The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-04-14
CoWardice /!


Information reaches as from various parts
of the State that outrages, most dastaroiy
and murderous are committed, and the par
ties. for the most part, are undetected and
at large. Ambuscades are laid property is
seized and conveyed away, or destroyed; !;
disguised and armed men, at midnight,
surround the houses and threaten the safety
and lives of citizens; by night. also, the
homes of unoffending people are invaded,
men and women are dragged forth and cruelty
beaten, and children in the cradle are in
humanity assaulted; prisons are broken into,
and unconvicted prisoners are taken out of
the hand of the law and cruelty murdered !;
shots are wantonly fred, to the hazard of
life and limb; and-but we will not enum-
crate further, for the list is a mortifying and
disgraceful one We cannot consent that
wholesome law and order should give place
to reign of violence and villainy without
serious and decided protest. Our State has
too much at stake, just at this time, for any
good citizen to be silent when such deeds
are enacted within her borders.
We would not be understood as saying
that there is, at present, in North Carolina
reign of terror, but this we do affirm, that
if the present state of things continues; it
the majesty of the law slumbers; if intiuen-
tial citizens are Indifferent to, or countenance
by apology or faint remonstrance outrage
and wrong, reign of terror is at hand, and
North Carolina will be branded as second
Texas, and all good people will flee from
her limits.
We will take this opportunity to denounce
and condemn all such atrocities as are en-
umerated above, and all kindred acts, when
ever, wherever and by whomsoever commit
ted, not only as criminal and villainous, but
as cowardly and dastardly.
The perpetrators of them are not men
they are skulking towards, and that rates
them as worse than iends; they proceed to
their work in disguise and by night +; that
stamps them as towards. They attack and
destroy the helpless, and that ranks them
as bastard villains. We care not to what
class of citizens they belong, nor to what po-
litical party they adhere and profess to serve,
nor what wrongs they profess to revenge.
To one and all we say,
# Course on their bastard souls"
There is no anathema too severe that can be
pronounced against them. This must be
the sentiment and feeling of all good men,
and we do here pledge ourselves to the ut
most of our ability as public journalists, to
hold them up for the scorn of all the world.
If any of our personal or political friends
are any agents in these crimes, what we say
is meant for them.
There is government in this State; there
is law here; there are courts and officers
abundant and able. Ifany citizen iswrong
ed, let the law be invoked and public JUS
tice will avenge him. Without such a pro-
cedure law and order are impossible. No
private citizen, or any number of private
citizens can take the administration of law
into their own hands-no matter what the
provocation, they MUST not do it-certainly
not until ALL lawful means have been ex
hausted
The government of this State will give
protection to every inhabitant. If any per-
sons life is placed in jeopardy, if fpersonal
assaults or midnight attacks are attempted,
let the parties injured, or who believe that
they are injured, appeal to the law, to the
Governor of the State, if they prefer, and We
know that prompt and efficient measures
WILDE taken to arrest and punish the as
sailants.