The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-03-13

4 o P.'Wright, j. G. Napier, a9t
Thee y, Whitfield dtSsLi :. I. Power,
Reply OF Hon. A. m. Johnston
$50 JACKSON, March u, 1867.
To Messrs John w. Robinson, W. II. Allen
Thomas Il. Helm, and others:
GENTLEMEN Your letter of the 9Th inst
addressed to Hon. VIM. Yerger, Hon. Z
Barksdale, Hon. Wiley P. Harris, Gen. T.
Wharton, Fulton Anderson, Esq, Hon. j
w. Robb and myself, was handed to m,
yesterday evening. You ask from me q re
sponse, expressive ofmy opinion as to tn,
proper course to be pursued by Mississippi
under the recent Congressional legislation
placing our State under military rule, ant
providing for the formation of State Gov
eminent recognizing negro suffrage, and ex
GLIDING portion of the white citizens o.
the State from voting or holding Office
Although, gentlemen, / have no expecta
tion that my views on this monentous ques
tion will have any influence on the public
mind, and although | really feel disinclined
to assume any prominence in this matter
however my sensibilities may be affected by
what has transpired ; still, as you have re-
quested me to state my views on this ques.
tion, I proceed to do SO, without attempting
to give all the reasons which conducted my
mind to the conclusions shall now briefly
express.
If we had any choice in the matter, OF
course such principles as have been dictated
to us by Congress, would not be ratified and
adopted by the people of mississippi 1t is,
howevera fact, Unpleasant as may be the
rehectiou,) that we have no choice to exer-
else that we are, for the present, at least,
completely at the mercy of the Radical par
ty; and that we have no alternative but to
submit to such public measures as that par
ty may choose to inflict upon us. Let us do
so, with such resignation and dignity as we
may be able to exercise.
Whether we are to have negro suffrage in
this State, and class of our white citizens
disfranchised, is no longer question pending
for discussion. That measure has already
been firmly established and we have no
power to suspend its operation. Our future
must be developed under such influences.
The revolution in our political and industri-
al condition is complete and irrevocable.
Ifthose of our people who are still permit
ted to vote and hold office do not participate
IN organizing the "loyal' State Government
about to be established, the few Northern
radicals residing within our limits, acting
with the great multitude of negro voters,
will certainly effect the work without our
cooperation. In every point of view, it
obviously advisable for every white voter in
the State promptly to participate in the
work of reconstruction by repairing to the
ballot-box in due season, and thus
endeavor to give the best possible
direction to that flood of social
Ind political innovation which cannot, pos
IDLY be arrested in its onward course. This
nay, possibly, save us from another act of
terrible oppression which many sagacious
md reflective men in our midst are well con-
7inced is seriously meditated by the Radical
eaders, if not, even now, actually settled as
BART of their future policy. allude, as you
10 doubt apprehend, to a general confsca-
ion of our property.
A course of inactivity, and sullen refu-
al to do any thing, in this great crisis, ac-
by useless repining and denunei-
.tion, would prove very injurious to the
uture Of our State, by tending to prolong
he present uncertain and unsettled state of
fairs, and by nhording pretext to the
uling power in the general government, to
ontinue the work of oppression, in which
uch terrible progress has already been made
1t is very desirable that this long and
Unions struggle between the sections,
hould be terminated, in some way-in the
est mode possible, in view of the situation
military rule, with no vestige of
ivil government, and no safeguard for
roperty, for liberty or for life, is an evil
DO horrible for contemplation, and scarcely
o DO endured. Almost any government
Tould be far preferable to that.
We can never have any thing like renewed
rospcrity in our unfortunate and desolated
tate until we shall inaugurate we'll set
led and peaceful civil government of some
ind. We all know that we cannot secure
State government confOrmable to our own
Jews and wishes. We must, of necessity,
lbmit to Just such State government as K
ur conquerors prescribe. Without advert
~ to tho means by which we have been
rought to this deplorable and humiliating ,
as a people, let us, Gas indeed we
70 bound to do,) realize our condition, and !
o the best we can for ourselves, for otf pos {
lrity, and for our common country. Ia
1t may not be necessary for the State of |
ississippi, as now organized, to make an {
nmediate mOvement-for assembling Con- '
sntiOn. The military bill. as passed by the '
st Congress, seems not to indicate any {
lrticular manner for assembling the con- I
mplated Conventions and we are at loss
know whether it was designed that the
ate Government, as it now exists, should \
sumo the initiative. or whether we should C
raft some action on the part of the expected S
ilitary ruler. II is, however, now under il
bod that the present Congress is about en- 4
ting supplemental bill, providing o
: registration Of all the voters Of the o
ate whom they recognize as qualified, pre- p
rstory to a military proclamation, ordering S
election for delegates to the Convention. II
oeeurs to me that we ought to remain in o
i've until we are advised as to the nature Il
that expected legislation, and then act. o.
promptly conforming to its requirements 81
be ordered. let all our people
o are deemed qualified. proceed to enroll Q
imselYes, land when election day arrives, d.
y should all repair to the ballOt-box aud in
o in good faith, and with circumspection- III
Us, we shall make the most of bad ei
ng," and, perhaps, save some fragments Al
m the melancholy wreck of our public 20
private fortunes. to
believe that the proposed Constitutional pc
endment, rejected by our late Jegisla- TO
c, should be adopted; for il is utterly inn VI
sible to secure representation In Congress OF
il ne do this That amendment viii be
into the Constitution q the {