American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-05-18

rights and constitutional freedom.
If we are unwilling to bear the ills
to which we are subjected, for the
maintenance of honor and principle,
then we deserve our destiny. 1t is
said that, if we do not accept the de-
grading terms now offered, worse
will be imposed. Have we any as
surance that worse may not be i'm
posed If we do accept ?-Like the
woman who consented to her own
dishonor to save the life of her hus-
band, and was then made to witness
his execution! There is no faith in
tyrants. Threats of confiscation are
futile. Almost every one has been
pardoned by taking the amnesty
oath OF by special application. The
Southern people may be robbed and
murdered, but their property cannot
be contiscated !!
In order to debauch prominent
Southern men, offers have been made
in Congress to remove their diSabill-
ties, and, it would seem, not without
success! Threats TO the many, and
bribes to the few, is the policy adopt
ed for radicalizing the Southern
States. With universal negro suf-
frage and debauched politicians, we
may bid farewell to all hope of re
publican institutions. Virtue and
intelligence alone can sustain re-
public. When the negro has acquir-
ed intelligence to understand his
political rights, and property to
make him feel an interest in the
proper exercise of them, he should
be allowed to vote. This principle
has been adopted in most Of the
Northern States, and is wise and
just. But it is wicked to put ballots
into the hands of those who will be
the passive to, Is of their employers,
or the mischievous agents of Black
Republican emiSsaries.
Nothing can be more unjust and
iniquitous ti.an the discriminating
distranchisement of the Military bill.
A Union man, whose lite has been
spent III trying to maintain the ill.,
terests Of the Union, but ajudge a ten
or twenty years ago, apd who, after
his State seeded, fed or clothed a
son in the Confederate army, is dis
franchised But the man whose
whole life may have been spent i'll
treasonable efforts to destroy the
Union and involve the country in a |
bloody civil war, who was leading
member of the Secession Conyen- |
ton, and afterwards a distinguished |
General in the Confederate army, |
hurting his command against the
United States forces in a hundred |
bloody fields of battle, Is not dls- |
franchised, unless he had previously |
taken an oath to support the Con
stitutiol of the United StateS.-
There are many instances OF this
character which might be mentioned,
showing the injustice and folly of
this distranchisement. tits believed
that neither Generals Beauregard,
Hill, Magruder, nor Gen. Lee himself,
the illuStriouS cOmmander-in-chlef |
of the Confederate forces. is disfran
chised. But the humble Union
magistrate, who relieved the dis
tresses of son or friend in the Con
federate army, is disfranchiSed
There is not the It hottest hope or
probability of the Southern States
beng restored to the Union till after
the next Presidential election. Why, |
then, shall we voluntarily degrao e
ourselves, and give up our dearest |
political rights for deluSion If
we are to wear manaclcs let them be
put on by our tyrantS, not by our
selves. If Il man threatens to kick
You, self.reSpect would forbid Your
exposing your person to him and .
asking him to kick YOU at once and
be done with it, We have lived al
ready two years under military rule,
In great poverty and distress, and .
have been cheercd all the time 10y
the conScientiOuSneS that we are
not a degraded, though conquered
people. We can continue TO live III .
the same way two years longer, or,
if need be, ten years, and feel pride /
in knowing that we have maintained
our honor, and made every effort |
possible to preserve our freedom and |
constitutional rights. A man who
feels that he has diShonored himself
IS lost, and so it is with a people.
Let us live quietly and peaceahly, /
attending diligently to our various
vocations in life-obaying patiently .
the powers that be; but never think .
of voluntarily voting away ourrights
as a State or honor and freedom as .
men. Let lis trust in returning I
sense of justice OH the part of our
oppreSSors which sooner or later must /
come. Have patience, torhearance
and long suffering. The Southern
States fought four long bloody years
for what they believed TO be sacred
right proclaimed by all the American
people in their Declaration of indie
pendence. Can they not now afford I
to live four years longer out of that
Union, rather than sacrifice their
honor, their rights, as States, and /
the great republican principles of
freedonl B. F. PERRY. I
A good story is told Of hsrdshell Bap-
tist missionary in Medina, who had become