The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-16

/ . -"NON@etetNkbiVA A@NVcs
he meant to refer to the Conservativ,
newspapers that have urged the PEG
pie to reorganize their State govern
ments in conformity to the require
menis of those laws, he was wide Of
the mark, because those papers have
argued that the President exhausted
his power under the constitution, to
defeat them when he returned them to
Congress with his veto. The Conser.
vative press think that he has acted
wisely and for the best interests Of the
South in the trying situation in which
he was placed. He was compelled to
execute the laws or to resign. A refu-
sal to do one or the other would have
led to his immediate impeachment and
removal-thus affording the Destruc-
tives the opportunity which they crave
above all things. Ifthe stupidity ma
lignant epithet of Mr.. Walker has any
application at all, it Is to the anti
ReconstructIonists, who did insist that
it twas the Presidents duty to refrain
from putting the lows in force, and for
a time deluded themselves and the
credulous, into the belief that by a
resort to this desperate and dangerous
expedient the South would be protec-
ted from their operation. They ching
hopefully to this delusion until it was
swept away by the action of the Pres
ident. F
Their next hope was based upon the
idea that the Supreme Court would,
if appealed to, interpose its authority.
But this promised legal remedy has
proved to be of no more avail than the
first. The word Of promise was held
to the ear. 1t has been fatally broken
to the hope. The Supreme Court has
decided, as our readers were told by
Judges w. P. Harris, Yerger, and
other eminent legal gentlemen, it would
decide, that it has no jurisdiction over
the questions involved.
And thus all these delusive hopes
and flattering promises have vanished
into their air, and the people are COM
PEELED to face the inevitable fact that
the laws will be enforced
that martial law is established
over them without any other remedy
than resort to arms and that Con
gress has the power, and win unques-
exercise it, ofsdiotating the
terms upon which the excluded States
will be admitted into the Union.
The Disunionists disclaim any in
tention to resort to revolutionary
measures. What then, do they pro-
pose2 To obtain reliefby resort to
the ballot box? This is simply
absurd, when it is remembered that
the present Congress has just com
menced its term of two years, and
before the expiration of that time, the
most violent measures ever dreamed
Df by such malignants as Thad.
Stevens himself can be carried into
successful operation.
Suppose the people reject the pro-
posed terms, at the coming election,
what can they promise themselves ?
The best they can hope for will be a
of martial law, which is
simply unqualified despotism as Illus
rated by the orders of Griffin, in
Texas, excluding nineteen-t wentieths
If the white citizens of the State from
he jury-box; by the rule of Sheridan
n Louisiana, deposing officers elected |
" the people and in the faithful per
ormance of their duty, and appoint
ng his plant tools to their places;
" the orders of Sickles, sweeping
way at dash of the pen the organic
Avs of the States in his District, as
Interpreted by their Courts; by the
ule of Pope who rebuked the Gov
rnor of Georgia for too free ex-
ression Of his opinion in regard to
he laws of Congress and extorted
'om him his pledge Of good behavior
| the future. The people of this
tate have congratulated them
elves that they are subject to
he rule of an officer who adds
} his brilliant military record, the
rowning virtues of wise, humane,
nd impartial statesman but the ac-
dent of his death or removal, might
lace their lives, liberty and property
the mercy of the most cruel and
ndictive of tyrants. Such is mar
al law. To oppose Reconstruction
to advocate continuation of this
,ecies of despotism.
But this cannot be permanent We {
ust at last confront the stern reality
Reconstruction in some form, I'M
n Congressional dictation. And :
hatever we may think of the terms
wv submitted for our acceptance or
lection, their authors think, or affect !
think, them moderate and just, and (
we declared, with a full knowledge :
their power TO enforce their win, {
at If they are rejected by the South, a
Q will be compelled to reorganize her 9
ate governments upon conditions h
: more stringent and oppressive. G
lder the terms now, pending on an c
erage probably twenty-five white L
liens in each county will be exclu- a
from the polls; but if these terms Z
. rejected the reverse will be the n