American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-02-10
6The Vicksburg Herald strongly urges the re.

90 The Nlcks6urg Herald strongly urges the re
assembling of the Convention of the State of Mis-
e~issippi, and there are indications that Judge Yer
ger, its President, favors it. An influential Missis
sippian, writing in a private letter on the subject
says: The action of the late legislature is unsatis
factory it has exercised a pernicious influence aht
not only retarded our advance toward a restoration
of civil rule, hut has set us back, as the phrase is
to the starting point. Now, if the Convention
would adopt the constitutional amendment, at
provide that freedmen should lease and own rea
estate, and modify one or two Objectionable acts,
believe we would be speedily restored to all of oul
constitutional rights"
We differ entirely from the Herald and the " in.
Auental Mississippian" referred to. We can see nc
good whatever to result from the reassembling OF
the State Convention. The argument of those who
favored the proposition to permit the negro to ties,
tify in the courts was, that it would facilitate, il
not absolutely insure, the admission of our delega.
ton in Congress that it would aid materially in
the rehabilitation of our State, and restore us to
our constitutional rights We have all seen how
perfectly fallacious this idea has proved. 1t would
have been just the same, in our humble Judgment
had our representatives in the legislature have
humbled themselves and humiliated their c~onstitu.
ents BY going the whole swine, bristles and all,
adopted the constitutional amendment, permitted
negroes 10 OWN ana least ldlus, anu ulOulueu uiS
or two Objectionable legislative acts In proof of
the correctness of this opinion, look at those states
lately in the rebellion which adopted the c~onstitu-
tional amendment promptly, admitted the negroes
to testify in the courts, and passed laws more gen
orally liberal towards them than Mississippi did.
If we are notmistaken Alabama, Georgia and South
Carolina all did this, and yet their congressional
delegations are kept cut in the cold as well as
Mississippi's. Look at Tennessee. She is cursed
with a Governor who was the lick-spittle of Lincoln
and is the subseryient satrap of Stevens and Sum-
ner. Her legislature is of of the same ~piece-thor-
oughly radical and passed the constitutional amend.
ment even before the emancipation of slavery--her
representatives to congress, it is stated, can all
take the test oath which ought to choke any
Southern man who does take it,-yet they are still
refused admission to their seats. What prospect is
there, then, that Mississippi, by any measures her
convention would be likely to adopt, could gain ad.
mission for her representatives in congress, and be
speedily restored to her constitutional rights
Just none at all. The truth is, the Radicals, who
rule the hour do not intend to admit the South.
ern States to any rights or privileges except upon
such degrading terms as they may dictate. These
terms are well kUOWE, anu sHOulu ut SpL upUu ny
every Southern State. They are simply negro
suffrage and social equality without distinction of
color For proof that this is the vile animus of
Radical Republication that this is their ultima
tum-see the deplorable condition to which they
have reduced the District of Columbia, once the
centre Of the most refined society turn your eyes
to the national capitol, once the pride of the Union.
Look into the galleries, which were once filled by
the beauty, fashion and intelligence of the land
graced by the presence of the fair and lovely daugh.
tiers of the sunny South The front seats are now
occupied by ladies of ebon hue-blg negro wenches
who faunt their iney and exbale their street per-
tume to the delight of all Abolitiondom. What a
disgrace to the nation! or course no Southern lady
now visits the galleries of the capitol. The niggers
and their northern friends have the galleries all to
themselves.
On the 2lst nit. an election was held in Washing |
ton City TO ascertain the sense of the CITIZENS on
the proposition to extend the right of suffrage to
the negroes. OF this election the National Intelli.
gencer says; The vote was a full one, and it was
discovered at an early hour that many of our citi.
zens whose sentiments have ever been in unison
with those Of the Republican party were unwilling
to have negro suffrage inflicted upon them, for they
voted an open ticket Against Negro Suffrage"
Many men who have not voted for
years, turned out yesterday to add their vote to
swell the multitude of citizens, the bona fde resi-
dents and solid men of the city, who are opposed to
the putting of the proposed i~ndignity upon this
people. In some of the precincts the vote was
than it has been for years. The vote stood
for suffrage, IS against it. 6eO3. Majority against
$685."
Notwithstanding this unprecedented majority of
the citizens of the District Of Columbia-of those
alone are to be affected by it-against negro
suffrage, both houses of congress Immediately took
up the subject, and have inst passed a bill, by a
large majority, b~estowing the right of suffrage upon
the negro!-which bill, being signed by the Presi-
dent. has become a law.
Have the States lately in rebellion anything to
expect from a radical, ~fanatical majority like this,
override the wishes of the citizens of the Dis.
Of CoIumbia-wh have not been in rebellion
As expressed by a vote of 1908 to IS? We think
not. There is no hope for the reconstruction of
he South as long as the present radical congress is
n existence. We shall have to wait a time with
and bear the ills We have with dignity
md as much fortitBde as we can summon TO our
lid. We are opposed 10 making any further con
,essions to Northern negrophoists and New Eng
and puritanism and We are opposed to the reas-
Of the Mississippi Convention for any such
purpose, or any purpose.
Another argument against reassembling the Con-
Tsntion is the heavy expense to the State. Our
people are Impoverished, and already overwhelmed
taxation. Let their burthens not be increased.
believe il the proposition to resssemble the
were submitted to the people it would
,e defeated BY q vote Of FIVE to one. We hope the
President of the Convention will take no such step.