American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-05-18

We publish below letter from
Hon. B. F. Perry, on the political
situation:
The United States shall guarantee
to every State i'll the Union repub.
lican form of government.-Section
4, Article Nv, Constitution of the
United States of America.
Under this authority the Congress
of the United States, after excluding
from their seats the Senators and
Representatives of ten Southern
States, has established in all the ex.
cluded States Military Government
absolute and unlimited in its power.
1t is wen krsown that these States
have exhausted their power and re.
sources in a gallant and heroic strug-
gle for independence and self.
government. They now have no
alternative but unqualified submis-
sion to the military despotism
thrown over them. 1t is to be hoped,
and it is generally believed, that the
military commanders in the Southern
States will exercise their despo.ic
powers wisely and humanely. 1t is
the administration of a government,
and not the form of a government,
which makes it odious and oppres-
sive. A despotism, wisely, justly
and virtuously administered, is the
most perfect government that can
be established. 1t is the government
of God, established by him for the
government of the universe.
Five or SIX months ago South
Carolina, with all the other Southern
States, rejected with scorn and in
dignation the constitutional amend
ment, which proposed to exclude
FROM Office their leading men, and
reduce their representation in Con
gress, unless pney permitted univer-
sal negro suffrage. NGw it is pro
posed by the Military bill not only
to exclude this class OF persons from
office, but to disfranchise them and
exclude them from voting in all
elections, and at the same time to
enfranchise their former slaves and
give universal suffrage to the negro.
Strange to say that there ire many
personsin the Southern States whose
high sense of honor would not let
them adopt the Constitutional
Amendment, who are now urging
the people TO voluntarily swallow
the Military bill, regardless of honor,
principle, or consistency. l am hap
py to know that they arc Ooeeoeiosa
lists, generally, and never were Union
men.
The inquiry is, which, then, shall
we dos Whilst l havelbeen writing,
the telegraph brings the glorious
news that Mississippi and Georgia
have appealed to the judiciary for
the protection of their constitutional
rights as sovereign States of the
Union. Would to God that
South Carolina stood by the side OF
Mississippi and Georgia, in their last
noble effort to maintain their dignity
and honor as States, and the just
rights and liberties Of their citizens.
If this last grand effort in favor of
freedom should fail, then the South
will have to quietly meet the tyranny
of Congress but, in meeting, she
need not embrace the hideous thing.
When the military order is issued
for registration of voters, let every
man, not disfranchised, go forward
and register his name. When the
election is ordered for a Convention,
it will be the duty of every voter tOI
cast his vote for the wisest, best,
and most trustworthy men, who are
eligible to seats in that Convention.
This much he is forced to do for self
protection, and to keep the State
government from falling into the
hands of unworthy and base men.
He need 60 Hu further. Let him
hen ;ndorse on his ticket, "No Con
rention." If he Is patriot and an
honorable man, he cannot desire the
change which the military bill con-
.eml lates, and he should not vote a
lie!
With the cunning which always
the tyrant, Congress
las enacted that the people them
selves shall endorse the call ola con
rention, in order to give legal validi-
" to its acts. Without this endorse
nent, the whole proceeding might be
regarded as forced on the States by
military government and therefore
null and void. Hence the trick OF
the people endorse the call
If a convention. 1t is to be hoped
hat they will not be caught by this
cunning device, and that they may
le able to influence their freedmen
% act with them. But should a
of the votes be for con-
then it il to assemble.
When it assemblies the honor and
lestiny of the State will be in its
leeping.
But if the people should vote "nO
what then2 1he honor
md dignity of the States will, at
east, not be thereby sacrificed by
heir citizens. We shall remain as
We are, under military rule, until
here is a reaction at the North. 1t
S already commenced in Connect |
nut, and will, sooner or later, sweep
,ver the whole Northwestern and
Middle States. Then we shall be
,estored to our rights IN the Union,
With honor uDsullied and the right
If suffrage unchanged. Lett us await
his Democratic triumph, be it a