the tricks of
lawyers, a criminal, of whose guilt there is
almost moral certainty, is allowed to go
forth among his fellow-men to repeat, perhaps,
his deeds OF wrong. Shameful, indeed, is it
that so many instances Of this legalized shell
tering of the bold and bad from just punish
ment have occurred to disgrace our judicial
records. From the exclusion on some tech
nical ground, of important evidence, to the
eloquent pleading of the moral or mental Gin
sanity" dodge by the gentlemen of the green
bag, there has too often seemed to be con-
spiracy to defeat the course OF Justice or, at
least, lukewarmness in regard to a rigorous
administration of tie laws designed to punish
the enemies OF society. ..
These things are difficult to be borne with
patience, yet it is easy to show that for the ul-
innate good Of community, Tor The sake of
individual SAFETY and the vindication OF the
theory OF our political system, these grie-
vances must be tolerated. No one, whatever
his faith may be in vigilance committees"
and the like, can deny that mob acts from
the hot impulse OF the moment. The persons
who compose the violent crowd are too gene
rally the worst class OF society, who seize
every occasion, no matter how trifng, to raise
an excitement and disturb their tellow-citi-
zens. Can it be supposed that such a rabble
is better able to sift evidence and determine
question of guilt or innocence, than men of
intellect, learning, and integrity, such as are
a majority of the judges upon the bench in
this country? Have they not repeatedly
committed outrages upon innocent persons
who were merely suffering under suspicion
of having violated the criminal law? Have
not their proceedings often run to an extreme,
inficting punishment entirely disproportion-
ate to the real offense charged? We could
cite many notable examples to prove this
if it were necessary. The fact that
a promiscuous crowd of infatuated people
undertake to decide the issue of innocence
or guilt under Lynch law," would be fatal to
the personal security of every citizen were
such irregular proceedings tolerated. Even
the most profound iurists are frequently
puzzled by circumstantial evidence, and they
often conclude that a defendant is guilty
when subsequent events demonstrate the re-
verse beyond all doubt. The best of us are
liable to such prosecutions; and what assu-
rance have we that, instead of having fair
and legal trial, we shall not be torn from the
courtroom by mob, and put to death with
out even time for prayer? Is it not clear that
If we should once admit that "LyAch law"
may be justihable IN any case, an opening
would be made which might place almost
any citizen at the me cy of an inhamed
rabbleP
True freedom consists in knowing that no
member of society 'can be deprived of life.
liberty, or property, without due process of
law" and the worst foes OF civil government
are those who delight in mob violence, when
ever the decision Of a court does not accord
with their notions of right. They destroy
that feeling of private security which is the
result of the supremacy OF the constituted
authorities, and without which, what is called
freedomispracticaly worthless. It's, therefore
for the general ultimate good OF the community
tOsubmt TO what appears to be the uncertainty
or dilatOriness OF legal justice in any partcu-
lar case, rather than countenance resort tC
mob rule.
PRoBsT is a monster Of wickedness. whose
great crime is well fitted to enrage the sensi
bilities Of our people in an extraordinary
degree; but it is better he should be regularly
tried, convicted, and executed, than that tbs
majesty OF the law and the decorum of thu
community should be violated by making hin
the victim of popular vengeance. There car
be no doubt that he will be made to suffe