The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-02-18

face to see whether he is suspicious
character, or not.
Yes, Mr.. Speaker, there are Offices to
Ell, with large salaries connected with
them there are political enemies to
punish; and In order to do it, they must
be taxed so heavily that it will deprive
them of their substance. They must be
hunted down and driven from the land
Of their nativity, or adoption, and from
all that is dear to them, all that IS worth
living for.
The oath section of this bill provides
that no person shall be liable to arrest
on civil process, nor to service of sub
pena from civil courts, whilst actually
on duty. Whilst the 7th section provides
that the superiatending commissioner,
captain. sergeants and patrolmen, shall
be deemed to be always on duty. Can
the most ardent friend of this bill imag-
inc any state of affairs, that can exist IN
a time of profound peace Ia the county,
that could justify an exemption from
arrest under criminal process, or service
of subpoena from civil courts Who can
imagine the evils that might result
to the citizen who might need the
| testimony of some member of this Metro
politan Police force, in some civil suit IN
the courts Of the county. This exemp-
ton continues as long as the member of
the force is on duty, and he is on duty
all the time.
There is no limit TO the number of
men that may be employed on this force
except at the discretion of the Board of
| Commissioners, and it will not do to risk
too much power in the hands of good
men, to say nothing about the kind of
men that would probably be appointed on
this Board.
This bill also organizes kind of supreme
or special court in Mississippi, which | do
not think is,warranted by the constitution.
By reference to the 18th section, it will
be seen that the Board of Metropolitan
Police has power to issue subpenas,
compel the attendance of witnesses, adopt
rules and regulations, administer oaths,
take dispositions, declare what shall con-
stitute false swearing, and punish the
same in the manner now prescribed by
law for such offenses. Will any gentle
man tell me that there is any such power
as this conferred upon any other court
in all this broad land The power of all
the courts combined, is concentrated in
this proposed court for the purpose of
crushing out the bona tide people of one
county,
When any person is indicted by the
Grand Jury Of any county in this State
for perjury and tried by jury in the
Circuit Court and convicted, believe
such person has the right to appeal to
the Supreme Court of the State, for a
final hearing. But there is no such
right secured in this bill; but on the con-
trary, if convicted by this Board, they
are to be punished Sin the manner now
prescribed by law" What manner is
that ? Why, in the Penitentiary of the
State for a series of years. This Board
is authorized, under the section referred
to, to adopt their own rules and regula-
tiOn6. Would it not be an easy matter
for Board, constituted as this will be,
of partizans, who will look alone to the
interest of the appointing power, as would
/ enable them to put in the Penitentiary
sufficient number of white citizens of
Warren county to enable them to over
awe the remainder
The goth Section of this bill confers
upon the members of this Metropolitan
police force, call the common law and
statutory powers of coDstables, in every
part of the State" in the execution of
search warrants, or making arrests under
authority issued by magistrates; these
searches and arrests to be made by any
member of this police force. Has there
been any failure on the part of con-
stables, or sherlfs, in any portion of the
State, to make arrests when process was
placed in their hands, or to execute
search warrants, issued by magistrates
If so, why not resort to the legal rem
edies and legal means provided under
the law to compel inefficient officers to
perform their duty.
Mr.. Speaker, from what quarter does
this bill emanate? Doesit come from a
Democratic or Republican county?
answer, that it comes from so-cslled
Republican, and from a county that is
Overwhelmingly Radical. In what local
tiles do you hear of disturbances, and by
what political party brought about? /
answer in Republican localities, and
brought about or instigated by Republi-
cans. Do you hear of any disturbances
| in Democratic counties or Democratic
localities? / answer, you do not Do
you hear of Republicans IN Democratic
counties trying to whip out Democrats :?
| answer, that you do not, for the simple
reason that in Democratic counties, Re-
| publicans are treated kindly and Justly );
| therefore they have no grounds for en-
gaging in hostilities with Democrats [
know of my own knowledge, instances in
which Republicans were protected in
their rights of person and property by
Democrats in Democratic counties. And
l know further that when the matter was
brought to the knowledge of Republi-
can official, that that official wanted to
turn the affair to the benefit of the Re
publican party, at the expense of the
individual Republican and the law.
There is hardly section or clause in
this bill. but which is full of evil to the
people of Warren county, and it re-
quires the greatest effort to suppress the
feeling of Indignation that it arouses in
my breast to enable me to point out
some of the many wrongs that it con-
tains. If the House will indulge me
for a few minutes longer to point out the
enormous expense it will entail upon the
county of Warren, I will then yield the
floor. But before do that permit me to
say, that concur most fully with my
esteemed friend from Tippah, Capt.
Spight,) when heappeals to this House
and asks, that if this bill is to pass, to
make it an expense out of the State
Treasury, instead of the Treasury of the
county of Warren. If one portion of our
people are to be crushed out, let us make
common cause Of it and all go together.
| am proud to say, that I am no sup
plant; that l do not represent sup
plants on this floor, but a high toned,
spirited people, who are willing to share
the misfortunes of their friends when |