The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-08

The Southern correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Commercial, from whose
letters the Sentinel has made
extended selections, declares that in
Rutherford, Sumner and Gibson counties in
Tennessee, thirty-nine murders have
occurred within the last eight months.
He gives the details of one
deed blood which has created more feel
ing than all the others put together. 1t was
the murder of quadroon school teacher
named Julia Hayden, who was killed in
mere wantonness by a random shot fired
into the house where she had taken refuge
1t is plain that great responsibility has
devolved upon the leading men of the State
in the maintenance of law and order, and
those citizens who, as noticed in yesterdays
Sentinel, pledged themselves to secure peace
and security for all classes, will need to be-
stir themselves earnestly. Gov. Brown has
issued a proclamation, which is
well calculated to call forth
that pure and determined public sentiment
which is above all things essential to the
enforcement: of law. Abiding to the fever
ish excitement in the public mind on &C
the state and the general desire for military
protection, he declares that the militia of the
state can only be called out in case of insur-
rection or invasion; and that their presence
would rather aggravate than assuage the
existing troubles. He asserts that the peo-
pie ought to look to the civil law alone to
punish crime. The sheriffs of the counties
nd 10 oil Nf1 ;ale -, ~
are empowered by the constitution of the
state with authority not only to punish but
to prevent crimes s. especially fragrant
breaches of the peace, such as open rioting
and ARRAYS. They should be held response
BILE for all violence. The governor throws
the burden directly upon their shoulders in
these words:
Officers or citizens who fail or refuse to perform
their respective duties are guilty of misde-
meanors If the sheriff can not obtain force
enough in his county to meet the demands of
the law. 1t is the duty of the governor, on the
application of the sheriff, to send the necessary
force from another county. With such ample
authority, coupled with tue power TO enforce it,
the civil officers without excuse if the law is
spopsible for riots and jail-breaking, and public
sentiment should demand and require of them
vigilance and fidelity in the execution of their
sustain them in their efforts TO protect society.
and uphold the lawful authority. If from igno-
rance, cowardice, or want of fidelity, a public
officer fails of doing his duty, let the people,
whose servant he is, turn him out OF office,
through the means pointed out by the law, and
disgrace him. If the people of the county will
not sustain aid the officials in the proper ex-
ercse of their authority, let the officers apply TO
the governor, and he will, without delay, send
them force enough to execute the law.
To the citizens ofthe state in general he
appeals for cooperation, warning them that
an active and high minded enthusiasm for
the just enforcement of the laws is now
necessary to bring about the triumph of good
order. There is significance in his closing
declaration: "Tnis will save you from mill
tary rule, and, worse even than that, from
anarchy; and probably nothing else WILL"