The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-28
The Lynch Law.
Seneca Free Press.

SSsNS .
Just q few days ago, we had the lynching of
Cnlbreath in Edgcfield, without any proof of
his guilt the work of the regulators in Fair
field, an attempt at lynehing IN spartanbnrg
the report of the lynching of four negroes en-
gagged In the Gunter and Finch families muir
der. This thing Of taking the law in to hand
by a reckless mot Is becoming too common
If 1t is carried much further no mans life will
be safe, who has q bad reputation in his neigh
OorhoOd. AN enemy can give a criminal re-
port of such O one and fanatics Will be found
who will seize the poor wretch and murder
him in q most brutal manner without a shad-
ow OF proof Of his guilt. This %barbarous prac-
tice Is not confined to our own State but Is
States Of the Union. What is the cause, and
what shall be the remedy? On the frontiers
where they have but little law, and many
criminals, such has always been the practice.
But in the more civilized parts OF the country
what ground Is there for such conduct? Be-
fore the war lynching was almost unknown
except on the frontiers. After peace and Or
der were established at the close of the war
we had but little of it in this part of the coun-
try. It has been on the increase only within
the last few years.
The tardiness and injustice of the courts is
one cause. An outraged public will not allow
all kinds Of terminals to go unpunished. The
fault may even be behind the courts, but here
Is where 1t is most palpably shown. When a
atrocious as to shock the whole civilized com
munity, witnesses protesting to be christians,
will stand up in court and swear that they al
ways thought the guilty wretch subject to fits
of insanity. Strange that nothing was said
about that insanity before 1t was manifested
in the preparation ofa most diabolical crime.
Does insanity always develop itself In rape
and murder? Not so when I was young. The
friends and relatives of the unfortunate suf-
Ierer anticipated the fearful result long before
the malady broke forth In uncomfortable yio-
lence. But Tot So now, the first symptom, Of
Another dodge when the crime is very
heinous Is a change CT venue. which takes
the criminal away from the outraged COM
felt the curse of his crime and who have
learned to look upon the criminal with pity
rather than justice. or course they think If
he can't get Justice In his own county, he is
Again when the evidence is so overwhel.
ming that the jury are compelled to find q
verdict Of guilty, they recommend to mercy.
In some cases the court and most Of the jury
will sign a petition asking the governor to
pardon and turn loose upon the people q muir.
derer Of the deepest dye. What Is the cause
OF this sickening sentiment In favor OF So
called mercy? A want Of moral courage.
Men have not the moral courage to refuse to
sign a paper when asked; they sign it often
hoping the Governor will have the moral
courage to refuse the request.
There are hundreds of cases OF eXcusable
homicide, but there is no reasonable excuse
for deliberate murder. It is not right for q
man to suffer all kinds Of insults and injuries
IL lSSS1itlllCheS ~ biANt "hSh
there is sufficient provocation is not murder.
Wherever the origin OF the evil may. lie.
If the courts had steadfastly adhered to duty
we would have had but few cases of %lynching
anywhere in this portion of the country.
The law is the strong arm on which the
quiet citizen relies for protection, and when
protection is denied the law of self preserva-
fion teaches him to defend himself. Justice
administered by. the law has ten times as
good effect as when administered by q mob.
One quiet hanging done by the hand of the
law, will have q more solemn and a~we-inSpir-
ing effect than q thousand butcheries done by
al excited mob.
Whenever eny horrible crime has been
committed and the guilty party apprehended,
1t is the duty OF all good citizens TO await the
tardy and uncertain hand of law. Then If
taxable evidences Of guilt, and the crime
is IN attrocious murder, it will be time
enough for the lynchers to take 1t in hand,
when the members Of the court have proved
themselves to be crank and towards by re-
fusing TO discharge their duty.