Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-04-15
CONSPIRACY IN CRIME.
1.-THE Central Presbyterian

ouT oOutnern civilization IS the vim
dicatioD Of law. The public sensi-
bility is shocked, and the public
conscience outraged, by banded
assassins who set aside all consti
tutional government. and freely
indulge their brutal propeusities
upon helpless human beings who
may be the object of their dislike.
In many cases, civil government
finds it impossible TO bring such
conspirators to justice, on account
of the concealment that is practiced,
and the failure of grand juries TO
detect the criminals.
Our Impression is that the diff
Guilty is due to a moral tone in some
regions that is derived from the
antecedants of the people Too
many OF them are guided rather by
the utilitarian philosophy inculca-
ted for generations by courts and
Jurles, than 10y the precepts of the
Christian religion. We have inner
tied the politics OF the English
Commonwealth, as New England
Inherited ITS faith. Fanaticism re
suited In the one, and materialisn
III the other. Tie men who formed
public sentiment in old times IN our
region, were theorists after the type
of Algernon Sidney, on questions of
government. and Christians only
III sense of decent conformity Local
popular sovereignty has become the
dominant principal in many com.
nunities, and the recognition of di
vine authoriti is too little regarded
IN the most influential circles.
That no citizen shall be compelled
40 crimii ate himself is ALWAYS held
"a ~ sacred axiom. But that no
citizen shall violate law, i often ad-
united with many qualifications.
The law of necessity is too much
quoted. The fear of God is what is
wanting in chose wretchen ueighb1,-
hoods where midnight assassin are
soaking our country's soil in human
blood. Politics without religion are
fatal to society.
1t is almost impossible TO secure
action from a grand jury, If The bulk
OF the citizens usually composing it
are implicated in a conspiracy against
the law. One cannot criminate an
other, aud still conceal his own guilt
Hence, III many cases, comes the
ready conclusion OF the selfish con.
science, that we are not bound to
criminate one another. The Ohio.
Indiana. aud North Carolina cases.
are probably all due to such an
evasion, whilst The lynchings them
selves were justified belore con
scienc on TIE ground of public ueces.
sIty. Detection is effectually pre-
vented by The iacit understanding
among the perpetrators, that no
divulsence can be made, even on
oath, that might involve the in
elimination of self
But is this maxim Christian one?
We cay con fidently, it is not. 1t is
heat hen in it's origin. 1t il a def.
ance OF God. The Christian pulpit
and the religious press should make
themselves heard on the subject.
Lynching to death is murder in all
cases where process of law is pos
sible. The stain Of murder ought
to cling to the family name.
The sections Of our country have
an abundance Of material for mutual
criticism. 1t is solemn obligation
on us all, to sweep clean before cur
own doors. The individual Caesar
must have his own, but not to the
exclusion of his Creator. This great
crime of lynching is growing like a
malignant ulcer on our civilization.
and all because our people learn
their moral maxims too much from
; the "common law" and to little from
the Bible.
No man is bound by his citizen
ship to confess his crimes, but 1t is
law of the kingdom OF God, above
all civil relations, that our sins
must be onfessed, if they are even
I to be forgiven. This moral rule is
too often evaded by wicked conspi
! rators, under cover Of the whole.
some maxia of English Jurisprudence