The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-01-29


10 the Editors Of the Clarion
GENTIENEN:- your daily issue Of yes
terday appears what purpoTts to be a report
lin substance" of the speech made by me
before the Legislature on the evening of the
2Jth inst
Ii could not reasonably be expected that
clear idea of my address of two hours could
Doe gathered from a report covering no more
than "a column and half in your paper; that
this compression would present me in n
rambling and disiointed form, might be cX-
pected 1t is not of this that l complain,
but that la several material points, am rad
ically HgjsC0pstTHcd l know this was not in
tended; l believe tie Clarion" is ready to
do me at least Justice. l now ask You to in
scrt this correction on some of the more Im-
portant points, SO that my correction shall
appear in your weekly issue side by side
with the report made
| am represented as having SAID that L
preferred political utilization with the radi-
calls North, to "A coalition with the democrats
in the same section here lies an error in
the report | expressly advised against
any coalition or utilization vii h any political
party or faction North | said that the demo
Gratis like all other men North had fouget us IN
person aud bv substitute. and so far as their
coursc towards rs i'm the late struggle was
concerned they were known to us only as
our enemies That | would not look ut any
Question or party in its relation to the dead
INST. that INV lace was 10 Nilt iuiuits ALll
was now searchingsfoT our lost liberty, that
we might once more rise TO the dignity of
frecmcn in n permanently restored Govern
neut: that, looking to the future without
prejudice what hope had we III the Demo
cratic party that II was poor, and not able
to-takc care of its Northern friends; that It
had been routed in every conflict with the
Young and growing Republican party; that
its issues were dead issues; that the party
was stronger today than 1t would ever be
again: that for that party there was no re-
surrection, and even If II had power, what
iuducement did il offer the people OF Mis-
sissinui As a reason for the restoration of for
mer alliances The members of that party
had voted unanimously in Congress against
the third section of the Constitutional
Amendment They had voted unanimously
that treason was crime, and traitors ought
TO be punished this vote, as all knew, was
I'M reference to the Southern people They
had voted in Congress, ALL except four,
arainst Mr. Scheucks resolution 10 appor-
ton REPRESENTATION according to the number
ofmalc citizens having The qualification re
ouisitc for the most numerous branch of the
Legislature. which resolution, had II passed,
Nvould have Increased the representative
power of the South. in this, that while the
S1uth would have lost representation for
four millions of blacks the North would
have lost representation for ten millions of
foreigners. Finally that the Democratic
party at the North had no power to help US,
irthev would, aud their record showed that
they would not. If they could
Next I spoke of the sections of the Con-
stitutionaI Amendment SeTidtiHt. OF the
second section, l said: The Constitution as
IL now exists gives the South full represen-
tation for all her blacks. that the same Con-
stitutiou gave us while these blacks were
slaves. representation for but three-hfths.
Could we expect To go back to Congress
stronger than when we came away Could
We hope FOR an increase of political power
rs result Of the war Aud could we con-
tend for this increased representation when
by every Southern State constitution, the
freedmen were excluded from computation
I'm the appointment of representation. As
the question now stood we denied that the
negro should be represented in the political
power of the State Government How could
we contend, with the hope of success, that
the negro should be computed m estimating
the representative power of the United
States Governments.
In speaking of the Amendment as "A whole.
I said: That was opposed TO its adoption
that il was submitted to us upon the simple
question of its merit; that no southern man
could vote for it IN this fOrm-that there
was no inducements But that if the Con
stitutional Amendment was submitted to
the South in the form of final adjust
ment of all questions in the way of reStora-
ton, then the question of its adoption
was AupthCr ana inherent OMIT
then became a question of diplomacy, a
question of expediency, and in this spirit
had no hesitation in declaring my willing
ness TO adopt at once. the first, second, fourth
and fifth sections of that amendment, and
stood ready TO debate the justice and the
propriety of the third but that il was only
IN the spirit of a tinalty that l would act,
and with this view. instead of rejecting the
amendment l would memorabilia Congress;
delegate a commission with authority TO
approach the Government of the United
States in the name of the State of MisSis-
Sippi, and respectfully ask the Uuited Stares
Government to make the first, second, fourth
and fifth sections of the amendment a final
lty, and if not this, then fix their fiuality,
ana when fixed our duty would be to con-
e'lef the demand as became men who recog-
.i@s ana appreciate the responsibility Of
1lat Whlle realizing the results of stub
hoFhessf brought home 10 ms from the late
80 - 4o0 prepared to initiate the
-. - = -: Vas for settlement, for
$50 - ail .. anu upon this, if the Issue
was iorceu upon me, was prenared for the
CONNECT and feared not the resnit
i spoke without notes, lint =
the substance of what said on su e, ABOVE Is
mentioned. Other misrepresentastH9ee points
important may hereafter notiee less
you will oblige me by the publication as stst
Very respectfully Yours &c, WIS
]. L ALcoRN.