The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-01-01
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
jackson, Jan. 4, 1876.


upon me, of giving you Information con
corning the condition and interests of tn
government and State, and the condition o
the people, call your attention to the lat
State election, and the events incident there
to, rs q subject whose magnitude and i'm
p6rtance demand the wisest and calmes
consideration.
On the fourth day of September last, q
political meeting at Clinton, Kinds county
Was ineorfered with and dispersed by vio-
lenoe, which resulted in the death of q num-
hef Of persons, and which was followed
Subsequently, BY the pursuit and shooting
u oeners, BY armed men riding through the
county. tmpelled, through fear of violence.
men abandoned their homes, and fed by
hundreds to this city for safety.
The - and following days of Septem-
Der food 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
illustration Of the violence and the success
Of lawlessness. another was to be found in
the fact that sherin's posse, which was sent
% Clinton from this point, was headed by a
nag of truce.
8 Xt this juncture, business was suspended,
nn6 disQuiet or terror existed in the minds
- ~ The authority of the county was par
n|VwA The sheriff reported his utter help
1rm1U 70 give the needed protection. IL
- became the duty of the State govern
and suppress the lawless bands, which, for
souD purpose other than the punishment of
criua, or the pursuit Of criminals, had es-
mb11naod SO lamentable 3 condition of af-
- spirit which precipitated the Clinton
oG1E1Eet by no means had its origin then
- t8ore. Previous to that day, the sher-
Ms ct two adjacent counties had been ex-
po1lsd By force, or, what is substantially the
-, alter encounterfhg much lawless vio-
L. N m q m
noq11 control, had made their escape beyond
- bDpders Of their counties, leaving them
v16houe the chief peace officer which the
law hnB made 90 indispensable.
Uor vas violence, or the fear Of 1t, con-
Had to two or three counties. Appeals for
pUotoction and aid came from all directions.
me State was without militia or con-
siAbulary force. Although previous polit-
tuas too goat for local or State authorities
TO cope with. the sentiment against militia,
or other arunOo force, was so powerful and
% general IS t62revent its successful or
eaSisation. Thishostile sentiment to main
6inIng peace ard afording protection by
lhEce. was chiefly due to dread of con-
Mt 81 races. While one part Of the people
Wose tlnlss discoun:enancinR the mtlitia in
the interest OF peace. another part was con-
verting the State into broad military en-
campment, which called forth a proclama-
Ton, bearing date of 9TH eeptsmber, 1875,
oomn anding, though Intellectually. their
&l6fandnent The evil day anticipated,
Vhao IL State should need force and be
Uconeut =, I'D arrived.
Ond1r onch q combination of circum- |
stances, which could exist only in a State |
where tie Inhabitants are of two distinct |
races, with strong race prejudices and an
tagonisme, was constrained to call upon |
the National Government for assistance to |
protect against domestic violence. This call |
was unsuccessful. 1t was followed by q |
succession of Unconstitutional by the armed |
part OF the people towards the unarmed, |
causing feeling OF Insecurity and danger,
which continued until and after the day Of |
the election.
A renewed effort to organize military |
force, developed the deep-seated bitterness |
Of the race issue, and the extent of the in
Sanitation which prevailed.
White appeals for aid and protection came
from all sides, and often from sheriffs, 1t
was held by them that such forces as might |
be organized under the State laws, could
not be serviceable On the contrary, the
precipitate the conflict it was sought to
avoid.
The seizure of State Arms on their way to
the Capitol; the liability of seizure in send
ing them away from the Capitol, and the
Of storing the few arms on hand |
It ehs United States camp, for safe keeping.
Wogo ndG11l0nal causes which embarrassed
I'D pFGnfed the organization Of the mill
- 01u1equentIy only few companies |
cepkion) but In one counry-this, the seat of
government. Many who took arms, did SO
20 obtain the means of self-defense; few |
were nccnstomed to their use, and instruc- |
ton and discipline were quite impractica-
BILE.
The fund for militia purposes, appropri-
ated by the late Legislature, was sixty |
thousand ($6O.O00) dollars, but with the
condition that fifty-five thousand (55,OO0) |
dollars should be used only i'm case the mil
ahA ko ipfn
An early injunction from the courts pre-.
vented the expenditure of any part OF the
IattaR sum.
The remaining five thousand (5,000) dol
lars were soon expended, and there were
no means to transport beyond the borders
of this county, the recruiting ground and
depot. the few undisciplined companies |
formed within it.
Preparations had been made to protect |
tbs sheriff of Yazoo county in his return to |
his county, he having previously been
driven away. Deeming the means mad |
equate, he declined to make the attempt.
He has not been allie to return to this day. |
Because of the attempt to organize and
use q militia to protect citizens in the excr- |
else of their rights and privileges, as be-
slowed upon them by the constitution and |
the laws, class of people rebelled against
1t. To avoi ! threatened deeds of resistance
and violence to State authority, as well as |
towards county officials and individuals, |
and the possible consequences, committee |
Of prominent citize ems, powerful in cOntroll- |
ing one of the political organizations of the |
State, gave their pledges that they would
edo al in their power to preserve peace and
good order, and SEIZURE a fair election" AS
to their power.s'to preserve peace and good
order, and secure a fair election" l did not
entertain doubt.
This novel and humlliating spectacle, in
the government of free people, was pre-
asnted regularly organized legal authority
unable to preserve peace and good order
and SECURE fair election the leaders of a
political Organization assume TO do it with
the acG tied.
of violence already alluded to,
aimilar ones Of greater or less
B various parts OF the State,
to intimidate many voters.
bf such intimidation may be