American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-08
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
STAT or MISSISSIPPI,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
jackson, January !, l-16.

EAEtl TIVE 'FFlCE, ,
jackson. January !, l-16.
To Ee Senate and House Of Repre-
sdatdtireS:
' In the discharge of a duty incum-
bent upon me, OF giving you infor,
nation concerning the condition
and interests ct the government
and Statr, and tie condition of the
people, | call your attention to the
late State eieciinn aud the Incidents
thereto, as Il subject whose magni-
tude aud Importance demand the
wisest and calmest consideration.
On the fourth day of September
last, political meeting at Clinton,
Kinds county, was iuterfered. with
and Dispersed by violence, which
resulted in the death of. a number
of.rersons, and which vas followed,
subsequently, by. the pursuit and
shooting of otlrrrs by armed men
riding HreUch:the county. Impell-
ed by fear of violence, men left
their ZONES, and fled by hundreds
to this city for safety.
The fifth aud following days of
September found this city crowded
with panic-stricken fugitives, I'M
conscious of Gffense, imploring such
assistance as would enable them to
return to their homes and shield
them in the peaceful pursuit of
their labors.
| While city full Of refugees was
one ilIustratpn III the violence and
ihe SUCCESS OF lawlessnesS, another
was To be found in the Fact that a
sherisf7s posse. which was sent to
Clinton fron~ this point, Was headed
by Il ,g of truce. At tins .uncture,
business was suspended. and chs
quiet or terror existed in the minds
of al. The aut hority of the comfy
WAS paralyzed. The sheriff report
ed his inter helplessness to give
he needed protection. 1t then be-
came the duty of the State Govern
nfent to furnish him the means to
overcome and suppress the la wless
bands which, for some purpose 9th
er than the punishment of crime or
the pursuit of criminals, had estab-
lished 80 lamentable q condiii ion of
affairs.
The spirit which precipitated the
Clinton outrage by no means had
its origin then and there. Previous
to that day, the sheriffs of two adj
jacent counties had been expelled
by force, OF, what is Substantially
the same, after encOuntering much
lawlcss violence, which no power
at their command could contfol,
had made their escape beyond the
borders of their count'eS-leaving
them without the clrief peace officer,
which, the law has made SO indis-
pensab'e. Nor was violence, or the
fear of it, confined to two ur three
counties. Appeals tor protection
and aid came from all directions.
The State was without a militia or
constabulary force. Although pre-
yious political dist urbances had oc-
Cured, of Il magnitude t,O great
for tn local or State author les to
cope with, the sentiment against a
militia, or Other armed force, WAS SO
powerful and so general rs to pre-
vent its successful organization.
This hostile sentiment to maintain
peace and affor,ling protection by
force, WAS chiefly due to dread of
:, conflict Of races. While one part
of the people were thus discounten,
ancing the militia, in the interest of
I,eace, another part was converting
he State into u broad military ell
campment, which called forth pro.
clauatiOn, bearing date of the 7tb
c. p,,tinar rvl,
Intellectually, their disbandment.
The evil day anticipated, when the
State should need force and be with
out it, had arrived.
Under such combination of cir
cumstances-whicll could exist only
IN a State where the inhabitants are
FOf two distinct races, with strong
race prejudices and antagOnisms-I
was constrained to call upon the
National Government to protect
against domestic violence. This
call was unsuccessful. 1t was fol-
lowed by a succession Of demonstra-
tions by the armed part Of the peo-
pie towards the unarmed, causing
feeling of insecurity aud danger,
Which continued until after the day
uf the election.
A renewed effort to organize
military force developed the deep
seated bitterness of the race issue,
and the extent of the intimidation
which prevailed. While appeals
tor aid and protection came from all
sides, and often from sheriffs, it was
held by them that such forces AS
might be organized under the State
laws could not he serviceable. On
the contrary, the conviction prevail
ed that they would only precipi-
tate the conflict it was sought to
avoid.
The seizure of State arms on the ir
way to the capitol; tile liability of
seizaro in sending them away from
the capitol; and the necessity for
storing the few arms on hand at
the United States camp, for safe
keeping, were additional causes
which embarrassed and prevented
the organization of the militia.
Consequently, bnt few companies
could be organized, and those with
one exception) but in one county
this, the seat of Government. Many
who took arms did so to obtain the
means of self defense few were &C
customed to their use, and instruc-
/ 81. I,.,..,.I,,.n .ro nrrifa i,n