The Oxford falcon., 1867-10-12

1
Convention, or should refuse 90 rati-
81 tlle Constitution which may by 7
formed, what Is 10 be the conse- /
QucnccG Ofcourrc, at the Very worst, !
Ourgovernm6nt must remain Rs AZ +
is, and who would not prefer 10 IA |
aucha one o. We arc commanded go I
adopt? Fortunately we have an
honorable, highhllndcd, just general |
IA 4 governor, who has shown no
dCpotisln 20 abuse his power OF Ca
Cypress the people. Ear better,
therefore, remain AS we are until the
public sentiment reacts, and CON-
lress rCcctlcs, as rcccdc Il must, or
tlsc the government Is totally de-
lrtrOycd nothing will save IL unless
these acts, i'm some form or other be
dcclaed void, rs / verify believe
they viii be, and then all that mhy
have been done under them will
inll with them, and confusion be-
come worse cOnfOundcd.n Certainly
it will be so unless the people volun-
tarlly step forward 60 ltilelr rolief
but even IL we had u worse man, one
dcspot Is better than many T; We can
not therefore be wOrsted by remain
ingNshyc are, and by doing 40 we shall
at least be exempt from the charge
of having voluntarily participated
In violating tho Constitution of our
fathers. .f.f.
When the State of Mississippi
sha think proper to extend the
right Of suffrage TO the freeinen, as IL
no doubt will dO I'm due time, shall
not murmer at It. and even now
might bc willing To allow them the
right Of suffrage based on property
qualifications there " some principle
N that but j ann irrcconcilably OPP
posed from a sense of duty, 10 the
exercise ofsuch power by Congress.
Aud so | think should every man
he, white or black, for II the power
hc conceded to Congress no one eau
tell how Il may be exercised here
after; besides the States withheld
that power from Congress and re-
served II To themselves I'm the fOrma-
ton of the Constitution, and re-
peat, the danger TO our Constitution
h. 60 he apprchended from the Legis-
lativc Department. Just as well
might Congress have appointed
agents TO cast the votes of the freed
men, since they uro required to vote
according as tire registers aud hired
Cmissarics may dictate to them.
Elections under such a state of things
IL hut solemn mOckery. Experience
may teach US, IL indeed Il has not
already taught us, that universal silf-
rage u, AZ Burke said, "but u SPLEEN
cid theory frOm which we may yet
have To take 4 Step backward. Ger
tainly Il Is q curse when conferred
upon an ignorant mass wholly desti-
lutte 81 Information ON -nlattens Oi
government. Yet this curse o. Con.
ErCss has inflicted upon a helpless
people without even voice In th(
body that imposed it upon us. When
once this evil Is fastened upon us by
our own consent, we never can er.
cape from Il hereafter.
No one eau regret more than dC
that the present state of thing Ia,
been forccti upon the country Their,
was no occasion for II, and patriot
ism had NO part In IT, Inauguration
lt grew out % party opposition L
INC PRESIDENT who Possessed the die
tatcs OF patriotism, guided by the
mandates OF the Constitution, rathel
fhnn low the knee to party bchests
liH plan on reconstruction had &C
.rnmpllshcl al that was necessary
nnd bat for the seeds Of dissentior
rown ~ Che party opposed TO him
thc cuuntt h would now bc in the on
luAh'ent y happincSSand prosperity
VIII g icneNrcd promise Of perpet
w s.--ihe government NOtwith
~. Wing Iris uiiOrts, we now see tina
~ lcrtipn Of the Southern people
whom De underworld To screen ant
save rom oppression by throwing
the mantle 81 The Constitution one
thCni by his VctOCs, have Joined in
the crusade against him, and ar
now aiding and assisting to giv
strength To the party that oppresse
them, and would crush him. Mos
unnatural spectacle, yet IL Is true.
My opposition to these measure
does not result from the circumstanc
of u residence in that section Of th
Union whaae people seem to be th
objects Of rcsentful persecution, no
docs IL arise because of my aid q
encouragement given by me to th
secession movement, Ii Is know
that i opposed 1t; but IL Is from n
ardent desire 10 save the govern
mcnt, In the only way that Il can /
slOnCi by preserving the COnstitutio
inviOlate This government Is four
icd ON public opinion; its found,
ion h sure to be swept from und,
70 when the people cease to respc,
Vic COnstitutiOn-when they cea,
~ regard IL as n thing sacred and II
Notable. Every departure from
~ those I'm authority, Is sure TO q
miniSh our respect for tour cont
dcnCc in IL as a means Of protcctir
our civil and religious liberty, az
the more innovations arc tolerate
tlic more Will they Rccumthatc. M
soon the whole fabric OF COVER
mCnt viii sink into TINT vOrtt
which has been the receptacle of d
free governments. Even now Il
mid boastingly I'm high quarters tn
the Constitution ~ obsulete--a thiI
of the pnst, and yet the people
not seem 20 manifest alarm, ON Il
contrary, many rather approve Il
idea. We seem To reject the gre
truth that history Is DhilOsOpl
teaching By example, and 40 d
realize the fact that we mustsOOn
five are not already, I'm the dow
ward course Of republics, and nut
travel over the bloody track OF rex
luton but 10 reach dcspOtism.
some may be weak enough ri
vindictive enough to say, what rig
have the Southern people TO col
plain nc q violation Of the COnstii
lion? To such 1 answer, they sui
is havca right 70 protect the iiitegri
Of the government under which ii
- live and expect 70 I've; to do so r.
evidence Of their fidelity 10 II. I
there arn still other considerations