The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-28

4
The election Of Hon. VIM. I. sharkey %
the United States Senate is not more sig
nifcant indication of the character of the
Mississippi Legislature THAI its action in
the selection Of a State Prin ter The Jack
son News was elected the Official mouth
piece Of the late Ststs Convention. In an
/ electioneering address 10 the members cf
the Legislators, its editor. Mr.. Edward N
Yerger, alluding 10 this fact, said;
"We attribute our election, in a great de-
| gree, 10 the policy We advocated, Of qualify
ing the ordinance Of Abolition, that it might
ever be recorded as the act Of Central Gov
ernment, and not the deliberate act Of the
people Of Mississippi.
f'The beneficial results Of that qualifea-
ton art already seen, for the ordinance de-
olaring that "sIaUery having been destroyed
in the State Of Mississippi" clearly placed
the freedman on the same footing and
under the same laws thst regulated the
status Of the free negro. IN this position he
ought 10 remain, unless il is clearly appa-
rent the "pU5iic toCifGrg' land not the
Northern radical) demands Otherwise. This,
thc SOlnti0n or tie oriinEauC, Is accepted By
the President and the CABINET.
"Therc IS no inPeratiUc o. crcg sRggestiUC
demand from the Gelercl Government IN this
matter, and hence must vanish into moth
ingness the timid argument that we must
make further sacrifices in order to obtain
Congressional representation.
4" We are WHeoHpromisiHg,y opposed 70 al
rritting negroes as CLASS 20 equality l0ih tie
gkite man IN our judicial tribunals If the
privilege is ever granted il will, in our judg-
ment, lead 10 greater demands, and end at
last by admitting the negro 70 the Jury
and the exercise Of the right Of suffrage.
"Several journals in the Stste, among
them the Clarion, the Mississippian, and
the Vicksburg Herald, contend that the
Convention, when it acknowledged the free
dom Of the negro, and granted him protec-
ton 10 his person and properly made
him competent witness in the Courts, and
conferred upon him the right 70 testify
s'We have persistently opposed this un-
sound and pernicious doctrine, and contend
ed that the Convention conferred no such
riqht, and neUer Intended to 90 so. In our
Judgment it is seIf-evident that the Consti-
luton is not imperatiUe-the whole matter
in question Is left to tie consideration Of TIE
Legislature.
1--WE believe there is no necessity for
making other sscrihces, nor can L BE- sh1tgn
that il is demanded Of US A glance at
Northern journals, in unison with the Ad-
.ninistraton, viii substantiate the truth Of
this assertion. Therefore, let the people
hold fast to their remaining rights, and
trust the President so long as be maintains
the noble ground be has taken.
at is difficult to conceive OF any great op-
position 10 our views, and we beiisve il is
chiefly confined to the panic-stricken jour
nalists already mentioned.
"The issue between US and our honorable
competitors has assumed a political i'm
portanee before the people. Wherever the
question has been raised, tho people have
sustained US with a loud voice"
The choice Of a State printer, per So, is a
matter Of no general interest; but conf
dent Of the result, Mr.. Yergcr chose, him
self, to make it a test upon measure Of
very grave political Importance, and he
gave il a sharpness and clearness Of de6ni-
ton which would leave no room for doubt
as to the meaning OF the result Of the cleo
ton. The equality Of the negroes as class,
before the civil law was the pivotal point
upon which ne was determined the election
should turn, and he forced the issue upon
the Legislature with a vehemence and inso-
lence OF lone that could spring from moth
ing but perfect confidence in the result. A
spirit OF dictation seized upon th7 fellow,
and the Vioksburg Herald was warned 70
quit the country, and the Jackson clarion
ordered to haul down its dag.
The first shock to Mr.. ierger's eXpecta-
tons was the election Of Governor Sher
key 10 the Senate. An experienced pollti-
elan could thea have teen which way the
wind had set, and to what quarter it was
blowing. But the News was none the lees
confident, and iInpatienuy awaited the
election. IL must have been a sumner
when the clerk announced the election Of
| Mr.. shannon, publisher Of the jackson
Daily Clarion, as Public Printer for the
| 1H1fn
manly indorsemenJ Of the liberal course OF
| the Clarion, the News may De induced to
| lower its tone, and assume less er cathedra
| style when addressing its cctempOraries
| who chance to differ with it upon public
measures. The right 10 discuss important
| topics affecting the interests Of the people
must be vindicated, If republican govern
ment is to be preserved in any form vslua-
bic 20 the citizen. The old spirit Of intol-
| erance, that peryaded The South before and
during the war, nov broken down, should
/ be allowed to perish with the institution
/ that kept it alive.
The News has the unquestionable right q
| oppose the admission Of the freedmen 70 the
/ courts but it transcribed its privileges
when it assumed that its cotemporaries e.
| should not be tolerated in taking the oppo-
site view. Il also trespassed upon the truth
when it assured the Legislature that 9Th,
| Northern journals, in unison with the Ad'
| ministrauon," opposed what il queerly call.
| "a sacrifice" 70 wit the equality Of the
/ freedmen before the law We know Of n,
| journal North, Gin unison with the Admin
| istration," on the contrary, that does moi
| advocate the admission Of the negro to ths
! courts, az an act Of simple justice, and I
necessity attaching 70 the change in his re-
lations 70 the state and the community. W.
also believe such civil protection 70 freed
men 70 be a part Of the policy Of the Admin
| istration, in the work Of reconstruction, auc
If there we're any doubts on that point, they
are dispelled by the revised report Of th'
| conversation had between Mr.. stearns, o
Boston, and the President himself Tn
News is either mistaken as 70 the class o
papers Gin unison with the Administration,
or It Wilfully misrepreseuts them.
There is q deep feeling throughout tn
Northern States, oE this question Of the ed
mission Of the negro 70 the courts 10 d
not confined % radicals Il pervades al po
litical classes. Equality before the civi
law, is principle that accords witk tn
hoInely Saxon ides Of fair dealing, and sI!
departure from II is regarded ss an attemp
on the part Of the strong TO take advantag
Of the weak an effort 70 defraud them Q
rights TO which they are entitled By ever,
confederation Of justice and humanity. Tn
negro Is merely an incidental in the uni
versal adjustment Of principle Of equity.
The action Of the Legislature, thsrei0re
wi meet with general cOmmendation IN III
North, as indicative Of a determination Q
do right IN the face Of al opposing preiudic
and passion, and 70 deal fairly By thos
who, deprived Of al voice in the legislat.o
that isto govern them, By their very help
lessnsss, appeal 70 the consideration an
magnanimity Of all Just men.-CiaeinHai
C0umsrctaL
Simon's Wife Dead.
We have 20 credit the Independent VT
lest A correspondent, Mr. X, We wi
say, being on q Tisit 70 New Yark recentl