The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-14
state Rights VS.. Human Rights.

4
state Rights VS.. Human Rights.
Two different conventions have recently
been held in the State Of Mississippi whose
objects, and proceedings are in marked and
most suggestive contrast, and present material
for much thoughtful and anxious considera-
ton on the part of the people OF this country.
The frst of these, held in. August last, was
convened at the call of the Provisional Gov
esnor, was composed Of white men, a large
proportion of whom were lately in active re-
ballion AGAINST the general Government, but
whoc.aim torepresent the State OF mississippi.
They were in session a number OF days, talk
ed cool deal about their srights un-s
der the Constitution" which they had done
their best to destroy, and butvery little about
their duties, nulliad the act of secession, de-
clared slavery abolished, and handed over
the whole question of the rights, privileges
and liberties Of the free colored population OF
their State to the unrestricted control of flu
tu,e white Legislatures, by the adoption OF an
ordinance thus worded:
"Gne Legislature, at its next session, anu
thereafter as the public welfare may require,
shall provide for the protection and security OF
the person and property OF the freedmen OF
this State, and guard them and me state rom
the evils that may arise from sudden enamel
patton. 5t& ~.
On the 18th of September another Conven-
tion. or rather nass-meeting assembled at
Vicksburg. II was composed of colored cit
liens of Mississippi, drawn together by the
natural alarm which they must feel at the cool
Indifference with which their rights are being
thrust aside, and its purpose was to utter a
calm but decided protest against the species Of
one-sided 1eeonssruction inaugruated by the
white convention, and to warn the nation Of
the dangers which must result il these men are
10 be allowed to consunmate their scheme.
Tie coloned men foresee that in case of such
a reorganization of the civil power, them
selves having no recognized citizenship, no
claim to be heard in the courts and no power
through the ballot, would be utterly at the
mercy of a hostile class, who resent the fact
of freedom asa wrong to themselves, have no
ed to labor for their development The pro-
test which they have prepared sets forth in
strong terms the wrongfulness Of the system
Of "Warranteeism," approved by the official
paper Of the Convention, declaring it to be on
ly another name for Slavery, and denounces
the scheme now being advocated of giving up
all questions in, which the freedmen are inter
ested to the unrestricted control of the Coun-
ty Police Board. This convention of colored
men passed, among others, the following reso-
luton:
Resolved:-9T That we view with alarm the
efforts now being made by the men In power
in Mississippi to nullify the Proclamation of
Emancipation And r
THAT 1t isieur firm conviction, and we here
by put it on record, that should Mississippi be
restored to her status IN the Union under her
amended constitution as it now stands, that
her Legislature, under pretext OF guarding
the interests of the State from the evils Ofsud-
den emancipation, viii pass such proscriptive
class laws against the freedmen as will result
in their repatriation from the State or their
practical Te-enslayement. se Atlt q
Now we wish to call the attention of the
reader to single fact. The census of 1860
shows that at that time the black population
Of Mississippi exceeded the white population
by over vsiatgj-tlas'ee thousand souls. In the
four years of war and confusion which have
passed since that enumeration was made the /,
white population has been largely diminished,
while the blacks have increased, so that they
are at present in much larger proportion than
they then were. The colored people therefore,
represented in a measure by the meeting as
sembled at Vicksburg; are a majority of the
people Of State Of. Mississippi. It is the
will of the majority the rights Of the majority,
which this convention OF the white minority
SO contemporary ignores
The State Of Mississippi, being one of those
in which according to President johnson, "all
civil government is destroyed is about.to re-
form and re-eStablish her organic Inv. 1t is a
question which we would submit to any can
did. advocate Of the doctrine of State rights to
say by what jest Interpretation of that doc
trine it is proposed to leave the entire control
Of this most important matter in the hands OF
an ambitious and selfish minority, while the
majority is allowed no voice. Moreover, in
consideration Of the fact that the white minor
ity had but just emerged from active rebellion
and still shows little appreciation of anything
resembling true loyalty, while the black ma
jority has never swerved from It's duty or al
llegiaace, lit is a matter to be deeply pondered
by the people of the North whether the sqfetg
as well as-the honor of the nation is not in
volved in this matter. ~ 2 D'1p' 81 =
70 is there no. danger lest the process of re-
construction now going on, Units adherence to a
perverted JorRsof State rights should SO 'ig-
more human rights as to re-establish a system
Of society too much resembling the slave So
ciety Of the past, and reproducing most of the
essential features which made that system SO
obnoxious to and finally so incompatible with
the public peace and prosperity. CT
These things we repeat should be well pom
dered. The whole matter is yet in the power
ofthe people, but when few more steps have
been taken it win have passed beyond their
control. Most Unfortunate viii it be for them
in the future if they repeat once more the folly
ofconprcfiiise, and for the sake Of any seem
ing POLITICAL or commercial advantage yield
the cause of Humanity and, of Right.
appeal from the sword t. Strategy.
Hudibrass or somebody else, once said, in
If mt Il, fI,s. 4if.r.- .stfEf