The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-03-09
Negro suffrage.


tits a golden maxim that, she who
ruleth his own spirit, is better than
he who taketh CITY," A writer says,
that "beyond this self-conquest, the
highest courage cannot extend; nor
does philosophy teach anything more
sublime" The brave and high-spirit-
ed people Of the South have had am
pie opportunity for the display of this
moral heroism during the eventful
years of the recent past. To be Knocked
in their misfortunes by a foe destitute
ofmagnaniElity; to witness the wanton
dissertation of their household gods;
to behold the overthrow of their cher
ished social, political and industrial
institutions, are some of the trials to
which they have been subjected. Hav-
ing been borne down in struggle of
arms with foe outnumbering them
tenfold, and whose sources of warlike
supplies were inexhaustible, in bowling
to what seemed to be the stern DEGREES
of fate itself, they have exhibited the
moral heroism of self-conquest which
the wise man describes as more truly
sublime than any mere physical effort
The recent legislation of Congress
establishing negro suffrage in these
States, devolves upon them the neces-
sity of a further display Of this virtue.
Our faith is strong that in this trial
their conduct will bear evidence of the
same practical wisdom that has char
acterized their course since the over
throw of the Confederacy.
To say that the intellect and infor-
nation of this class, are unequal to
the very important task which has
been assigned them, is to assert what
every candid and intelligent person
will admit to be true.
The privilege of suffrage, when
exercised by virtuous and intelligent
people, is to be valued as useful part
of the machinery of government, but
the lessons of history are not needed |
to teach that it is precisely the re-
verse, when entrusted to the unin-
formed and licentious. To commit
government to such guidance, is like
launching ship upon tempestuous
sea, amid rocks, quicksands and whirl-
pools, without pilot at the helm. 1t
is this consideration that induced
the observation Of an eminent author,
that such an experiment cannot be in
dulged by the ignorant and uniformed
without destroying both their useful
ness and happiness, and that nature,
when her unerring laws thus have been
provides her own cure by
compelling the sufferers to flee from i
The state of anarchy they have pro- n
luced to the shelter which a mo- o
government affords.
While the people of the South are 6
lot responsible for the introduction d
# this new element into the ma a
hinery Of government, they are new n
rtheless to be affected by it; and con- O.
iderations of humanity and patriotism
ictate they should use every proper
fort to control it for good. U
To cherish towards the innocent ne y
TO spirit of resentment would be Of
ngenerous and unmanly. Rather o,
lould we feel pity for him that he has u
cen called to the performance of du- ol
es to which his capacity is SO un- :,
quail. However much they who are al
against ourpeace and hap L.
mess, may have striven to use him as X
convenient instrument for the ac- be
of their ends, there is VI
in the relation which for Ii,
Ierly subsisted between us as master gu
nd slave, and the reciprocal obliga- m
ons it involved, to forbid that the er
'rmer should take counsel ofso igno-
le a feeling. We are not to forget their tel
1elity as class throughout the long in,
I'd trying scenes of the war. On pr
e one hand the most tempting in res
Elements to the enjoyment of un- y.
stricted freedom teeming with the -.
VS. of life, without money and with etc
1t price, were held out to them; on an.
g other, were the ties of friendship wi
lich were the growth of long asso- am
alton in the patriarchal relation of Of
aster and slave. To these ties, as
class, they were faithful to the last
Id let it be said to their credit that TN
oueh the relation itself has been =
iely broken up, this principle rooted Co
their very nature, still nvincible, thi
serts its supremacy, and carries the de-
Inderer back from the scenes of the GA
citing joys which have turned TO the
hes on his lips, to the old home ant
,ad in search of those who had off
lde it dear to them in brighter and "a
PIPER days Alas, they have not PEE
1nd the graneries and store-houses IN T
ed with the good cheer that once bur
lddened their hearts, but they have
md that which misfortune could S
take away-the warm greeting pen
kind and sympathetic hearts. gun
let Us accept negro suffrage as an edu
vitable fact, not to be resented with Of I
,otent malice, nor to be treated pra'
stolid indifference. II the new 60 SO'
lrsgan Is unqualified for the impor- heir
duties committed to him, it is the dew