The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-20

if every human being in Georgia had been
there assembled, and 1 am further of the
opinion that the people of Georgia, if
there present, would have made the skies
tremble with the thunder of their ap-
plause of the killing. l say the killing.
1t is not necessary to my purpose to dis
cuss the manner of the killing.
The legal point which 1 wish to make
is this: If the people of Georgia had been
present and applauded the act then the
act was rightful and against no law, hui
man or divine. 1t would have been mere
ly a temporary suspension of the consti-
tuition by the power which created the
constitution and a temporary dispensing
with the court by the maker and master
of the court.
Do you suppose that the killers of Hose
will be punished. Certainly not Why
not? Because the people approve the
killing and make it their act and so purge
it of illegality. The killers could not
be lawfully convicted. 1 speak earnestly
as one learned in the Jaw and stating a
legal opinion.
l abhor the thought of what is called
lynching. 1t Is . dreadful remedy for
diabolical disease and only less danger
Gus to society than the crime which COM
pels it into being. 1t is frightfully liable
to abuse. 1t is only in a society, Ideally.
virtuous and enlightened, that lynch law
should strongly prevail to the temporary
suspension of the usual processes of So
called law, and in such a society it would
be seldom needed.
Certainly the maker is above the thing
made and the people above the constitu-
ton. Whatever attempts are being made
row to fool the school children of the
present generation it is only upon this
ground that enlightened history will here
after attempt to defend the Northern sub
jugation OF the South, which was in itself
a stupendous act of lynch law When the
armed North stepped on Southern soil il
trampled upon the constitution. The
learned among them knew it then and
know it now. Their constitutional law
yers almost to a man were against them
1 think l see the future controversialisr
of the South point Ieproachfully at the
constitution with its glorious list of sig
natures, and / think see the future con-
troversialist of the North carefully scan
the signature and say "Ya-as, but 1 don't
see God Almighty's name signed to It,"
Our people are not sufficiently virtuous
and enlightened to make use of the dread
full thing called lynch law without im-
mense peril TO themselves, but just 20
sure, Mr. Editor, as the torrent Of public
indignation now flowing Is stopped up by
the efforts of the press, the pulpit, or the
politicians, or all combined. il will rise up
and sweep away everything which op-
poses it. II seems to me that the remedy
is very plain. 1t Is impossible TO Kill this
wild animal, but il may be tanned and
made useful--it may be harvested, and
made to help haul the car of justice. But
| must not take up your valuable space
by suggestions on this point.
The recent characteristic .etter of sena,
tor John j. ingalls,, which has been wide
~ published, frankly reveals terrible
dilemma He Is by all odds the ablest
political writer of the day, captivating by
his candor and fascinating by the per-
fectness Of his choice of words, conveying
weighty thought in a form compact Of
grace. His letter Is a dark picture franz
ed in blood. which ne holds up high with
a firm hand 10 the public gaze. What ne
sees plainly he has plainly delineated upon
the canvass What he dnly divines he
has dimly delinsated, leaving the imag-
nation of the spectator TO paint in the
horrors Of IT, Hc Is perfectly honest about
the matters. both Of form and co.or, ara
falters not one jot or tittle in H. treat
ment Of them. Verify we Of abe South
and Of the North who made so much his
tory some years ago are getting on brave-
~ with the study o. H. The North is