Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-10-09
Unpunished Crime.
The Chisholm Verdict.


free. There was a just Judge, but he
could not find verdict for a Democrat
ic jury. There was a thorough presen-
tation of conclusive evidence by able
counsel. But the jury were Democrats.
1t is said that one man of the twelve
was a Republican, but a man too weak
or too stupid to form and hold an Opin-
ion adverse to that of his associates.
Seven were white Democrats, and that
settled it.
Is it to be inferred that all white
Democrats at the South in their hearts
excuse the murder of men for the crime
of being active Republicans Even
then, there would be nothing to excuse
tie murder of helpless girl and innO-
cent boy. Have the white Democrats
of the South none of those human feel
ings which distinguish men from saw
age beasts? Yes, the better public
opinion of the South does undoubtedly
condemn these murders at heart. Prob
ably it says, "the occurrence WAS very
deplorable." But that does not enforce
law. That does not punish the guilty,
nor deter men from perpetrating SINH
lar crimes whenever political passion or
interest prompts. Private censure does
not go far, either. Men who say in their
hearts, 1.-The murder was wrong" will
go fox-hunting with the indicted Gully,
fo for no Qar RI doll
touch without shudder the red hands
with innocent blood, and welcome the
murderer to their homes, and be glad,
provided he has money or social stand
ing, to see the blood-red hand Joined be-
fore the altar with that of a much-loved
daughter. The censure hurts no one. 1t
is cool and mild, and impairs the stand
ing of the murderer socially nor politi-
cally nor in business. Southern society
will Ostracise man, and hold him unfit
to live, if he is guilty of being Rel no
licqn. But it will excuse him, welcome
him, court him, and claim him as an ELI
BILE partner in mrrriage. if he has muir
dered Republican. That decent SCOTT
ty will regret as "a deplorable event.
but it will not punish AS a crime.
Excuses are always offered, of course
The murdered man was always a bud
man. He had "incited insurrectiOn"-
that is to say, he had told the blacks
that they were not slaves. Or he had
stirred up war of races"-that is, he
had advised the colored pleopl; not to
be shot down like sheep without resist
ance. Or he had "threatened the very
existence of civilized society"-that is,
he had consented to receive, as a candi-
date for some Office, votes not cast by
strictly Democratic hands. Uusua ly,
after the man is dead, great deal of
mud is cast by chivalrouS community
upon his tombstone. He was desre-
rate and wicked mau, and had insulted
somebody, or wrOnged somebody, or, it
is said in extreme cases, killed somebody.
If man who votes an Independent
ticket, or receives independent votes,
has ever killed anybody, that justifies
killing him at once. But the good Dem
ocrat who kills such person will never
be held to account as murderer.
This is the state of society of which
the Solid South is the product. The ju-
rymen, we may suppose, are fair men
for their class. They see the agony and
the tears of the mother who held a dy-
ing daughter in her arms and saw huS-
band murdered. They are touched, pos
Sibly, with some human feeling-what
brute would have none at such recital
But they retire to consider their verdict,
and the Democratic party casts twelve
votes, while the civilized human being
casts not one. "Yes, the man was
guilty" they say to themselves, "but
what good can be done hanging him
"now2 1t cannot bring back the dead
''to life. Bnt it would hurt the Demo-
''cratic party. 1t would be a public ac-
acknowledgement that this murder was in
''fact without excuse. Men at the North
would say that it was political assas-
'sasinaJiOn. For the sake of party, it is
"better to cast the mantle of forgetful-
mess over the unhappy event, and bring
''in a quick verdict of not guilty" The
thing is done. Civilization wonders
whether a comfy in Mississippi is pop
ulated by hyeanas only, but Democratic
civilization mildly observes that the bet
ter people of the South "disapprOve
these deplorable events" and some DEM
Ocratic editors grow red in the face if
they are told that they are the advocates
Os party of assassins.
All! uon Vi Tile SOuJD, IL is IdCai
mistake that you make. The people OF
this country do not wink at assassina-
ton as a method of electing candidates.
They have no disposition to be ruled by
the revolver and shotgun. Do you think
that this nation of conscientious and in,
telligent men can ever be governed by
creatures of whose deeds the wild beasts
of the wilderness would be ashamed ?
1t will be seen, when the votes are count
ed, that every shot aimed at Republi-
can at the South has killed more than
one Democratic vote at the North.
Make the South solid in that way, and
the North will be solid to resist it. Bull
lying does not help, as the war should
have taught. Threats do not cover
Northern blood. The better class of cit
izens here, whatever their political pref |
erences and opinions, abhor the fiendish |
crimes to which Democracy at the South |
has resorted, and there are thousands of |
independent or Democratic votes in
every Northern State which will be cast |
against the party which defends murder