The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-04-26
Mississippi snd Jaage sharLey.


Mississippi end Judge sharIkey.
We were surprised upon reading the ev
dence given by Judge Sharkey before TIL
, reconstruction committee, to find that b
asserted that the State Government was il
the hands of the 'secessionists." There ar
no secessionists, now. The war buried then
and the doctrine No one now contends TO
any such doctrine. The Judge says that thu
High Court and the Attorney General are al
secessionists, and adds, Eve had no COCO
material to run against them" Well, we
want talents and marked ability in all oul
public affairs. If they have that. it lis not
necessary to inquire concerning their politi
cal faith. The Judges we do not regard as
politicians. We believe that the same kind
I of justice is administered to old line wings
as to states rights democrats. The law
books do not contain any rules drawing any
| distinctions between the two old parties,
nor do we believe that Judge Sharkey in
| tended to SO insinuate. When he sat on
the bench we are sure that party had
nothing to do with his decisions. Political
faith is not pinned to legal justice. Our
Attorney General has one arm less than he
had four years ago. The loss of his limb
hasn't changed his ideas OF law. If all our
officers were as able and faithful as these
''secessionists," "who have in their hands the
State Government" we would congratulate
ourselves upon having the most accomplish
ed, able and as "loyal" a set of officers as
ever took the oath to support the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and the State of
Mississippi. The Governor was of the same
party that claimed Judge Sharkey as
bright ornament once. He waged war
less loyal, nowg None of the Judges were
active in the field; why. then, are they
any more disloyal and unsafe than the
Governors We do not know upon what
principle Judge Sharkey can account for
this piece of evidence. But if the news
papers report him correctly it is quite evil
dent that the air of Washington city doesn't
agree with him, and he had better return
home before he loses the confidence of the
people who entrusted him with so much.
w We have been looking, and shall con-
tinue to look for expressions of the opinion |
of the press-for it is only in this way that |
the wishes of the people can be traced-or>
the subject of converting the Legislature |
Thus far the only objection We have seen
urged against it is in the Kinds County |
Gazette, which, nevertheless says, "the cir
,umstances under which we have been, and
Ire now surrounded, being extraordinary,
We have thought that just and enlightened
action should have been taken by the last
in behalf of the HONEST debtor
something for his protection against the ex-
lctions of the blood-thirsty and heartless
;reditor." The objection of the Gazette,
hen, is not to relief measures, in the present
which it is not willing to trust in devising
UGH measures.
AS to the danger of unwise and unconsti
utional legislation, the history of the late
tay 1aw is q sufficient proof that no such
cts will be passed with the Governors as
emit, or will stand if passed without it. The
My objection we can then see,is that of the
Expense of idle, fruitless legislation; and
Or fear of something of this sort, it is argued
hat we should be deprived at all chances of ,
UGH legislation as is actually needed But, ,
he circumstances under which the Legis- !
,ture would now convene are different from
hose Oflast year. Then there was a gem =,
raj feeling that great many things were .
D be done, but no definite idea of precisely :
hat was needed. Members were elected !
18th the understanding that they were to
o the best they could, but without any spe- :
heir constituents, who, in fact, were not in
condition. to advise them. Now many r
lonths have elapsed; men have been able !;
} think more to the purpose. The mails, .
1ministered with tolerable regularity, bring r
lem weekly and daily information of the :,
'ndition Of things and afford them a chan
81 through which to express their opinions. ;,
7e think, then, that we are now in better 6
osition for learning the wishes of the peo- =
q, and that they onght to be ascertained.
We do not urge the assembling of the ~
legislature; we only wish that the desires q
the people on this question should be r
ade known, and we think they are in q
vor of the measure. If it should prove !;
at they are, we are then disposed to insist n
BON compliance with their wishes, and :,
8 do not apprehend fruitless OF perni- h
ous result from a special session inaugu- N
ted under such circumstances, with the W
vantage of nearly year of private DELHI ii
alton as to what is desirable, what is prac- m
able and what is constitutional. "
lgAt meeting of the Bar of the 10th = :,
strict, on the 18th inst, at Carrollton, VI
dge Cothran presiding, resolutions of re- 10
ect were passed to the memory of those
embers who had fallen in battle or died in
e service. The following are their names:
Col. P. F. Liddell, Capt. P. A. Peeples,B. B. :.
we. Col. A X. Blythe, Lieut.. Col. D. L. Oh
IRON, Capt. F. NJ. Aldridge, Capt. w Ga Ga
'rton, Capt. John F. Cox, +. E. Miller, o. OF
MoEaohip | lie