The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-01-05
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
jackson, Jan. i. 1876.

State election, and the events incident there
to, as subject whose magnitude and i'm
porCance demand the wisest and Calmest
consideration.
On the fourth day of September last. a
political meeting at Clinton, Kinds county
was interfered with and dispersed by vio-
lence, which resulted in the death of a num-
Der of persons, and which was followed
subsequently, by the pursuit and shooting
of others, by armed men riding through the
/ county. lmpeled, through fear of violence
men abandoned their homes, and fled by
hundreds to this city for safety.
| The fifth and following days of Septem-
! Der found this city crowded with panic
stricken fugitives, unconscious of offense,
! 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 IL
! lustration OF the violence and the success
of lawlessness, another was to be found in
| the fact that a sheriff S posse, which was sent
to Clinton from this point, was headed by a
! flag of truce.
AT this juncture, business was suspended.
and dlsqulet or terror existed in the minds
| of all. The authority of the county was par
/ alyZed. The sheriff reported his utter help
! lessness to give the needed protection. Ii
/ then became the duty of the State govern
ment 10 furnish him the means to overcome
and suppress the laWless bands, which, for
some purpose other than the punishment of
crime, or the pursuit of criminals, had es-
tablished so lamentable condition of af-
| fairs.
The spirit which precipitated the Clinton
| outrage, by no means had its origin then
| and there. Previous to that day, the Sher
ifs OF two adjacent counties had been eX-
PEELED by force, or, what is substantially the
same, alter encOuntering much lawless viO-
lence, which no power at their command
could control, had made their escape beyond
the borders of their counties, leaving them
without the chief peace officer which the
law has made so Indispensable.
Nor was violence, or the fear of it, con-
fl ned to two or three counties. Appeals for
protection and aid came from all directions.
The State was without militia or con-
stabulary force. Although previous pOlit-
ical disturbances had occurred, of a magni-
tude too great for local or State authorities
to cope with, the sentiment against militia,
or other armed force, WAS so powerful and
| so geneI al as to prevent its successful or
ganization. This hostile sentiment to main
tanning peace ard affording protection by
force, was chiefly due to a dread of L con-
tlict Of races. While one part of the people
were thus discOuntenancing the militia in
r the interest of peace. another part was con-
verting the State into a broad military en-
campment, which called forth a proclama-
ton, bearing date of 9TH September, 1875,
commanding, though Intellectually, their
disbandment. The evil day anticipated
when the State should need force and be
without it. had arrived.
Under such com binatiOn of circum-
stances, which could exist only in State
t where the Inhabitants are of two distinct
= races, with strong race preJudlceS ana an
tagOnisms, | was constrained to call upon
the National GOVernm ent for assistance &c
protect against domestic violence. This call
was unsuccessful, 1t was followed by a
succession of demonstrations by the armed
e part of the people towards the unarmed
+ causing a feeling of insecurity and danger
Il fIn al ni
the election.
u A renewed effort to organize military
= force, developed the deep-seated bitterness
= of he race issue, and the extent OF the in
timidation which prevailed.
While appeals for aid and protection came
G from all sides, and often from sheritfs, i
e was held by them that such forces as nigh
- | he ORGANIZED under the State laws, cOulC
! not be serviceable. On the contrary, thu
conviction prevailed that they would only
precpitate the conflict it was sought u
l. avoid.
: The seizure Of State Arms on their way t
the Capitol: the liability of seizure In SEND
l. ing them away from the Capitol, ana Tn
+. necessity of storing the few arms on name
It at the United States camp, for safe keeping
. were additional causes which emDarraSse
- and prevented the organization OF the mil
" itia. Consequently only few companle
d could be organized, and those (Wlth one eX
ir ceptiOn) but in one county-thls, the seat &
- government. Many who took arms, dld 5
- 70 obtain the means of selt-detenSe; icy
were accustomed to their use, and lnstruc
ton and discipline were quite impractical
bic. u
The fund for militia purposes, appropr
ated by the late Legislature, was slXt
thousand ($6O,OOO) dollars; DuG %l Va, n sH
condition that fitty-tive thousand (ooOOt
dollars should be used only in case the M
# itia should be called into active serVlc
- An early injunction from the courts pre-
- vented the expenditure of any part OF III
latter sum. - ooo> -
: lars were soon expended, and there wei
no means to transport beyond the Dofoe
ofthIs county, the recruiting ground al
depot, the few undisciplined compaLl
formed within it.
. tho sheriff of YaZoO county in his return
his county, he having previously Dee
driven away. Deeming the means lna'
ie | eouate, he declined to make the atteml
8 no hos not been allie to return to this ia.
VI pacouse of the attempt to organize al
'd' usp a MALTA to protect citizens IN the exc
if else of their rights and privileges, as o
Ii slowed upon them by the constitution al
the laws a class of people reDelled again
II To avoid threatened deeds or reSlstan
'eC and violence to State authority, as wen
towards county officials and Individual
in and the possible consequences, commute
of prominent citiz ems, powerful III couCro
mo one of the political organizations OF [
of State, gave their pledges that they W. weu
Ir. '.do all in their power to preserve peace
pr. GOOD order. and secure fair election:
q 70 their power ''to preserve peace and go'
ry' order, and secure fair election" ola 1
IT. entertain DOUBT .,
This novel and humiliating spectacle,
md the government OF tree people was p
unable to preserve peace and good ore
Is; and secure a fair election; the leaders OF
Wis. political organization assume TO DO IL W
The accredited. ,,,,sos
"a nanv similar ones of greater or
As magnitude, in various parts of the Sta
zoe hod the effect to intimidate many vote
do The extent of such intimidation may