The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-13
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1902.
1HE GOVERNOR AND THE MOB.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE MOB.
The statement was made yesterday in
,hc local columns of The Times that the
construction placed upon the Consdtu-
tien as to the ordering out OF military
by The new Governor is in reversal Of the
r2rccodents established by his predeccs-
sors IN Office, they having held that they
could not act until a call was made upon
them by local authorities"
That is erroneous SO far as II relates
40 Governor O'Ferrails administration.
JIG always held that he had ample aE-
tllority rnGcr the Constitution, and that
st was his plain duty TO preserve the
peace and uphold the law; that when ne
had reason to believe that the law was
TO be- violated by a mob It was his boun-
den duty, under his oath. to cell out the
military whether or not, and to use ali
the powers OF government. If necessary.
to preserve order and upheld the majesty
of the law. Many OF our readers will re-
cali tn. fact that in the famous Pollard
case from Lunenburg the Governor sent
troops. notwithstanding the protest Of the
Lurenburg authorities.
1t will be recalled also that in the IA
,rcus Pocallontas riots the Governor sent
troops TO the scene upon the representa-
tions made by the sheriff, although the
sheriff did not make a request for troops.
The Governor afterwards visited the
scene in person and talked with the strik-
ers and took upon himself the entire re-
sponsihility Of sending troops, telling the
people that they must not blame the
Sheriff, but the Governor.
Such is our recollection. However at
fault our memory may he as to particu-
lars. we are quite clear that Governor
OFerrali held that it was the duty OF
the Governor TO call out the military
whenever he had reasons satisfactory to
himself for believing that the law was
nbout to be violated.
Some of the other Governors, however,
did hold different views, and it Will be
recalled that Governor Tyler withdrew
the military from Emporia upon the mo-
lion of the sheriff, although he had every
reason to believe that as soon as the
troops should leave the prisoners would
be lynched, which was the fact.
We recall these facts by way of making
n suggestion TO the Constitutional Con-
ventlon. Why should this provision of
the Constitution be so worded as to leave
the question in doubt as to what is the
duty and as to what is the power and
plerogative of the Governor in these
premises? The language ought TO be SO
clear that there can be no misunder-
standing no doubt as to what the Cover
nor should do in all such emergencies.
IT may be said that it, would be a dan
gerous thing for the Constitution ALSO
lutely to confer upon the Governor OF the
State full power TO call out the militia
for this locality and that at his own will,
as it is cardinal principle Of our gov
crnment that III time of peace the mill
tary should be subordinate to the civil
authorities. OF course, in times of peace
the military Should be subordinate to
The civil authorities; of course the Gov
crnor of the State should not be sending
troops around to this locality and that
upon every little provocaticn and against
The protest OF the local authorities. Yet
wc believe that the Governor should be
clothed with full powers. If SO. public
sentiment will control his acts. No Gov
crnor OF this fair State would abuse such
a power. We must leave something to
the Governors discretion.
The time comes every now and then
when the Governor must take matters
into his own hands regardless of the To-
cal authorities. Sometimes the local Of
icers are themselves over-awed by the
mob and are actually afraid to call for
troops. In such 4 crisis, when in full
knowledge Of the facts, clearly the Gov
ernor should have power to act, and
should act, and SO preserve the peace and
uphold the law in spite OF local demorali-
cation.
We commend this subject to the con-
rideratlon OF the Constitutional Conven-
tion.