The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-03-28
License to Murder.

fIhe KfeSldent, Dy an order dated
Dec. o., has dissolved the Military
Commission, held at Ricbmond, for the
trial Of Dr.. James L. Watson. The
prisoner, who recently murdered a
negro in Rockbridge County, Va, has
therefore been discharged from custody,
and is secured from any punishment.
The facts in the case deserve to be uni
versally known. 'l-N ,'
A few nights ago a negro named
EchOls drove violently against o car
rage in which the family Of DR.. Watson
were riding, breaking it, but injuring
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 pre-
ferred flight to a struggle, and Watson
drew apistol and shot him through the
body. He died ia a few hours. The
murderer then surrendered himself, and
bis trial in the County Court resulted
! in entire acqnittal. Gen Schofeld, be-
fore whom these facts were brought,
! issued an order, under authority of the
Act of Congress of July 49, 1866, for
a Military Commission in Richmond,
and on the 10Th inst. Watson was
brought before it. His conviction, had
not the President interfered, was GER
! tain, for he confessed that he had COM
mitted the crime. mha jea l.h Of iE
DIR. johnson, lin dissolying the Com
mission, chose to accept the recent
decision of the Supreme Court, that
military trial OF civilians in tie Loyal
States is illegal, as his authority. His
Cabinet, it is said,7 agrees with him,
This Interpretation will surprise no one,
though it would have been better had a
| test case been submitted to the Supreme
Court from the Rebel States We are
not yettprepared to admit that Virginia
aud Indiana stand 10, equal relations TO
| the Government. But an argument op
this point is superseded by the, fact that
the Presidents action has taken from
the freedmen their last hope of pfotec-
tien, from, their oppresSors the last fear
of punishment. Watson killed this
negro brptally. 1t was a murder with
out a'shadow of Justification and freely
admitted and boasted Of as an act OF
courage. Yet the, civil authorities Of
Virginia acquitted him of any crime,
and virtually excluded the wanton kill
ing of a negro from the category of
murder. He may kill another to-mor-
row, and there is, no power that will
punish the act. This is not an 'excep-
tional case; in Georgia, 800 freedmen
have been killed since Christmas, ! 865,
and but three of theie murderers have
been punished by the civil courts. Our
correspondent at Savannah writes, un-
der date of Dec. 10: at would be just
as easy to get jury in the State Of
New-Y ofk TO convict person Of man
slaughter for shooting mad dog, as to
| get a jury of Rebels to find Rebel
| guilty upon charge Of killing 4 negro" "
Sweeping as this assertion may be, the
escape of Watson is an instance of its
truth, as the Hew-0rleans massacre
the acqnittaI ofyPerrin, in Columbus
County, Georgia, Of the murder of Hen
ry Thomas, and hundreds of other cases
are proofs. The civil courts in the
Rebel States positively refuse to try
such cases, while inafew cases where
the fear of military interference has
induced them to parade the form Of
duty, the jury has acquitted the prison
er without the pretenss of deliberation.
| No more need be said; we simply add
that the construction which President
johnson puts npon,the decision of the
Supreme Court, whether il be right OF
wrong, has left the Freedmen.without
a particle of legal protection. y The
whole subject must come before, Con-
gress, which will not, we may hope,
| neglect its duty of immediate action. ~
! ~ ;Yli Tribune. isom sGa g1t6syUc, 4
I