The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-13
The New Political POwer---IHOw
Shall il be Welded?

Immediately upon the passage o
the Reconstruction Bills, quoting thu
maxim that che who ruleth his owl
spirit is better than he who taketh {
city," we stated that by the advance
ment of the negro to the privilege O
suffrage, the patience and forbearanct
of our people, would be subjected tc
severer tests than ever before-tha
this feeling was not due to any senti
ment of hostility to that class, but
because that their minds had not
been trainnde tn--a --->-.----->.-~-Is ~ ~
sponsibility to which, without their
agency, they have been called. The
comforting of the privilege of voice
in the legislation of the cou ntry upon
vast array ofnearly half million of
men, we felt to be a matter of no trifing
import; and holding it to be the ire
versible decree ola Government which
had acquired the unrestrained power
to govern us, it seemed to be the die
tate of wisdom that this large voting
element should be controlled by all
legitimate and honorable means, so as
best to subserve the true interests of
both races. 1t needed no argument
to demonstrate tn at this measure was
devised, not as an act of justice to the
black race, but as means of perpetu-
ating the power of the dominant Rad
ical organization. But it was well
known that Adventures and emissaries
wholly foreign to both races, in feel
ing and sympathy, would be sent to
control the vote of the freedmen so as
to accomplish the ends we have de-
,scribed. Hence we urged that the
measure should not be treated with
stolid indifference, nor in a spirit of
revenge towards the new class of vo-
tiers, but that they should be enlight-
ened in spirit of kindness and con-
Citation by the people among whom
they had always lived, for the proper
exercise of their novel duties as citi-
zens.
Our ideas on this subject are well
expressed by Col Hillyer, in his ex-
cellant paper, the Natchez Courier, as
follows:
rtyp ,-v,a< warm
The colored people here at home should
De talked with by those in whom they have
long had confidence; and it should be shown ,
to them, as can easily be done, that Union |
Leagues are not necessary for their political ,
status or their industrial pursuits. These ,
leagues are usually started by designing
white men. who wish to make the ne0ro'e !
step ladder to Office The latter
are too often trying to use the negro, not for ;
his good, but to make money out of it. There :
are some exceptions, doubtless; but they are !
exceptions to the general rule. I
The Eegro has been invested by Congress \
with certain great privileges and RESPONSE {
Jilities, and while we appeal to the highest :
tribunals in the land to declare the whole i
military policy of Congress unconstitutional, Z
We must not forget that in the mean time b
he negro has q weapon in his hand which il
ome one must and will teach him how to \
Use. And the article in the Times strikes us 81
With force, as to whether we are doing our "
Whole duty to the white race and to the N
lack. by letting that teaching pass into the y,
ands of those who get up midnight leagues, b
nd seek to persuade the cOlored race they b,
re their only friends. The ideas presented Il
y the Times are worthy Of more than
assing though. What is seen in Richmond In
lay yet be felt in Natchez. W
If any reason additional to the fore Z
DING be needed to convince our peo- be
lie of the duty which bids them adopt Pc
he wise admonitions of the Courier, it in,
abundantly furnished in the follow 20
g extract from the Anti-Slave Stand TN
I'd, of the 2nd inst Read and reflect Pa
The success Of the Radical wing of the all
'minant party will. in great degree, de vii
nd upon the progress Of the rec0nstruction an,
oyement, and ne cledraoss srifh rhich Re tut
ely egfrdHchised cifisus saaH 80 on tcRicK 1
e stand their f1iflfai aid siHoresf fiends spu
le eoiored votes 70 be sdded TO our poll rec
2 going to do much more than restore a. sha
Tal the now unrepresented States they ass
. n1ls doni11nf f11f parry ror trtioh n to J
near yHisre ~ resaoulded political orgsai- no
'ons q n4ioriy II fhsir S6ts vi Be giuea. ten