The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-03-13
From the Montgomery (Ala.,) Ady'
The Time for Action.

The public sentiment at the North
has long been in favor of the Constitu-
tional Amendment-we have but little
ground to hope that it is less favorable
to the Military Government bill which
has now become law. The peculiar
crisis non atAand requires prompt and
united action onltlse part ofthe, good peo-
pie of AlaJoma, else a body Of irrcsponsi-
6le men, opposed 10 The larger class of
their .fellow citizens, mill hind them hand
and foot. Under this law it is not made
the duty of any particular one to call
a Convention, but it is the duty of the
regularly constituted, legal authorities
the State to see to it, that the rights
Of the whole people and the interest
of the women and children, are not
surrendered, to the keeping of those
who would if they could confscate
and prescribe. The Legislature is the
proper body at present to act, and to
their early assembling must the State
look for some measure Of relief. 1t
would have been unbeeoming to do
anything as long as the fate of the
| nlllOuiy Dill was III oOuDt--ndolc
would have looked like dishonor and
tended to greater injury All now
know the features Of the new plan, and
know moreover that it has all the
force and effect Of law, and will be car
ried out whether we want it or not.
There are men in Alabama who hail
with delight the passage of this law,
and who will do all in their power to-
use it so as to injure and Cypress the
people of the State. These men are
about in the proportion Of one to
five hundred, but they will, unless
great popular sentiment manifest it.
self, organize government in Ala
bama, which would be as tyrannical
as the one under which the people of
Tennessee now groan. Here in our
State large class of white people can
vote, who, by the tyranny of few
men who crept into power in that
State during the war, are excluded
from the polls. Under the manage
ment of Brownlow, $4,000 white citi-
zens are DISTINGUISHED, and about
$4,000 Of his party have ruled the
State with remorseless hate--they
conferred the right Of suffrage on the
blacks, but expressly prohibit over
three fourths Of the whites from voting
they have organized militia that
will strike terror into the hearts of
those upon whom they may See proper
to wreak their malice. Shall this
state of things be in Alabama ? 1t will
be, unless the good people who are
really anxious for peace and harmony
and justice to all classes and parties
take an interest in the new order Of
things and tryto make the best they |
can out of bad situation. No State |
can boast of code of laws more just |
and less discriminating in its operation
mo people of laboring class have
more safeguards Of law thrown around |
them than the freedmen of Alabama
mo State has provided more fully to
protect them in their rights of person
and property. They are bound to
feel, know and appreciate this; and
no mawkish sentimentality should
keep those whom they have known /
and served from their youth up, from
the fact that their best and
truest friends are those among whom
they have always lived. His time non
D act upon The great and important CUES
ions before the country, and the soonerH
IS done aUU be the better for The State.