American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-07-06
Correspondence of the Citizen.
CENTRAL ACADEMY,

Mr.. EDITOR The Military Aid Society
Of which | gave you notice in my last, met
according to appointment on Saturday, the
29th ult. Most of the ladies of the Ficinity
attended, and after some preliminary talk,
proceeded to the organization of the Society
by electins their officers, which are as fol-
lows.
Mrs. HARRELp, President.
Il. C. Saunders, Vice-P President.
II. n. Newell, Secretary.
E. Cordts, Treasurer.
Committees for carrying out the objects
of the Society were then appointed, and the
ladies entered forthwith on the duties of
their station.
Tile "MadiSon Rangers were then drilling
on the grounds of the Academy, and the
President, attended by her staff, went di-
rectly up TO the Captain and asked bin for
dis contribution. This appeal was answered
ny the donation Of $50; the lst Lieutenant,
never behind his Captain in danger, or in
the race of honor, followed with ditto !;
and by the time the lines had been gone
ehtough, over 500 in money, or clothing,
" do SuoSNiioCu. IHlSr WIN " ahAAiSiOiiS
it will receive from those whose business
prevented their attendance, will, trust, en-
able the Committee of Work to find plenty
TO do for all the ladies', whose actively chart
table fingers never moved in more honora-
BILE task
The Madison Rangers" are carving out
for themselves heap Of work In worthy
emulation of the activity manifested lately
by your Board of Seectmen, they have d.
yided out the District into four or five Pre-
cincts, each to be visited at least once 8
week (more frequently, if necessary, By as
many Captains of Police, with their squads.
If " eternal vigilance as jefferson said,
" is the price of freedoms" certainly eternal
vigilance is the price of safety to US and our
wives and families Nothing but the feeling
that they are watched closely and constant
w, will keep our enemies from working out
their dark designs, and using our negroes as
the Instruments of their execution. A gen.
eral and cordial cooperation will make the
labor light Nor ought any one to feel sem
sitive at an exhibition of vigilance which la;
for its object the insurance of public order
and tranquility.
/ am myself in favor of prompt and severe
measures on both cosoys when the crime is pa
tent and atrocious. I would demand the
clearest evidence in proof of it; but this
when found, should be followed by speedy
punishment. Every man in this community
should be ready to sacrifice his property fol
the public peace, as he would sacrifice hi'
own gangrened limb to preserve his life.
In thus inficting summary punishment or
the guilty, we have to be on our guard
against two evils, either of which is attended
with the most serious consequences. VIZ
should beware of false compassion which
would allow the guilty to escape; and We
should beware of treating the really limo
cent as guilty; we should beware OF running
into mob lar how we give loose rein t.
feelings which, at the present moment, arr
struggling in our midst to find vent; bu'
which, il not duly checked, will explode
with q violence which will set all law and
order at defiance.
We have instances enough in the history
of our. country tc teach US the necessity
holding irnpartially the scales of justice
which the unsettled state of the public mlne
NAV place in our hands. But when tnt
csrrime has been. committed-the attempt
been made and proved then no considers
tions ~ .intsrsst-no false compassion
should prompt US to seek to shield tht
eailtvs Of make us hesitate to strike tns
6iox ana naict due weight Of punishment
Fiat justitia. ruat catam.
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