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

ers,
GENTLEMEN With a reluctance greater
than ! ever felt in answering any eommunl- /
cation, | proceed to reply 10 your letter OF (
the 8th inst. Being of the prosecuted class
it may be thought that it would be in better
taste Tor ne 20 remain silent. That policy I
would certainly be more agreeable to my /
feelings. II not unfrequently happens, /.
however. that We are called upon 10 saeri-
ice our feelings on the altar of duty. These
are very eighty and solemn duties resting
OF every citizen, whether he be disfranchised
or not, in this most unprecedented and peri
lous crisis The fact that am disfranehised'
only INTENsIFIEs the interest / feel IN the
welfare Of the country. Denied voice IN
The election Of the men, aud the adoption OF
the measures which are to control Its oe5tl-
MES, turn with only deeper anxiety TO
those who are still permitted to exercise the
prerogatives Of freemen. Determined as lam
10 share the fate of my country, for veal or
for woe, I shall only the more actively en-
rloy the privileges I retain to avert greater
impending calamities from that country l
will never despair of the Republic until the
last vestige Of the Government established
by the Constitution has been annihilated,
Decisive as the hope may be- will stIl
fondly cling to it, that when the phreRzy Of
the hour has passed, the hitter experience OF
those who have been instrumental in pulling
down the pillars Of Constitutional Govern
moHt to crafty an insane lust OF power viii
induce them to retrace their steps and re-
establish the great principles they have
subyerted.
Those who know anything of my humble
course, IN the past, need not be told that l
have adhered teuaciously, all my life long,
to the school Of State Rights. So Jealous,
indeed, has been my advocacy of the tenets
Of that party that have been denomiuated
an EXTREMIST | am free TO say, there was
never moment, during the late struggle Of
arms, when l would have consented TO any
settlement which did not embrace our INDIE
PENDENCE. Slavery, and every other issue
involved. would have subordinated to this
one grand idea. After the surrender, ar
IDENTIFY desired to see the South assume
position Of mastery inactivity or dignliied
freely expressed it in opposition to all con-
cessions Recognizing the validity OF the
ordinance of secession, and having referred
the controversy to the arbitrameut of arms
| accepted, in good faith, the award from
which there was, and is no appeal l could
not deny the right Of the oonqueror TO pre-
scribe terms to the conquered, however in
4
stantly proclaimed through the messages
and preclamations of the President, and
resolutions.Of Congress, that the wax was
waged for no purpose of subjugation, but
solely to enforce the constitution and laws,
and that when this was yielded by the par
ties in rebellion the contest should cease.
leaving the constitutional rights of the
States and individuals umimpaired." Accep-
/ ting the fact that slavery was dead, and that
I by force of arms we had been denied the
exercise of the right to seceGe, | would
meyer have conceded that the former
was killed by our hands, OF that the latter
never existed. l would have said to our
conquerors, your superior numbers and re-
/ sources have prevailed over Us, and we have
/ been compelled to surrender our arms. We
/ viii not sully the lustre which was shed upon
/ our escutcheon by those who maintained the
unequal struggle for four long years, 10y
prostrating ourselves az suppliants licking
/ the dust from the feet of our conquerors
I and kissing the hand just raised to strike
! We have returned to our allegiance to tbs
/ Constitution and laws of the United States
+ with firm purpose to do everything in oul
/ power to restore the Government to its
/ pristine purity. We are in your power
/ Do with us as you like.
Then was the time, if ever, when the
mastery inactivity" policy should have
/ been adopted. Above all things I desired
/ that the obnoxious measures threatened by
/ the Radicals, if they prevailed, should b,
forced on US, not invited by us, And so il
reference to the act enfranchising negroes
/ | have no liberation for those who before
hand were paving the way for it, or hal
way excusing it.
have said this much to show that hav,
not been swift to advise concessions, with
view to proptiate Radical favor In tn,
/ out due regard to the honor of the State
now say that, not taking counsel of my
feelings, but of my Judgment, looking the
crisis straight in the face and comprehend
ing, as / believe do, the alternative sub
mitted to me acceptance of the proposed
Constitutional Amendment, or perpetuatio1
of Martial Law,) prefer the former to til,
latter.
I despise both and would gladly be ex
cused from making choice between them
But if 1 do not make the choice, it viii b,
made for me, and they have told me what j
win be. How much more in consouanc,
with my feelings, and all the impulses o
my nature, to say to those who have forced
the choice upon us-"be We juggling fend
no more believed, who palter with me in
double sense, who hold the promise to tn,
ear, and break it to the hope
We have to deal with things as they ore
not as we would hare them. The sentiment
would be more apt to awaken sympathy il
the Southern heart, which finds voice in The
! declaration made every day: Il viii not as
sist in forging the chains TO bind my owl
limbs By no act or word of mine shall
this infamous deed be consummated. Upo1
the heads ofour cruel oppressors, let the Re
spOnsibiIity rest. will never aid in dis
franchising and degrading those whom
voted to place in the lead of a cause as deal
to me as to them, and in enfrauchising tn,
vulgar and illiterate negro"
But the deed is done and the power to en-
force it accompanies it, and viii be execu
ted, whether you make choice OF not of tn,
/ evils presented. You are not consulted
whether the negro be allowed to vote, o.
whether there shall be a Convention. Thos,
are foregone conclusions. They are as fixe(
/ as fate. Neither mastery iH-activity," oi
the most mastery activity, can avail any
thing as to those points. Not only are yo1
not allowed voice in those matters. bu
/ the latest adviees from Washington clearly
indicate that your Legislature VIII not b,
/ permitted TO call the Convention. Ever
/ that viii be provided for, and Congress il
! self viii exercise the power, or confer i
/ upon the General commanding the District
/ suppose the policy of those who advocat,
/ RoR-actioR prevails, in the election of del
H.-, . -