The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-09
Reply.

!
pounded by our correspondent. w
will answer frankly that if Congress
will comply in good faith with tn
terms embodied in the Reconstruction
bills,an with the reiterated pledges o
their authors, there is no reason VIII,
the Southern people may not secur'
representation before the close of th!
next session of Congress, provides
they shall determine to reorganize un
der the proposed plan. The com
manding general is required to ordel
registration at any time before the Is
Of September. He cannot postpon'
it longer. In his discretion he may
order it sooner. Gen. Scofeld has al
ready taken initial steps for immedi
ate registration of voters in Virgin
ia, and we presume that his example
will be followed by 1.-THE other comman
ders. 'sf' -" ,ag,,,s
Within thirty days after the compile
ton of the registration, the command
ing general is authorized to order al
election for delegates to convention
He may postpone it longer than thirty
days; the law only requires that the
election shall not be held sooner. Blu
in the absence of controlling reasons
why the election should be postponed
it is presumable that the commanding
general will be guided by the language
or the law, and order the election with
in thirty days so as to comply with
the evident intention of Congress.
If the majority of the registeredvo-
tiers, declare in favor Of holding Con
vention, and elect delegates with in
structfons to reorganize our State
government in conformity to the re-
quireme nts Of Congress, the command
ing general is required within sixty
days after said election to notify the
delegates to assemble in Convention.
He cannot postpone such notification
longerbu he may name an earlier date
if he should choose. II this Convention
will act with the promptitude which
marked the proceedings of the body
that assembled by orderoof President
johnson in 1865, to reconstruct upon
the terms dictated by him, it will dis
charge its functions in very brief
time-say a week or ten days.
Provisional Governor Sharkey is
sued his approximation for the assem-
bling of that Convention on the lst. Of
quired oaths were taken and other pre-
scribed formulas were complied with,
and on that day delegates were elect.
ed to the Convention. That body met
on the 14th of August, resoinded the.
ordinance of secession-inserted the
abolition ofslaverysin our State Consti-
tution-proyided measures FOR con,
Ferring civil rights upon freedmen
Instructed the Legislature to adjust
our laws to the changed condition of
he blacks-and adjourned within ten /
lays, e. ..'A ''.aH"3'3'a e
Within thirty, days after the, framing
# the Constitution, by the Convention,
isito be submitted to the people for
and if ratified by major
by of the Qualified voters, it will be at
nee declared the supreme law of the
and
Within six monthsfhese proceed
1Ss can be completed, and our State
ill be in condition as soon there.
fter as the Legislature meets and !
dopts the proposed 18th amendment
the Constitution of the United
tates, to claim representations Con
ress-to be relieved oflmilitary rule
to have exclusive control over her
wn local affairs--and to be placed in
u respects, on an equal footing With =
ny other State in the Union. 1n .9'a'ruj
1t may be said that Congress will
It in bad faith, and refuse to comply
it'll the conditions of the law4Eafter
e Southern people shall have per y
rmed their part.yo This objectionais
ell answered in the letter of the
ninent soldier, Longstreet ifna I'D
1T is said by, some that Congress IL
III not receive us even after we have c
implied with their conditions; but
n find no sufficient reason for enter I
ming this proposition for moment 7
'annot admit that the representative :
IN of a great nation could make Z
CHI pledge in bad faith Admitting, g
weyer, that there is such a mental 4
can that be any excuse for a
in falling to discharge our duty h
t us accept the terms, as we are in ii
ty bound to do, and if there is a lack r
good faith, let it be upon, others" a
In conclusion, we may appropriate Il
quote some pertinent suggestions as p
the dnty Of the Southern people in s. s.
ir present critical condition, from =
Richmond Whig-premising that h,
ing the war, while there was hope tc
their success in building up o gov az
ment independent Of foreign con- s.
, no journal gave to the cause of III
Confederacy a warmer and d more in
lent support; l'1'a =. ......5s. .., .l'
In entering upon the work Of re Va
Instruction let US not impede il at d
: outset by that old BouLbol error ~ ~
learning nothing and forgetting co
thing AS far as is possible, We Les
Ist discard the bitter feelings and thi
mories Of the past, and act ration ny I,S
= and philosophically. True, we
yof ',,orn,fttad 4o do,-fzo fho l..