American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-08-03
FREE SPEECH TO BE AN OFFENSE.

The correspondence from the Third
District Shows, in addition to what
has already been published, than on
April 9th. Gen. Pope wrote to Gen
Grant, asking his views Of the status
OF officers of the rebel army parolcd
at the termination Of the war. He
wanted to know whether paroles still
hold good, or whether they were set
aside by any proclamation by the
President. He asked the question
whether he desired to know what &C.
ton he ought to take against rebel
officers thus paroled, who may ac-
lively and openly counsel the people
OF his district to resist the execution
of the reconstruction acts. General
Popa gave rs his opinion the provis-
ions Of their parole, which required
them to return to their homes and
obey the laws; and also that they
refrain from Incl ting others to neg
lect or resist the laws Of the United
States: and Gen. Pope asked wheth-
eran attempt on their part to keep up
the difficulty and prevent the settle
ment of the southern question, in ac-
cordanCe with the recent action of
Congress. was not violation of
their parole. To this letter, on the
18th Of April, General Grant re-
plies: Your views ON the obligation
of a parole are in strict accordance
with my own"
The Memphis Ippeai thus speaks
of the above extract
Free Thoughts. and Free Speech
have always been dreaded by Ty-
rams, and punished by them as
crimes. TO advise the people of the
southern States not to cooperate in
the dirty work of reconstruction is, it
seems. to be regarded in the Pacha-
liks as disloyalty, as to urge them to
labor for their own degradation and
ruin is to deserve pardon and reward.
In what oriental despotism were men
over more completely slaves? What
sort Of a President for republic
would Grant make, who agrees with
Pope that the obligation Of a parole
binds an officer or soldier not to use
any influence to prevent the people
of the South from ceding lor no con-
sidcration The right hereafter to re
claim their liberties and throw off the
yoke Of Radical and negro dOmna-
ton The less General Grant says
and writes, We think, the better for
his reputation. The Southern Off
GERS have not violated their paroles.
They have promised to obey the laws
Of the United States, and they have
done So, although the Government
has, in many instances, not kept its
faith with them. There is no law that
requires amy man to register and
vote; and a parole creates no Obliga-
ton on the part of him who gave it,
not to advise those not to register or
not to vote, who are at perfect ! iAer-
~ to do so o. not to do so, as they
may think fit.
The menace contained in the cor
between Pope and Grant
will hardly have the desired effect,
oven reinforced by Il General Order,
i5sued from Headquarters in the
Saddle" Those who think that the
people oughtnot to register aud vote,
will not be deferred from saying so,
even if threatened with trial for the
olfense Of frank-Speaking, before a
Military Commission. Many will
say, as we do. " Let Radicalism ere
ate its negro Republics. The faster
it drives, the sooner it will go to the
devil. We will not assist to save it
from the consequences of its villain
les. Let reap as it sOws. We can
wait until our Young men and boys
grow up. Let Sumner have his ne.
gro colleagues. Let the negroes
rule and riot and revel like drunken
apes. Let anarchy come The
sooner, The better, for it will he all
he sooner over.
ET The United States District
fuIra Hon II 4 Hin hoe nv or