Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-03
Soutbern LawIessness.


continues to be, the great rallying cry OF
Northern Radicalism. d" Outrages upon
loval citizens" real or fictitious, has pro-
badly done more to keep political power
in the hands of the Radical party than
even the military popularity OF General
GRANT or the influence Of public patron
ACE. Congress ie even now making des-
uerate, but dying, effort to galvanlze into
life the ghosts of murdered "loyaiists, or
Of least to revive the falsehoods and exag-
perations by which the people Of the North
have been imposed upon during the past
few years.
We do not desire to be understood as
DENYING that there has been some lawless
ness-indeed too much lawlessness-in the
South since the war. In what portion OF
the United States has there not been !?
We are satisfied that the judgment of man,
kind will be most favorable to the good
conduct of the Southern people when
their real condition becomes to be under
stood fully ; a condition resulting more
from the selfishness and mal1gn1ty or par
tisans than from the demoraiiZatiOns of a
four years war, in which the resources OF
the South IN men, money and provisions,
were entirely exhaustt d, and in which Its
State governments, it's system of labor,
the customs. habits and sympathles OF It's
people were overturned, and those Of dis
reputable strangers and former slaves es-
tablished in their stead.
In North Carolina, for instance, men
prominent in both political parties have
been assassinated under circumstances
which have created just indignation. But,
except in very few instances, we do not
believe that the victims were the objects
of political revenge. Unless, indeed. Sen
ator Stevens was murdered by those of his
own party whom he had seriously offend
ed, we do not believe there has been a
purely political murder in the State. In
certain counties of the State ignorant ne
groes, under the advice Of bad men and
through secret leagues, feeling secure IN
the fag0rS Of partisan and corrupt Judges,
have committed crimes of every grade upon
their white fellow citizens. In some in
stances the whites have been forced, for
punish criminals who were thus protected By
q corrupt judiciary. This has extended to
the unlawful taking of life.
Such conduct We shall not attempt to
justify; but We do deny that the political
opinions of the persons had anything to
do with the punishme MIS- inflicted. When
good citizens justly lose confidence in the
integrity of their judges. we can look with
some leniency, even upon illegal associa-
tions for the protection of life and property,
which the law and it's officers fail to give
them.
We're not the people of the South almost
the personi cation of that charity which
hopeth all things and endureth all things,
says the Detroit Free Press, they would
be unable to bear the burden which Radi-
cal hatred placed upon their shoulders.
The men who administer their laws are
either taken from the most vicious classes
of the North or of the South, Justice is
rendered a mookery, and law perverted so
MS to sanction crime, rather than provide
for its punishment. Petroleum V. Nasty,
who is intensely Radical, makes this ad-
mission in one of MS lectures
''I met judges of courts in the Southern States
who, ten years ago, were hostlers IN livery
stables in the North, and whose knowledge Of
criminal law they had gained from standing in
the prisoners docA."
Is it strange that there is lawlessness in
a country where such men administer
Justice Is it not strange, on the con-
trary, that crime is not ten fold more
prevalent than it is? Is it not strange
that an influence so terribly destructive
Of a sound morality, as the rule of Radi-
calism has shown itself to be, has not
broken mp the foundations of civil society :?
It will not do to say that this picture of
Southern officials is overdrawn. In North
Carolina it is charged, without contradic-
ton, that one Of our Superior Court
Judges was a convict in a Northern Peni-
Tertiary. Without doubt he is convicted
liar. Another has almost been caught in
the act of being bribed. Others have
soiled their ermine by conduct unbe-
coming their observation-disclosures all have
been justly accused OF partisan bias upon
the bench. The Executive of the State
stands charged of offences without number
and almost without parallel, and damning
proofs of his guilt have been produced
A Sheriff who paid the forfeit of his life
for petty tyrannies upon the people, had
served out his term in the New York
penitentiary for torgery, and lone by
one" Radical office-holders and those high
in the confidence of the party in this
State are clandestinely leaving on account
of some old or new offences against the
laws. The Public Treasury is bankrupt,
and the chief thief, refugee from Justice. |
finds protection and home with his |
partner in crime, the Governor of Florida.
The history of reco Instruction in North
Carolina is not an exception to the rule
throughout the South. What is true here
Is also true in the other States. These
people will yet be vindicased before the
world. Justice will be done, and the
trials which they have endured. and the
trlumphs which virtue. intelligence and
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