The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-25
REBEL OUTRAGES IN KENTUCKY.

MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR BRAMLETTB TO THE LEGIs-
LATURB ON THE SUBJECT.
The following extracts are from the message
of Governor Bramlette, of Kentucky, relative
to the recent outrages in the central counties
upon Union citizens and returned soldiers. 1t
was sent to the Kentucky Legislature on the
2lst instant, and referred to the Judiciary
Committee
EXECUTIVE MANSION, FRANKFORT, February
N.-Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives:-Th recent repeated out
RACES and murders committed by lawless bands
of men in some counties, who set themselves
up as Regulators, - and execute "lynch law"
require that your attention should be directed
to the inetfciency of existing laws to secure
the punishment of these criminals. A band
of these lawless men, claiming to number over
one hundred, thoroughly organized, and
assuming to take the regulation of society
and government into their own hands, ope-
rating in Marion, Boyle, and adjoining coun-
ties, under the orders of "Judge Lynch,
have become so emboldened by impunity that
they publish their orders of banishment and
of condemnation in the public jour
nails Disobedience of their lawless
mandates is followed with speedy ven
geance. Jails are forced by them, and their
virtims ruthlessly torn from legal custody and
murdered. Those standing on bail who are
obnoxious to their murderous wrath are drag
ged from their homes and executed. They
condemn without hearing, and execute with
out trial. The cold-blooded atrocity of their
cruelties and murders must shock every manly
bosom and arouse the Indignation of all just
men. Within the last few days, during the
session of the Boyle Circuit Court, these mur-
derers took from the Jail of that county man,
there confined to answer an indictment, and
hung him to death, within the limits of the
town. Since that another has been hung in
the neighborhood, who was standing up on
bail. Good citizens, who denOunce their lawless
proceedings are being warned by them to leave
the country, under penalty of their wrath. In
Marion county many Outrages have been per-
petrated by them; recently they burned the
dwelling house of an aged and exemplary citi-
zen, because his son had resisted their autho-
rity and made successful defense against the
party sent to arrest him. A gallant soldier
was notified in one of their published orders to
leave the country-his offense having been an
expressed determination to stand by and
defend younger brother against the mob that
had ordered him to leave under penalty of
death.
Under existing laws no reward can be offered
for the apprehension and conviction of these
criminals, except upon the petition" of the
Circuit and County Judge of the county in
which the crimes were committed. No such
application has been made. AS ] cannot sup
pose the judges sanction or connive at this
criminality, the conviction is enforced that the
fear of personal danger restraints them from
applying for rewards. The laws should be so
amended as to meet this state of the case, and
authorize the offering of rewards in such cases
without awaiting the petition of the judge.
The responsibility of making provision, by
law, to meet this evil is with you. My duty
to call your attention thereto is now performed.
THOMAS E. BRAMLETTE,
Governor of Kentucky.