The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-03-06
From the Correspondence of the Gin Com {
Letter from jackson MiSsiSSiPpi-The he
Situation Of the State.
LACKsoN. Miss, Feb. DO, ls66.

With full and complete executive power
very one considered the State as vntu- ,
,lly reconstructed and restored to all her :
civil rights-less representation IN Con I
yress. The military considered Their I
functions suspended, and The civil author
tiles were not disposed to tolerate the
SLIGHTEST intervention, and Were fully re-
solved upon running the machine them
selves.
AS the State was fully alive to the
importance of securing Congressional
representation and the withdrawal Of the
military at as early day as possible, ey-
cry effort would be made to attain this OBJ |
iect cit was "the consummation so de,
voutly to be wished for" Policy would |
dictate ready compliance with all the
requirements of the General Government
and permit nothing TO initiate against
the attainment of this coveted ultimatum.
A few weeks of probation would not on
" determine the question of admission or
rejection of the Mississippi delegation IN
| Congress this session, but would also de-
eide in reference to the withdrawal OF the
Federal garrisons from within the State.
The State officials, and all civil officers
and citizens, fully realized the imPor-
tance attaching to all their actions. They
deemed the questions at issue vitality I'M
portant, and knew that every detection
from, as well as every faithful adherence
to, the path of loyalty and duty, would
be recorded in their accounts, and help
to make up their trial balance. They
knew that these momentous issues hinged
mainly upon their treatment Of freedmen
Therefore, they must bring into action
all their circumspection, wisdom and
magnanimity; they must deal frankly
generously, Justly, with thenegro. tall
ing in this, the scourge Of bayontt5 ant
martial law / ust be indefinitely contln
ued, and admission into the Union pam
4 fully deferred
y Let Us see what was done. | vii
= sneak from authority of official record.
In accordance with recent Legislation
minor freedmen were forcibly taken fror
:, their parents and homes, and apprenti(
ed (their former owners having the pre-
.. fercnce) to white citizens, till the age {
Is twenty-one years Any white citize
g desiring the services of any negro chill
or youth, had only to express this wi,
~ ~ to the civil authorities, and the min
mr. was bound. In some instances, mar. It
e. men and women, twenty-three or twent
ed four years old, who were parents, ha'
'" been thus bound for periods Of one
two years, upon representation that tn,
were minors, they Were often bound !
~ periods extending several years beyol
,v their actual majority. None were selet
NJ ed but the handsomest, and most healu
y and robust who could render the me
valuable services. All others were /
~ as burden upon their parents.
The master or mistress can, at a
.,, time, discharge them and be reliev
- from obligation by making application
the civil authorities. If sickness, ac
~ dent, over-worb or other cause disqual
them for profitable service, they are q
charged and turned out upon society
on o. support themselves or be supported
their parents or friends, or else be arr'
ed and sold as vagrants, provided a ?
-, chaser can be found. By the operati
- %. Of this law, parents are compelled to g
" up their children, even though abundi
.a ly able to provide for them, and min
, in are compelled to submit, even tho'
ap- fnlly able to support themselves. ,
am treatment as this works great Unjust
ccu and gives rise to many and bitter c.
IS" gu plants. With fearful eyes and qui
nee ing lips, the unhappy parents tell the
INTO of sad bereavement and robbery.
'l1i- nl fair fruit of liberty, which they
con thought to taste, turns to ashes In t
ssed hands, as the cold, relentless grasp OF
un- law seizes and tears from them their d
len' an est household treasures. Ne such
And appertains to whites.
.ited The freedman is not permitted by
and to lease, rent, or own land. He can
tia'5 ime tain no valid title to any real estat
ton He may have means to purchase h
e, of and be extremely anxious to do so
ying it avails him nothing in the face Of
sue sue prohibition. He is almost compellt
dino become a vagrant. The highest
very noblest incentive that can stimulate
man to persistent and successful in
te Gi try, is the laudable ambition to acqu
I'M I'M home for himself and family, and t.
ling, hsnce its value and augment its ent
arb, ments by the addition, from time to
nc. ,utr of such comforts, convemences and
resi- gancleS as MS TASTE may SuSSeoI "
red means afford The unfortunate f
ghtS man is debarred from all such aspirat
"a ilt, or must cherish them ouly as intan
and ideals. Like the unslacked thirS
nent, Tantatus, his hopes can never ripe
lie by fruition. He is a houseless, homeless
tbis crescence upon society, mere tenal
nveu- will, occupying some miserable
avor stable or shanty, and paying sucl
hS III travagant rents as would IN few me
tinne build a better structure.
hos In this city the Nagrant Act has
o re- published in every issue OF the
lonal papers for several weeks past. /
-@r =" yides that all freedmen must have a
o the ten contract to labor, or be bound ;
gs of prentices, or have license from
ment, civil official, permitting them to d
&C.,, Co., work. &c, or else be arrested and
Ill al or hired out as vagrants and paupe
have The Mayor publishes the followi
ce to
-nited sIMPORTANT NOTICE:
ons[i- neI "On and after Monday next, tn
fully officers will visit every house II
y ~ "a '' place tor the purpose VI as1el ID
anu what freedmen, free negroes and
-nited toes, have permission to live and W
.m to the city, as the law requires.
,"l s,t at is hoped that all Psre0r's " IL
on are their assistance to the officers in II
/ sub the city of vagrants of every kind.
rights Signed -
'eople I'D. \. BARROWS, Ma,
E f"t tho Io jackson, February ?, 1866
avow- In pursuance of this notice, tre,
tional by the score have been hurried up
eet all office of his Homer, under threat
%s,ol naorS menaces, and compelled to pay one
estab- each for the following
Union LICENSE.
Therec
"MAYoR's OFFICE, JACKSON, Nj
, who january l, lS6t
: that hat George Washington is hereb
lent of thorized to do irregular and job-w
arnest regular work by contract, in this
So 50 sea- ;, for the period of twelve months, 5
o.. Il