Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-31
lMUTFERINGS OF THUNDER.
Vigilance Committees Organized In
1WO Of the Wards--The Next ASSES
sInatiOn TO be the signal for Action,
f.. . Tor, a.

Vigilance Committees Organized In
1WO Of the Wards-The Next ASSES
sInatiOn 20 be the signal for Action,
From the New York Sun.
The riot Of robbery and murder in this
city has recently been the subject of calm
but ominous discussion among all classes
Of the people. Soon after the assassina-
tion of Mr.. Rogers, the first nurmurs Of
popular indignation-such whispers as
have. generally preceded resort to
Lynch law in the West and other parts
Of the country-were raised by many
who had stood aghast at the audacity and
enormity Of murder committed at day
break, in public street, in front Of the
venerable victims house; but the better
judgment Of these avengers in embryo
prevailed, and they wisely resolved not
to move in haste. This course was rem
dered necessary by the fact that they
had at hand no human sacrifice to atone
for the foul deed; for the murderer walk
ed the earth as free as the most exemp-
larry citizen. 1t was generally hoped that
the villain who murdered Mr.. Rogers
might be arrested by the police, but this
hope has not been realized, unless, in
deed, one of the Logans who are in GUS
tody is the man.
Under these circumstances a number
Of citizens who feel that neither life nor
property is safe in this city, took meas
ures about eight days ago to organize a
vigilance committee, which. should be
ready for any emergency that might
arise. 1t must be confessed that the po-
lice individually are in favor of the orga-
nization of such committee; and they
have done much in quiet way to ems
courage the movement. Nearly every
member Of the force has been tainted
with his inefficiency in not securing the
murderer of Rogers, but the policemen
have replied laeonicalIy, "Well, what
has been done with all the murderers
that we have caught? Have they been
hanged We take prisoners to court,
but we meet them again in the street on
our way back to the police station
These grave charges that are made by
the police are beginning to have q serious
effect upon the public mind.
From what our reporter can learn Of
the movements 10 which we have al
luded, we are able to say that prominent
citizens OF the Fifth Warl met few
nights ago and formed themselves into
Vigilance Committee, combining their
number to only well known and trusty
citizens Of high character, and taking
other means Of obvisting the danger Of
premature publicity. Some of the more
notorious thieves and murderers Of the
West Side were mentioned as fit objects
for surveillance, should any murder or
robbery be committed in their ward. A l
similar committee was formed in the
Fifteenth Ward, but the proceedings of
both meetings were ordered to be kept
profound secret l iH af.aHfrlf
These men, it is said, have resolved to
summarily adopt the San Francisco Vigil
lance Committees mode Of treatment
should any foul murder or other terrible
crime be committed in their respective
wards. They will then take the places
of judges in q summary jail delivery Of
some Of whom they say they
viii place beyond the reach Of a writ Of
sGbeds corpus on this side Of the grave. |