to call out the Militia to prevent a civil war. And such is the excitement of the country that I fear that the Militia when assembled would be beyond legal control You are wrong in the first instance and I can call out no portion of the Militia <for your defence> until you submit to the law. You have made it necessary that a Posse should be assembled to execute legal process; and that posse as fast as it assembles in is in danger of being imbued with the Mobocratic Spirit. If you by refusing to submit, shall make it necessary to call out the militia I have great fears that your will be destroyed and your people many of them exterminated
You know the excitement of the public mind. Do not tempt it too far A very little matter may do a very great injury, and if you are disposed to continue the causes of excitement, and render a force necessary to coerce Submission I would say that your <> was built, as it were, upon kegs of pow[d]er which a very little Spark may explode.
It is my intention to do all I can to preserve the peace, and even if obliged to Call the Militia, to prosecute the war so as not to involve the innocent, and Comprehend all in the Same punishment. But Excitement is a matter which grows very fast upon men when assembled The affair I much fear may assume a revolutionary character and the men may disregard the authority of their officers
I tell you plainly that if no such submission is made as I have indicated I will be obliged to call out the militia, and if a few thousands will not be sufficient many thousands will be [p. [6]]