The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
HISTORY OF LYNCH LAW
,rTssHoWN roHAyE BEG UNIN THE
sTTAE or VIRGINil.
And Mas Spread All over the Whole OF the
United states-its Authors motives
Entirely Misunderstood.

81 love. By way "i
s,p8ents OF otymology who might 0V
Weary OF such a study. he ADDS ''"'
,berc were instances In when more
,,ovledge OF great value might be con-
viewed by the study Of one word than py
the history Of a military campaign ii'
then goes on TO show how through 'i0
construction OF our language. the eo''''-
lions Of human life are discoVeie"
the daily use OF certain words. ,soso
A. re very beginning he mos t' -.
evidences OF suffering in the WORDS o." o.,
ana alas" and in the same cohheO.O'i,,
,be words Anguish" "Avarice' AtVns,
"Aeiction." etc. The same writer 20"
sivcn assurance OF the pleasure ne e.
svnerienced in the pursuit oil tnis, "a
favorite science; having leit 70 u.e 49,
a legacy OF learning on THIS suDyl - ~
must ever remain monuHiissI,, - bis
ir81strv. and a source or ue"e"' ~
strange 20 say when AIcnois soio
Trench said this, ne seems an NO. ne "a y" "a
heard OF "a word. winch ~ s.eI-' .,,a
49, has made itself notorious over the
,t,- ,,.orl5 II is not derived from
tI..l.-.' isre,,are: Is OF domestic origin,
..,-...i,, rnerjcan and more the pity Is the
It,'1-,,@',iafe product OF Virginia herself.
Wien The learned dean was writing his
.st,,Fv OF Words" he could not have
hoard the last news from America"
md. therefore. could not have been
aware that the name OF one Charles
Lynch had already become a terror IN
the land: and In future years was 10 De
The synonym Of a cruel and relentless
system OF administering Justice among
A4saaa. - As ord
So canonized, as II were. in the annals
az crime, is worthy OF special attention.
The fact Is, the true account OF what Is
generally called "lynch-law" has never
heen written; nor has 10 been known unul
OF late years who was the inventor OF
This much maligned system. We say ma
rgned. because Il can be proved that the
croginafOrs OF the system had very differ
ent views from those now entertained In
regard TO this much abused practice. They
never designed, and. therefore, could not
have anticipated that the day would
come when their novel. but necessary IN
ventioD should become degraded 10 the
level of organized assas sinatiOn. When
Charles Lynch and his immediate asso-
cates first introduced their new code, It
was because of the great difficulty attend
iHc the administration OF any law what
ever Proper legal enactmentS were on the
statute btHhNs bHt ttte WIZ pbWtilfoo
IA the hands of their appointed agents.
AZ the time 20 which We now refer, in
many parts OF the country life, liberty
and property were az the mercy Of organ
led bands Of marauders. before whose
approach the ministers Of justice had
been forced TO fly.
This was particularly the case I'm the
early days OF Revolution, when the hatred
and bitterness Of internecine strife ragged
so furi1usly between Tories and Patriots.
The state Of social DISCRIMINATION almost
amounted 10 anarchy I'm some regions,
while the rule of the mob prevailed in
others The country on both sides Of the
line between Virginia and North Carolina,
particularly towards the southwest, was
the chief seat Of these disorders. When,
therefore. Charles Lynch undertook 10
protect the part Of the country in which
be lived from the outrages, It was for
The purpose OF enforcing and indicating
the principles OF mercy. justice and mod
Grafton. But when, i'm later times, this
same code. under the heat Of passion.
from behind the mark OF justice and un-
der the sham Of disguised cOWardice,
professed 20 initiate the course ne pur-
sued 10 entirely misrepresented his exam
pie, and perverted the purpose he had in
view. IL is, therefore. doing great fnjus-
tce 10 the memory of one whose reputa-
ton during his whole life was above re-
proach. and whose career showed him 10
be an unselhsh patriot. that his name
should continue associated with the
Wretched travesty of justice which in this
enlightened age so frequently brings dis
grace upon civilization. The truth Of this
VIII be seen as we proceed.
The Lynch family came 10 Virginia
from Ireland in the early part Of the
last century. Some Of them were
dtsune1 To play an important
part In the affairs OF their
new home. The first of them became
possessed Of a large tract of country.
stretching eastward from the base of the
Blue Ridge, in what is now Campbell and
Bedford counties. His lands lay along
the banks OF what was the Fluvanna
river now the upper James, from where
10 ls born OF the union Of the Cowpasture
and Jackson rivers.
Two brothers, John and Charles. occu-
pied adjoining tracts Of land. The former
was especially man of business: thrifty
practical and energetic. lie became the
founder of the now prosperous and beauti-
ill city Of Lynchburg, and lived to see
from lis small beginnings. the young town
SLOWLY but surely expand into an impor-
tant centre Of traffic and wealth.
a circumstance worth dwelling upon
contributed much 10 the result At the
TINE TO which we refer there were few
highways crossing the State from north
70 south. Two important ones, traversed
u from east 10 west. one on either side
or James river. Another with a number
or smaller by-ways or country-roads. op-
eniug up the country between, began at
Fredericksburg and stretched away to-
wards the borders caNorth Carolina. The
great valley between the Blue Ridge and
the Allegheny had its chief thoroughfare
beginning at the headwaters OF the Hol-
ston and ending on the banks of the
Potomac river. Along these highways
traffic was carried 10y means Of huge wag-
ons, covered with white canvas and usu-
ally drawn by six horses.
Travellers were obliged TO go on horse.
back or take the uncertain chances Of
very rough and primitive stage-coacbes
II was well nigh impossible 10 keep these
roads TN order at any time, but this MAS
especially the case while the Revolution
airy war was going on. IL was along these
roads that IN addition 10 the neighborbood
hauling numerous wagon trains
were employed. transporting mill
laIy supplies from Fredericksburg
the southern armies: partic-
-afly when Green was Operating
,4inst the British forces in that region
- mat town were manufactures of arms
camp cquipages, which on their way
me South had TO pass over two i'm
.'tnt points on the James. SCOTS Ferry.
YttsNilie and Lynch's Ferry. now
'its. Bridges were scarce. and be-
oilen carried away by foods. the
oe streams were often impossible Tor
e el indefinite time. The public treasury
r.- "l aHord 20 supply the conveniences
a, quo private citizens find means 70
., '- such property was OF too uncertain