The New York herald., 1866-01-29
Lynch Law in the OIL Regions.

lStence OF considerable eXcltemenJ tnere arlSiIly
from several simultaneous attempts to burn the
place. A vigilance committee was formed, and
matters looked as if extreme measures would
have to be resorted to before quiet could be
resiored-the hanging Of the incendiaries being
among the remedies proposed.
Titusviile, although comparatively a new
| place, is prosperous borough of some ten
thousand inhabitants Being the centre or hub
of the great oil region of Western Pennsylvania,
| it has during the oil excitement been a resort
| for many adventurers of different classes in
cluding unprincipled spectators, gamblers,
highwaymen, horse thieves, and all those aban-
doned creatures who rush to places where sud
denly acquired wealth makes people profigate.
| II was the same with California in its carly
days. 1t was so with the rich mining regions
of Nevada, Idaho, Colorado and other gold and
silver producing countries, including Australia.
| Many thousands of people focked 10 those re-
| gions under the glttering infatuation that they
would quickly realize fortunes; but they were
| doomed to disappointment Then followed
dependency, then recklessness, then drunken
ness, all ending in crime This class of people
Joined their fortunes with those naturally de-
praved and only survived in an atmosphere of
villany. United they became powerful band
Of marauders. They robbed, burned, murder
ed and destroyed as they liked. The arm Of
the law was not sufficiently powerful to protect
the honest citizen, miner or trader; hence the
latter had to provide for selEprotcction. They
formed what they called vigilance committees,
and summary and condign was the punishment
inflicted upon the assassins and plunderers.
Many were hanged without mercy, and others
were banished the country, never to return under
penalty ofdeath. II must be rcmea- bered that
these scenes occurred in an entirely new coun-
try. where laws were almost unknown, or, IL
known, generally UNDECIDED Therefore, if
vigilance committees or any other unlawful
assumption OF the civil power could ever be
justified, California and other new gold coun-
tries might possibly furnish examples.
But how is IL with the oil regions Of Penn
sylvania! No doubt vast amount Of money
has found It's way there, as high a sum as fifty
millions OF dollars. it is said, having been re-
ceived in Venango county alone du. ing the oil
excitement a year ago. 1t is equally probable
found its way from there, and been expended
in extravaganza and high living in large cities.
But considering the large amount Of money
suddenly thrown upon hitherto humble, il not
impoverished community, it is wonder, not
| that the people now think themselves obliged
| 10 take the law into their own hands against
marauders, but tha' they have not thought so
L.r Vat tlax, tba
for this exercise Of extra.judicial authority that
the remote Californians did during their early
domestic troubles. Titusvillc il in constant
telcgraphic communica ton with the capital of
the State and with the county seal II ii were
necessary to summon assistance from the
Sheriff Of the county or from the Governor, of
the State, in order to enforce the laws, aid
! could have been furnished within iweniy-iour
hours. II would have taken month before Cali
fornia could have been so assisted. What might
have been justifable in California under a GER
tain state of things cannot, therefore, be justl-
| fable in any part Of State like Pennsylvania
under similar circumstances. The citizens Of
Tiiusville were fully justified In arrcsting the
villains who set their dwellings and storchouses
in flames, and in keeping them in close custody
until the proper authorities could be apprised
| of the troubles. But we do not think they are
or would be ngh, in going any further, unless
| II became manifest that neither the county nor
the State authorities were competent to enforce
the laws. The question Of banishing people
unfortunately, men and women, whether
criminals or not, at this season Of The year, as
has already been done, Is one upon which the
authorities Of the towns adjacent 10 Titusvile
may have something TO say. These miserable
creatures certainly cannot live in the woods.
| They must be housed somewhere, or perish
The officers Of The law are also the proper per-
sons 10 take cognzancc of cases like these. In
short, however great the provocation- no
doubt II was extremely so--the citizens of
Titusville should, before resorting 10 final and
| irremedable measures, have tried the strength
Of the local authorities; IL Il were found incom-
pctcnt they should have added their weight as
q posse comitot,ls; II that was not sufficient,
they should have called upon the Sheriff Of the
county, and II that again was not competent,
the Governor Of the State might have been
called upon to vindicate the law II seems to
us that In great and enlightened State like
that Of Pennsylvania the legal enactments of
the Commonwealth can be maintained without
resorting 10 the terrible code Of Judge Lynch.
We trust, however, that the people OF Titusville
have not actually appealed TO that code during
their prcsent term Of excitement, and that later
intelligence will be OF . less sanguinary char
actar than that which Ia now befnra M.