Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1877-09-21
Death By Violence.

accounts Of the violent taking OF Of
two cilizenG. One was killed in Lou
isiana a few miles above here, and one
was assasslnated on the Vicksburg and
Meridian railroad, near one Of the
principal streets Of Vicksburg. OF the
Louisiana homicide we can say MOTH
Ing, for we are not in possession Of the
attendant facts. OF the murder in this
city we feel called upon TO say q good
deal. Human life 10 held 10 chesply
here, aud "a our earnest Governor says
"such a state Of affairs must not exist"
Violent assaults, violent shootings, vio-
lent cuttings, and violent results from
the above causes are becoming so COM
mon that unless they are stopped and
that speedily, by lawful means, violent
measures will be adopted to stop them.
One extreme always follows the other.
We have had the extreme OF violence
for too long a time, let US hope
that It will not be followed By the ex-
IRENE of punishment in the shape of
vigilance committees or regulators.
The murder committed in this city
Thursday night, and in fact the murder
of grille Lambert, only q short time
ago, wrought this community up 10 the
point Of resorting to violence to punish
violence. We feel certain that II the
murderer of Lambert had been taken
he would have been put 10 death
BY the people, and we believe that it
would be difficult 10 restrain the poru-
lace II the murderers OF David Tate
should fall into their hands. The most
lsw.abidlng citizens begin TO fear that
f~orbearAnce has ceased 10 be a virtue,
and there are whispers that every
mans life is at the mercy Of despera-
does. In Vicksburg there has &C.
CURED recently au almost endless
number Of shootinss and cuttings, aud
a number OF homicidea, some Of which
were terrible. We call 10 mind with
out the least effort, the killing Of Pat
rick Neville, at the icc.house, that Of
Alderman Murphy, that Of grille
Lambert, aud that Of David Tate.
These were all peculiarly aggravated
cases, aud that portion of society that
respects law is growing justly impa-
tient.
What is the remedy for this coudi-
ton? We have pointed it out re.
peatedly, but we shall continue 10
point It out as long as the present state
Of affairs exists. l! Is the rigid en-
forcement OF the laws to the very let
ter. 1t Is time now that extreme pen.
alties be tested, for any foolish sympa-
by for the guilty Is cruelty TO this
murder.cursed community. lii time
for every Constable, every Police OH
Ger, every Magistrate, every COM
hitting officer, every Juryman,
every peace officer, and every Judge, TO
do his whole duty firmly and unfiuch-
ingly, guided only By the very letter OF
the law. 1t Is the duty Of all citizens
who respect the law aud who wish
human life to be held dearer than that
ofbrutea, to sustain the officers III this
discharge Ct their obligations to the
community. We have confidence in the
Judge of this district, and we believe
he will do bis full duty, but unless be
Is sustained by the subordinate Off
cials, aud they in turn r sustained BY
q healthy public sentiment, laWlessnesi
will flourish, and society will becomt
more and more corrupted aud democrat
lied. What we need here now is
prompt and terrible vindication of thr
law. II man kills another and 1t /
lawful that he should be sent 10 tn
~peniientiary, he should be sent Their
aud kept there, but ifit is lawful tina
he should be hanged for his crime, the
hang him without more ado.