The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-05-28
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY CITIZENS
MASS MEETING SATURDAY.

The following are the resolu-
tions in full adopted by the Citi-
zens' Mass Meeting Saturday, the
proceedings of which were report
ed in Wednesdays Leader.
Whereas, In a government of
the people, for the people and by
the people, such as ouls, every
citizen is guaranteed certain ina
lienable rights, among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness; and
Whereas, Certain lawless peo-
pie have taken upon themselves
the task of regulating parts Of
this county according to their
own ideas; and
Whereas, The conduct of these
people is highly reprehensible,
and evinces reckless disregard of
the laws of this State and of the
United States, and has spread ter
ror and CONSERVATION among the
law-abiding negroes, and uneasi-
ness and apprehension among the
law-abiding whites: and
Whereas, Such conduct is un-
called for, unreasonable, uniusti-
fable, and in violation of the laws
of the land, calculated to bring
upon the people of the county the
condemnation and contempt of
other sections of the country, re-
tard the growth and development
of this part of the State, and de-
crease the value of property,
threaten its destruction and entail
untold loss and damage upon the
whole country; and
Whereas, The example of such
lawless men is calculated to lay
down the gaps for all criminals,
and threatens to bring about a car
nival of crime in which not only
property will be endangered, but
human life imperiled; and
Whereas, Such lawlessness
should be stamped out by resort
to the criminal courts, and the
violators of the law brought to
just punishment; and
Whereas, 1t is the duty of all
law-abiding citizens who have the
welfare and interest of the coun-
try at heart, to assist the consti-
tuted authorities of the county
and State In the enforcement of
the laws; and
Whereas, 1t is the sense of this
meeting, that while the perpetra-
tors of these outrages should be
punished, the leaders, who have
led astray the young, should be
held responsible for the crimes
committed by the unthinking
of their bands, and le-
ceive the severest penalty; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, by the law abiding
white people of Lincoln county,
in mass meeting assembled, That
we condemn the conduct of the
riders, and discounte4
nance the depreciation of the
/" whitecappers,, regulators, 2
or 'bulldozers," by whatever
name known, and hereby pledge
ourselves to assist the officers of
the law in this county in every
way in ferreting out
and bringing to justice all Of said
lawless parties, that peace and Sc
curity to person and property
may be restored.
Be it further resolved, That
we offer all the protection in our
power to all law abiding citizens
Of the county, irrespective of race,
SO long as they conduct them
selves as good, orderly citizens,
to the end that they may be Sc
cure in their persons and proper
ty, and be dealt with in justice
and fairness. We advise all or
derly citizens of the county, who
have been servel with notices, to
remain where they are and trust
to the lawful authorities for pro-
lection.
Be it further resolved, That we
condemn in the strongest terms
the effort on the part of labor
local and foreign, to de-
coy laborers from their homes.
Many, we believe, took advantage
of the situation and wilfully ag-
grayated it by posting unlawful
notices and spreading false, SEN
sational rumors in order to cause
an exodus Of negroes from this
section. All persons knowing of
the operation of these labor
agents, and of theil interference
with labor contracts, are request
ed to report such cases to the
sheriff, that they also may be
dealt with as the law prescribes.
Be it further resolved, That all
good citizens of the county are
urged to investigate all violations
of the law in their respective
neighborhoods, and procure such
evidence as may be in their power
to bring to justice all violators of
che law, both white and black,
and endeayor to purge this coun-
ty Of criminals of every class and
color, and report same promptly
to the constituted authorities.
Attention is specially called to
the notorious fact of open blind
tiger violations existing in the
form of saloon or hop joint al
most within the corporate limits
of Brookhapen.
Be it further resolved, That
we endorse fine action of fho # ,o0.