Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-14
CHAPTER xxx.


In the section Of the country
where my father lived, there was,
for many years after the settlement
of the country, "neither law nor
gospel Our want Of legal govern
ment was owing to the uncertainty
whether we belonged to the state
of Virginia or Pennsylvania. The
line which at present divides the
two states, was not run until some
time after the conclusion of the
revolutionary war. Thus it happen
ed, that during a long period of
time We knew nothing Of courts,
lawyers, magistrates, sheriifs or
constables. Every one was there
fore at liberty "to do whatsoever
was right in his own eyes"
As this is state Of society which
few of my readers have ever wit
messed, | shall describe it as mi
nutcly as | can, and give in detail
those moral maxims which in a
great degree answered the import.
ant purposes OF municipal juris-
prudence.
In the first place, let it be OBJ
served that in sparse population,
where all the members Of the COM
munity are well known to each
other, and especially in time Of
war, where every man capable Of
bearing arms is considered highly
valuable as a defender Of his
country, public opinion has its full
effect, and answers the purposes Of
legal government better than it
would in a dense population in
time of peace.
Such was the situation OF our
people along the frontiers of our
settlements. They had no civil,
military or ecclesiastical laws, at
least none that were enforced ; and
yet "they were a law unto them
selves as 10 all the leading obi
cations Of our nature in all the re-
lations in which they stood to each
other. The turpitude of vice and
the majesty Of moral virtue were
then as apparent as they are now,
and they were then regarded with
the same sentiments Of aversion or
respect which they inspire ut the
present time. Industry in working
and hunting, bravery in war, can
dor, honesty, hospitality, and
steadiness of department, received
their full reward of public honor
and public confidence among our
rude forefathers, as well as among
their better instructed and more
polished descendants. The punish.
ments which they inflicted upon
offenders by the imperial court of
public opinion, were well adapted
for the reformation Of the culprlt,
or his expulsion from the com
munity.
The punishment for idleDess, ~
ing, dishonesty, and i'll fame gen
orally, was that of chatting the Of
fender ont as they expressed it,
This mode of chastiSement was
like the dtimed of the Greeks. 1t
was a public expression, in various
ways, Of a general sentiment Of in
dignation against such as trans.
gressed the moral maXims of the
community to which they belonged,
and commonly resulted either in
the reformation or banishment of
the person against whom it was di-
rected.
At house-raisings, log-rollings,
and harveSt-parties, every one was
expected to do his duty faithfully.
a person who did not perform his
share of labor on these occasions,
was designated by the epithet OF
"Lawrence," or some other title
still moro opprobrious and when
it came to his turn to require the
like aid from his neighborS, the
idler felt his punishment in their
refusal to attend to his calls.
Although there was no legal com
. pulsiOn to the periormace of mill
tary duty; yet every man of full
. age and size was expected to do his
, full share Of public service. If he
did not do so, he was "bated out as
a coward" Even the want of any
article of war equipments, such as
ammunition, sharp flint, prim-
ing wire, a scalping knife, or toma-
hawk, was thought highly disgrace
ful. A man, who without a reasOna-
BILE excuse failed to 90 on a scout
or campaign when it came to his
turn, met with an expression of in
dignation in the cOuntenance of all
his neighbors, and epithets Of dis
honor were fastened upon him with
out mercy.
Debts, which make such an up
roar in civilized life, were but little
known among our f0refathers at an
early settlement Of this county,
After the depreciation of the con.
tinental paper, they had no money
of any kind; every thing purchased
was paid for in produce or labor
4 good COW and calf was often
the price OF bushel of alum salt
If contract was not faithfully full
{ filed, the credit of the delinquent
was at an end.
f Any petty theft was punished
+. with all the infamy that could bG
heaped on the offender. A man oil