As one of the targeted Big Six, the sheriff was in no position to turn down Morton’s request. But he refused to go out himself to restrain the white gunmen; he had no intention of offering himself as a target. Instead, French provided Morton with a handwritten order instructing him to “use all the force at your disposal to quell the existing violation of the peace in the city.” French did not specify who had violated the peace, but it was understood to be black men. The Naval Reserves now had authorization—from a white Republican—to secure the peace with every weapon at Morton’s disposal,
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