Year: 1871

/ clent to raise q howl among the dema
! gogues who live by misrepresenta.
| tiOns of Southern character and sOc1
! ETY.. The assertion that "the c0lOfed
population of Meridian and vicinity
had been long suffering from insult
and oppression, " is simply absurd and
wholly untrue. It is a notorious fact
that the people of this city have pur-
chased peace at the expense, almosti
| of self-respect. They have suffered


indignity and outrage for the sake OF
| law and order. They have patiently
listened to infiammatOTy and insulting
speeches by ignorant, incendiary me-
gr0es; quietly witnessed the pubic
professions Of the lawless few, gotten
up for the express purpose of exciting
and demOTaGziDg those of the cOlOred
population who were disposed to do
right. They have not intertered with
the negroes, whose CeaseleSs annoy
ance in the way OF firing, at night, has
for months past kept the women and
children in a cOnstOnt state of alarm.
In short, they have endured every
thing in the presence Of Sturgis, Bill
Clopton, Warren Tyler, Price and
others. The simple fact that these
men and their followers have for two
years dOmineered over this cOmmuni-
ty, attests our lOug-suffering and for
bearance. The Pilot continues: "Ihe
prompt action of the House of Repre-
sentatives in originating a resolution,
and passing il, cOndemning the occur
renee in deservedly caustic terms, is
certainly no less than the general pub
hnI e, no ola
calling for an immediate inve5tiga-
ton, with power on the part OF the
committee to send for men and pa
pers, is just what every good citizen
of the State, be he white or black, de-
mands at the hands of the Legisla-
ture."


We court the investigation. But,
while Radical papers and Radical pol
iticians are endeavOring to throw the
whole blame of the late unfortunate
occurrences on the white people and
the Democrats Of this city, we insist
that the investigation must be made
in the interests Of law and order, and
not for the purpose of making party
capital out of our misiOrtunes. The
people Of Meridian do not desire to
shield any offender, and only ask that
the committees may not be composed
of such ''fair and unprejudiced" men
as the Pilot speaks of. Let the guilty
be punished and the law-abiding citi-
Zens of this place be relieved from the
malignant and grOuudless aspersiOns
which will be heaped upon them by
the Radical press. A fair investiga-
ton will place the blame where 1t
properly belongs, and we do not fear
the result.


THE PEOPLE RESOLVE.


At meeting on Friday the people


+ Meridian adopted the following:


ReSOzCed, That the thanks of the
citizens of this city are hereby ten
dered to his EXcellency, the Governor
of this State, for his recognition Of
their request, and the efficient manner
in which he has interpOsed to restore
quiet in the minds Of the people Of
this community by the appointment
of faithful and competent officers.


ReSOiUed, That we appreciate his
appointment of municipal and county
officers and their ready confirmation,
for our city and county, as having
been made solely with view to the
pubIicg good.


BeS0IUed, That we recognize the
fact that all, irrespective Of color"
stand equally before the law in the
State of Mississippi; and we do here
by pledge ourselves to uphold and
sustain such appOintees in their legal
endeavOTs to enforce the laws and
protect all the citizens of the State in
Tho ufnv-r,anof rF fhnfr afnhf1


ReSOtUed, That we have heard with
profound satisfaction the intention Of
the Governor to retain his present
position as Governor of the State, be-
lieving that he can and viii render
more valuable service to the people Of
this State in that position for the pres
ent.


Reso7Ued, That having heard that
the legislature intend to appoint
special committee to inquire into the
causes of our recent troubles, it is the
sense of this meeting, that the judicial
officers of this district and county are
men of integrity, fully competent to
inquire into all OtiansRs committed
within their jurisdiction, and who
will visit merited justice upon all
offenders; that the laws are sufficient
to meet every aspect the matter may
assume, but if the Legislature in It's
wisdom should conclude otherwise,
that all we ask is to have the matter
thoroughly sitted by a public investi-
CATION, that all may hear the evidence
and know the causes of our recent
troubles, and place the blame where
it belongs.


Besolcsd, That the thanks of this
community are hereby rendered to
Senator Leachman, Representative
SnOWden and General Stafford, for the
assistance afforded to the committee
sent by US to confer with the Cover
nor, and in relation to the appoint
ment Of city and county officers.