The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-29
MOB LAW AGAIN.

pOWOi tlh1 INStASO VI SA-~
stantly violating it themselves.
The Writ County Mentor gives an &C
count OF recent display of mob-lsw IN
that county. One night last week Il
party OF eighteen or twenty men went 10
the house of man named "RUs' JOHN
son, living in Tucker district, and alter
calling him out of the house, adnlnls-
tered to HIM fifty lashes, and ordered
him TO leave the county inside OF ten
DAYS or something more serious
would follow. JOHNSON was &C
cused of committing petty theits in the
neighborhocd, but so far as is known,
there was no real proof Of his guilt. The
Mentor says:
at this man was guilty Of any lnfrac-
ton Of the law, there is way provided
By law 20 arrest and punish him. No eX-
cuse Tor lynching in WHIT county. Our
courts heretofore have melted out the law
70 ofcnaers thereof without fear or par
tislItv.
We understand that there is an organ
izstion of Red Men throughout tins
country, who have resolved to take the
law inIo their own hands. If so, We nope
tba. they will wait until all legal means
have been exhausted before they become
both judge, jury and executors OF the law
They must remember that two wrongs
never made one right, and that they
themselves become violstOrs Of the peace
and dignity of the State whenever they
become lvnchers. Last winter case oil
lyuching took place on Reedy; last
week also another case on Spring creek,
snd others, we understand, are threat
eled."
The time has come when such ebuLi-
tions of passion on the part OF the people
Of West Virginia must stop, Searching
uafiOching and unrelentirg inquiry
should be made by the authorities into
such causes, and no means should be le!t
ua.gied to bring the guilty ones 10 book
70, theic action.
In all times and in all countries there
bss never been developed or put into exc
cutioa a mere unjust and reprenensiblt
process ttsn that of lynch Jaw Oh
the penalties dealt out by mob.
Human passion is a fes7ful, untbiDk
inc. and vengeful thing, and when it con
stitutes Itself judge and jury, and then
carries out the sentence, it betrsys wan
Of Christianity and civilIzing Influence
liza parent becomes InlUCia!ed will
some deed Of bis child, and without stop
pilg 20 take into consideration the pc
Hating circumstances attached 10 the &C
ton, raAlcts upon it strengthening
public indignation is aroused and meas
u-es are taken 20 prevent Il repetition 0
the brutality Of yne father or mother. Blu
when some errirg child OF the State /
treated in similar man rer, not by 1t
parent, but by its brothers, no concern i
manifested, no II digna ron IS eyinced
and no retributive NJ ssures follow.
If mob law was TEN
perate and evenly BALANCED
measure. it would Slightly mit,s@,e it
deeds, but IN tie great majority of cases
it hafEcns TO no evidence and is deaf t.
the c'ies for simple justice. If cal
prit Is unpopuIa-, or If he has bitter per
sonal enemies, bow easy it is for them b.
skirfIlIy disguised malice, 10 awaken tn
sluwbering devil of riot N tire pubf
hesrt snd lead them on to bloody VIC
leDce. Pow oI.cn within the past lev
months has it been cle&'ly proven tina
| persons executed by mob, or imprisoned
by the ordinary course o. law, are guilt
less of the crimes they were charged with
Such cases rs the hanging Of the poo
innocent negro woman In Rockingham
county, Virgins, by mob, should tesci
~ least tOrbeacGnce.
However SOLID may be the conscience
end however dull The soul Of thOs
VINO Rave thus been lead on by passion L
become murderels of the innocent, unde
toe plea OF wishing 10 baye justice done
tne timo will come when their esrs, Ion!
deaf 10 the utterances of the God {
Justice, will be filed with TINT awful, bu
never untrue declaration, vengeance
mine, saith the Lord"