New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-11
Aggregate

From this statement it will be seen that in
tue second half OF Gov. Alcorn's term, the num-
Der OF murders was precisely as large as he as
serted 1T to be during his entire year there
were 43 more murders in those six months than
he represented the increase over the CORE
spending SIX months of military rule was 81 ;
the Increase during the year, over the preced.
Ing year, was 48; there was only one more
murder recorded during the whole year of the
administration of Gen. Ames than during the
last six months of Alcorn's term the monthly
average during Alcorn's year was 81, while that
OF the previous year was only 81 at no other
time during the entire two years given was the
proportion OF crimes so great as during the last
three months of Alcorn administration. How
totally unwarranted was the statement of Gov
Alcorn, that in the last six months of his ad.
ministration there were ONLY 10 murders. is
SHOWN by the fact that the list mentions 81
during March alone. However, a glance at
these figures will show that there has been a
rapid increase of crime during Gov. Alcorn's
term, aud no more words are necessary on the
subject
Let us return, however, to Governor Acorn
original assertion, that he is able to bring the
perpetrators OF the crimes at Meridian to JUS
tice. III his intentions correspond with his
powers why have We not Tow some intelligence
on that subject? Nearlytwo months ago there
was pretended investigation of the massacre,
and Judge Leachman, who presided as COM
uniting magistrate, bound over G.. W. Brantley,
Hugh w. Wilson. and Robert f. Coleman, 81.
three OF the principal persons implicated in the
outrages, to answer before the grand jury 90 a
| charge of unlawful as sembly, or any other
charge the grand jury may prefer against them
IN bond of 5000 leach" j. f. Sandford
and Isaac Adams were each placed under bonds
IN the sum of S6(n tn anSwAr a charpa of as
sault with intent to kill, and A. G. Horn was
held in the sum of 500 TO answer a charge of
assault The amount of bail in these cases
was 80 ridiculously small as to satisfy us
that the investigation was nothing more
than farce. Since then we have been
waiting to hear that some steps have
been taken to have the offenders pun
| lshed There is no pretense that they are not
known. One of those bound over by the COM
uniting magistrate was the editor of the Ne
ridtan Mercury, who opealy boasted of the
part he had taken in the massacre. "And
we'll tell you the truth, Governor" he wrote
| In his Journal, 1" if we die by it. We, sir, the
editor OF the Mercury, Alexander q. Horn,
used our best endeavors to swell the numbers
OF the band, and the Chief Executive may
make the most of it, Witnesses can be fou nd
as well as the criminals, though after the mas
| sacre many of those who suffered fled to Jack
| son, not daring to remain at home. Governor
Alcorn may render efficient service to the cause
OF justice by giving these witnesses surance
that they will be protected whenever they re.
turn to testify. If he do, he will render him
self obnoxious to the Democracy, whom he has
hitherto attempted to concate if he fail to
do 1T, he will prove recreant to his professions
| OF determination to maintain law and order
| in his State. Which will he choose IN y.
| Tribune.