The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1867-03-21
.skler 81 Hon. I'll. vyhars6z.,
JAoKsos, March IS, 1867.
ax..sr. Roh;nson. waaaon. Helm and 9th

= kSSss dAChc0Ns Nukcn ~, toVfs
1Eessrs. Robinson, Weason, Helm aud 9th
ers, -
GENTLEMEN: With d reluctance greater
than ever felt in answering any commnni-
cation, proceed to reply to Your letter Of
the 9th inst. Being Of the prescribed class,
/ it my be thought that II would be in better
taste for me to remain silent. That policy
would certainly be moro agreeable to my
feelings Il not unfrequently happens,
however, that we are called upon to sacri-
Zee our feelings on the altar Of duty. These
are very weighty and solemn duties resting
| ON every citizen, whether he be disfranchised
or not in this most unprecedented andsperi-
l4lous crisis. The fact that amdisfranchised,
only rNTENsIFIEs the interest feel in the
welfare Of the country, Denied a voice in
| the election of the men, and the adoption of
the measures which are to control its desti-
| MES, tnrn with only deeper anxiety to
those who are still permitted to exercise the
prerogatives offreemen. Determined as am
to share the fate Of my country, for veal or
for woe. shall only the more actively EN-.
l ploy the privileges retain to avert greater
impending calamities trom that country. I
i will never despair of.the Republic until the
last yestige of the Government established
by the Constitution has been annihilated.
1 Delusive as the hope may be, Twill still
fondly cling to il, that when the phrenzy of
the hour has passed, the bitter experience of
those who have been instrumental in pulling
down the pillars of Constitutional Govern
ment to crafty an insane lust of power will
/ induce them to retrace their steps and re-
establish the great principles they have
| subverted. 'ifssfitt5a Sssf'5a r.
Those who know anything of my humble
course, in the past, need not be told that
have adhered tenaciously, all my life long,
to the school of State Rights. So jealous,
indeed, has been my advocacy OF the tenets
of that party that L have been denominated
an EXTREMIST. am free to say, there was
never a moment, during the late struggle of
arms, when would have consented to any
settlement which did not embrace our fNDE-
| PENDENcE. Slavery, and every other issne
involved. would have subordinated to this
| one grand idea. After the surrender, I ar
IDENTIFY desired to see the South assume q
| position of .masterly Inactivity, or dignified
silence. When my opinion was asked, I
freely expressed it in opposition to all con-
cessions Recognizing the validity of the
ordinance of secession, and having referred
the controversy to the arbitrament of arms,
accepted, in good faith, the award from
1 ia1S hare So.
not deny the right of the conqueror TO pre-
scribe terms to the conquered, however in-
consistent our adversaries may be, who con-
stantly proclaimed through the messages
and preclamations of the President; and
resolutions--of Congress, "that the war was
waged for no purpose of subjugation, but
solely to enforce the constitution and laws,
and that when this was yielded by the par
| ties in rebellion the contest should cease,
| leaving the constitutional rights of the
States and individuals umimpaired." Accep-
ting the fact that slavery was dead, and that
| by force of arms we had been denied the
exercise of the right to secede, would
never have conceded that the former
was killed by our hands. or that the latter
never existed. would have said to our
conquerors, your superior numbers and re-
sources have prevailed over US, and we have
been compelled to surrender our arms We
will not sully the lustre which was shed upon
our escutcheon by those who maintained the
unequal struggle for four long years, by
prostrating ourselves az suppliants licking
the dust from the feet of our conquerors,
and kissing the hand just raised to strike
We have returned to our allegiance to the
Constitution and laws of the United States,
with firm purpose to do everything in our
power to restore the Government to its
pristine purity. We are in your power
Do with US as sou like. ase .e I
Then was the time, if ever, when the
mastery inactivity" policy should have
been adopted. Above all things, I desired
that the obnoxious measures threatened by
the Radicals, if they prevailed, should be
forced on us, not invited by us. And SO in
reference to the act enfranchising negroes. /
I have no liberation for those who before
hand were paving the way for it, or half
way exeusing it. g =. T{f:tS' 3nasz1q3 .
! ] have said this much to. show that have
not been swift to advise concessions, with
view to propitiate Radical favor. In the
same spirit of candor, and, trust, not with
out due regard to the honor Of the State,
Inow say that, not taking counsel of my /
feelings, but Of my Judgment, looking the
ing, as believe do. the alternative subs
80. ~ tsF q AZ 5k4s 10 ~