And State Papers 525 



wrong far greater than any white man can possibly 

 do them. Therefore, in such cases the colored peo- 

 ple throughout the land should in every possible way 

 show their belief that they, more than all others in 

 the community, are horrified at the commission of 

 such a crime and are peculiarly concerned in taking 

 every possible measure to prevent its recurrence and 

 to bring the criminal to immediate justice. The 

 slightest lack of vigor either in denunciation of the 

 crime or in bringing the criminal to justice is itself 

 unpardonable. 



Moreover, every effort should be made under the 

 law to expedite the proceedings of justice in the case 

 of such an awful crime. But it can not be necessary 

 in order to accomplish this to deprive any citizen of 

 those fundamental rights to be heard in his own de- 

 fence which -are so dear to us all and which lie at the 

 root of our liberty. It certainly ought to be possible 

 by the proper administration of the laws to secure 

 swift vengeance upon the criminal ; and the best and 

 immediate efforts of all legislators, judges, and citi- 

 zens should be addressed to securing such reforms in 

 our legal procedure as to leave no vestige of excuse 

 for those misguided men who undertake to reap ven- 

 geance through violent methods. 



Men who have been guilty of a crime like rape or 

 murder should be visited with swift and certain pun- 

 ishment, and the just effort made by the courts to 

 protect them in their rights should under no circum- 

 stances be perverted into permitting any mere tech- 

 nicality to avert or delay their punishment. The 



