Mississippi Democrat. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1875-1???, 1875-09-29
LstfsS fvosa uoa. George H..
Esoffer.
ruE EIaur 90 CITIzENs To BEAR ARMS
AND r. ORGANIZE THEMSELVES IN
To MILITARY COMPANIES.

DEAR SR-Ncry recently, some OF
our citizens have responded To sud
den calls Tor aid, aud have hurried.
with their arms IN hand, 20 the de-
icnsc ~ endangered con nuuiucs,
such a. Clinton aud Yazoo City.
some Of these citizens may have
Prevlousl \ adopted some sort Of mill
tary organization. Since then. the
Governor Of the Stat las issucd bis
proclamation reciting that "pcrsons
have formed them~c vos into military
organizations "a various parts of the
State, withow aaacfioh y lac, and he
commands 'all persons belonging 10
such organizations to disband forth
with"
slf ] understand the Governor. he
denies the right OF citizens, Of their
own motion, to arm OF organize for
any purpose whatever. lie thus
raises a question, the proper decision
of which ! most important to the
liberties Of a free people.
The Governor scems 10 ignore the
fact that the People, by inherent
right, constitute the militia of the
state, aud as such havea right 10 or.
gauizc and bear arms. This great
rights recognized, not granted. IN
the Constitution of the Unit, ca ].
Artic'e two, Of the Az 80. .nents.
reads thus:
a well regulated militia being
necessary To the security OF free
State, tho right Of the people 10 keep
and bear arms shall',ct be inl.inged.' .
IL rcoognize- the fact that "THK
PE"PLE' constitute the "militia" of
= if-cs s.ase,' and forblds any in
irihgsment of thoir right n Keep
f1.ssl ae@--sss.s~zs, a.-.@-l-sa~-.as.-a.s - 80.
Gems act a. "a mililia" at an, unless
they aro permitted 20 cooperate.
and how can they DO this without
organ zation' ia some iormi
II isplain, from the nature ~ the
case, that the government ,anua. Ly
a. own prohibition, ia any degree
inffin. this great inherent right of
free people o. keep rnl hear arm
and to organize d, militia 8" 4 .
State, and IA proper cas, .3t ss
such.
THIS Amendment recognizes not
only the individual right ot self dc
frn-'. nj also the right aud duty Il
citizens 10 protect thc c1mntnnity.
IL declares this Natural Militia cnti-
tied of inherent right 20 keep aud
bear arms" 10 be necessary to the
security OF free State
This principle has been recog-
nizod and applied in perhaps IN ev-
. y State - the Unlon. Cur Amcri
an Sat, planted "a woods
- t.s, hited BY mrauding
sat aud rncvcI ... cry oi
~ distress wa- l,4rd, our
he aaa' mon ra.lsl 20 the
rescue. In such, ano lac like cases.
cur p,oplo have ncN thought Il
necessary 70 ak ue mission Ia ally
I ~ her fo~ otS-tion u u .
selves - their fellow citiz,ns. =,
course, this right 10 pro ,nc con-
munity shoulf y be ,xcrci- on
lawful occasions Jr' the u Il Of
citizens to arm and &c irgao
rs ia the case of onlal erod Clinton,
their duty 10 hasten I, the defense
Of an impenled comm, nifty, should
never be questioned by IN American
Exeeutive.
Mr.. Chief Justice Sto I, comment.
Ing on the provision we quoted,
says:
"Tke Importance &C ,is article
will scar, ) be doubted b any per,
7ons who have duly rcaeol 4 on the
subject. Tie militia Is D. natural
defense Of u fire. countr' against
sudden forei,a inVas.ons, domestic
insurrccucas, and domestic usarpa
tons of powers BY rulers.
The u ~ VI the citizens TO keev
- arms has Justly Lsea con
sidsrcd - the 4 llsdium Of the lib
.l(.hy repuhls shoe Il offei
i~aH -el chr Z against the usur