MISSISSIPPI. 



523 



pliances of the university. Alcorn University 

 has been organized, and in part endowed, but 

 has as yet no local habitation. It is intended 

 painly for the instruction of colored youth, 

 and Hiram Eevels, late of the United States 

 Senate, has been chosen as its president. 



The State Penitentiary, on the 15th of De- 

 cember, contained 234 convicts. The buildings 

 are in a dilapidated condition, and need is felt 

 not only of new accommodations for prisoners, 

 but a change in the method of management. 

 The whole matter of penal and charitable in- 

 stitutions is in need of systematic and effective 

 organization. There are schools for the edu- 

 cation of the deaf and dumb, and of the blind, 

 at Jackson, the latter being in successful opera- 

 tion, and the former just established. ^ The 

 hospital at Vicksburg was made a State insti- 

 tution by the last Legislature, and during the 

 last nine months of the year, while it was 

 under State management, 1,723 patients had 

 been received for treatment, of whom 1,474 

 had been discharged as cured. 



The condition of society throughout the 

 State remains somewhat unsettled, and there 

 have been numerous local disorders, but, on 

 the whole, there are clear evidences of an im- 

 provement. The most serious disturbance of 

 the year occurred at Meridian, on the 6th of 

 March. Two days before, there had been a 

 meeting of negroes, who had been harassed 

 or threatened by some persons supposed to be 

 connected with the so-called Ku-klux order, 

 and during their demonstrations in the public 

 streets a fire was discovered in one of the 

 principal buildings of the town, which was 

 believed to have been kindled by some of their 

 number. Several upon whom suspicion fell 

 were arrested, and, during the inquiry into the 

 facts of the matter, an affray occurred in the 

 court-house, during which the presiding judge, 

 Mr. Bramlette, was shot through the head and 

 instantly killed, and several negroes were either 

 killed or seriously hurt. This event created 

 intense excitement, and there were fears of a 

 general riot between the whites and negroes. 

 A public meeting of the white citizens was 

 held, at which a determination to repress dis- 

 order and violence was expressed, and the 

 mayor was accused of failure to perform his 

 duty. That officer was subsequently forced to 

 leave the city. The Legislature was in session 

 at the time of the disturbance, and immediately 

 ordered an investigation, and the following 

 resolutions were offered, and referred to the 

 military committee of the House : 



Whereas, The Constitution of the United States 

 provides in Section 4, Article IV., that the United 

 States shall guarantee to each State a republican form 

 of government, and shall protect each ot them against 

 invasion and domestic violence ; and 



Whereas, There exists in the eastern portion of 

 this State an organized and concerted purpose, among 

 certain lawless men of Mississippi and Alabama, to 

 set the laws of this State at denance, and to molest 

 its citizens in the peaceable enjoyment of their prop- 

 erty and their lives ; and 



Whereas, These bands of evil-disposed men liave 

 repeatedly outraged and barbarously murdered both 

 white and colored citizens, who have been well- 

 behaved and law-abiding, and have committed no 

 offence against society or the State ; and 



Whereas. The officers of the law have been resisted 

 in the discharge of their official duties, and in several 

 instances forcibly taken from their homes and fami- 

 lies and subjected to brutal murder ; and 



Whereas, School-houses, churches, and private 

 dwellings, are being burned by these desperadoes in 

 thatportion of the State ; and 



Whereas, The civil authorities are unable to enforce 

 the law and protect the people in the enjoyment of 

 their lives, liberty, and property: therefore 



Be it resolved by the Mouse oj Representatives (the 

 Senate concurring), That his 'Excellency James L. 

 Alcorn, Governor of the State, be requested to call 

 on the President of the United States for a sufficient 

 number of Federal troops to enable him to have the 

 laws faithfully executed, and all our citizens duly 

 protected in their rights. 



Two reports were made from the committee, 

 the majority declaring that "the Governor 

 was amply able to meet the requirements ne- 

 cessary for the suppression of outrages and 

 disorders in this State," and that "it would 

 be a reflection upon the Governor for the Legis- 

 lature to request his Excellency to call upon 

 the President for aid." They also recom- 

 mended that the resolution be not adopted ; 

 while the minority favored its adoption, on the 

 ground that "the most stringent and prompt 

 measures are necessary to suppress the out- 

 rages, riots, and murders, complained of from 

 many points on the eastern boundary of our 

 State." The minority report was adopted, and 

 the resolution passed by a vote of 42 to 35. 

 Notwithstanding this fact, Governor Alcorn 

 telegraphed to the Mississippi delegation in 

 Congress as follows : 



EXECUTIVE OFFICE, ) 

 JACKSOK, Miss., March 17, 1871. ) 

 Hon. A. Ames, V. S. Senate, and George K Harris, 

 J. L. Morpliw, and L. W. Pierce, House of Repre- 

 sentatives, Washington, D. C. 



I am informed that dispatches have been forwarded 

 to Washington, derogating from the power of this 

 government to enforce the law. 1 desire to correct 

 that misrepresentation, and to state that it finds no 

 justification in fact. A riot occurred recently at 

 Meridian, but was promptly suppressed. The affair 

 is now undergoing legal investigation. Some minor 

 outrages have been committed on other points 

 of the Alabama border, in the night, by parties in 

 disguise. My only difficulty in these cases is to dis- 

 coverthe -wrong-doers, but, that overcome, as I con- 

 fidently hope it will be, this government is abun- 

 dantly powerful to make them fear the consequences 

 of their crimes. Save in these cases, Mississippi 

 presents an unbroken evidence of civil obedience and 

 order. J. A. ALCORN, Governor. 



The opposition of the Governor to the use 

 of Federal troops led to the defeat of the above- 

 mentioned resolution in the Senate. 



The Governor did, however, ask for addi- 

 tional powers from the Legislature to enable 

 him to enforce the laws, and two important 

 bills were passed for this purpose. One of 

 these authorized the organization of a regi- 

 ment of picked men, and the other gave tho 

 Governor power to change the place of trial, 



