Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-01-03
ExEcUTlvg DEpARTNEsr,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
r,yaox, M,os naoa,nkar a lQCT

tensions that combinations and conspiracies
are being formed arieng the blacks ITO seize
the lands and establish farms, expecting and
hoping that Congress will arrange plan of
division and distribution" "but unless this Is
done by January next, they will proceed 10
help Themselves, and are determined 10 go 10
wdr, and are confident that they will be VIC
tors In any conflict with the whites" and
furnish names Of persons and places: and
WHEREAS, Similar communications have
been received at the headquarters Of the
Fourth Military District, and referred to me
authorities Of the State with the United
States military, in SURPRISING violence and
maintaining order and peace:
Now, therefore, !, Benjamin G. Humphreys
Governor Of Mississippi, do issue this my
proclamation, admonishing the black race
that If any such hopes or expectations are
entertained, you have been grossly deceived
and II any such com binations or conspiracies
have been formed to carry into effect such
purpose by lawless violence, now warn you
that you cannot succeed.
What Is not known of your plans and
conspiracies, will be discovered and antici.
pated; and the first outbreak against the
quiet and peace of society that assumes the
form of insurrection will signalize the de-
struction of your cherished hopes and the
ruin of your race.
That you may not longer be deceived by
the restless spirits, white or black that lure
you to your ruin, publish for your informa-
tion the following Endorsements Of General
Z. U. Q. Ord, made on the communication
above referred To, viz:
"HEADQuARTERs FOURTH MILITARY DIsr,
(OFFIcE OF Civil AFrAIRs)
HOLLY SfRISGs, Mss, Nov. 81, 1867.
"Respectfully referred to Brcvet Major
General Gllem, who will send an officer inn
mediately TO to learn what
white men have been advising the freedmen
10 take arms, seize lands, or any other illegal
act. The leading freedmen will be sent for
and informed that there is no intention on
the part of Congress to take land from mas
ters of it, for the benefit Of former slaves
that Congress has plenty of lands now to
give freedmen in MISSISSIPPI, and they can 90
there and settle If they choose to do Co.
They will be informed that it Is the duty oi
the soldiers to put down, by arms, (that is
by killing, If necessary the outlaws engaged
In taking by force or violence the property
Of others.
"General Gillem has directions to arrest
promptly all incendiaries. regardless of party
or POSITIONS and any information from sher.
ifs, boards of police, judges, or other officers
on this subject, accompanied. with the names
of persons melting freedmen to illegal and Sc
ditious acts, the dates of such offenses with
names Of witnesses, win be promptly acted
upon.
"lf Governor Humphreys deems this mat.
ter Of sufficient importance, will he publish
proclamation TO the citizens and all
others concerned, that the military will try
TO afford all quiet and law-abiding citizen:
protection, where the civil authorities may be
de6ed, or too weak to protect, and that in all
cases these officers of the law should be called
on to prevent outbreaks or violence, before
appealing to arms themselves The rever-
ses of the past two years, the want of conf
dence in the fnture--of money, credits OF
food to support large and probably unoc-
cupied laboring population, threaten in the
coming year to produce discontent--perhap:
outbreaks and violence among the poor and
distressed.
"All such danger should be ant ticipated
and the true lover of his country will use hi,
stronger mind to meet and provide tor the
emergency.
"lfspecial co-operation of the military tc
aid in arrest, or to insure the execution o.
courts aud boards-gathering together and
employing In agricultural or other usefu
employment, the idle and vicious--should bt
needed, il will be cheerfully accorded.
''lf the distress and danger to the public
safety threatens to be very great extraordina
ry powers and means may have to be assum.
be to meet and all partisanshr
ignored il we want community. Il. D. o.
ORD,
BRIG. and Brew. Maj. Gen. Comd'g."
You will now know that the United States
military authorities of this district are mol
black-that urge you to violence and wrong.
doing. That while you remain in peaceful
pursuit Of industry, aud strictly observe and
respect the rights Of Others you will be pro.
tected in all your rights, privileges, liberty
and property but your only security and
hope of prosperity, is in honest labor and
yirtuous peace.
The price of yoar liberty-in your power,
ty and indigence-is toll and starvation -
You cannot reap the rewards of toll, unles
you maintain peaceful relations with the
white race, aud unite your energies and you
labors in an earnest and peaceful effort to
restore the waste places and exhausted gar.
ners Of our impoverished land.
further warn the white race that, ms yoI
prize constitutional liberty for yourselves, s,
you must accord 70 the black race the full
measure Of their rights, privileges, and liber
ties secured to them by the Constitution snt
laws of the land. You cannot live will
them in peace and prospect ity as wrong -doers
You deal justly In all your transactions anS
contracts with them, aud In no case under
take TO redress wrongs, except In the mod,
and manner authorized by law.
advice all--white and black-to max,
timely, accurate aud truthful report of AL
unlawful combinations or conspiracies aeains
the peace and tranquility of society-to the
civil and military authorities, with names o
persons and places
All civil officers must faithfully admins
ter the laws without bias or partiality to
, ward either race, and should resistance b.
made to legal process too formidable TO b
suppressed by the ordinary course of law
! prompt assistance win be afforded by th
! United States military authorities.
The civil officers Of the State must q
, their duty 10 the people, and sustain ia
! people-both white and black-mr 81 trust {
. the civil officers, and the United States mill
, tary authorities in the maintenance Of peac
= and order.
[sEALl u. q. HUMPHREYS, Governo
u A laouguHn Secretary of Hialo