Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-09-05

tive of the State, are wholly made
quate to the enforcement of the law,
without the hearty cooperation of all
civil officers, supported by healthy
public sentiment. Appeals are daily
made to this Office for military assist
ance, or for authority to organize com
panies. The recent atrocities in the
State have engendered feverish and
unnatural excitement in the public
mind-to such an extent that the law
full remedies for existing and appre-
hended evils, are overlooked, in a
morbid anxiety to have military pro-
lection. .S g, ,s - - -. - -
Tennessee has no military power.
The militia can be called sout by the
General Assembly alone, and then
only, in case of rebellion or invasion.
If past experience may be regarded as
just criterion, the militia, if called
into service, would tend rather to ag-
gravate, than to alleviate existing
troubles. z. 8, - ,s9 g. 80
If We would preserve our State gov
eminent, and the liberties of orr people,
we must cease to look to- military.
power to enforce the law land punish
crime. The civil law affords ample
protection to society, if sheriffs, con-
stables, judicial aud ministerial officers
will do their duty. They are elected
by the people, and will do their duty,
if public sentiment wiz demand it.
The leading men in every, community
create and control public sentiment.
The civil officers of each county have
ample authority, under the law, both
to prevent and punish crime.
By Section 1893 Of the Code of Ten
nessee, sThe Sheriff is the principal
conserUatOr of the peace in his county,
and it is his duty to suppress all ARRAYS,
riots, routs, unlawful assemblies, in
surrections or other breaches of the
peace, to do which, heimdy sstmn,On to
his aid as many Of The male inhdbi.
tants of the county. as he Minksproper. ="
BY Section 1884, 1.-THE judicial and
ministerial officers of justice in the
State, and the Mayor, Aldermen, Mar
shals and police of cities and towns,
are also coaserrators of the peace, and
required to aid in the, prevention and
suppression of public offenses, and
for this purpose, may act soith all the
poaoer Of the Sheriff sg a aela
BY section 1899 1T is the duty of
all peace officers who know, or have
reason to suspect, any person of being
armed, with the intention of commit
| ting a riot or ARRAY, or of assaulling,
wounding or killing another person,
or of otherwise breaking the peace, to
arrest such person forthwith, and take
him before some ustice Of the Peace y
And by another section, the justice
is required to bind him in a bond, with
good security, to keep the peace or
commit him to Jail. The substance of
which is, that all judges, justices of
the peace. sheriffs, constables, mayors,
aldermen. marshals and police officers,
OF cities and towns, are cOnservatOrs
of the peace, (the sheriff being the
chief conservatory and they are bound
TO prevent any violations. OF law, to
preserve the peace, and to arrest Of
tenders against the law-and tits their
duty, if not able to do so without as
sIstance, to summon as many of the
male inhabitants of the county, with
out regard to age or occupation) as
they think proper. 800 &c
Officers or citizens who fail or re-
fuse to perform their respective duties
are guilty of misdemeanors. IF the
Sheriff cannot obtain force enough in
his county, to meet the demands of the
law, it 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 the power to enforce it,
the civil officers are without excuse if
the law is not executed in their coun-
ties. They are responsible for riots
and Jail breaking, and public sentiment
should demand and require of them
vigilance and fidelity in the execution
OF theirs high trusts; and public opin-
ion should boldly sustain them in their
efforts to protect society, and uphold
the lawful authority. II.
1T from ignorance, cowardice, OF
want of fidelity, public officer fails
of doing his duty, letthe 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,9will not sustain or aiC
the officials in the proper exercise o.
their authority, let the officers apply
to the Governor, and he will, lCithOu
delay, send them force enough to exc,
cute the law. aEoo -oa $50 aEoiaff
4 Let me say to the people of Tennes
70 tho % fh,
name you have heretofore SO nobly
won for your State, You are nov
heralded to the world as Jail breaker.
and inurderers, rioters and law break
ers. With few bloody and horrible
exceptions you do not deserve it. Blu
those exceptions are taken by tn,
world, as the rule, and the effect upor
your reputation, if not counteraeted
will prove as disastrous as if the con
demnation were deserved. Let. ever
community speak out in just terms O.
Indignation against these outrages, anC
create spirit that willfortify aud sus.
tain your public officials in suppressin!
riots, and in preventing the commits
sion of crime. Declare that every
man, white and black, shall receive al
equal measure of protection from th'
law strong arm, and that every of
fender shall be brought to speedy pun
ishmept, Act promptly and courage
ously upon such resolves, and you
State will once more be an example o
peace and order. Your homes will b.
secure from violence. Your wives anC
children can Test in security. Their,
willexist no longer animosities ofraces
Your jails will become what the,
ought to be be, houses of custody an(
protection. The law will be respected
and obeyed, and your State will regain
= what she has temporarily lost by tn,
acts of few wicked and reckless men
A few men in every community hay'
the power to control the evil-doers
and | implore you by your love TO
your State, and as you value life anC
liberty, and the material prosperity o
the country, lose no time in meeting
}. the responsible duties you owe t.
yourselves, your families and you
country. THIS will save you from
military rule, and worse, even, thar
that, from anarchy. and probably
! nothing else will. "a
And in the discharge of my duty t.
enforce the law, | do warn all persons
white and cOlored, who have unlaw
fully banded together under the pre-
text of defense, or otherwise, lmme