The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-10
The Charge to the Grand Jury in
the Clayton Murder Case.
Judge Cunningham Makes For Him.
self National Reputation.
An Eloquent, Brave and Powerful
Plea For Retributive Justice.
Although a Strong Democrat, He De-
nounces the Political Methods of Con-
way County Politicians, and Uses
the Latter Unsparingly.


John NJ. Clayton and the Plummerville
ballot-box thieves are not indicted and
convicted il will be not the fault of Judge
George S. Cunningham orS.ate's Attorney
Curter.
In his charge TO the Grand Jury Judge
Cunningham said he came to plead for law
and order, and asked what it was that pro-
tected their wives, their children and their
homes in their absence on business or
pleasure; what was IL that protected their
lives from murderers, their property from
theft and their homes from arson-and re-
minded them that IL was the law.
He told them, the people who lived in the
towns could easily summon aid when
needed, by beck or call, but that those
who lived in the country had no Sheriff,
no Marshal, no Constable, no near neigh-
bors convenient TO aid them in trouble,
but that their sole reliance was on the law.
Law is rule OF conduct, not for the poor,
the weak or the humble alone, but ii is
also rule OF conduct for the rich, the
strong, and the powerful; that 1t is uni
yersa in its application and should be en-
forced against all alike. An accessory is
one who stands by and aids or abets tho
commission OF an olIense. or, not being
present, aiding or abetting the CON-
mission OF an oGcnse, has Endorsed
or encouraged It, and is Just
as guilty in morals rs he is in law as the
principal offender, and, as general rule,
is punished the same. Bear In mind this
law and you will have plenty OF work to
do in this country. You will have 10 in
vestigate the Clayton assassination, and
who ever aided and allotted by word or
deed in that cowardly butchery, should be
dragged by the throat to Justice. They
should not be exempt from punishment
on account OF any standing or influence
they may have in the community. do
not know who they are. wish to heaven
that did, would tell you. But mind
you, political assassinaiions do not originate
in the minds Of men in the humblest
walks Of life. Men who earn their living
by the sweat Of their brows, whose lives
are poems Of honor or industry, do not
find II in their minds and hearts TO con-
ceiye assassination; but II Is conceived and
planned by more influential. fne-haired
gentlemen who. pretend TO be respectable.
While the cowardly villain who fired the
gun that killed Clayton should be caught
and hung the man object OF our search
should be the dastardy conspiratOrs who
instigated il. Some men seemingly want
TO apologize for or extenuate the horror OF
this murder on the ground Of politics.
They remind me Of the doctor who was
dead shot on fits, and every patient he had
he tried TO throw him into fits. They
want to throw Il into politics / tell you
there ~ no Democracy or Republicanism
in murder; and want TO appeal 10 you as
- g.. a.
criminal Is Democrat or Republican; and
II the Democracy does this IL will rule the
country and-rule II forever.
This great Governmental ours Is sending
a fleet and about to engage in war with
one OF the most powerful nations OF Eu-
rope because the rights Of American citi-
ship have been ignored and violated in
the rocky island Of samoa, many miles
out in the South Pacific. II is said our
flag fails TO protect our citizens there whom
IL purports and ought to protect Now,
would be willing 10 sink every dollars
worth OF property In this country 10 show
that that hag il not an unnecessary SYM
Dol or hollow sham, but TO convince the
world that in truth Il does protect Ameri-
can citizenship everywhere. They are
entitled 10 It's protection. What would
you think Of a man who would be found
running around and inquring about q
mans politics who had been outraged in
Samoa; whether he was a Democrat or Re-
publican2 A black man or white man?
The question would not be-, ''ls he a DEM
ocrat or Republican? A white man or a
black mani" but, "ls he an American cit
izcn2" And the same jealous care ought
TO be exeried by the courts TO protect them
abroad.
For the love Of Justice, don't go out and
indict some poor fellow for not working
the roads, when, perhaps, his family need
his services, or some poor, ragged noun
iaincer for killing deer on Sunday 10 sat.
isfy his hunger, and then march into court
with measured tread aud pharisaical look,
and say you find nothing against these
other men. Don't fool away your time
after minnows when there are whales in
sight. II you must make a discrimination,
get after those prominent men and let
others 20.
There IA no man with three ideas above
an oyster who does not know that murder
and assassination are the results, and will
continue 10 be the results Of the political
methods that have been employed in this
county TO carry out tho last election, and
the mcanest man In the country is tho
proicssed politician who advocates or In.
dorses such methods. You must stop this
ballot-box stealing. farce and fraud,
or the title 10 your property will
not be worth the paper Il Is
written on. What does the law say7 Tho
organic law and lifo Of this great nation
says these colorod people have right 10
vote, and, II they have no right 10 vote,
where did you get your right3 II they
have no right 10 be Republicans, how did
you got your rights 20 be Democrats? |
would urge on you as Democrats that the
rights OF citizenship must DO protected;
and at every little precinct la this country
there should be FREQ ballot and n fair
count.
Politicians try 10 scare you with the
myth aud bugaboo OF negro domination.
Where have they dominated2 No, sins,
Il Il merely an excuse for committing out
RACES on their rights, which no sensible
man should consider.
Democracy means that the people shall
rule, and wo arc told that Il Is undcmo-
cratic TO donounce bulldozcry, ballot steal
ing and assassination. II this be true,
then am no Democrat. II apology for
bulldozcry, ballot-box stealing and assas-
sination constitute Democracy, then may
the angels and ministers Of God protect
me from such Democracy.
Now, gentlemen, don't say that the
people OF Conway County are responsible
Tor these crimes, as a people, but / do say
the consequences are Just the same. Tho
world will hold you responsible. All the
people OF England are not responsible for
the misireatment of Ireland, nor are tho
DeOple of Ruagia for fla f,,,......,,..,, "a D.