American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-02
GcGRN0R'S MESSAGE


GENTLEMEN 1t is with deep re-
greet and SORROW, but with an over
pow ering sense OF my official duty
that | have called you together ut
this time; regret that the mgt
hopes entertained for the coniinu-
arce Of peace and contentmeht
AMONG the people seem about to be
diSpclied in Il manner which must
shake our society to its very ioun-
dations, arousing prejudices, dis
cord and distru,t, to be followed
inevitably by heavy burdens and
possibly the utter pros tration of
every interest Of the State; sor-
row nat any number OF our CHI
Zens could find it IN their hea. Is 10
deprive by violence their neighbors
and fellow ciuizeus of their poiitI
cal rights with an over powetlnS
sense of official duty because Il
portion Of our territory is under
the control of insurgents, aud be-
cause | have not the power under
existing laws to suppress such IN
surrection.
To-day, in Warren county, the
laws and authority of the State are
SC: at defiance. Although there is
not in that county Il single militia
Oiicef, they have organized COM
panies ard regiments, otficeced by
men who pretend 20 act by author
iiy OF the State, exercising all the
farctions of an independent sover-
eighty, even so far as TO search the
homes OF citizens of different polit
;ca. fa:ta 20 take from them their
arms incarcerate them ir Jail, com
peiing legally elected ofiici ais to
r ,sign their offices, and above all,
putting citizens to death without
even TIE fornaIlties of law.
Officials and prominent men
holding political views different
from the insurgents have been com
pelIed to fee, and even the Judges of
the State Courts, though one of
these Conrts was in session, were
forced to escape under cover of
night that they might not fail a
sacrifice TO the mob.
1t is pretended that their acts of
bloodshed were a necessity; that
men were fighting for their homes,
families and their firesides. But
how inadequate the plea when We
know that those who went to the
City of Vicksturg from Warren
county, as many did, left their
homes their families and their fire
sides, absolutely unprotected in the
midst ola large population of the
very class they were engaged i'll
shooting down. Had they believ
cd there was danger they would
not, they could not, have abandon
ed them for had those they pre-
tended to fear the purpose to des
troy, they could have done so
without opposition.
By armed men riding through
the county this prosecuted class
have been maltreated and intimi-
dated till Il perfect reign of terror
prevails. SUCH has been, and is
tie condition Of affairs in Warren
county.
What is the real or pretended
cause therefor A recent Grand
Jury indicted one county official,
two ex-otficials CLERKS of the
Courts and the Sheriff's bonds
are claimed to be insufficient and
invilid. 1t is also asserted that
another cause Of action was |. fear,
real or imigary, that the petit jury,
for the trial OF these indicted per-
sons might be organized to acquit.
These are proclaimed as the
cause for the attempted expulsion
Of these officiols from office the
interruption of the State Cou":s,
the violation of the laws and in de
lance of the authority of the State
No single legal remedy had been
exhausted. The petit jury, hau
not been organized. The Sheriff
could have been restrained from
to act as Sheriff and
Tax Collector until he should com
ply with the requirements of the
aw with regard to his bonds by
injunction upon application to amy
one OF the thirty-three Chanceilors
and Circuit J Judges of the State, or
any one Of the Supreme Court
Judges And, upon proper showing
20 the Chancellor, could have been
'equired to give new bonds, either
IL Sheriff or Tax Collector or both.
ct not the first step was taken to
'emedy any grievance 10y such in
hnction For by such application to
he Chancellor.
We have been taught by the &C
ion of OUR fathers that people
aborinS under grievances were in
luty bound 10 petition for their re-
noval, before revolution of insur-
ectiom, with war and its attendant
wills, could be justitiable.
the causes of complaint in War
en- county, if any there be, would
have no doubt, bave received full
nd favorbie consideration by the
/; but we are forced 1
y the facts to the conclusion tina. /
legal or Legislative remedy has
OF been desired. The action of
he insurgents bears strong re- ,
emblaBcc to that which SO frequea- |
" occasion Mexican or South t
merican States, where legally ]
onstituted governments are over {
brown by restless spirits who may !
ssembe around them the means 5
SO doing.
Is Mississippi to sink to 4 level v
such communities Are We 10 c
eiicve any considerable portion Of &