The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-11-15

Called suddenly aud most unexpecto.llx
10 MI this honor il IL but natural that i
! should feel no ordinary degree Of embar-
? rassment ia addressinga body whose posi-
tion and intelligence are second 10 none In
the land Compelled 20 snatch what time
oonld from the daily and engrossing d.
ties Of an editors life the thoughts pfesen-
ted must, Of necessity, be brief and imper-
feet But a truce 10 farther apologies
"such as / have give freely unto you"
There are many subjects which crowd
upon the mind on an occasion like this
subjects connected with personal and ma
tional Relationship business and politics |
with the past aud with the future topics
which, am sure, will not escape the notice |
or recollection Of any one here But there 1
is one subject which TO u.s. embraces all
others-which Is the beginning and end Of /
our best wishes and most earnest hopes
which il takes but one brief sentence to ex-
precs, though that sentence contains the
substance Of liberty, prosperity and pro-
gress.
what Is to be the future Of the Southl"
Ten years ago this question could, appa-
rently, have been easily answered Then,
peoee and prosperity went hand in hand,
and content and joy were familiar guests at
every fireside. Then, capital walked boldly
abroad-sOught investment in every avail
| able shape-gave life to commerce. man
ufactures and the arts-traversed the
length and breadth of the land, scattering
plenty by the way, shifting the everlasting
hills with ITS magic wand, carving a path
| through the pillows ofthe deep, and bringing
the treasures Of every cline IN golden pro-
fusion to our feet
But these things have passed away, and
the South is to-day, the Niobe of nations
yoiceless and fearless In her silent woe.
Throughout the length and breadth of the
land. fun many a shattered hearth.stone and
desolated rooftree tells its tale of woe full
many a nameless grave hides from mortal
eyes u broken heart.
And this is the result Of war! war for the
maintenance of just and holy principle
war for liberty and union. God forbid that
an avenging Nemesis should ever thus dar-
ken the homes of the North God forbid ,
that its people should ever be taught by :
practical experience, the true meaning Of
ruin and desolation.
They tell us that we have reaped lust !
reward and that while humanity weeps !
DER the dreadful spectacle, inexorable Justice !,
proclams il fit and well-done. The graves
OF our loved and lost are unconsecrated and "
uncrowned. The flag they followed so long !
is laid ayap, and never agaiu will its folds y
be Kissed by the breezes ofheayen or gleam "
like a meteor, DER victorious fields Our =
name is recorded on history's page, as a PEG. u
pie who fought and failed in an nnholy ;.
cause. But despite misfortune and defeat 2,
despite countless ontrages and accumulated ~
wrong the love of the good and true still ~
and moves, and has its being. "a
Sharers in this precious heritage will be =
those who are to follow us and though as
they may never witness the realization Of w
our dream, they will, in years to come, prove 20
that, while the Southern race survives ~
southern honor does not die. w
Then let repinlngs cease
Like echoes heard in chldhoods troubled dreams 81
Think not of nameless graves Of agOnies sh
From mothers wives and maidens wrung, TO
From mans great heart OF wasted hall and hut LAT
Prolific helds in wilderness. Let some divine m,
Nepenthe give swift oblivion. The misyer ends ~
Its records is 18th God. du
Redeem what il to come ha
with selfsuppressons, prayers and high resolves ro
Those who still live, have in their hands an
ents Of nonuIar santima,t e4a,,1' :" 1 80 tn;
nth mission at once solemn and sublime W W
nd the consciousness Of our responsibility W. ~,
hould still the passions of the day, and ele- ~
ate us above the paltry chickering's of party rsu
trife. As journalists we are called to the ~ =
xercise of a mOmentous trust Let us meet ~ 4,
with g corresponding temper and purpose, ~
With all the wisdom given us by sad and NJ.
litter experience, with foresight, and prepa. OK
alton for glorious future The spirit of
t the age has gone forth to hold his great 70 70
eview, and the Kings of Earth are moved to Wy
ieet him. The band which holds the great Pr
Official powers of Europe together in one .n'
sague is strained to its utmost tension; and ~
lille mighty events are causing the thrones ene
old established empires to trembe, tide ~ ~
al noIit;caI xital;tv 81 tba ,rnrlI so.,,,o rat
loving to this hemisphere whose condition an q
nd fortunes it devolves upon us to mould M
nd regulate. ~
IA \ n
far az NO ~ az centh ~, aa,iep.oti thr
vi and rloomy A Will arr, Il 49, pro
i'd in the frantic race for political perpetui-
Z, the landmarks of eonstitutionality and ilio,
ltriotism are being left behind. The con- anu ~
olling element now contends that its will snV
superior to the fundamental law Of the e enu
nd that the Constitution, established in ~: -
airs and blood and which for eighty years ~ ~.
imaval forests AID ;,aan,ed ,so. 1s fore
ith a teemng and prosperous population, nall
tilt proud cities on the sites that once were ip.l
emit and desolate whitened the ocean with llel
9 wings of commerce, and made America 49, 49,
light, landmark on the cliff of fame. - loul
nus must be abrogated and become thing so ss.l
the past, whilo upon its ruins are to be slis'
,ich basos 10 sta,atI -, bitt,
ms gifts people. her
But one still stands true to us and to the sel.
tors pledge. Certainly, day by day, he sta :,
es the storm; and believe that, under ~ -
favor of God, he will yet Outlast its fury, apps
| enter safely the haven of promise He Inc
Is and knows that the Constitution Is too S sou.
emn in its nature, too vitality important snou
the preservation of the peoples rights, to 1 ,oI
lightly considered, or its provisions set Not
de or evaded by sophistry. He knows sne
J, that the Constitution is paramount to .neli
other authority that it changes not van
ii the change of parties, Is affected by no iIeeV
ision of policy, and bends to no popular tlos'
itement. Demagogues may denounce sAst' !
=, and corruption menace, he may be srei
nored against by the interested and as y
ed 10y the proigate. But hs storm sriu nAa ~, .
; array, aud the sunshine Of eommenda, anu
u, succeed the eloud which now lowers Wnsn
T him and the future Of the country e ~
ven now, as ii by enchantment, beanti. posee
and stable editees Of political govern. NM ~
It, have been. under the wise and prac- ~.
i craftsmanship Of Andrew johnson. VINO
ted aud put IN successful operation in sSt.i.
he Southern States and into the hands - ~
he Governors chosen by their own people. s.oIss
the Legislature 50 elected, and the a'.e,'
ges, the control management, and ex- .oteu
ION of the laws of each State, 50 far As q 81
apply TO their own domestic govern D Jail
e, have been freely and generously CON- sipfs
NJ ~