The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-12-20
The Territorial Project.

raymond OF the ne w Il OTk LINES
who crawled back to the Republican
ranks at the Washington caucus few
weeks ago, threatens the South with
a territorial existence unless she ac-
cepts the constitutional amendment
After narrating the measures proposed
! by Congress for the restoration OF the
! States, he continues 1.-The persistent
refusal of the Southern States to &C
cept the terms offered may impose
upon Congress the duty of reconsid-
ering the whole subject, and of adapt
ing legislation to the altered aspect OF
affairs. The interests of the Republic
may justify the substitution of policy
of reconstruction for the proposed
policy of restoration.
And then he asks if the Southern
people are prepared for this alterna-
tive-this territorial policy, Why
certainly they are. The Southern
people are prepared for any ''irrepres-
sible" despotism that the enemies OF
constitutional liberty may fasten upon
the nation. There was a time when
we were anxious to regain representa-
ton in Congress, but Northern
duplicity has rendered us
perfectly Indifferent as to the
kind of government we have.
Provisional governments have no
terror for our people. They can
stand them if the North is able to
hold out To quote the language of
the popinjay politician of the Times
at the Philadelphia Convention ''the
ten millions of Americans who live IN
the South would be unworthy citizens
of a free country, degenerate sons OF a
heroic ancestry, unfit ever to become
the guardians of the rights and liber-
ties beQueathed to us by the fathers
and founders of the republic, if they
could accept, with accomplishing sub
the humiliations thus
to be imposed upon them"
They have weighed the matter well,
and are resigned. We are ready for
any fate, but will not aid in our own
degradation. Wewill wear the mana
lies of despotism with the best grace
possible, but will never veer and whine
md contribute, of our own accord, to !
he overthrow Of the republican theory |
IF government We have seen enough |
If the valley OF, humiliation, and must |
tand aloof, no matter what the pains |
nd penalties of Congress may be. |
What was denied " as matter of prin-
ipIe,'' will not be conceded as a
natter of expediency," even if the
chance of repentance is lost" In the
anguage Of the Louisville Courier,
he amendment makes the States the
of the central authority de-
rives the Southern States of one-third
f their representative power, or com
els them to elevate their ignorant ne
roes to position of political equality
18th themselves; DISTINGUISHES and de-
rades every man worthy Of political
and gives Congress unre-
tricted authority to legislate for the
tates. And for all these monstrous
what equivalent is prof
cred? None, except a halfway pro
Use that the States may possibly be
presented in Congress by men who
an swear that they were in sympathy
it'll the enemies Of the South during
lie entire war. Well, in how much
orse condition would the South be
nder territorial governments than as
tates with the amendment of part of
le Constitution and the infamous test
ath still standing upon the statute
0oks? For ourselves, we can see no
ference, and we do not think we
euld have any preference.