The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-08-29
The Blood Hounds ON the TracI
of the Innocent.
Radical Prosecutions IN PontOtOc.
HOW LONG, LORD, HOW LoNGI

PoNToToc, August 9, 1872.
EDITORS CLARION Again our town is
mantled in gloom at the appearance OF
shals who are busily engaged at hurting
down our citizens.
If they were after blacklegs, ruffians and
outlaws, all would sanction and most heart
| lily give their aid and support; but such is
not the case. On the contrary, it is a
subject of remark that had the grand jury
been sworn to indict those the most civilIy
disposed, and fartherest above suspicion, it
could not possibly have done its work more
| perfectly, in most cases, than it has done in
the lists made out.
To one accustomed to regard the law as
an institution of justice to protect the weak,
encourage civility and good order, and re-
strain and punish the vicious, these things
are apt to appear inexplicable. But the
solution appears in the fact, that under the
very peculiar circumstances of the time, a
certain class of depraved humanity, of such
equivocal morals and character that the
better people ever scorned to give them
Office, has been thrust into power.
Conscious that the civil people have no
respect for them, they seek thus to get re-
venge and force respect
We were panied on yesterday to see our
esteemed old friend, Jack Horton, ESQ.,,
marched into town under guard, and before
his satanic majesty, there to be Intercepted
with score of silly, irrelevant questions.
and required to give bond in the sum of
$4,000 for his appearance before that awful
tribunal at Oxford,
Esquire IT. is about sixty years of age.
He has been a citizen of this county for
many years; is well known and it is useless
to say he is a man than whom better citI-
zen, more of gentleman, higher minded,
honorable, and higher sense of propriety
and moral justice, is not to be found.
What scene! just imagine! Mr., Nor
ton, Esq, Elijah Smyth, Rev. Joshua Pitts,
Old man Sims, Old man Sadler, and Dr.
Porter & Co., following on-just for the
sake of being in good company-all dis
guised in regular Kuklux uniform, black
calico pantaloons, &c. prowling about by
night, seeking some poor innocent defense
less on whom to pour their walls of wrath
Good Heavensi Have we insulted you
by asking you to contemplate such an in
supportable thing? or shall we further tax
you by asking you to imagine how much
like fool you would feel to be forced from
Legitimate and important business, and
marched off with this company to distant
court, there to be detained from day to day
and from term to term awaiting your turn
to be threshed through the formalities of
trial in a sham court of justice!
Now, my friends, allow me in conclusion,
to drop word of caution and admonition.
You are laboring under a delusion. You
are relying for safety on your conscious
ness of innocence. This is mistake. These
are times in which your innocence will be
no safeguard.
We know it's difficult for an honest man
to realize the situation, but you had better
not close your eyes on the facts. The juries
are packed with the most ignorant, vicious
and prejudiced of the party who are ready
to acquit or convict at the nod of one of
their leaders, regardless of your innocence
or guilt. Before tribunals thus organized
you have nothing to expect from your in
nocence. To be Kuklux now, signifies
simply for some of their leaders to have o
dislike for you, and witnesses will not be
wanting to prove anything they may wish.
Very respectfully,
II. ii. PORTER.