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

MS, not only the constitutional amendmenv
which we have rejected, but TO auu tolD
Universal suffrage Aud they now tell us
that nothing loss will ever be accepted BY
C,ongress or the people of the North, ana
TINT the rejection of these by the Southern
people will be followed by increased rigor,,
and the general exclusion Of rebels from al
political privileges, if not by the appropria-
ton of their property to the uses Oh inc gov
| eminent.
| tbat y the adoption of the constitutional
amendment by us should be received as q
settlement, they reply that they 80 intended
IL. and that such would have been the result
| And as an earnest of their good faith they
| point to their action in the prompt admis-
sion or Tennessee when she adopted the
amendment, and the action of thqSenate IN
reference to the modification of tlBtest oath
| to permit one of her Senators TO take hla
seat who was very hostile to their party
When their attention Is called to the fact
that the people Of the South regarded 1t very
humiliating to be required to record the
decree of exclusion of their representative
men, who executed their will from positions
Of official trust, they reply that the position
of the conquered Is always humiliatlng
But that this was no more humiliating
than IL was for General Leo to surrender his
sword to General Grant when he had no fur
ther means of successful resistance; and no
more hninilating than it was for w, under
the direction of the President to meet in
solemn convention and repeal the ordinance
of secession, which he had passed with so
many demonstrations of proud defane--no
more humiliating than it was for us, who
boasted of our State credit to berequired to
repudiate our State war debt-and no more
hnmiliating than it was, after we had con-
temned Mr.. Lincoln's emancipation proela-
nation, to ratify it as part OF the Consttu-
ton of the United States, and incorporate 1T
into our State Constitution.
When told that so large proportion OF
our people have, at some time in their lives
held office, and sworn to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, that the adop-
ton of the amedment will render it next to
impossible for us to organize our courts
without the importation ofjudges, or to find
suitable men to fill our county offices, they
say they We're not aware that this class was
so large as it is now represented to be, but
that Congress will still have the power by
atwo-thirsls vote, to relieve them, and they
do not doubt that compliance with the terms
on our part will so far soften the feelings OF
the people of the North, that our judges and
other officers will very soon be relieved, ex-
cept our political leaders, who may be re-
period. Il
These are the views Of the more moderate
wing of the party in power 1t is no longer
question whether the freedmen shall vote
that is already deereed in his favor but
the question is, whether the white lien who
aided In the war against the United States
shall vote This will not bepermitted If we
continue to throw obstacles in the way of
reconstruction upon the basis of the cepsti-
sniff
As have already stated, the bills passed
in the House embody the substance of the
more radical programme, except upon the
question of general confscation, for which
the popular sentiment is not yet prepared
The Military bill was amended in the Senate
on the motion of Mr.. Sherman, SO as to allow
each State to be relieved and re-admitted
upon the adoption of the constitutional
amendment and universal suffrage, the lat
ter to be secured by constitutional provis-
ions in each State, and the Constitution to
be approved by Congress The BILL as
amended, was sent back to the House, where,
if the kilograms are reliable, the amendment
was rejected, the majority Of the House be-
ing unwilling to recognize the present State
governments and re.admit us to Congress
upon our compliance with the terms con-
tanned in the Sherman amendment. 1t
seems, however, from the dispatches pub
lished, that this was afterwards reconsider
ed, and what is known as the Wilson amends
ment, which excludes all persons included in
the constitutional amendment from office,
was adopted as an additional provision. And
also, an amendment that the present State
governments are to he regarded as only pro-
visional, to be displaced at the will of Con-
greSs. AS thus amended, we are informed,
the bill has passed both Houses, and will no
doubt become q law, without the Presidents
sanction. This simply gives us few more
days of grace, which is tho best that even
Republicans will sanction. II our
people improve the time. and act promptly, |
we may save something if we do not, all is
lost. Our prompt adoption of the constitu-
tional amendment and universal suffrage |
would, in my opinion, settle the question. |
Nothing less ever will. 1t might have the |
further effect of adjusting the unhappy diff
ferences which exist between the President |
and Congress. He has contended all the
while that the question of suffrage belongs
10 the States If they move and extend it,
le has no reason to BE disgleasssdJ On Tbs
he State Governments established under his
Erection, without the adoption of the cou-
titutional amendment and universal suf-
rage. By compliance on the part of the
states, Congress maintains its point of hon
II. The Democratic members of Congress
AVE agreed with the President that the suf-
rage question is one for the States to decide.
he pride of each party has been staked upon
he maintenance of its position. Unfor-
unately forms, while this fight is progress
1g, we are between the upper and the Meth
+ milestone, being ground to atoms The
niger it lasts the worse we are ruined
Here, then, the inquiry naturally presents
self, what is best for us to do? answer,
Agree with thine adversary quickly" We
re PROSTATE and powerless. We can offer
0 further resistance. The conquerors die
tie their own terms, which are heightened
severity by the delay of the conquered to
sept them. Because we have lost i'm
ensely, is it wise stnbbornly, to sacrifice
he little that is left to us The decree has
)ne forth that some of us, myself among I
hers, who were called to lead our people \
nd direct public affairs during the late I'M i
lppy Struggle, shall be disfranchised, and
) least politically sacrificed. Ifthc sympa 9
lies of those whom we represented were not !
it'll us, they would be less than human
ut is it best that they cling to us till they '
I'VE made beggars of their wives and chill n =
en- and plunged themselvefinto irretriev- z
lie ruin, when their fidelity can do us no Q
'od ? think not. Justice to their wives b
I'd children require, that we do not eneour- p
% them in this course. And above all, if "
ace, quiet and returning prosperity can be "
stored to our unhappy country by the sac y
ice, we should make it without further =
station or delay.
Let us accept the position, as we have al p
ady professed to do, in good faith. Let us in
Q to it that the laws are faithfully ard i'm 81
rtially executed-that the most proscrip- b
1e loyalist, and the most degraded freed I'll
IN, have the same measure of right and OF
stice, which is meted out to our own peo- al
.. As all are obliged to admit that there ~
n be no future separation, and as we have ~
osen to remain under the Government of 81
Q United States, rather than seek homes bI
ewhere, we should now do all in our pow sa
while we claim its protection, to dis tr
arge faithfully, all our duties and citizens. We
we live under it we should look to it as sa
} Government of our own choice. Its flag pi
now our flag its credit our credit, and we an
mid determine, come what may, to forget Oil
past, and defend and sustain both with
our ability in the future. We have in =
} South country of vast fertility and II
at natural resources. They need develop
Mt We have entered upon a new era.
need capital and labor Neither will In
ne till our difficulties are settled, and our
itical status defined. Every Northern
n or foreigner who brings physical
myth or capital into Georgia, adds to her
18th, and should be regarded as a friend.