Year: 1868

is devoutly to be hoped that the
community may be INDUCED in a.
much needed respite from the pas
sions and excitements to which it
has so long been subjected, and
that our people may be enabled to
turn their attention to the devel.
opment and improvement Of their
material resources, which have
been so sadly impaired and neg
lected. 1t gives me much pleas
ure to state that assurances have
been received, both previous and
subsequent to the. election, from
, many Of the most prominent men
of the State, heretofore in active
opposition to the Government, OF
their regret at the occurrence OF
these outrages, and their detesta-
tion for their authors, as we'll as
Of their determination to yield a
willing obedience to the Constitu-
tion and laws, relying upon the
peaceful exercise Of their rights
at the ballot box to remedy what
ever they may deem Objectionable
in them. This determination has
exerted, and cannot but continue
to exert, a favorable influence
upon the prosperity Of the State
tranquilizing it's people, stimula-
ting its industry, and giving char
acter and credit to it's enterprises.
Recognizing with pleasure these
evidences Of returning good feel
ing, and wishing to reciprocate
| every indication of an approach
to friendly relations, would reit-
crate the recommendations of my
last Message in favor Of liberal
policy on the part of the Legisla-
ture in reference to the removal of
political disabilities.


While upon the subject of our
past differences, I would take oc-
casion to express the hope that
national politics will occupy here
after a much less prominent posi-
ton in the affairs of the State and
in the minds Of the people than
heretofore. Political issues hav-
ing been determined for years to
come, at least, there is but little
propriety in keeping up political
agitation. And especially do |
regretseeret political organizations
detrimental to the community, If
not entirely out Of place in free
Government. With every facility
and advantage Of free discussion,
carried frequently to the very ex-
treme of license, the shrinking
from the light Of day to meet in
midnight convcnticles would seem
discreditable to a people proud Of
their intellectual energy. ;. An
armed organization, styling them
/ selves the ku- -Klux-Klan, uniform
ed and masked, by their secret
meetings and midnight atrocities
upon peaceable and unofendlng
citizens, and obstructing the laws,
have inaugurated reign ofterror
in many neighborhoods: Imita-
tlon of the secret societies of Eu-
rope during the Middle Ages, they
are without their excuse of, justi-
fcation. In those days their power
and their vengeance were directed
against the turbulent mobiles and
barons who defed the laws and
oppressed the people. Their OBJ
iect. was the attainment Of justice,
not the acquisition of political
power. Their victims were not
the law-abiding and lowly, but
the bold bad men who trampled
on right and outraged humanity.
Their symbols were the dagger
and the cord, fit emblems of their
terrible authority and their mode
of exercising it. But even in those
days Of rapine and murder, the re-
sponsibility of this dangerous
power was deemed so questionable
and hazardous as to lead to its
suppression.


In the present condition of our
J State the existence or formation


of secret political societies is great
; ly to bo deplored. They will be
objects of misgiving and distrust
and centres of irritation and ex'
element. Secrecy is but too fire.
onantlv the covert for crime. and