Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-08-08

Courts Of the Quarter Session, and by
our Supreme Court, as true, full and
impartial exposition Of the law OF riot
lie says
Accordingly we propose instruct
ing You as to what constitutes an un.
lawful, what a riotous, and what q
reasonable assembly and to explain
the authorities possessed by Sherifis,
Justices of the Peace, and private citi.
zens, for the suppression of such assem-
blies, and the arrest and detention Of
such offenders and what is the protec-
tion given by law to its ministers act
ing for the Advancement Of public jus
tice in such suppression, arrest and de-
tention. Any tumultuous disturbance
OF the public peace by three persons or
more, having no avowed or ostensible,
legal or constitutional object, assembled
under such circumstances, and deport-
ing themselves in such q manner, as to
produce danger to the public peace and
tranquility, and which excites terror,
alarm and CONSERVATION, in tho neigh
borhood, is an unlawful assembly.
Every tumultuous disturbance Of
the public peace by three or more as.
sembling together of their own author.
ity, with an intent mutually TO assist
one another against any who shall OPP
pose them in the execution of some
private object, and afterwards oxecut-
ing the same in violent and turbu-
lent manner to the terror Of the people,
whether the act intended is lawful or
unlawful, is riot. For rights are not
to be asserted, nor laws indicated by
tumultuous mob. If any man or
body of men, civil or religious, violate
the law, the tribunals of the Common
wealth are the proper source to be ap-
piled to by those who are or fancy
themselves aggrieved. The justice Of
the country is not to DO taken into the
hands OF unauthorized multtudes, who
act under no responsibilities and rarely
are under any influences, other than
those of their own unbridled passions.
The lessons of history teach us that
when lnnamed masses attempt the
yindication ofthe public law, they never
fail TO run into excesses more deleteri-
Gus to the public safety, than the evils
they profess TO remedy.
"ltis not necessary that any person,
in order to bring himself into the peril
Gus position ofa riotcr should be chief
actor in the scene of outrage. The
common law, founded on the teachings
of centuries, holds that if any person,
seeing others actually engaged in the
riot, joins himself TO them, and assists
therein, he is as much rioter as If he
had first assembled with them for that
purpose inasmuch as he has no pre-
tense that be came innocently into the
company, but appears to have joined
himself to them with an intention of
seconding them in the execution Of
their unlawful enterprise. And ii
would be endless, as well as supernuous,
to examine whether every particular
person engaged in riot was in truth
one of the first assembly, or had a pre-
vious knowledge Of their design. Ev-
cry person who encourages, orpromotes
and takes part in the riots, whether by
words, signs, or gestures, or by wear
ing the badge or ensign Of the rioters,
is himself to be considered such for,
in this high crime, all concerned are
principals.
One of the chief causes Of danger
in popular tumults, such as we have
just passed through, (speaking of the
previous riots in Philadelphia, arises
from the eongregating at the scene OF
outrage, Of multitudes of persons pro
Tossing to be influenced by mere mo-
tives of curiosity 1t is a notorious
fact, that in all the great riots that
have in this country and elsewhere,
disturbed the communities in which
they occurred, and Frustrated the laws,
the actual mischiefis done by compare
lively few, the strength of the meeting
being composed Of individuals who
seem to be passing spectators. | say
seem, for although in many instances
they are so, yet frequently these same
passive spectators really are In cordial
union of feeling with the more reckless
spirits, who do the work of destruction,
but, from cunning and caution, abstain
from apparent participation in their
. atrocities. This class of reasoning
rioters are quite conscious that their
presence and quiet sympathy embolden
the active partisans, by imparting that
confidence always derived from num-
bers, while it alarms, hinders, and en-
harnesses the officers of justice in their
efforts to restore public order. Nc
really well.disposed citizen should re
main at such u scene unless engaged
in aid of the public authorities. Were
all such either to stay away or depart
{ there would be less difficulty in dealing
with the avowed offenders. The dread
of iniuring the innocent would moi
, then paralyzc the ministers of justice
and the supporters OF law would be ar
raycd in unequivocal battalia.
ain adopting this proper course, such
persons avoid placing themselves in
position from whence they may find
! difficulty in cxtricating themselves
For, in riotous and tumultous assem-.
blies, all who are present and not &C.
tually assistant in their suppression,
;; in the first instance are, in presump-
ton of law, participants and the OBJ
, legations is cast upon a person so cir
cumstanced, in his defence to prove
his actual non.interfcrence. When,
however, the Sheriff of a county, the
Mayor OF a city, or any other known
, public conservator Of the peace, has
repaired, in the discharge Of his duty,
, to the scene OF tumult, and there com
manded the dispersion Of the unlawful
or riotous assembly, and demanded
the assistance Of those present to aid
in its suppression, from that instant
there can be no neutrals The line s
then drawn between those who are
for, and those who are against the
maintenance Of order, and with th Q
forces OF the one or the other, all who
see ft TO remain, must promptly ar.
, range themselves. Those who continue
, looking on while the active rioters are
resisting the public authorities, and
daringly moving on TO the consumma-
tion OF their designs of destruction
who refuse to join with the authori-
ties, ard witness their defeat without
striking one blow in aid Of outraged
law, are Just as much rioters as those
most active in the work OF violence,
and in such circumstance 1t will avail
them nothing that they appear only
passive lockers on, instead Of acting
! riotous and incendiaries.
a1t follows from the principles dis
: | cnaaod TINT all who inin In nnlaWfnl