New-York tribune., 1866-12-24
purchased assistance given by an American TO proPa-
gate the paradox and the untruth.
LICENSE TO MURDER.


The President, by an order dated Dec ", has dis
solved the Military Commission, held at Richmond
for the trial of DR.. James L. Watson The prisoner
who recently murdered negro in Rockbndge County
Va has therefore been discharged from custody, and
is secured from any punishment. The facts in this
case deserve to be universally known.
few weeks ago a negro named EcholS drove
violently against carriage in which the family
of Dr. Watson were riding, breaking it, but
inurng no one. The next day Watson went
in search Of the negro, found him at
work in field and attempted TO beat him. Echols
resisted and ran pursued by Watson, who threatened
to shoot him unless he stopped. EcholS preferred
flight to struggle and Watson drew pistol and
shot him through the body. He died in a few hours.
The murderer then surrendered himself and his trial
in the County Court resulted in entire acquittal
Gen. Schofeld, before whom these facts were
brought, issued an order, under authority Of the
Act of Congress of July l6 1866 for Military Com
mission in Richmond. and on the 18th inst. Wat
son was brought before it. His conviction had not
the President nterfored certain for he confessed
that he had committed tho crime.
Mr.. Johnson, in dissolving the Commission, chose
TO accept the recent decision of the Supreme Court
that military trial Of civilians in the Loyal States is
illegal as his authority. His Cabinet it is said
agrees with him. This Interpretation will sur
prise no one though it would have been
better had test case been submitted to the
Supreme Court from the Rebel States. We are not
yet prepared to admit that Virginia aud Indiana stand
in equal relations to the Government But any argu-
mcnt this point is superseded by the fact that the
Presidents action has taken from the freedmen their
last hopo Of protection from their oppressorS the last
fear of punishment. Watson killed this negro bru-
tally II was murder without shadow
Of justification, and freely admitted and
boasted Of a. an act Of courage Yet the
civil authorities of Virginia acquitted him of any
crime aud virtually excluded the wanton killing Of
negro from the category Of murder. He may kill
another tomorrow and there is no power that will
punish the act This is not exceptional case; in
Georgia 800 freedmen have been killed since Christ
mas, 1865. and but three Of their murderers have
been punished by the civil courts. Our correspond
ent at Savannah writes, under date Of Dec. ~:
II would be just as easy to get jury
"in the State Of Eew-York TO convict a
"person of manslaughter for shooting mad dog, as
"to get Jury Of Rebels to find Rebel guilty upon
charge Of killing a negro" Sweeping as this
assertion may be- the escape Of Watson is an instance
of its TRUTH as the New0rleans massacre, the scqut-
tal OF Perrin, in Columbus County, Georgia, OF the
murder Of Henry Thomas, and hundreds of other
cases are proofs The civil courts in the Rebel States
positively refuse to try such cases, while in the
few cases where the fear Of military interference
has induced them to parade the form Of duty,
the jury has acquitted the prisoner without
". nal ha
said; we may simply add that the construction
which President johnson puts upon the
decision Of the Supreme Court whether it be night or
wrong, has left the Freedmen without particle OF
legal protection. The whole subject must come
before Congress which will not we may hope neglect
its duty Of immediate action.