Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-09-09

riots, routs, unlawful assemblies, insur-
rections or other breaches of the peace,
to do which, he may Summon TO his aid
as many Of the mate Inhabitants of the
county as he thinks DrOper.u
BY section 1884, "The judicial and
ministerial officers of Justice i'm the
State, aud the Mayor, Aldermen, Mar
shals and police OF cities and towns,
are also coaserUdtOrS Of the peace, and
required to aid IN the prevention and
suppression of public otienses, aud for
this purpose, may act wih all the pO,c-
cr Of the Sheriff.
BY section 1889, 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 aftray, or of assaulting,
wounding or killing another per-
son, or of otherwise breaking the
peace, to arrest such person forthwith,
aud taking him before some Justice Of
the Peace
And by another section the Justice
is required to bind him in 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, COnstabes, Mayors,
Aldermen, Marshals and police officers,
of cities and towns, are cOnservatOrs Of
the peace lthe Sheriff being the chief
conservatory, aud they are bound to
prevent any violations of law, TO pre-
serve the peace, and to arrest offenders
against the law--and it is their duty,
if not able 10 do 50 without assistance,
to summon rs many Of the male inhab-
itants of the county without regard to
age or occupatioul as they think pro-
per.
Officers or citizens who fail or refuse
to perform their respective duties are
guilty of misdemeanOrs. Itthe Sheriff
can not 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 1t, the civil
officers are without excuse if the law Is
not executed in their counties. They
are responsible for riots and iail-break-
ing, and public sentiment should de-
mand and require of them vigilance
and fidelity in the execution of their
high trusts, and public opinion should
boldly sustain them in their efforts to
protect society and uphold the lawful
authority.
If from ignorance, cowardice, or
want of fidelity, 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 country will not sustain or aid
the officials in the proper exercise OF
their authority, let the officers apply
to the Governor, and he will, WithOut
delay, send them force enough to exec
cute the law.
Let me say to the people of Tennes-
see come to the rescue of the fair name
you have heretofore so nObly won for
your State. You are now heralded to the
world as jail-breakers aad murderers,
rioters and law-breakers. With few
bloody and horrible exceptions, you
! do not deserve it. But those exceptions
are taken by the world as the rule, and
the effect upon your reputation, if not
counteracted, will prove as disastrous
as if the condemnation were deserved
Let every community speak out III
| Just terms of indication against these
outrages, and create spirit that will
fortify and sustain your public officials
| in suppressing riots, and in preventing
| the commission of crime. Declare that
every man, white and black, shall re-
ceive an equal measure of protection
! from the laws strong arm, and thai
every offender shall be brought tC
speedy punishment. Act promptly
and courageously upon such resolves
and your State will once more
be an example of peace and order
vi.
olence. Your wives and children car
rest in security. There will existno lon
ger animosities of races. Your iails will
become, what they ought to be, houses
of custody and protection. The law
will be respected and obeyed, and YOU
State will regain what she has tempo
rarily lost 10y the acts of few wicked
and reckless men. a few men in every
community have the power to contro
the evil-doers, and ! implore you by
your love for your State, and as yoI
value life and liberty, and the materia
prosperity ofthe country, lose no time
in meeting the responsible duties YOU
owe to yourselves, your families ant
your country. This will save you from
military rule, and worse, even, than
that, from anarchy and probably no
thing else will.
And in the discharge of my duty t.
enforce the law, do warn all persons
white and colored, who have uniaw
fully banded together, under the pre-
text Of defense, or otherwise, immedi
ately to disbaud and l do warn al
persons against any such organization
And / do most earnestly enjOln upol
all civil officers, and especially in thos
localities where they have recent.
been bloodshed and disturbances, tina
? they compel the disbandment CT all un
, lawful organizations, and that they US
the utmost vigilance in bringing tn
guilty parties TO punishment, and tina
they resort to every lawful remedy Z
prevent further violations Of the law
to the end that the majesty OF the Law
may be maintained and society pro
tected.
Done at the capitol Of Tennessee, thi
Goth of August, 1874.