The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-27
PUBLIC OPINION
MAKES EFFECTIVE
DOMINICK SPEAKS AGAINST T
ANTI-LYNCHING BILL
First Burning of Negro at Stake
on Record Took Place in
New York
Hugh W. Roberts in The State.

Hugh W. Roberts in The State.
Washington, Jan. 22.-Representa-
tive Fred H. Dominick of South Car
Ina declares the opinion that legal
restrictions against lynching in South
Carolina have had nothing to do with
a decrease in lynching which, during
recent years, has obtained in South
Carolina.
He was proceeding in speech in
the house of represents tives against
the Dyer antilynching bill. He said:
'In this debate, great deal has been
said about the South Carolina law. 1
am glad that finally there has been
somebody, especially on the Republi-
can side, who could say something
good for South Carolina. We are
proud of our state.
"South Carolina has section IN
its constitution regarding lynch;ng, it
was put in our constitution in 1895.
Lynchings took place in South Caro-
lima before the passage of that law,
and lynchings have taken place since.
l have no doubt that if certain condi-
tons and circumstances arise in the
future, there will possibly be other
Iynchings. And there would be other
lvncbjnes in Ohio or Minnesota, or
any other state.
"The law of South Carolina pro-
vides that in the event of lynching
the family of the person lynched may
bring suit against the county in which
the Iynching occurred and recover
$4,000. I think possibly three cases
have been brought since the enact
ment of the law. Two OF them went
to the supreme court, which sustained
the const: tuAonaigy y the law.
But I want to tell you something,
my friends My honest judgment
and it is the judgment Of everybody
lc!se, 1 believe-is that that provision
in the constitution has no more to do
in preventing lynching than if it was
net there. If mob aroused to fren-
" by heinous crime apprehends the
culprit of the deed, it will never stop
to consider whether the county will
be subject to a fine of $4,000 or
$4,000 or $1,OO0,000.
"You can never stop lynching by
legislation. We have not succeeded
in South Carolina Enlightened pub
lie opinion is responsible for the sue
cess that we have scored"
Mr.. Domiick, as a member of the
judiciary committee, was permitted
to make one of the principal speeches
against the Dyer bill. His discussion
involved the constitutional features,
almost exclusively. He was gener-
ously applauded at the conclusion Of
his address.
Representative Stevenson of South
Carolina, in his speech against the
bill, declared, to the surprise of the
Republican personnel of the house
thai burning negroes did not originate
with lynchers but with the laws Of
the states of the Northeast. He re-
! ferred to the record of court "hold-
en- for the tryal of negro and Indian
slaves at the City hall of the City of
New York" April Is. 1712.
The decision of the court in a GER
tain case was thus pronounced: THE
defendt Tom being brought to the
Barr & having nothing to say for
himself why judgment Of death should
! not pass agt him according the verdict
&c. 1t is considered by the court that
+! he be carreyed from hence to the
place from whence he came and from
thence to the place Of execution and
thence to be burned with slow FIRE
! that he may continue IN torment for
eight or ten hours and continue burn
ing in said fire until he be dead and
cosumed to ashes"
The case was styled: Dom Regina
Y. Tom the negro man, slave Of Mich
olas Roosevelt. J. D,