The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-04-06

Is case IN point 1t Is compound OF
good and evil. He sets out with q re-
commentator that the Legislature
burthen the tax payers with appropria-
tons for paying the expenses of an active
militia organization greatly to the detri-
ment of the peace and quietude of the
State and to the injury OF its industrial
interests-thus inficting q double wrong
ON the insufficient ground that distur-
Dances have occurred at Meridian, and at
ga few other places on our eastern bor-
der. Nevertheless, says the message
1.-THE State generally enjoys repose un-
known to it since the close of the war"
embracing the just and good reign of
Humphreys, and the despotism of the
Shoulder Straps. Humphreys certainly
had no occasion for an active militia or
ganization, and if the Shoulder Straps,
with all the paraphrenalia of the Army
and Navy of the United States to back
them, could not keep the peace, why try
the costly experiment of another military
establishment? IF we had peace during
the Humphreys Administration, and have
still greater "repose" now, if with the
exception of ''some minor Outrages on
the Alabama border" MISSISSIPPI PRE-
SCENTS AN UNBRoKEN EVIDENCE OF
s'CIyIL OBEDIENCE AND oRDER"-why
make this call for the ways and means
of arming, equiping and bringing into
actual service militia organization in
view of the fact that there is no more GER
tain method of disturbing the existing ''re-
pose;" that there is no more wicked and
profigate method of squandering the
tax payers money, and no more certain
method of demoralizing their labor sys-
tenn and lessening their ability to meet
the extraordinary requisition on the State
treasury?
If there be "repose" why disturb it?
Why start the drum and the fife in OPP
position to the plough and the hoe?-
There is time for all things; and surely
now is the time for the implements of
peace and not the instruments of war.
And in addition, to his recommendation
for the modification of the law so as to
give assurance doubly sure to the Auditor
that he can make his requisition on the
treasury to pay the expenses of an "act-
ual" militia organization no longer
have pretext to withhold their dues from
such patriots as 'Col. Ireland'-(Big
Yaller)-for important services to the
State-he advises that actual authori-
i" ty be given" him +" to organize and call
"into the field a cavalry regiment of
"picked men" and quarter them on the
innocent people of any county in which
persons masked may choose to make
their appearance. The injustice of the
measure is apparent. 1t reverses the
maxim that it is better that ninety-nine
guilty persons should escape than that one
innocent person should suffer. And it in
PRODUCES in time of peace and enforces
against friends and brothers, the barbar-
Gus warlike custom of confscating the
goods of an enemy and quartering troops
upon him. We are told that these troops
must be "picked" men. Clayton's ma
RAIDERS, plunderers, and ravishers - In
Arkansas, were men whom he regarded
picked" Holden's lambs, with Kirk
and Bergen as their bellwethers, were
considered picked" AS Maj. Gen.
Stafford has truly testified that the Con-
federate soldiers are as much to be relied
upon in keeping the peace and enforcing
order as any other class in the State, we
are led to infer that his Chief will so far
defer to his opinion as to give them
places in organizing the picked" men
for this special duty. But who will the
carpet-bag successor of the present Gov
ernor consider "picked" men when the
latter takes the seat reserved for him In
the Senate after he shall have put the
machine into operation? This is Sc
rious question, inasmuch as it is the well
defined programme of the powers that be
that a carpet-bagger shall run the State
administration during the last two years
of its existence.
The Other. Parts of the Message.
With the exception of brief reference
to an accompanying letter of the Rever-
end Catholic Bishop Elder, and silly
and iIl-timed fling at +" the press" the
other parts of the message deserve espe-
cial commentator, 1t declares that if
disorders exist, (and they are certainly
few if it be true that with minor" ex-
ceptions g the State presents an unbro-
ken evidence of civil order and obedi-
ence" they are attributable to bad laws
and corrupt and dishonest legislation
This is precisely what the press has per-
sisted in saying, and it has appealed to
the authors of these abuses to reform
them, in the name of justice and for the
sake of peace. An ounce of such RENE
dy for the discomfort of the men who car
ny in tlfeir bosoms the spirit which ami
mated the Barons who wrung the Great
Charter from King John, is worth an
ocean of blue coats or corps of picked
cavalry" men. Remove the admitted
cause and see if the desired effect does
not follow without recourse to bayonets
which are, as they viii always be, the last
resort of well ordered civil administra-
ton.
Ouiek uDon the heels of the election of