The Portland daily press., 1865-10-18
The Ruling Spirit in Mississippi,


We gave yesterday an extract from the
VicksbuEg Journal, to show the quality of the
Unionism of which the newly constructed
State Government Of Mississippi is being built
Up. Its a Unionism that respects the rebel
ion, and honors those who engaged in it, and,
above all Others" would confer office upon
the "brave boys" in gray who have fought
against the old flag, and killed the most of
{ . sd yaaEees." y s'.'' 1 -
We have another choice morsel from the.
same State, showing more of the quality of the
loyal ti) onion feeling in that secdon,--the
home ofJeG. Davis, and thcseat of ancient
reputation. Il is well known that President
johnson insists upon the negroes being made
the subjects, not it is true, of political eqaity,
but Of Judicial equality; that is, that they
shall be qualified to testify in courts ofjus-
tice, to sue and to be sued so that they may
be able to secure, under the law, the Just com
pensation for their labor We say he insists
upon this; he did 50 in his late conference
with the South Carolina delegates.
Cow Sharkey of Mississippi, sympathises
with the President in the wisdom and Justice
ofthis idea. Gov. Sharkey is an eminent iur-
rist, and among other standard legal works
from his pen is one, we think, on EVIDENCE
text book with the legal profession; but hls
counsel, urged upon the convention of Missis-
slppl in cogent language, has do influence with
the "sovereigns" Of his State d 5@ y
lettering to the result of the recent election
IN that State-the triumphant election of Gen.
Humphreys to the gubernatorial Office. who
went through the campaign dressed in suit
of rebel gray, conceding nothing, bold, con
sistent rebel to the last, and referring to the
fact that the issue in the legislative cleo
tions was whether negroes should be allowed
to testify in the courts the very thing insist
ed upon by President johnson, the jackson
Meas says: a.,is sssi .ssoses0 s, +
, "Just as we anticipated, the people are de-
ternined to crush out Gny man who favors the
equality of the negro before the Judicial tribu-
mails. The people have ceased to be frightened
by the oft repeated tWaddle of the necessity of
sacrificing their rights inch by inch, in order
to get a representation in Congress" 1851 a
The Neaos then cracks the plantation whip,
which seems to have lost none of its snap by
A JSoAs vi t1c Wal, LII Lille iouuWlfiS
approved style:
i 1' tlinid statesmen bewarei 1t matters
nos now high they may now stand in the esti-
ms; ;l o. the people, ifthey steer tosoard the
IocH Y negro testimony, they acsU be shi0ered
INTO atoms; This privilege must not be allow
ca Inem as class--the negroes mist he esy-
Guided The white men Of TIA vi,
never consent to hazard their nool ~, III;
property by admitting the enightenel r ~ Vi ter-
hmony Of the negro. Upto this writing All |
goes well.e 9l5 : ris"'tAn'iIpis an
1t is to such semi-barbarians, possessed of
the spirit here exhibited, that the copperheads
and small class Of the Union men practicable
no better than copperheads, would turn over
tne control of the loyal, patriotic, faithful col
ored people of the South, who have CALAMITY
AIDED !. IN lighting our battles, and in defending
tne country against the n1urderous assaults
OF traitors in arms 1t is to the tender men
cles Oh men afraid of truth. afraid of
! :. and afraid of honest DEALING. that
= : proposed to leave the negro after ace hape
ls 49, man, and the nation has profited bv his
iaOOrS and his blood. Shame. ever,astino
y on the man, the people, or the nation |
tnat would be guilty Of an act So mean 20
1reacherous, 20 dastardiy. LITE