The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-03-16

make a choice, between two such monstTous
eyiIsq The one is infinitely more appalling
than the other, and being obliged 70 choose
as a man of reason, he win prefer the sssser
evil f
may be. forced TO part with my Lie OF my
arm. 1t is terrible to be forced to suoA az
tentative. When am, shall not be long /
IN deciding which it shall be.
You ask me if the act which forces this /
choice upon you, is not q hagrant violation I
Of the Constitution, and 50, may it at De .
so decided by the Supreme Court, ana had |
we not better waive the question and await |
the decision of that tribunal / reply, sure
IL il is a palpable violation of the Constltn-
ton. The admirable message of the Presi-
dent has exposed this tTiumphantly. lie
exhausted his power in the effort to prevent
the preparation Of such an outrage upon
the constitutional rights Of the people al
fected by it. But it is in vain We appeal to
a violated Constitution. IT is traIpled III
der the feet of those who had taaen an
oath to support il Then as to a reference OF
the question to the Court; there Is more
than a doubt whether it is possible for it to
come within its Jurisdiction. But, secondly,
if it could've should have experienced ali
the horrors of military rule, Tor twelve or
eighteen months, before a decision could
be had Whilst by different policy, We
could relieve ourselves of that rule IL half
that time Though we cannot rescue the
Constitution from the violation committed
in the particulars referred to. our duty Is not
/ the less imperative to strive TO prevent fur
ther violations OF it. Whilst one vital prin-
ciple survive. We should cling to il as "the
mariner cliugs to the last plank when nigh
/ and the tempest have gathered around him"
/ By such a course We may hope to see tran
! guilty the sooner restored, and the bless
/ ings of peace and prosperity dispensed
throughout the length and breadth of our
now distracted country. Contrast the con
dition which may be brouglt sb5se by jul
/ dicious exercise Of the right Of sU4frage by
every man who possesses it, witt. the map
/ peasable ferocity of martial Law, or The
scarcely less to be deprecated ciyi1 despotism
now prevailing in Tennessee, u der the de
mon Browulow, aud reflect shat mastery
/ inactivity" IS responsible Tor that state of
things there, for had every man voted who
was allowed to do so, they would have ar
rested the course which cannot now ne re-
moved. Besides You, have it n your power
to hasten the removal OF the prescription
against your fellow-citizeus, now deprived of
the right to vote or hold Office, and to in
crease the chances OF maintaining the as
tendency of the Jcbjios.
II is said We dishonor our elves by pursu-
ing the course / have recommended. Did
General Lee bring dishonor upon himself
and his command when he surrendered to q
force lie could no longer resist,-a the effort
to resist which only involved the lives OF
his heroic troops We are as poweTIess to
resist the force opposed to us, as he was.
The case is simply this: rejection of the
act will nor pycrcat its creeeaoa,and will pre-
cpitate confscation. Aec,Ptapce Of it mag
avert that last and dire calamity. l do not
say it lriU. The chances are it viii not But
as there is one chance, at least, in the latter
case, and not one, in the former, it IS the part
of prudence to play for that chance.
There are two roads before me. They ore
both beset by dangers. The one more So
IMAM bIC btIiCl W III AiSssA tlc oiiS W GA
offers the best hope of safety.
I have been long racAed upon bed OF
sickness. I have passed through many vi
cissitudes alternating between hope and des
pair. My physician tells me lie has exhaust
ed5his skill, that there is q desperate RENE
dy never used until all others have failed
that there is bare possibility OF my recoy
cry, if l take it, that l win certainly die if
do not take it. Ii that extremity, seeing
that non-action, or mastery inactivity" il
6 death, embrace the last hops Shall 1 ac
with less prudence when the life of my coun
try is in peril3
By mastery inactivity" we failed to arm
, the negro with the Du8ket for our defence
) The Yankee armed him for our snbiugation
He is now armed with the taUot We can
: not take it from him. Shall it be use,
2 for us, or against us, is the practical ques
4 tionl
have extended my reply much beyon,
: my intention or expectation. I feel deepI.
sensible Of the delicacy of my position.
would have been very glad to have been ex
3 eused from saying anything, but when call
, ed ON, l could not refuse to express my can
, did convictions of the alarming crisi
through which, in the Providence of God, w
are called to pass.
? Very Respectfully,
JX~EJ D-TnN-