American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-10-26
IL tie People Of lEi5sslsslppt!

IL the People OF ldtsStsstppt!
The state Convention Of tie Con
stitstiOnal Union Party, he'd lAihe
CITY of jackson, ON the 10th Of Oe-
tober, adopted ana pupiish asrese q /
tons expressive OF the epiniot.s .ellS
-pglieyoi Jlat-paiY, 10 WHICH we 'h-
vito special attention
BY a unanimous vote the CenveH-
ton advised the people hot to eote,
either upon the Convention question
or for Delegates, at the ensuing eiec-
ton under the Military Bin, "as
thereby we might involuntarily aid
in enforcing the provisions OF said
bill" a brief consideration viii
show the wisdom of this policy. BY
the terms Of the bill, two things are re
ouired to be done before Convention
can be called. First, "a majority OF
all the persons who have registered,
must vote at the election. And, Sec
ond, a majority of those who Go vote
must cast their vote for C0nven-
ton. To illustrate the workings OF
the Congressional plan, suppose that
100, 600 persons are registered as vo-
tiers, and that all who oppose a Con
yention decline to vote. In that case
the Convention would fail if even
10000 voted for it. But If 50,OOl
voted at the election, some for and
some against it, then 25,OOl votes
would secure the Convention. Thus,
if we decline to vote, it will requEe
one vote more than halt the entire
number of registered persons to carry
the Conventions; but if we vote, then
one vote'over one-qaarter of the regis
tered votes lHGy secure it. 1t is thus
seen how non-voting may be T" master
w." If the Delegates had been appor-
toned, as the bill requires, according
to the law of the State, we might have
elected a majority of delegates. The
manner of tire apportionment pre-
sents another, and. a strong reason,
for not voting at all. Some may de-
sire to vote at least for Delegates,
but such votes may be counted as
votes given for q Convention; and
we regard the policy as most unwlse,
if not fatal.
But this policy of non voting, does
not imply nOn-action. On thecontrary,
the Convention urges the people to
organise forthcith, an cce'y precinct,
and to WORK zealously for our prin-
cipIes. Upon our success depends
the supremacy of the Constitution
and the perpetuity OF the Union, civil
government, liberty and peace, The
success of the Radical plan involves
tbc destruction of the Constitu-
tion and the Union the overthrow
of civil order, and the prostration OF
industry. 1t presents no hope OF
peace or good to either population
white or black but threatens IN
mixed evil to both. Looking at the
results of the registration. it may be
truly said that Congress is unable to
contriye gainst us evils so monstrous
as those which may be imposed upon
MS if this plan of reconstruction IS
adopted. - .ta r
The result of the late elections
should inspire all to earnest Efforts
to support the Constitution and sc,
cure the restoration Of Constitutional
Deace and order. The conservatives
of Ohio went into the Canvassagalnst
triumphant majority of over 40, 900
votes and their opponents had all
that talent. skill and wealth, could
Give to aid them. You have heard
the Glorious result. Some of us had
hoped for a reaction in the North,
and lol delgGe sweeps over the
land. Hundres Of thousands OF Con
stitutional Union men, their num-
bers now swelling into millions, tx
hort us to be firm and patient and
law-abiding; and to work and wait Ill
hone, soon to be realized, for perfect
restoration of the Constitutional Gov
ernment of our Fathers, OUR AL
is at stake the CONSTITUTIONS the
Unions; our liberties; our every IN.
terest, social and political; and shall
we not labor to secure them y
The interests of the Freedmen are
he same as our own; and we freely
pledge to him all that he can enjoy
much more than he can ever secure
under the Radical plan, The fate OF
parties is constantly changing, aswe
now see at the North. The party
triumphantIy successful last year, is
now in danger of utter defeat; and
that defeat is caused in q great de.
gree, by hostility of Northern men to
negro Suffrage. If these States are
to be subjected to negro rule, the
Northern men will be, practically,
excluded from the South Negroes
will represent these States in Con-
gress and possessing this large bal
ance of power, will soon rule the
country. The Northern people begin
to see these things: and the result Is
that hundreds of thousands abandon
the Republican party.
IT was fatal policy to attempt to
make the poor negro ii scape- goat III
party politics. In the ups and downs
of party. he is sure to be the sufferer.
IL was q monstrous iniquity to drag
him in as an instrument OF party
'chicancry. :,
We must labor to save him as well
as ourselves and teach him that hls
welfare is inseparably connected
with our own. Let us all organize
and work. Let every speaker take
the field. Let the press put forth its