The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-19
The Question Of the Day.

act.
At the outset of the discussion, an
effort was made, in very bluff style,
by the s'resisters," to create an i'm
preston that those who advocated
and acquiesced in the terms dictated
by our conquerors, at the point Of the
bayonet, were deficient in self-respect
and fealty to the South, and were adj
vocating negro suffrage and the dis
reimbursement of portion Of our own
race. On this mere unfair assumption
the "resisters' flew in number, it is
true) made a grand charge along the
whole line, and appropriated unto
themselves very great claims to chiv-
airy and patriotism. The good sense
and intelligence of the people, howev-
er, independently Of all epistOlary or
editorial guidance, taught them the
following facts That there was really
no question Of State policy open for
discussion; that negro suffrage and
the Acknowledgement of a part Of the
white population, had already been
established by the dictation Of an all
powerful party that we of the South,
in point of fact, had no choice in the
matter; that we could do nothing, in
the way of resistance, and were re
duced TO the melancholy necessity of
submitting, with as much dignity as
we could command, to any terms,
however harsh and oppressive, which
the conquerors might choose to die
tate and that our interest and policy
required that there should be a speedy
end to disorganization and anarchy
and the firm ESTABLISHING t
of government, predicated
upoa the best foundation we could
get. The people did not fail at once
to perceive that a rejection of the
Military Bill by the Southern whites,
could effect no good, as the negroes
and Radicals, could and certainly
would, carry out the programme with
out us, and that the exhibition of
futile and abortive acts of resistance
would, in the end, place heavier yoke
upon our necks, and, most probably,
ultimate in a general confscation of
what little property we had saved
from the general wreck. Public senti-
ment in Mississippi is undeniably in
accordance with this common sense
view of the question. True, in the
general calm, we occasionally hear
the voice of a solitary "resister -
prating about opposition to Radical de
mands. There are occasional verbal
manifestations of what is intended to
circulate as sublime Indignation, con
veyed in words of valiant import.
All that, however, signifies but little,
and is well understood by the people.
Those who promptly perceived our
policy and comprehended the situa-
ton stand amply indicated. They
have not been hurt by those unjust as
pensions of their motives which were
INDUCED in; nor has the unauthorized
statement that they were in favor Of
negro suffrage injured them in the
slightest degree. All the talk we
heard some months ago, about resis-
lance" and mot submitting" would
have been source of merriment, but
for the fact that our expressions and
sufferings prevented the risible facul-
ties from being brought into exercise.
Resist, without a single soldier, or a
cent of mOney-without a solitary
cannon or a thimble full of powder
The idea was decidedly idiculous.
As for mastery inactivity" very
much advocated by few persons, at
one time, that would have been equally
abortive; for the plainest man in the
State, gifted with common sense, saw
at n glance that standing still and
doing nothing, would only result
IN the formation by freedmen and Rad
icals, of a state government thorough
ly radical in all its features; whereas
by acting, we might, at least secure
some decent features for the State
Constitution, and prevents perhaps,
the confscation of the little property
remaining amongst us.
observation-disclosures to the bit
ter end against oppression and injus-
tiee-"dying in the last ditch and
all that sort of thing, sounds very well,
and touches chords of sympathy. But
when the ultimatum has been reached
and a finality established; when PEG
pie are helpless, hopeless, poor and
friendless, and driven to the wall by
rampant and INSCRIPTIONS power,
sound policy says that we can do moth
NY btb GblllAN- anu AiidL VIC ntttl bGIbCI
do so with decency and dignity, and
thereby secure rs many advantages as
we can, for ourselves and our posteri-
ty. This is just what the people will
dO-just what they have done, in fact.
The necessity which is upon us, is
terrible indeed Our fate, at best. is
sad and deplorable 1t is bad enough
certainly, for the remnant of South
rons, to live in the midst of desolas
ton and ruin. 1t is worse, for those
who went through the fiery ordeal to-
gether, to be questioning each others
motives, and wrangling in fierce per-
sonal conflict, over the expiring ashes
and cinders which alone remain to
mark the land where the Temple of
Liberty once stood, and where once
existed great people, blessed with