The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE 0FF'CE,
jackson, Miss, Nov, 20. 1865.

an carry uay, a recess until after the hol-
mays; deem it proper to call your inn
mediate attention to few subjects OF VII
tai Importance to the welfare of the State.
by tie sudden emancipation of over
| lhree hundred thousand slaves, Missis,
sippi has imp sed upon her. problem of
vast magnitude, upon the proper solution
OF which depends the hopes and future
prosperity and welfare of ourselves and
our children.
UnCef the piessur OF Federal bayoneis
urged on by the INSTRUCTED sympathies
OF the world, in behalf of the enslayed
African, the people of Mississippi have
abolished the institution of Slavery, and
have solemiy declared in their State Con-
shtutior, that "the Legislature shall
provide by law for the protection and
security of the person and property of
the freedmen of the Stste, and gaurd
them and the State, against any evils thai
may arise from their sudden emancipa-
| ton"
How this important provision and re
! quirement OF the Constitution is
to be carried into effect is the ques-
! We must now meet the question
as it is, and not as we would like
to have it. The rnle must be Justice
The negro is free-whether we like it or
not, we must realize that fact now and
forever. To be free, however, does not
make him a citizen, or eatitle him to
! political or social equality with the white
man. But the Constitution and justice
do entitle him to protection in his person
and property, both real and personal.
In my humble judgment no person,
! bond or free, under any form of govern
ment, can be assured of protection or Sc,
curlty in either person or property,
except through an independent and
enlightened Judiciary. The Courts then
should be open to the negro. But Of
what avail is it to open the courts, and
invite the negro "to sue and be sued"
if he is not permitted to testify himself,
and introduce such testimony as he, or
his attorney may deem essential to estab-
lish the truth and instice of his case.
Whether the witness be white or black,
it is the denial of the most common priv
| ilege of freedman ensnarlng deIuslOn
tho mercst mockery.
AS a measure Of domestic policy,
whether for the protection of the person
or property of the freedman or for the
protection of society, tho negro should be
allowed and required to testify Tor or
against the white and black according to
the truth. There ale few men living IN
the South VINO have not known many
white criminals to go unwhipped OF JUS
tice" because negro testimony was not
permitted in the Courts-and now that
the negro Is no longer under the re
straints and protection of his master,
he will become the dupe and ''catspaw"
of the vile and vicious white man
who seeks his association, and will plum
der our land with entire secnrlty from
pnisbment unless he can be reached
through negro testimony. 1t is an insult
to the intelligence and virtue OF our
courts and iuries Of white men TO say or
suspect that they cannot or Will not pro
tect the innocent, whether white or black
against the falsehoods and perjury OF
block witnesses.
The question of admitting negro tes-
timony for the protection OF their person
or propertv. sinks into insgnlf canoe by
the side of the other great question OF
0,larding them and the State against the evils
mat NAV arise from their sudden eman-
cipation. Whit are the evils that have
Already arisen against which we are to
ouard the negro and the State? The
answer is potent TO all. Vagrancy and
pauperism, and their inevitable concomi-
tants, crime and misery, hang like dark
uau over our once prosperous and happy,
but now desolated and ruined land
j TO the guardian care of the Freed
mans Bureau has been entrusted the
emanCipated slaves. The civil law and
the white man outside OF the Bureau, has
. been deprived Of all jurisdiction over
r them. Look around you and see the re-
J., suit Idleness and vagrancy has oeen
). The rule. Oar rich and productive fields
have been DIES erted, for the filthy garIets
J and sickly cellars Of our towns ana cities
From producers they are converted into
consumers, and as winter approaches
their only salvation from starvation and
want is Federal rations, plumber and phi
It lare. Four years of cruel war; conducted
: upou principles OF vandalism, dis
! graceful to the civilization OF the
age was scarcely more blighting
and destructive to horrors o. the
o whiteman, impoverishlng and degrading
q to the negro than has resulted In the l&s'
= six or eight months from the admlnlstra
ton of this black incubus. Many OF the
officers connected with that bureau are
/. gentlemen of honor and integrity, bu
d Ihey seem incapable OF protecting the
d rights and property OF the WhltemaI
against the Villalples OF the vie anc
D. vicious with whom they are associated.
D How long this hideous curse, permitted
Q of Heaven, IS to be allowed to rule ano
e ruin our unhappy people, regret 1t Is no
! in nv power 10 give any assurance, 1ur-
:" Their than can be gathered from the pubI
lie and private declarations of Pfeslden
e Johnson that a"the troops will all b
n Withdrawn from Mississippi when IN tn
!, opinion OF the Government the peace ans
~ order, and civil authority has been re
Of stored. and can be maintained without
~ them" ~
'e In this uncertainty as to what will sat
;sfv the Government of our loyalty, am
ability to maintain order and peace, AM
y civil rovernment-our duty under tn
O. constitution TO guard the negro and tn
state from the evils arising from suddel
emancipation, must not be neglected,
c Our duty 10 the State, and to the ireed
rs man seems to me TO be clear, and re
- snectfuliy recommend
lst That negro testimony should Q
IS admitted in our courts not only Tor IN
10 protection of the person and property
is the freedman, but for the protection
nv society against the crimes OF both race
:! "a. That the freedman be encourage
&c at once to engage in some pursuit OF IL
w dnstry. for the support OF his family an
a tbo a6ucation of his children, by law