The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-02-20


NEssRs. EDToEs: But few weeks since
both branches Of our Legislature showed it
self harmonious unit in its vote on the
Constitutional Amendment. On Saturday
last the House rudely, not to say angrily,
divided on the vote upon the report and res
olutions from the Committee ON State and
Federal Relations upon the propositions
from Gov. Sharlley. To-day the same thing
occurred in the Senate. And why is this !
Why should the Legislature, and conse-
qucutly the whole people of the State, be
rent in twain upon this vital question-both
parts OF which viii doubtless, like the loath-
some polypus, put out a spontaneous head
and become living autagouistic parties to
disturb and harrass our desolaUcd state,
until the common enemy, by renewed op-
pressions. reunite into harmonious whole
What serious objection is there to Col.
Simralis report and resolutions They
commit us to nothing either expressed or inn
piled. and from our recent refusal to adopt
the Constitutional Amendment, the infer
euce would not be just that we would favour
any proposition that was not less objection
able to us. We therein only respectfully
ask of Congress a full bill of its claims Ga
/ fnaIity) against the State before she can be
granted her rights in the Union. Is it too
/ humiliatiug or condescending to be thus re-
1 spectful towards this branch of the Govern
ment l contend that gentlemen are always
polite to both friends and foes. The Bible
/ tells us that You pile Goals of fire on your
cuemys head by showing him kindness
4 Chesterfield SAYS You loose selfrespect when
YOU cease to show it to others, and John
/ Randolph, when asked why he raised his hat
/ to a negro, said he would not permit negro
/ to be more polite than he was
/ And. admitting that this report and these
/ resolutions show little Difference to Con
/ gross, did we not show not only Difference
/ but degradation to President johnson Did
not our Convention voluntarily emancipate
our slaves. declare against the right of scces-
sion, and repudiatc all war debts solely to
couciijatc him And this. too, not because
he was doing all for the South he could do,
1 but because he was not doing all against her
1 he might Did he endorse and carry out
( Grant and Sherman's treaty with Lee, which
/ he might have done, thereby pardoDing JEFF.
Davis and all of our other officers, let our
/ State into the Union with all her rights and
saved the life of the poor murdered Mrs.
Surratt No sirS, did he attempt to do
any thing for the relicfof the South until he
was as impoteut to accomplish it as you or
l, and it occurred to him to try to form a
johnson party out Of the copperheads of the
North aud the SoutLerners, by which he
would be retained in power. Then where
was the good sense OF policy to keep mp ne
gotiauons with the President and that
too when it only tended to increase the zeal
ousy of the other and only potential branch
OF the Government and make it offer Us
harder terms for reconstruction.
But / repeat the report and resolutions
from this Committee do not make any CON
cessions 10 Congress. 1t only asks it to give
us ITS ultimatum or dnality and we would
take it under respectful consideration" as
to whether we would adopt it. That any
further degradation can attach to sucb an
overture as this, or that any public ipiurv
can be the result of it. l cannot possibly
conceive. 1t viii certainly do no harm and
may do much good Discretion is the be.-
ter part of valor,' and temeritv. bravado
and fooi-hardineSs at this crisis of the States
history, Is much to be deplored. P.
jackson, Feb. Is, 1867,