Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-30
OPELIKA, ALA.
The New Commissioners Appointed BY
the Legislature Compelled to Call
on Gov. O'Neal for
Aid in the Settlement of the Difficulties
There A Still Bad Condition
OF Affairs.

MONTGOMERY, December z7.-The Adeer-
tiser publishes the telegraphic correspond
ence between Gov. ONeal and DR.. a. \.
Lightfoot president OF the Opelika Commits
sion, and Mr. Albright, the sheriff OF Lee
county, and says: 1.-The difficulty and cub
sequent application for State trooPs origin
ated in the refusal OF the late Dunbar city
government to deliver up the properly be-
longing 10 the city on the demand OF the
commission created by the Legislature for
the temporary government OF that city. The
old city charter was vacated by the Leglsla-
lure On the application OF many citizens, and
a temporary government created IN The IN
terests of peace, law and order, until an cleo
ton could be held as provided In the act, IN
not less than forty days 1t was the duty, as
il was expected, of all citizens OF the town
who prefer the supremacy OF the law 10 the
uubridled rule Of the lawless, 10 sustain and
uphold the existing legal authorities in the
discharge of their duty in making the law
ful demand. 1t was the act OF the law
making power OF the State, and The men who
have undertaken to resist the authorities
have been guilty OF daring and most IA
grant breach of duty and violation of law,
and have 10 that extent rendered themselves
liable 10 the Just penalty for the laWless act.
They have not only resisted legally constl-
tuted authority of their own city, but dehed
the power OF the Stale. This state Of affairs
has existed long enough, and TO the disgrace
of the good name Of Opeliks and the State,
and the intense modification and regret OF
law-abiding citizens everywhere. 1t is evil
dent from the governors action in the prem
Uses that the law will be enforced, and the
stain which laWlessness has put upon the
fair name of the State effaced by the power
Of lite strong arm, if necessary. The sheriff
Of Lee county may have been dischargiug
m 1
was guilty of a gross and inexcusa.
bic dereliction in neglectiDg 10 respond
to the governors telegrame, until aft
err the third demand for an answer
made in positive and absolute terms! His
official duty, and respect for the highest ex-
ecutive OF the State, required an immediate
respsnsss:to the governors first inquiry, let
the situation be what it might. AS stated in
another place, Gov. O'Neal returned from
Mobile Sunday, in consequence OF complica-
tions at Opelika. The governor and the
attorney general will go TO Opelika to-day to
investigate matters, and to see what had
better be done in the premises. To add TO
The difficulties already existing, Messrs.
Renfro and McGehee, two of the commits
sioners appointed to the governmental con-
troll Of Opelika, have resigned, but the gov
ernor will probably appoint others to the va
cancies during his visit. II is more than
probable that the troubles in the afflicted
city have been greatly exaggerated, and
specials from various papers asking for
inform alton indicate that reports have
gotten abroad creating belief in bloody
war between the factions. The re-
ports in similar cases are always exaggerated,
and lhir, we hope, is no exception TO the
rule. There are certain constituted aurhori-
ties for the government of Opelika, estab;
lished by the Legislature, the supreme power
in the State, and those engaged in defying
these authorities deserve and receive the con-
demp ation of all good citizens. The COM
missioners appointed are entitled 10 respect
and obedience, and good citizens will stand
ready with their support, moral and physi-
cal, to sustain the commissioners in the dis
charge of their duties