St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-11-03

guard against its abuse. This is tn,
doctrine laid down by Chief-Justict
fancy in Luther agt. Borden Their,
Is, therefore. no specific, infallible test
by which it may he known when the
proper moment or occasion has arrived
Those who assert that such an occa-
SION does not now exist in South Caro-
lima declare that the civil officers have
not been resisted in the execution ot
the laws. But domestic violence may
arise and utterly paralyz the arm OF
civil authority without actual phv vsical
resistance to any officer of the law. In
surlectlon may exist i'll complete pro-
portions before a blow has been struck
against any civil officer. To send Il
constable or sheriff to arrest Il thousand
armed and mounted men. assembled in
violation of law and engaged in riotou,
acts and murders, is not necessary t,
establish the fact of the existence oi
domestic violence or insurrectiOn. To
nd cOlOred constable or Il treacher-
0ns white sheriff with il cololed posse
to arrest or dISperSe a Thousand armed
mounted, disciplined white men, or
ganized III military companies and act
ing under the command of military Off
GERS, il the midst of Il violent political
campaign in this state would he an act
of criminal folly. | now proceed tc
present ID statement of the facts upon
which the present call upon the presi-
dent fOI aid III supprcSsing domestic
violence III this state has been made,
| shall make no statement which doe.
not rest on official information now in
my possession.
MILITARY STRENGTH OF THE RIFLE
CLUBS.
First As to the rifle clubs. Thes,
clubs are organizations having every
distinctive feature of military compa
nicS. They exist. unless diShanded sine,
my proclamation ot the 9TH inst. oi
which | have no evidence. in every
county i'll the state. have the cvi-
dcncc of the existence of 2I3 rifle clubs
with the names of some OF all of thcir
officers. These clubs have an average
membership of 90 men. The evidence
shows that the members of this force ot
nearly l}.WO men are armed with not
less than 5000 improved breech-loadiun
rifles. My estimate of the whole mum
Der of men enrolled in the rifle clubs
and armed with effective weapons i,
not less than 10000 or 900. while tn,
estimates of my informantS VaIN from
10000 to 100000, besides company off
ccIS. The evidence shows that thrs,
clubs are organized into regiments.
have before me at this moment an
authentic printed copy of the general
orders issued 10y the colonel of ON, of
these regiments, countcISIgncd bN tn,
adiutamt in which instructions are >pe-
officially given to the lieutenant colonel.
major. and commanding officers of com
panicS. The evidence points also t.
the existence of general officers having
control of other formations composed
of regiments and hligadcS. There j.
much evidence from independent sources
showing that fully 10000 improved
breech-l"ading rifles have been pun
chased hN rifle clubs in this state with
III the last four months.
These organizations are not only out
side the law, but they are strictly pro
hihitcd 10y the laws of the state The
evidence is overwhelming that thcS,
clubs were formed and have been con
StantlN used ;Is the chief basis of organ
i"'''''i w NV ''"i"'Id'l' party I'ui
lhS lhr month OF August attended rc-
puhlcih meetings. among "thcI>. II
thr counties "i fdSereld. New Wbrlrl
AhntNllIe, Barn"rlI, and Lancaster. at
ta'h "i which these clubs we've present
IN numbers varying from 100 to 1000
They were heavily armed with pistols
and were commanded 10y persons bear
ing the titles of military officers. They
'''"t, az, ''''' anu n'">'i'" 'N "i"lll:tlA
''l''''iH t'''l''''Ic>. h'N aIlthdtd
lh'>e meetings Us drih"'iat>' took con
'I". vi ''''"' III some instances ana III
All instances thl"l'tu thclr demand Ion
participation III icpuhllran meetings 10y
men Pl'S'h'e 'H aiil'"' organize"
'"%''I. -.
l" 'i'''' >'N'i'' l"''ii'ieS '"eSc cll''
nave "l'i"'e'' openly ana "S'cnNlhi\ a'
'''','"' ''," l''i%h "I gan IONS. Ill
i'"' " '''' ~ ''' >'''' ''''H nave il"'r'
u! way '"', ~ n'Sh' 'tS Il 'i'''il't I" 'h'
'i,' VI '',' 'I'l"'''" party. 'Sif
,,'ilH us ,"'"''u "'''''''''S' "'itrih-
w.. ~ ~ ''' "''',S ''i'''
.,,,a.,J ,i,J,.,,,.., ,,I,;'I, W WV
>I'ei" ~" NV my n '''"Si"'''" NY
t'', , ''''ii'''''' n ''"' an "l''" '',' P''S'
''on'' 'n',r ,i, ,'''.>' "i 'ii"St nos WI" were
.'',''"i ','t N,'.'"' eN''">'\
VI .',' ii',i''s '''' i'''"'".l n''S>'''''>
1i"' 80, ','" hL ''',;.'S vi '''t !tP""
tiH ,i..u pay I"' Mn'Pir" anu GU, rage
| ,"'tI,,' ,L .'"'i ''',1 L','''l i'l,aill threat
'"," , ,""''s ''I'I ItN ia" 'o' 'lie NOS
TO-; H., 'i ''" P''''i~n''''"' ~ ny .e'N'''' :"
hotL i'm tb.i, ,i,.tin, .,,,,I i, ,.t,;,.,.,
of the law. CONSTITUTING ar r,nres,nt.
ING, as they did. almost the cutir. bod,
of white men in their localities. no If.
ticient way of enforcing the law wa,
left a constable or sheriff with IA col,
ored posse would have been massacred