The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-23
Mississippi.

The Jackson (AIiss.) Clarion, April 10-BAHKs-
DALE's paper publishes q letter from Ex-Governor
JouN J. ,NaRAE, Of that State, upon the necossi-
nounces it calm and statesmanlike review of the
political situation. The Clarion continues:
IF the armies of the Union had been defeated,
the Confederate States would have been masters
of their own destiny, and their government would
have been independent of foreign control. But,
unfortunately, tho war resulted otherwise. Our
armies surrendered. Internationally 70 surerlor
forces; the Co lfederacy was swept out OF eXls-
tence; and the United States Government acquir-
ed the power to rule over us. We can no
more resist this decree of tho God Of Battles than
stop the wheels of time In the exercise Of its &C
uuired power that government has prescribed the
conditions on which the Confederate States ny
resume their places in the Union; but has loft to
them the choice Of reorganizing on these condi-
tions or remaining unaer martial law, with a
| clearly defined prospect of still more rigorous
terms at future day. Ex-Governor McRae argues
that in yielding to tho inevitable necessities of our
condition, it is the part Of true wisdom for our
people to adopt the former alternative and to enter
vigorously upon the business Of reconstruction,
Which must be ended before they can escape from
this reign Of chaos and anarchy-this night Of
gloom and uncertainty.
EX-GOVERNOR M'RAE's LETTER.
In the course Of his letter, which is addressed to
RCV. BlSlOp fGyn6, anu ulGcQ buScaGuuua, MISS.
March 80, Ex-Governor McRae says:
| belong to tho excluded class in the organiZa.
ton Of tho State government, because the people
OF mississippi have heretofore roposcd their con-
tidenca in mo in too high degree as one Of their
public men. would sacrifice anything for them,
and now say to them, through you, willingly
sacrifice for their sake all right to Office, position
and suffrage, under these reconstruction meas.
urcs, of which am by them dcbarred, and advise
those who are entitled under these acts to regis.
ter and vote.
| So far as the freedmen are concerned, would
not advise them to register or to vote unless il
shall appear that bad mon are likely to improperly
| influence then and lead them astray. In thai
event they ought to register and our people should
advise with them and enable them to vote inelli-
gently. As wo are their friends are they ours
| and will prove themselves SO when All issue shall
| he made to test that question. I know it was g
conviction on the part of the ultra abolitionists
INV radicals) before secession, it it resulted III
war, that when the war was proclaimed tc
be for the emancipation of the slaves
| there would be general inslrrection--it was
| O serious apprehension on the part OF our OWL
| people, But the negroes were never more faithfu
| than during the war They are now frco-theil
condition is changed, and, without our care the
fanaticisn which has liberated will eXterminatc
them. We should cherish for them nothing but
sympathy; they will be our friends, and we will be
their protectors until their race is rum
What ON people havo now to do is TO conform tc
the legislation Of Congress under the Sherman
Military Bill and the Supplementary Act to carry
it out. by this means our State may be restored
to the Union, and our condition perhaps be bet
tered; il not, VIC may be relieved from evils which
| threaten Us in tho future more than these meas
ulcs propose. 1t is hard to be driven to the wall
but when we arc We cannot so behind it.