Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-09-05

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

EXECUTIVE OFFICE
SAsHyIIEE, Tenn, Aug %.
| To the Judicial, Ministerial and all Peace
Officers, aud 70 the people Of Tennessee:
The means at the command of the
. Chief Executive of the State are
/ wholly inadequate to the enforce
ment of the law, without the heart
/ ty cooperation of all civil officers,
supported by healthy public senti-
ment. Appeals are daily made to
/ this Office for military assistance, or
1 for authority to organize companies.
| The recent atrocities in the State
have engendered feverish and un-
natural excitement in the public
/ mind to such an extent that the
/ lawful remedies for existing and
apprehended evils are overlooked
| in a morbid anxietytO have military
J protection.
Z Tennessee has no military power.
/ The militia can be called out by the
/ General Assembly alone, and then
| only in case of rebellion or invasion.
I II past experience may be regarded
as a just criterion, the militia, il
called into service, would tend
rather TO aggravate than to alleviate
! existing troubles.
If we would perserve our Stale
! Government, and the liberties of
our people, we must cease to look
at military power to enforce the
law and punish crime. The civil
law affords ample protection to
society, if Sherifls, Constables,
judicial and ministerial officers will
do their duty. They are elected by
the people, and will do their duty,
if public sentiment will demand il.
The leading men in every commune
ty create and control public senti
ment.
The civil officers of each county
have ample authority, under the
the law, both to prevent and pun
ish crime.
BY section 1888 of the Code of
Tennessee, "The Sheriffis the prin-
cipal conservator of the peace in his
county, and it is his duty to sup
press all affrays, riots, rouis, unlaw-
ful assemblies, instructions or
other breaches of the peace, to do
which, he may summon to his aid as
many of the male inhabitants of
the county as he thinks proper"
BY section 1884, "The Judicial and
ministerial officers of justice in the
State, and the Mayor, Aldermen,
Marshals and police of cities and
towns, are also cOnservatOrs of the
peace, and required to aid in the
prevention and suppression of pub
lie offences, and for this purpose,
may act with all the power of the
Sheriff"
By section 1899, sit is the duty
of all peace officers who know, or
have reason to suspect, any person
being armed, with the intention of
committing q riot or afiray, or of as
saulting, wOunding or killing an
other person, or of otherwise break
ing the peace, to arrest such person
forthwith, and take him before some
Justice of the Peace.
And by another section the Just
ice is required TO bind him in a
bond, with good security, TO keep
the peace or commit hlm 10 Jail,
/ The substance of which is, that all
/ Judges, Justices of the Peace, Sher-
/ ifs, COnstables Mayors, Aldermen,
Marshals, and police officers, of
cities and towns, are conseryators
of the peace, (the Sheriff being the
chief conservatory, and they are
bound 10 prevent any violations of
law, to preserve the peace, and 10
arrest offenders against the law
and il is their duty, If not able TO
do 50 without assistance, TO sum-
mon as many of the male inhabit-
ants of the county (withOut regard
to age or Occupation) as they think
proper.
Officers or citizens who fail or re-
| fuse to perform their respective du-
/ ties are guilty of misdemeanors. If
! the Sheriff cannot obtain force E.
nOugh in his county 10 meet the de-
mands of the law, it is the duty Of
I the Governor on the application of
/ the Sheriff, to send the necessary-
I 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 counties
They are responsible for riots and
/ Jail breaking, and public sentiment
should demand and require of them
| vigilance and fidelity in the eXecu-
tiOn 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, a public officer
fails Of doing his duty, let the Deo-
pie, whose servant he is, turn him
out of Office through the means
pointed out by law, and disgrace
him. If the people of the county
will not sustain or aid the officials
in the proper exercise of their au-
thOrity, let the officers apply to the
I Governor, and he viii, without de-
lay, send them force enough to exc
cute the law.
Let me say 10 the people OF Ten
nessce, come to the rescue of the
fair name YOU have heretofore so no.
bly, won for your State. You are
now heralded to the world as iail-
breakers and muTderers, rioters aud
law-breakeTs. With a few bloody
and horrible exceptions, You do not
deserve it. But those exceptions
are taken by the world as the rule
aud the effect upon your reputation,
il not cOunteracted, will prove as
disastrous as if the condemnation
were deserved. Let every commu-
nifty speak out in Just terms ofiudig-
nation against these outrages, and
create 4 spirit that will fortifv and
sustain your public officials in sup
pressing riots, and III preventing the
I commission OF crime. Declare that
every man, white and black, shall
receive an equal measure of protec-
tion from the laws strong arm, and
that every offender shall be brought
TO speedy punishment. Act prompt
ly and courageously upon such re-
solves, and your State viii once more
Uo au example Of peace and order.
Your homes VIII be secure from vio-
lenceS. Your wives and children can
rest IN security. There viii exist no
longer animositIes of races. Your
jails viii become, what they ought TO
be, houses Of custody and protec-
ton. The law viii be respected and
obeyed, and your State viii regain
what she has temporarily lost by the
acts OF q few wicked and reckless
men. i few meH IN every community
have the power to. control the eviI-do-
+ ers. and implOre yOu by the love for
Your Sta'e, and as you value life and
/ liberty, and the material prosperity
J of the country, lose no time in meet
ing the responsible duties you owe tc
. yourselves, your families and youl
country. This VIII save you from