The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-23
LYNCH LAW.
a Code Of Justice Little
understood and Much
Maligned.
al xsrly Virginia ssls'''y ra.i'o''o"


sbc Inventor OF this m0ch-msligncd sys-
Tern. before whosc tribunal so many ierrr
str,ckeo victims have been buried 10
summary punishment We say maiigned f
because il can I've proven that the orlgl- f
majors OF the system had IN their ime f
rerv different views from those now en-
,cr,ained in regard 10 this mode OF ad- +
min;s,er;ne Justice. They never designed, /
sn0 therefore could not foresee tina, the
,,,,e would arrive when their novel bu,
renesssry inventions shouldbecomc degre- 4
~ The ieve! OF organized assassination.
When lynch law was first practiced II
~sss because there was no other law that
conjd be efficiently enforced. II Is true
that proper legal cnactments were on the
statute book, but the trouble was these
we're powerless in the hands OF those ap-
poin,cd 10 enforce their demands. The
state could mol protect itself OF is pe0-
nile. and laws were more numerous than
the representatives OF justice; and in
,nk6v rurts Of the country life, liberty,
aud property were al the mercy OF or
sasiled bands Of marauders This was
Particularly the case during the revolu
lion Of 1919, when the hatred and bitter
,,sss OF iniernecine strife ragged so fercely
|rffNtCu lAC LOt4Co anu RotAfRA't
has the honor Of aiiordiDg the first in
stance ia which this celebrated code was
brought into use. II was one Of her sons,
TOO who invented and executed It's saiu-
tarv measures at time when no other
system wonld have avaiied. " hen.
therefore, Charles Lynch undertook TO
protect hi- country and people from the
rerrors'of mob law, he enforced and vim
Dictated the principles OF mercy, justice
and reform. But when, in later
times, this same code, under the heat
OF passion from behind the mask OF JUS
tice and the sham OF disguised
cowardice has undertaken 10 imi-
tate his career il has grossly abused the
example he set, and perverted the pl1ncl-
pies by which be was. guided. II is
therefore doing great injustice TO the
memory OF man whose reputation dur
Ing his whole life was above reproacb,
md whose career showed him to be an
unselfish patriot, that his name should
continue TO be associated with the
wretched trayesty Of justice which now
30 often brings disgrace upon our ciyili-
zstion. The truth OF this will be seen as
we proceed.
The Lynch family came from Ireland
70 Virginia IN the early part of the past
century. The name does not al all sug
gest that they were of Celtic origin, but
rather Of Welsh. Be this Us Il may they
soon displayed the highest traits Of char
scter in the community where they came
TO live. The first of them became pos
sessed Of large tract Of country near
the foot Of the Blue Ridge, IN what is
now Campbell and Bedford counties,
where the Peaks Of Otter look over
lovely landscape. Their lands lay chiefly
on what is now called the James river.
but was then known as the Fluyanna,
from where the Rivsnna joins it back to
where il Is now born of the union Of the
Cowpasture with Jacksons' rivers
Two brothers, John and Charles, oc-
cupied adjoining tracts OF land. The
former was practical man OF business,
looking generally TO the developing his
resources and outstanding the results OF
his labors. lie was the founder oil
the fourishing city Of Lynchburg. He
held on 10 most of his property i'm
lnediately around the young town
snd lived 10 see II slowly but surely be-
come an important centre Of wealth and
traffic. One circumstance worth motto
ing here contributed much 10 this result.
Al the time OF which we write there
were few great highways across the
State Two traversed IL from east 10
wesf, one on either side the James river.
One other with numerous smaller
branches, stretched from about Fred
ricksburg TO the North Carolina line,
while the great Valley of Virginia had
It's thoroughfsr from the headwaters of
the Holston 10 the Potomac river. Along
these highways traffic was carried on by
means Of huge wagons with their white
canvas tops and slx-horse Eesms Tray- !
ellers were obliged TO go on horseback, /
or take the uncertain chances Of very
primitive stage-coaches. II wss difficult I
matter 10 keep these great roads IN or |
der. Especially was this the case /
while the Revolutionary war was going I
on II was along these main roads that I
immense wagon trains transported mill /
tary supplies from Fredericksburg 10 /
General Green's army in the South. AT /
that place was factory for the manu-. /
facturs aud repair of arms and camp
eQuipages, which were hauled over two
r0ads, one passing over at Lynch's ferry,
the other at SCOTS ferry, now SCOTS
Vile Bridges were scarce, and being
frequently carried away by Hoods
the swollen streams remained impossible
for the time Over the largest rivers
there were still fewer bridges The pub
lie treasury could not AFFORD tc supply
fhese Injuries, nor could the private ciu-
gems find means TO do IT, The property
was of too uncertain tenure. The con
sequence Of this was the erection Of fer
ries, under license Of charter from the
county courts, 10 the fortunate citizen
who found himself possessed Of the
means and q suitable locality for such an
accommodation 10 the public Mr John
Lynch was one of this class. The high.
way from Fredericksburg by way of
Charlottesville OF Milton, on the Rvanns,
divided nj the former psace-one road
leading towards Scotisyille and the
country below, the other bearing west
ward along the bases OF the mountain
towards james river. This latter road
trsversed the ridges OF Amherst, In or
der 10 reach convenient landing or ,
ferry on that river. 1t was found that
the rapids and cliffs above prevented ,
crossing anywhere ia that locality. In 7
medisiely opposite the present site OF ,
|Lynchhurg. John Lynch found the most /
convenient spot upon which 10 establish i
- ferry. The riyer was narrow and the 4
water comparatively calm. With the ferry I
came the erection OF house or two. \
Travellers and wagon teams are apt 10 O
halt Il such places. lodgings had 10 be Il
provided, blacksmith and other shops be- s
came necessary, and so began al Lynch's 7
Ferry the prosperous town which will G
forever bear the honest name Of SIS I
lounder. So much Is deemed necessary n
= - show who was the real founder of 8
Lynchbufg, and as we shall see also who y
~as the originator OF the noted system. q
pow abused under the name Of Lynch 4
.1Aw.
Colonel Charles Lynch was the elder Q
brother OF the owner Of Lynch's Ferry. 4
Re wes quite different stamp Of man a
fcm the latter. One who had occasion 10 b
- him often, associated with him con. b
laptly, and shared with him the D
= <X.I 80 II j