Year: 1859

Where, then. was this awful deed perpetrated
il not anywhere within the regions named, which
contain two thirds of the population, wealth and
intelligence Of the whole Republic?


1t was in that section of the Union where alone
horrors like this are possble-it was in region
where we people of the north are always accused
Of fanatcism, abolitionism, and every other freak
of human frezy possible to miLds at sea on any
one subject where the press and the politicians
are forever gibbering about the constitution and
the laws, and obedience to lawful authority, and
trying to convey the impression that while they
are the special friends of law and order, we are
anarchists, rebels. outlaws, and the like. It was
where else could it have beeu?- in the slayehold
ing section of the confederacy.


Were this an isolated case We should hesitate to
refer to it in these terms, for the south is full Of
noble and generous people, and has high qualities
which command our respect and esteem. and we
should make due allowance for the occurrence.
But it has become common at the south as to
take its position among the permanent customs
and recognized habits of the southern people, and
unless hey can free themselves of it, they must
take the consequences. Within the last ten years
very many cases like this have been chroniced in
the newspapers of the south, to- which alone we
are indebted for the information in every case.
The accounts are usually made up, too, by editors
SO lost to all seuse of right and proprie;y to
defend or apologize for the Infamous deed, and
hold it up to the negroes Of the neighborhood as
warning. Why so does the reader ask. The
The reason is plain. 1t is q warning that it will
be repeated on other offenders.





deter them from the commission of similar crimes;
but like all severe punishments, this utterly fails
Of its object is clear from the frequent happen
ing of these mob executions. They do not pre-
vent the recurrence of the crime so punished and
hence, knowing this, those who 60 on repeating
the punishment in defiance of law, do so merely
to glut their revenge and crafty base passions.
And what crime is it that causes men at the south
to get so completely beside themselves Some
times il is murder sometimes rebellion some
times rape. There are laws for the punishment
of all these crimes, and there need be no fear of
the negro escaping, if public sentiment is so unan
imously against him. His death being needful,
the law is sufficient for that Bat it seems that
death is not sufficient. 1t must be death by tor
ture, with miserable wretch burning elowly !,
yelling in agony as the flames curl about his max
ed limbs. Perhaps the same principle which JUS
tilted this might induce piuching to death with
red hot irono, pouring moted lead down the throat
and some other of the great inventions of the In
QUESTION. And as the usual justification given is,
that it would not be were it not for the interfer
ence of the abolitonists and as that Interference
unfortunately increases hundred fold with these
outrages, who can say that a few years shall not
see all the horrors of the inquision established at
the south 2-PhH. ". american. .ss'1t 81