Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-08-22

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
Death Merited, But Law Should
Not be Violated.

aDtly frequent Of late. The last
case reported is the hanging of a
man at MarIinsburg, West Vir-
ginia, already under sentence of
death for attempted rape and muir
der. The unfortunate man sol,
EMMY and earnestly protested his
innocence to the last The question
naturally arises might not this man
be totally innocent, notwithstand-
ing strong circumstantial evidence
la the case? If so, then his self
appointed executioners are indeed
guilty of fearful crime. But,
whether guilty or innocent the law
should have been allowed to take
its course. In this particular case
1t Is said the community approve
of the course of the lynchers. The
only way to break up the barbar-
GUS practice Is to create popular
sentiment against it. So long as
communities i'm which such out
RACES occur enter no protest against
them, so long will they disgrace
our civilization. = Washington ID.
ca Star.
Although IA mob there was very
little noise and confusion peculiar
to popular tumults. On the con-
trary, they we're remarkably order
ly in their disorderiy and lawless
work.-Ale1. Fulton, Cor. Botto.
american.
Although deprecatiBg lawless ac-
ton, yet we cannot but feel that
the citizens of Berkeley are in
measure to be pardoned for the
lengths to which their Indignation
has led them. - Wheeling EUening
Standard.
While we do not admit of an
apology for lynching, we must say
the people of Martinsburg have
had great provocation for their
course. We also heard yesterday
that Taliferro's counsel had been
ordered to leave Martinsburg. so
great was the feeling against him
for his course in securing Talifer-
rora new trial, the ground being
the unconstitutionality the West
Virginia law which excluded COL
ored men from juries. We hope
that the last report is entirely un-
founded. - Cunab. Neacs,
But lynch law in civilized COM
mnnity where there are good civil
laws is always to be condemned.
A body of men acting under the
headlong impetuosity which
prompts such measures, rarely ever
stop to weigh justice, or give pris-
oners the benefit of any doubts, but
act summarrily, and may punish
where there is some reason to be-
lieve that the punishment may not
have been deserved. There is lit
tie possibility that, in this case, the
man Taliferro would have met his
death, and the law been fully vim
Dictated. The ground on which the
delay was granted WAS that there
was no negro on the jury which
convicted him, and to satisfy all
classes, the Court of Appeals deter
mined TO give him the benefit of
everything which might have ten
ded to prove his innocence, or
which could remove every suspi-
cion of partiality in the trial 1t
was safe move, for if the Court of
Appeals had done less than it did
in awarding the appeal, there are
not wanting persons who would
have accused the court of showing
Taliferro scanty justice because he
was a negro. He may have richly
deserved what he received, and, if
guilty, most certainly did; but for
the safety of the community at
large, 1T would have been far bet
ter, In this as In every case. to let
the law take its course - Wheeling
Register.
Great indignation is felt in this
place at the action of the mob in
Martinsburg, WHO lynched a GRIM
inal in the custody of the law, but
every one attributes this action to
the laws delay" People argue
with some appearance of PLAUSIBLE
ity, that when the courts of justice
fail to do their duty as the repre-
sentatives OF the community that
then the people have a right to
assume the duties themselves, but
this doctrine is too dangerous to be
tolerated for one moment, and it il
the general hope that the officers of
the law in Berkeley county will
spare no pains to apprehend and
severely punish all who were en-
gagged in this shocking affair."
Hdg. Cor. BALTIC. Gazette.
From Mr.. Price, Secretary of
tho pnarH IF IvI,a,t;<,,