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

| W ~'A w S~"""oS O'ViJ OHOIt WO nI'
capable Of making.
The Constitutional Amendment
and the Military IBiII Cons
sldered.
Mr.. EDITOR; The Military Bill is thu
Constitutional Amendment intensified; ant
we are now placed under this Bill, to DO on
forced with all the rigor Of military dicta
tor with no law but this Bill and martha
law, which is but the will ofthe commander
and, in this case, with standing army a.
his command to enforce his DEGREES; and W.
can have no relief from this state Of thing
until we accept the terms of the Constitu
tional Amendment. The question then is
how long is 1t necessary or proper to wait
and what will we gain or loose by waiting
Mt all2 five act now, all tho white men
will be allowed to vote for delegates to the
Convention to amend our Constitution, ex
cept those that are or have been Governors
Congressman, Legislators, Judges, or officers
ofthe United States army, and had sworn
to support the Constitution of the United
States as such, and gtfereard engaged in IRE
bellion;" and in framing new Constitu
ton, we will have the choice of granting
universal manhood suffrage, or of lessening
our representation in Congress by withhold-
ing the franchise from the black citizens
In either event, the black citizen will be en-.
titled to vote for the delegates to the Con
vention and so long as we remain under
tho Military Bill, he is entitled to vote at all
elections.
Now If we wait one month, one year, or
five years. where is the chance, or hope of a
chance for anything betterq But, on the
other hand, we know that every day we
wait but adds fuel to the flames, 10th North
and South; and We also know that time
will but give an opportunity for evil-dis-
posed minds to tamper with the untutorcd
voters, and five wait until the army is sta
TONED all over the country, we but multiply
the chances of their success. And by watt
ing We give Mr.. Stevens and his co-workers
time to work upon the passions and preju-
dices Of the uniformed voters of the So
called loyal States--so that, in a short time,
he may be enabled to so amend his Military
Bill as to disfranchise half of the present
white voters; and it is said that he is now
preparing his Confscation bill.
What success he may have with that am
not disposed to conjecture, but the changes
from bad to worse have been very rapid
lately.
The decree has gone forth, that whether
future elections, unless we exclude him after
the Constitutional amendment,
and thereby lessen our representation in
Congress.
shall not pretend to say what will be
the condition of things when we have Mil
itary Dictator, with his petty dictator, in
every county, town and railroad depot
each vested with the right to make, and the
power to execute all laws to suit himself
with the right to try all causes, whether
theft, arson or murder, and even to divorce
man and wife, or do any other unlawful
thing, with the voice of the Governor hushed
into silence-with the Courts in every
county, circuit and district, broken up, sus-
pended or held at the will of a dictator;
with standing army subject to his order.
These are unpleasant facts, but none the less
facts, and call for serious reflection and wise
council as to how we must act before we can
ret relief I ask again, how long shall we
wait and what can we make by waiting9
If it is fact and | suppose no one will
leny ii, that we are under the military bill
md have to remain there until we take
ourselves out, say lot us have an under
tanding at once and settle the question of
inc, and then prepare ourselves as best we
an 1t is the masses Of the people that is to
70 affected by this bill, and it is their pre-
ogatiye to decide the question of time; and |
nd insist that they should be consulted |
pom this all-important subject as soon as
ossible and the only effective way to do
his is for the Governor to convene the
legislature and they to order an election for
elegates to a Convention. In conclusion,
beg to say, that feel as deep an interest
the honor and future welfare of our be-
wed State as it is possible for any man to
,el.
have given you, Mr.. Editor, in the fore
ping remarks, candid expression of my
Jews and the positive duty which think
,volve upon us at the present moment.
any good and true men may differ with
Q in opinion, but an honest difference of
L. I n |
no cause of offense to any let all be con-
tied, let all have an opportunity to speak
themselves through the ballot box upon {
is great question; and am content to 5
ide the will of a majority. Mississippi is !
7 home, her friends are my friends, her
emies are my enemies.
PUBLICOLA. {