The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-22
From the New ork World
The 1mpolicy ofDisfranchising Cofeder


1 hrpubHcan, VINO. we are informed, L
one OF the first lawyers of Missouri.
runs counter to the ideas and the senti
ments Of the radical Republicans of the
day, but ev1nces such comprehensive
otthe difficulties in the way of restora
ton OF right relations between the PEG
pie OF the South and the national govern
ment, and withal is couched in such jus
and temperate language, that we coulc
wish 1t might fall into the hands of al
the fellow partisans of it's author whose
minds are closed against similar reason
| ing put forth by this journal and other:
OF our way of thinking.
What is very remarkable about the
pamphlet is, that it was written before
the late victories of the federal arms de-
cided the fate Of the revolution and
while its first part is charged with arcu
ments to show the causelessness of the
war and the crime Of the secession move
ment, and with confident rejocipgs over
the extinction of slavery and predictions
of the downfall of the contederacy, It's
latter part anticipates the difficulties OF
| reconstruction and restoration which
have since arisen, and contributes advice
to their solution.
FIRST and greatest of their difficulties
is the fact that large masses of the Ameri-
can people lately participating in govern
| ment are deemed by SO many unfit Tor
free institutions and deserving of exclu
sion from the right OF suffrage. The au-
thor takes up the Maryland and Nilsson.
ri ordinances of dlstranchisement, and
the bill to accomplish a similar purpose
introduced by Mr.. Ashley in the House
last winter, and thus demonstrates their
political folly:
What then, in brief, is the effect of this
policy? Why to exclude from all right
OF suffrage, representation and office
| holding, some four or five millions of the
masses OF the people lately cooperating
! in the government of the United States
The disfranchsement will reach q
large portion of the white population in
the border states and almost the entire
white population of all the states lying
on the gulf and ocean. This distran-
chispd population will embrace fair pro,
portion OF the intelligence of their sec
ton, and, in point of activity and courage,
a people not inferior to any in the world.
They inhabit vast extent of territory
teeming with the elements Of national
and individual wealth and power. The
| proposition is to cut off these people
from all participation in the future con-
duct of their government, and yet main
tain, by such means as we cap, our author
ity as governors over them.
The first suggestion that rises to the
mind in view of this astounding problem
is, that never before, in the history of the
civilized world, has such project been
put in execution. Never has any such
thing been attempted. Whether you
look to the history Of Europe or America
you find nothing of the sort whatever
There is no portion of history clearer in
its details or more satisfactory in its teach
ing than that which relates to these civil
CONNEXIONS, instructions and rebelions.
All governments have suffered from them
Nor is it likely that mankind will soon
become so perfect as to be free from that
spirit of faction which creates them
Civil wars, always bitter while they last,
have ended in one uniform way, one par
ty or the other is conquered in the field,
its military power broken, its means OF
resistance destroyed. AS soon as this
takes place the people who have previ-
ously chung TO the fallen party, if per
mitted to do so, abandon it, give in their
adhesion 10 the victors; and become the
most obedient and hembLe subjects of the rul-
ing power. The war OF the american
revolution serves as an illustration. 1t
lasted several years and resulted in the
separation of the American colonies from
Great Britain. The course of the Tory
party, or those who rallied to the king,
was marked by unrivaled barbarity. But
when our fathers had captured the kings
armies, and driven away his fleets from
our coast, they did not disfranchise the
tories. They did not prohibit them from
taking part 10 the elections; our fathers
did not pursue the fallen and mbled
that crouched beneath their feet, with
politics or feelings of revenge. But when
the war was over, they wisely suffered It's
strife TO cease
Succeeding the American revolution,
and partly inspired by it darkly and fierce
iv rose that OF France, altogether the
most awful scene of med ern sges. u
c me like the bursting of a volcano, and
It's waves OF blood and fire rolled over
nearly the whole earth. For almost
thirty years France-indeed, nearly all
Europe-endured the mortal agonies OF
that CONFUSION. On the dreadful fields
of DeLigne, Quartre Bras and Waterloo,
the star of Napoleon waned and went
down. The empire passed away, and
France renewed her allegiance 10 her
ancient kings. But does the historian
tell us tn at any laws were passed to dis
franchise every Frenchmau who had
borne arms against the Bourbons, or hold
communication with rebels, or sympa-
thised with treason? Not at all. Let us
briefly consider the facts of the Hdnga-
rian rebellion of 1913. There have been
few insurl ections against lawful authority
for less cause-none ever called forth
deeper resentments. The house of Haps-
bhtg,a proud ol.tdynasty of three hundred
tyears, found itself unexpectedly confront
ed by a hostile popular movement of tre-
mendous proportions. The conspiracy
pervaded every part of the Austrian do
minions, but in Hungary reigned supreme
/ Great concessions mere made to appease
the spirit of revolt, but were made in
vain. The Austrian monarch was driven
from his capital, and his government
brought to the very verge of destruction
From first to last half million of men
were under arms. After every resource
of its own had been used and exhausted
the Austrian monarchy was saved from
impending fate by the intervention o.
Russia: and by that alone, On the 18th
of June, 200 Russian veterans, led by
the Prince of Paschewitz. entered Hun
gary, by way of the Carpathian Noun
tains and fell upon the rear of Gorgey's
column, then pa hing forwards to Nienna