Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-13
THE AUTHOR OF THE LYNCH
LAWS.
Interesting Extracts From an Old
Diary.

interesting Extracts From an Old
Diary.
THE ORIGIN OF THE .LYNcH LAWS AND HOW
THEY WERE ENFORCED-wHAT MR.. LYNCH
HAD TO SAY ABOUT THEM-THE WAY CONFESS
SI0Ns WERE EXToRTED-OTHER MATTERS
PERTAINING TO THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE
COUNTRY.
Among the scientific and useful men whose
names are inseparably connected with the early
history of the District of Columbia. few stand
more conspicuous In the vista of the past than
Andrew Ellicott, the engineer who rendered
valuable service in preparing the plan of the
city OF Washington which was finally adopted
by Congress. Nor was his usefulness confined
to this work alone. He also ran the boundary line
between'the United States and Spanish possess
sions before the cessiOn of Louisana; appoint
ed a commissioner to continue Mason & Dixon's
line to the western Territories; also to run the
western boundary line of Pennsylvania that of
New York, and the northern boundary line OF
Georgia. Mr.. EllicOtt kept journal. in which
entries were made every day of his lifetime,
when able to do SO. Most of these are pre-
served. with many valuable letters relative to
his labOrs in establishing the lines of the .'ten
miles square and laying out the now beautiful
streets and avenues which are so much admired
and enjoyed, and which make this city famous
manuscripts are now in possession of his mater
ia! grandson, gentleman Of this city conspicu-
Gus as statlstcian and for literary acquire
ments. BY permission, STAR reporter was
recently favored with hasty view of this gen.
tclnan s private library, which is perfect mag
azne of historical treasures in the way OF manu-
scripts, very many of which have never been
published
Among these the report CHANGED to glance at a
Journal kept by Mr.. Ellicott while engaged in
ha
state OF Georgia. In Pursuance of this duty he
records daily his experiences In new and
rugged country, with impressions of his sur
roundlngs and many interesting Incidents. This
labor was commenced 18th September, 1911, and
III his search for an initial point in the noun
tains, which was near the 35th degree of north
latitude he found it necessary several times to
change his position. involving much trouble and
inconvenience in the transportation of his para
phernalia. During this time an incident Of
much interest is entered upon his journal re-
spccting
THE ORIGIN OF THE LYNCH LAWS.
He says: I'VE left our first position on the
25th of October, and arrived at Mr. Lynch's
near the south end of the Table mountain on
the evening of the 26th a traverse having been
carried on from the Hickory Ridge to that place
The eth was spenti examining the most prom
inent ridges few miles to the westward, but
traverse was directed to be carried on to the
Cane Creek mountain"
Captain Lynch before mentioned, was the
author of the lynch laws so we'll known, and so
frequently carried into effect years ago in the
southern states in violation of every principle
OF justice and Jurisprudence. Mr.. Lynch re-
sided in Pittsylvania. in the state of Virginia
when he commenced and carried his system into
effect The detail | Lad from himself. and is
nearly as follows:
The Lynch-men associated for the purpose of
Paliisillng crimes IN a summary way without the
tedious and technical forms of our courts of JUS
tlce upon complaint being made to any Iuem-
Der OF the association OF a crime being commit
tea within the vicinity Of their Jurisdiction, the
person complained of was immediately pursued
and taken If possible. If apprehended he was
carried before some member of the association
ana examined; If his answers were not satisfac-
tory he was whipped till they We're so. These
eXtorted answers generally involved others In
the supposed crime. who in their turn were
punished in like manner. These punishments
were sometimes severe and not unfrequently in
hicted upon the innocent through spite or in
consequence of answers eXtOrted under the
smarting Of the whip to interrogatOries put bv
the members of the association. Mr. Lynch in
formed me that he had never in any case given
vote for
TIE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.
Some, however. he acknowledged had been
oCtuaiiy HdHStu. tHOugu uOU III Unc common
way. horse in part became the executioner
The manner was this The person who it was
supposed ought to suffer death was placed on a
horse, with his hands tied behind him and a rope
about his neck which was fastened to the limb
of tree over his head.
In this situation the person was left, and
when the horse. In pursuit of food or any other
cause. moved from his position the unfortunate
person was left suspended by the neck
This was called aiding the civil authority"
Mr.. EllcOtt continues: 1T seems almost ncred-
ible that such proceedings should be had in
Civilized country governed by known laws; it
may, nevertheless. be relied on. l should not
have asserted it as fact had it not been related
to me by Mr.. Lynch himself and his neighbor.
Mr. Lay, one of the original association, together
with several other lynchmen, as they are called.
This self-erected judicial tribunal was first
organized in the state of Virginia
about the year 1916, from whence it
extended southwark, as before observed
Mr.. Lynch had the appearance OF an ancient
athlete, and had he lived in the times of the
Olympic games would probably have figured
son the bloody arena He possesses strong
but uncultiyated mind; is hOspltable and gener-
Gus to extreme, to which may be added a
great stickler for equality ard the rights OF
man as established by law, so contradictory
are the ideas and conduct of the only creatures
supposed to be endowed with reason judgment
in the universe. Those associations may owe
their origin to two causes-frst, from
the form of government being too
defective to give the necessary energy to the
executive and. secondly, from the want of in
dependence and tirmness or incOmpetency Ofthe
Judiciary. l am speaking OF representative gov
ernments: in which an obnoxious or oppressive
law can be repealed by the representatives of
the people as easily as to enact it. without hav-
ing recourse to violence and Illegal acts, which
cannot fail of having an injurious effect either
as an example or to bring the government into
contempt. The acts Of those associations
though sometimes marked with equity. are
more frequently stained with the marks of
tyranny and despotism, not being restrained by
any form Of law; their passions hurry them on
like torrent after the dyke is broken. and
sweep away without discrimination, the useful
as we'll as the useless"
Pursuing his reflections Mr.. Ellcott states:
ga government favored with an able, indepen-
dent and firm judiciary has but little to dread
from the causes aforementioned; but from a
timid and imbecle judiciary, whose views are
directed to party popularity, there is everything
to fear. Such judges may be ranked among
demagogs, and when judge places himself in
the ranks of party it is notifying his opponents
that impartial justice is not to be sought for at