The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-18
4 STRONG LETTER,

The letter Of Attorney General PierTepor
to Ames, Governor Of Mississippi, respectin
the call by him for the help Of United State
troops in suppressing disturbances in tina
State will be received by the public with ap
prevail The man from Massachusetts, i
quietly requested to help himself before ap
pealing to the President. Like the wagone
in the fable, his executive vehicle is stuck il
the mud. He appeals to the Federal Her
cules, and is by him advised to first put hi.
own shoulder to the wheel, exhaust his re-
sources, convene his Legislature, if necessary
and, when all else fails, make that appeal
which is provided only as last resort.
The Attorney General writes with due re-
spect for the Office which Ames occupies by
pretended right, as well as for the better
classes of the inhabitants OF Mississippi OF
all colors and conditions. He is no doubt
cognizant of the tenders of service made by
white and colored citizens for the purpose of
keeping the peace. He had before the date
of his letter, September IA, probably been
informed of the comparative quietude pre-
vailing throughout the State. He had taken
pains to learn the disposition and temper of
the people, and found no insurrectionary
tendency or rebellious spirit. He knew that
any difficulty Ames might have in getting the
needed constabulary force was the result of
the doubtful tenure by which he holds his
position and of the natural dislike which the
people must always feel toward interlopers
We have already noted the contrast between
Pierrepont and his predecessor, the frivolous,
unlearned demagogue, Williams.
This letter displays that contrast in stronger
light, and shows the value of a statesman,
jurist and man Of true character in a post of
such importance. It is much to be lamented
that the head of the department of justice
had not from the beginning possessed sufi
Gent ability. reputation and strength Of will
70 move the President in the right course, and
70 throw upon his path the pure light Of con-
'titutional law.
No fault will be found with the severe |
erms applied by Pierrepont to the lawless
element which has its representatives as we'll |
n Mississippi as in other States. Peace-lov-
ng and law-abiding inhabitants dread and
lespise this small but mischievous class of
whom there are scarcely more than half a
lozen in any county. They are idle and dis
olute, but not without boldness and audacity.
dany of them are culprits deserving of i'm
risonment for years, or even capital punish
aent They rove from section to section, and
Din men of their own stripe in acts of depre-
alton, shielding one another from legal
rosecution. These drunken desperadoes are
the class from which highwaymen and rob-
ers get their recruits. They cannot conde-
,end to work for a living, and are ready for
aything which promises adventure or booty.
After the people of these Southern States
70 restored to home rule, the gangs of out
WIS must be pursued with unrelaxing vigor.
len must not be suffered to roam at will I
yer the country, setting the laws at defiance,
undering property and jeopardizipg the q
yes of quiet citizens. Once let the people q
,vern themselves and the restoration of or |
81 will soon follow. An odious government t
hot-bed of popular disorder, an atmos- 7
here in which villainy of all kinds grows
nkly. When the making and administration
laws are in the hands Of our own honest citi- +
MS. black and white desperadoes will soon
|, dnly cara1 for g