The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-01-12
THE LEE COUNTY MEETING.
Reply of ur. I'll. Ia. Martin 10
william.
SHANNON, Miss, Dee. 30, 1870.

SHANNON, Miss, Dee. 30, 1870.
Editors Clarion: lave been invited to the
perusal of a letter in recent number of
YOUR Journal, from your correspondent
= william" in which, amongst other vapid
nothings, he delivers himself of the follow
ing:
sIittle spasmodc meetings like the one
where Hugh n. Martin sat down and wrote,
are merely nothing except small opportuni-
ties for some poor fellow to say Barkis is
willin."
The meeting of citizens of the '5th Civil
District of Lee county,, over which your
correspondent would fain grow facetious.
com priSed in its participants many gentle
men who in Intelligence and devotion to the
true interests of the State, might vie even
with s. williams" own lofty opinion of him
self, his dictIm to the contrary notwithstand-
ing | will 90 further to add, in rebuttal OF
the insinustion that the meeting was gotten
up for the purpose of whitewashing the
present State government, that of all that
| numerous body of influential citizens pre-
| sent ana participating in the meeting, your
correspondent might number upon the fin
| gers of one hand every elector who supported
| Governor Alcorn in the gubernatorial cleo
| ton.
The meeting in question was held in the
interest of no party or faction. 1t was
spontaneous expression of the public mind
and hesrt in aid of the cause of law and or
der. The resolutions of that meeting as
sumed no suppostiOHs state of wleSsneSs:
they dealt with existing and recognized
| facts. They were framed and presented to
the meeeing by committee of respectable
gentlemen appointed by 4 vote of the meet
ing for that purpose. In place of any dicta-
ton to that committee on my part, | knew
nothing of the contents of the resolutions
until they were read to the meeting by the
Chairman of the Committee. They however
received my vote and support, believing
them, as ! now believe, that they expressed
the views of large majority of the citizens
present. As Secretary of the meeting Twas
directed to cngross and forward a copy to
the Governor. For the act itself, well as
for the manner i'm which it was performed,
l have no apology to offer. If the objects
of the meeting were even in the slightest
degree comprised by its action, they GER
tainly deserve better of the public than the
whole body of NAL contents, and mar plots
for whom civilian" assumes to speak.
There was no trucking to power or place,
no ''croOking the pregnant hinges of the
knee, that thrift might follow fawning." If
for good citizens to meet together and earn
estly seek to convince the Governor that
marshal law enforced by bayonets were not
necessary to enable civil officers to enforce
the law i'm the 9Th District of Lee, be an act
honorable and of good report among men,
then do our motions need no defense from
the impracticable misanthropy of evil
liam,' or the cheap and dubious misrcpre-
sensations of others. The fact that the Gov
error approved our course, and happened
the less commendable by all good citizens
and law abiding men.
We submit our motions, together with the
ill-natured assault of william TO the
judgment of an impartial public, and there
we leave him. We can await its verdict
with calm confidence even though his attack
upon the motions of the meeting he placed
in artful juXtaposition with laudation of
the great leader of the Confederate cause, to
which the whole heart of the people responds
The aim and end of this meeting were for
the purpose of assuring our civil officers that
the citizens would aid them in the discharge
of their duty, and for the purpose of satisfy
ing the Governor that no other assistance
was necessary in this country, and that we
recognize in the civil State government suf-
ficient power to sustain the supremacy of
the law withoat resorting to the military
arm of the government, and not for the
purpose of ''selling out" to any party or
creed.
1 am, your obedient servant,
II. h. MARTIN.