The States: The Edge of Violence

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The Lull. The following morning, Governor Barnett was scheduled to appear before the Court of Appeals in New Orleans to answer to charges of contempt. As was expected, he stayed in Mississippi. The court tried him in absentia, found him guilty, gave him four days to "purge himself" of the contempt, and set a stern penalty if he failed to comply: $10,000-a-day fine, and confinement in the custody of the U.S. Attorney General.

There the conflict rested, in a brief and precarious lull. President Kennedy decided to go on TV with a speech reporting to the nation on the Mississippi crisis. Then he ordered 1,500 U.S. Army troops to stand by in Memphis, and put the Mississippi National Guard into federal service—for use if needed. A threat of serious violence still lurked ahead, but Barnett had reason to try to avoid it. He had already made himself a hero to his fellow Mississippians, and except for the fanatics, they could hardly expect or want him to carry on any further in a struggle that he and Mississippi were bound to lose. In terms of practical politics, Barnett could quit well ahead. From across the Tennessee border, the Memphis Commercial Appeal offered him some advice: "Mississippi's government has been independent and forthright in a regrettable situation. But is it worth it if it puts a headstone over you?"

Whatever Barnett did, federal power was sure to prevail sooner or later. Attorney General Kennedy said flatly at week's end that Meredith was "going to be enrolled at the University of Mississippi." That was undoubtedly true. It was far less certain that, after he is enrolled, his stay at the university will be at all enjoyable, or that he will soon be followed there by any other Negro.