The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-12-24
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE GOV
ERNoR.
HIS ARRANGEMENT OF THE
PLUNDEREaH CITIZENS.
His Exclamation OF Ghe ThfeVfma
Officials, an Appeal 10 Race
Prejudice.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE. !
JACKSON, Miss, Dec. IL 1874. /

tires:
GENTLEMEN 1t is with deep regre
and sorrow, but with an overpowerin.
sense of my official duty that have called
you together at this time; regret that tn,
high hopes entertained for the continuance,
Of peace and contentment among tn,
people seem about to be dispelled In ;
manner which must shake our society t,
its very foundations, ar0using preiudices
discord and distrust, to be followed
inevitably by heavy burdens and possibl,
the utter prostratlons of every interest O
the State sorrow that any number Of
our citizens could find it in their heart:
to deprive by violence their neighbor,
and fellow-citizens Of their political rights
with an owerpowering sense of official
duty because a portion Of our territory i:
under the control of insurgents, and
because | have not the power under
existing laws to suppress such insurrec-
ton.
To-day, in Warren county, the laws,
and authority Of the State are set at
defiance. Although there is not in that
county single militia officer,
/ they have organized companies and
regiments, differed by men who pretend
4 to act by authority Of the State, exercising
all the functions Of an independent
sovereignty, even so far as to search the
homes of citizens of different political
/ faith to take from them their arms,
\ incarcerate them in Jail, compelling legally
/ elected officials to resign their offices, and
above all, putting citizens TO death with
out even the formalities of law.
Officials and prominent men holding
/ political views different from the INCUR
gents, have been compelled to fee, and
even the Judges of the State Courts,
/ though one Of those Courts was in session.
were forced to escape under cover of night
that they might not fall sacrifice to the
mob.
1t is pretended that their acts of
/ bloodshed were necessity; that men were
/ fighting for their homes, their families
and their firesides. But how inadequate
/ the plea when we know that those who
went to the City of YicIsburg from
1 Warren county, rs many did, lett their
4 homes, their families, and their tresides,
absolutely unprotected, in the midst Of a
large population of the very class they
were engaged i'll shooting down. Had
they believed there was danger they would
not, they could ut have abandoned them
for had those they pretended to fear
the purposes to destroy, they could have
done SO without opposition.
BY armed men riding through the
county, this prosecuted class have been
maItreated and intimidated till perfect
reign of terror prevails Such has bean,
and is the condition Of affairs in Warren
county.
What is the real or pretended cause
therefore? \ recent Grand Jury indicted
one official, two ex officials CLERKS Of the
Courts and the Sherif's bonds are
claimed to be insufficient and invalid 1t
is also asserted that another oaGse Of action
was fear, real or imaginary, that the
petit jury, for the trial of these
indicted persons might be organized to
acquit.
These are proclaimed as the causes for
the attempted expulsion Of these officials
from office the interruption of the
State Courts, the violations of the laws
and defiance OF the authority Of the
State.
No single legal remedy has been ex-
hausted. The petit jury had not been or
gained. The Sheriff could have restrained
from continuing TO act as Sheriff and
Tax Collector until lie should comply
with the requirements Of the law with
regard TO his bonds by injunction, upon
application TO any one of the thirty-three
Chancellors and Circuit Judges Of the
State, or any one of the Supreme Court
Judges. And, upon proper showing to the
Chancellor, could have been required to
give new bonds either as Sheriff or Tax
Collector, or both. Y ct not the first sep
was taken to remedy any grievance by
such injunction, nor ny such application
to tie Chancellor.
We have been taught by the action Of
our fathers that people laboriDg under
grievances were IN duty bound To petition
for their removal, before revolution or
Instruction, with war and its atten laut
evils, could be .iustiiabe.
The causes Of complaint iii Warren
county, if any there be-, would, have 10
doubt, have received full and favorable
consideration by the Legislature; but we
are forced by the facts to the conclusion
that a legal or legislatives remedy has
not been desired The ation of the
insurgents bears a strong resemblance to
that which so frequently occurs in Next
can or South American States, where
legally constituted governments are
overthrown by restless spirits who may
assemble around them the means Of SO
doing.
Is Mississippi to sink to level of sucn
communities ? Are we to believe any
considerable portion of our citizens can
lend aid or countenance to such lawless
ness -? What is more likely than such
action TO destroy the peace, prosperity
and safety of every community within
our borders
Mississippi is peculiarly situated, with
problem to solve quite unlike any
presented to the wosld previous to those
recent years. Oar population comprises
two races, who by revolution have been
thrown on the same civil and political
level. We cannot ignore that issues have
been made which have placed them, it IS
to be deplOred, IN political antagonism.
With one race it has been a struggle for
personal liberty and personal security.
All else has been made subordinate
thereto, and men with high appreciation
of the magnitude and Importance of that
struggle have generously and zealously
labored therein. There can be no higher
political issue in our land than that which
is to give to the individual, freedom,
equality and security. That the masses of
the people of this State are prepared to
| give that TO both races, we fondlv
believe. To do so will destroy every
antagonism, which now exists, harmonic
all classes, obliterate all animosities, and
purify all future political contests of class
! or race distinctions What nohIer