Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-09-16
A Lesson at Last.

Under this heading we ind in the
Lebanon Herald of the S1st August
the subjoined article relative to the
killing of Thomas Lyons by Isaac
Cheek. We know nothing of the
persons involved in this unfortu-
nate affair, and we know nothing
of the facts except as detailed by
our contemporary. But presum-
ing its information to be correct,
we fully endorse its comments. The
Herald says Union aud AHes-i-
can.
The system of terrorism and law
lessness inaugurated of late in GER
tain portions of Wilson county, by
crew. of vicious youths and young
men, has at last borne its legitimate
fruit. a quiet and inoffensive ne
gro is attacked in his cabin at dead
of night, and on his refusal to leave
its protecting walls and put himself
utterly at the mercy of the yelling
rfffians, and submit to any atroci-
ties which their lawleSs nature
might prompt them to perpetrate,
the house is fired upon and an at
tempt is made to burn it to the
ground /; selfpreservation impels the
negro to return the fire of his assai-
lants, and the corpse Of Thomas Ly-
ons is the tangible and bloody re-
suit.
This is no occasion for euphemism.
We should be utterly reereant to the
high duty which our position as q
,,,1l,gfo 10 aIsof mon ne
did we fail to express, in terms too
plain to be mistaken, our opinion
and what we conceive to be the sem
timent of the county on this subject.
Thomas Lyons is dead-and his sud-
den and bloody death, in the bloom
and promise of young and vigorous
manhood, is ascribable solely to his
own ungoverned impulses, and to
the evil associations into which
these led him. 1t is true that, in all
probability, there were others in
that masked quintette of midnight
riders guiltier than he ;others whose
viola ton of the laws of the land
were not due, like his, to thought
less impulse, but emanated from
cool, deliberate and ingrained ma
lice and q natural propensity to
crime others who, when justice has
her dues and outraged law is aveng-
ed of her -adversaries, viii dangle in
the air at end of hempen cord, a
tangible and terrible warning to
marauders and assassins and all evil
doors.
We may regret that young Lyons
was led into evil ways and met his
death, but no good citizen can re-
gret that the midnight providers
who disgrace the soil of our good
county have been taught a terrible
lesson at last, and that lawlessness
has met the fate which it so richly
deserves.
Isaac Cheek did right. He is a
citizen of Wilson county; and, as
such, he is as fully entitled to the
protection of the law, as to his per-
son, property and premises, as the
wealthiest and best in her borders
Isaac Cheeks premises were invad-
ed his house was attacked his safe
ty was threatened; his life, as he
believed, was in imminent peril, and
in the staying of one of his assailants
in the defence of his life and pro-
perty, he did what he had an indie
feasible right to do. And the Of
ficers of the law must hold him
harmless the authorities must see
to it that he has the ampless protee-
tion from all violence or inCimida-
tion. Isaac Cheek must not leave
home. His humble cabin is his cas-
tie and all rightand justice demand
that he shall hereafter sleep as Sc.
curely within its walls as the nigh
tiest magnate in the land within his
lordly mansion. Isaac Cheek, for
the time being, represents the citi-
zens of Wilson county and that cit
izenship appeals, through him, to
the laws of the land, for the fullest
and freest protection. 1t must not
appeal in vain.
It is needless to add that what we
have written is the sentiment of
Wilson county. All good citizens
unite in applauding the conduct of
Isaac Cheek, in his defense of him
self from midnight assassination
and all good citizens unite in de-
manding that he shall suffer no bod
dily harm, from any source whatev-
er, in consequence thereof.