New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-28
From the Washington Republican,
Arkansas Assassination.
Fe"i Murder OF Young Republican
Lawyer I'm Chtcot County

Lawyer I'm Chicot County.
LAKE VILLAGE, CuIcOr Co., Arkansas.
December -, 1871.
Ho" Poi0ea Clayton, Washington. d. c.:
DEAR SIR; We have to deplore the loss OF
another true md tried Republican fnnlJv ss.
sass mated by the rebel "ku.Klux." On Nor.
1ay' the lth instant, in the town of Laks
village, Chcot county, Arkansas our noble
young friend Walthell q. WYNN was brntsIIy
murdered Mr.. Wynn was graduate of the
Law Department of Howard University AT
| Washington, ID. c. ~
Last April he came TO this State. and ;mns
diately engaged in the duties of his nrofsss;o,,
Ills quiet and gentlemanly conduct. his gena.
rosity and trankness of character, had won him
the esteem OF all good citizens. and had gained
MN many true friends The poor and thu
uown'rodden looked up 10 him as one of their
protectors, their advisor, their counsellor.
As young lawyer, he entered with enthu.
siasm into the study and practice of his pro-
iession, buoyant with hope and life the future
was luli oil promise to him; bright career of
nonor ana useful mess seemed to be before him.
ual'antly he had served his country in her
hour OF peril; bat ~ holier sacrifice was re-
CURED OF him, and his warm life has been
poured out upon the altar OF liberty.
another victim has fallen by that "feII
spirit OF rebellion, of murder. Characterization
tnat ihstgated the firing upon Fort Sumter:
that reveled in the horrors of Andersonville,
OF Loby prison: that goated over the mas
sacre at Fort Pillow. The same fell spirit
that strewed the streets of New Orleans with
bloody corpses, and that now masks itself in
the hldeous form of ku klux. But our friend
has not fallen By the hand of the midnight
assassin, but IN midday he has been brutality
and cowardly murdered. and his blood cries
Tor vengeance, for swift aud sure punishment
oil the perpetrators of this dastardly crime-the
crime at which humanity shudders the crime
upon winch God himself hath placed the seal
of His dspleasure
This terrible deed has revealed To ma tbs
devlllsh and malignant spirit that pervades a
certain class OF society in the South
We had been lulled intoa kind of security.
we had patiently borne all kinds of ndieeitjes
insults, and taunts yet we have stood firm
for the right, for law, for order, but we never
dreamed that such bloody deeds would follow.
We lived on in hope that the principles of
Justice would prevail, and that peace and
security would be our reward but we cannot
conceal nor blind ourselves to the fact that
there Is no security for those protesting or
even suspected of being Republicans, except
by the strong arm of the law.
The murderers of our friend we have arrest
ed, and they are now confined in the county
Jail, awaiting their trial A strong posse hss
been summoned by the sheriff 20 preserve
order and guard the Jail. We are determined
that the law muss have its course aud we
trust and hope that those guilty of this dam
nabe crime will suffer the full penalty of the
law. There can be no question of their guilt,
for the one who pens these lines, and many OF
those who sign this letter, were Witnesses
of the terrible deed. We know not who NAV
be the next victim. A feeling of Insecurity
fills the hearts of all. We are determined to
protect ourselves and to punish the guilty but
we expect to do It as peaceab!e and law abiding
citizens.
We write this letter to You. not merely to in
form you of our sad aGlction but we look to
you as one who in times past, by your prompt
and determined action as chief executive re-
deemed our State from disorder and lawlessness;
and now, as our representative in the Senate
OF the United States, We ask Of YOU that YOU
lay before the President of the United Statoo
"Hd bofUl1 the Senate our condition, our ne
eesslty, and the deep feeling of hatred which
stun rankles IN the hearts of many of the
Southern people.
We thank God that they are not all 80.
There are many good and noble men in the
South, who deeply regret these deeds of vio-
lence. anu who are willing, as good citizens. to
dlseountenance the spirit which instigates
them; but even they are powerless unless the
State or Federal authority interposes.
we also request ana urge upon you, as our
representative, to exert your whole influence
to defeat any measures that may be brought
forward in Congress for general amnesty"
or the enfranchsing of those who still cherish
the Lost Cause" and who aid, abet, counsel.
or sympathize in the perpetuation of such dark
and damning crimes.
We know that the genius and spirit of gov
eminent are founded upon the principles of
civil liberty, of self government, of free instiu.
tiOns; but we cannot blind ourselves to the
fact that when men commit crimes they must
DE punished Whey they throw off all self
restraint they must be restrained, and we ask
that those men be shut ont from the highest
right of citizenship until they have shown
themselves worthy of it.
Yours, respectfully,
JAS. W. MASON, Judge
+. DowYs, County Attorney.
W. w. GRAVES Clerk.
GEORGE WILKINSON, j. +.
III. A. HARTMAN, j. p.
JOSEPH WHITTERM, NJ. ID.
WM. +. WHITTEMORE.
ID. NJ. DANo, j. Z.
Asa FRANKLIN.