Mississippi index. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1865-18??, 1867-07-30

/ advise you to register. There is no
dishOnor IN that. It is arming yourself
with an important power to be welded
against the nefarious scheme, but don't
vote for cOnventiOn---don't 60 for any
thing whatever which is an assent to the
scheme, but be against it at every step.
Never 60 half way with a traitor, nor
compromise with treason or robbery. If
they hold a convention, vote against rat
i6catiOn---yOte against all their measures
and men, and indict every one who, I'M
der such void authority, invades your
rights according to existing laws. That's
my policy. Fight the scheme all the
time. have no more idea Of obeying
than John Hsmpden had Of paying ship
money, because / have taken an oath to
support the Constitution, and I intend
to keep it.
This whole scheme is in violation of
all the issues Of the war; all the prom
ises during its progress---and all the
terms Of the surrender. More than a
hundred thousand men abandoned Lees
army because they we're assured that if
they laid down their arms they would
be in the Union with all their rights as
before. knew the promise was false,
and warned you against the seductiOns Of
the siren. The peOple-the soldiers Of
the United States-were then willing to
fulfill the obligation but the politicians
intended to deceive you. Such men as
Sumner and Stevens never intended to
carry out the pledge Of the nation
They would acknowledge the independ-
ence of the Confederate States to day,
before they would agree to restore the
old Union, even with slavery abolished.
/ respect the Northern man who honest
| ly fought for the Union, but l despise
the traitors who, under the name of the
Union, have used the Northern people to
destroy the South, and then destroy the
Constitution. The people of the North
have been long discovering the decep-
ton, but they will be compelled to see it
before the traitors can go much further
in their work.
How many people in Atlanta belong
to the 9oyal leagueP Iaugbter) l
warn all decent men to abandon such
dens. l know the times have been such
that many good men have naturally gone
astray. But save yourselves before it is
too late Destroy all the evidences of
your membership-bind all your COM
rades to mutual cOncealment of the fact
that you were members, and come out.
You are pardOnable fol- the past; but if
you continue you will be covered with
shame, and your very children will dis
own you. Applause. Come, join the
Patriots League Our only pledge is
to support the ConstitutiOn-lOve its
enemies and proclaim our love and hat
red at MONDAY and from the house,
tops. Save yourselves now, or be fOrev-
or lost to decent society and your own
self-respect. All the brave and true
men, even at the North, respect me this
day more than they do you. The very
Radicals will use, but even they will de-
spise, the Southern man who becomes
their sycOphant.
My cOlored friends, will you receive a
word of admOnitioni Of all the peo-
pie, you will most need the protection Of
the law. You will most suffer by anar-
chy and usurpatiOn Do you believe
that the man who is faithless to the Con-
stitutiOn of the country will be faithful
to youi If a man will take an oath to
support the Constitution and then vio-
late it, can you rely upon his keeping
any promise to yOul No; l tell you
such people are friends to nothing but
their own interest. They are betrayers
of the Constitution to keep themselves
in office; they desire to use you to help
them get Office, applause and they will
betray you whenever they indit to their
interests to do so.
They tell you they are your friends.
1t is false: they are your worst enemies.
They tell you they set you free. 1t is
false. These vile creatures who come
among you and put themselves on a lev
Ell with you, never went with the army
except to steal spoons, jewelry and gold
watches. [Great applause. They are
too low to be brave. They are dirty
spawn, cast out from decent society, who
come down here and seek to use you to
further their own base purpose.
They promise you lands, and teach
you TO hate the Southern people, whom
you have known always ana WHO neset
deceived you. Are you foolish euough
to believe you can get another mans
land for nothing, and that the white peo-
pie will give up their lands without resis-
lance
If you get up strife between your race
and the white race do you not know you
must perish I You are now ten to one
the weaker race. You will grow weak
er every day You can have no safety
but in the Constitution, and no peace ex-
cept by cultivating relations Of kindness
with those who are fixed here, who need
your services, and who are willing to
protect you.
I -. -.