The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-09

PANS t1esyune


FIoa the New Orleans f1esyuns
The papers IN every secsion of the
country abound with horrid details o.
crimes. Murders. 1apes, robberiss and
every species of y.ois nca consiI ute The
principal staple of the Northern papers.
We saw in one Of the New York dalIes
"a whole page of solid type devoted to
rhe DESCRIPTION of five murdered The
contaeion seems 10 have reached this
latitude. and several bloody and revolt
Jog tragedies have taken place WITHIN
the last week. Its not altogeih her just
or supported by the facts 10 ascribe such
4 state of morals to the war-at least, as
one of its direct and legitimate conse
quences. Doubtless the relaxation of
military discipline and the discharge and
return 10 their homes of halt million Of
soldiers has added largely TO the class of
excitable. and unemployed people, who
are prone TO crime, excess and violence.
But an examination of most of these IN
cidents of crime and lawlessness shows
that the parties inculpafed are not sold
iers or persons who have been engaged
IN the war. We believe, however, that
the frequency of crimes of a bloody and
revolving character has been largely pro
NOTED by the effects of the sudden ter
animation of the war, and the consequent
Withdrawal of military control without
the complete and thorough restoration
of the power and authority of the civil
tribunals aud officers, and their prompt
and full recognition by the Government
and the military commanders. And YET
such seems to have been the purpose and
desire of our Executive and of our mil
fary chiefs President johnson, in the
Southern States distinctly recognized the
right and necessity of putting the whole
machinery of the civil department of the
State and the General Government into
immediate operation. In all these mani
festoes, he carefully cnjoins the military
of tie United States to give their all :"
the Governors when asked '-So4 tof' ~
behalf Of the restorotioE ordeF ana 20, OF
thG civil authorities. we kno" tilae tlle
being relieved all civil responsibility
and duty. They have their hands full in
their appropriate sphere of organizing
aud discplining their respective com
mands. 1t is not, therefore, necessary Oh
judicious, as political measure, to con
tinue any longer the ambiguous and un
certain state Of affairs; the doubtful au
thority and vague jurisdiction, which |
have for some time existed in the coun-
try. This condition has had a percepti |
bic Influence in weakening the respect |
and fear of evil doors, for the lawful and |
proper authorities to which the constitu
ton and laws delegates the duty Of check
Ing crime, and protecting the lives and |
property OF citizens in times OF peace. 1t |
would be better to have either the mill
tary or civil power installed in the iull |
exercise of this authority than to contin-
ne the present joint and ambiguous con-
dition of doubt md doubtful control.
E1ch Of these authorities, in the present
state of affairs finds lis energy greatly
impaired and its scope narrowed by the
app ehension that it may exceed its
powers.
Now, in places where perfect peace and
good feeling, except among certain radi
cal politicians. have prevailed ever since
the close OF the war, we have military
and other courts not known 10 the laws
of the State, ard the argument of mill
tary necessity is still in common use
This state OF affairs must evidently para
lyza and restrain the civil authority. A
like feeling and idea exist all through the
country. The prolonged suspension of
habeas corpus, and the existence and
of military commissions, are
the real causes of this unhappy state oil
feeling, which leads the r, ckless and VIC
ent TO regard civil magistrates with little
awe or respect. Patriotism and sound
demand the removal Of
his cause, and the prompt and full res.
.oration of the civil authorities through
'ut the length and breadth of the Repub-
ic.