Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-02-12
GOVERNORS PROCLAMATION
Of the Senate and House
of Representatives: 500 %


of Representatives: 800 81 /.
1t Is WITH pr0f0und regret I realize
the necessity Of directing yotfr atten-
ton to the alarmingly frequent vio-
lence to the peace and dignity of the
State, In the maltreatment, and even
atrocious murders, Of her citizens, by
persons generally reported in disguise
or unknown. Many Of the States
citizens have been outraged In their
privileges and persons by cruel In
Iiignities not . few slain outright,
without charge Of having, In any
wise, offended the laws; while others
under criminal charges have been
fOrcibly wrested nom the custody Of
the law, and their blood Deliberately
shed by bodies Of men without the
least shadow Of authority. That
these enormities can be In our midst
without the perpetrators In single
instance being even arrested to an
swer for their lawlcss and criminal
acts, demonstrates the existence OF
Organization on their part, not only
dangerous 10 the individual citizen
and adverse to the public dignity, but
formidable even TO the public peace
and safety. "a
While the law lately enacted fai
suppression Of these oitrages must de-
honor to the purpose Of your honors-
BILE body, / trust Il will not be accep.
ted ~ an imprvpriety on my part tc
respectfully suggest doubts OF Its suf
flciency TO reach and remedy the
evils aimed at. As not q single ar
rest has yet been made for the gross
est violation Of already existing laws
lalthough such violations have boer
frequent, aud the largest rewards al
lowed have been often II not lnvaria
bly, offered to bring to justice, 1t may
be fairly concluded that such offend
ers are protected by organization
adequate, by terrorism, the force o
numbers, or other means, 10 effect Sc
curity against the ordinary civil pro
cess and officers Of the law. TIL,
public misfortune seems n0t.so mucl
a want Of law ~ lack Of power TO en-
force that we have.
That In some instances the peac
officers OF county should be undo
the influence, OF even In confedera
ton with the criminals, or that thu
body Of ito people should be prevent
ed, by terror, rom corporation 10
their suppression, is not moro NAL
velous than that such crimes, In tn
most heinous form, should have bee
; 40 often repeated In this State wit
such universal impunity. .g
In this Wow, ! recommend that 4
not contrary 10 our Btats Constitc
. tion) our statutes be no amended tina
/ the Executive shall have power. Z
his discretion, 10 appoint. for c0ur
!, ties where such violations Of Law ~
;, lcommitted, and no arrests OF tn
offenders made, special officers wit
y Iall Of the powers Of sheriff. to sum
mon posses, make arrests, and do .
!, like things necessary to bring offer
: ders to Justice. Suoh officers to
com missioned ~ peace officers Of tn
State, and clothed with al the pre-
c lection, In exercise NJ their lawf,
y powers and duties, which can be .
D iorded officers ef the lswl and sss4
that the Executive DO authorized b
law 10 appoint and commission sp
n lclal prosecuting attorneys In judicli
circuits whore there may he, In b
d ljudgmenf, default on the part OF a
u Irregular Attorney General 10 the pr
per prosecution Of such offenders
= in;ficmcpt and CONVICTION IN u