The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-25
The Intelligencer job Office.
An Instance of Retributive JUS

An instance OF Retributive JUS
tice.
Many of our readers are no doubt fa-
milar with the name of Stephen Bur-
bridge, who fora considerable period :,
during the war swaycd the sceptrc as q
Federal military commander in Licking
ton. Ky. The Cincinnati Enquirer sums
up his qualities us Il General in pthy
terms by saying that, ';among the many
tyrants with which the land was afflicted,
few have been moro ierocious IN their
manners or cruel in their acts than the
kentucky General Burbidge; few appear
ed more anxious to enjoy the reputation
which men win by acts of wanton de-
struction and homicide, or were more
willing to have it understood that he was
the author Of the policy that dictated the
crimes which his hand committed" His
career, during the time that he ruled in
the Lexington District, was marked by
every act which define the tyrant-rapine,
plunder, imprisonment, banisbment, hang
ing. interference with trade, ruthless cru
city, and all those petty annoyances which
proceed from WI gar love OF indulgence
ia unlimited irresponsible power. Fami-
what moment when their tiresides might
be invaded by his myrmidons, and the en-
tire community was held in constant
dread and apprehension from those vague
fears which theeyy eey We're helpless to dispel.
The tyrant had full -i6is i6is;;o CO Of bayonets at
his command to execute his behests:s Men
were amazed Burbridge had been born
and reared in that community, and they
could scarcely credit their own senses that
one of their own neighbors was ready to
act such part. Yet so it was I; there is
no telling what may be done by any man
who comes into the possession Of unlimi- :
ted, irresponsible power The celebrated
Sidney Smith said he would never intrust
any man with sach power. for he would
not even dare trust himself. But, under
Burbridges sway, the helpless people
groaned and suffered on, silently trusting
that deIvcrance and justice would one
day come. Complaints were worse than
useless, for complaints served only to lH-
furiate the monster.
Finally, deliverance did come, and at
last justice has overtaken the tyrant.
Perhaps our readers have heard CT one
General Brisbin, who also figured in q
small way in Kentucky, during tie war.
TO him Burbridge writes from Covington,
under date Of October 5th, as follows: :
81 am here sick in bed, and poor in
body and purse. As you know, two at-
tcmpts have been made to assassinate me
during the present year. Wherever | 60,
rebel newspapers are sent and distributed,
| filled with foul abuse, and every effort
made to injure me- My services 10 my
country have caused me to be eXied from
my home, and made my wife and children
wanderers, while the government for
which fought seems to care little wheth-
er they have bread or not
Poor wretch Hc had not the sagacity
to toresee, when he was playing the ty-
yant, that il would, in the future, become
the interest of the party whom he then
served to disown his acts. He did not re-
fleet that the .loyalty" of which he was
the willing tool, was but another name
for hypocricy, which wonld cast him Off
when the olium of his acts should rise up
in judgment against the party. And now
the poor creature inagines that ''rebel
newspapers arc sent to inform upon him
wherever he goes. Another of his mise
rable Mistakes Its the spirit of retri-
butive Justice which pursues him wherev-
er he goes. That invisible Nemesis,
which always pursues the guilty, is supon
his track, and, with the scorpion whip of
retrbution, will continue to haunt and
lash him until lie experiences all the woes
which, in the day of his insolent power,
he made others suffer, with interest COM
pounded. He talks about services to his
country. Does lie call that a service to
his country which consisted in perseeu-
ting its citizens, driving them into exile,
banishing them by his edicts, forcibly
taking their property, casting them into
prison, executing them without trial, ac-
cusing the innocent of crime and spread
ing general terror and dsmay throughout
the Community He had Il most regal
court in the day of his imperial sway
courtiers too, who, like spaniels. tawned
upon him and applandcd all his merciless
acts. Where are they now. in the day of
his distress? Dispersed and ready to dis
own him. as all such might be expected
to do. Like Dives, be had his day of
revcl,y and his sunptuous fare, despising
those who suffered under his frowns and
like Dives the evil day has come upon
him. Let his fate serve as q warning to
all who would abuse power while they
have it in possession.
-"Now, gentlemen of the jury" said
LAWYER. othis are case. But III first.
tell YOU of one thing: ever since I have
thorh