The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-05-22

VI .
duction, and / hope your silence Is signif-
: can't of your disapproval OF, at least, its
/ utterances upon the political situation. l
, write you for the purpose Of submitting q
thought or two on the following passages,
: viz; ft3 ~ja
ut is but perversity of folly to say that
we have ever admitted the right of q majors
ty to do what ID pleases, or have ever
admitted that the doctrine Of States Rights
! was wrong in principle, OF that any Of The
restrictions Of the Constitution are not
binding still. When we surrendered it was
to BRUTE not to moral force; we were con-
J yinced of nothing, and we admitted nothing
, but that the enemies to the Supreme Law
were stronger than we. VIVA M a
!, "They are the stronger; and what are we
: to do2 To comply with what we know to
be wrong in principle, and contrary to JUS
tice and express compact, seems to be trea-
son to the only human power to which we
owe allegiance; and yet we must control
our own internal domestic affairs as far as
possible. To enter into and adopt their
schemes would be to destroy ourselves; for
them to carry out their schemes, unchecked,
will be destruction; and yet, to resist them
by our unaided force, would be hopeless and
wicked folly. hl
Gentlemen Of the Press, to you do the
people look for advice in this time of sore
perplexity, and npon you rests the RESPONSE
bility for the course which shall be taken,
and its event." tA
These sentiments have caused me exceed
ing pain, and / have examined and re-examin-
ed them many times In the vain hope that
misunderstood the speaker II has seemed
to me ever since the surrender that the
Southern Press, as whole, was devoted to
the prejudices of the people, and thus not
fulfilling its true missi0n--in fact, had not
the courage If it had the ability, to be equal
to the occasion. If Col. Holt speaks the
sentiments of the Press of this State, then
it is the worst and most dangerous enemy of
the people. As a9 @
III understand the quotations above, Col.
Holt, and all who agree with him would,
| fight again to-day, provided success was rea-
sonably certain, thus showing that such are
false to the terms of the surrender; If they
have taken the oath of allegiance to the
United States they are not true to that
and if they take the oath and become
voters, they will deliberately and WI fully
commit perjury, for they would openly re-
sist the government, if aided by sufficient
| force. at the moment of taking it,
|, Again, there are hundreds and thousands
in the North, and northern men in the South
who have for over fifteen months, striven
faithfully, at great personal sacrifice, to pro-
duce reaction in the northern mind in fa-
vor of the South. Are the ntterances of Col.
Holt such as he would like to send North to
strengthen the hands of our friends there?
So too, the South is poor--to say nothing of
the starving thousands being fed by north
ern charity. The planters require aid to
plant their cotton--would q planter seeking
assistance of northern capitalists present the
grafton of Col Holt in support of his appli-
cation for money?
But Ishould like to submit the quere, what
rights have the conquered that they claim in
their behalf the restrictions of the Consti- 4
tuition" and what express compact" is there
or can there be between the cOnquerOrs and
the conquered, which the latter can set up
to bar the discretion of the former2
1t is true, the people look to the press for
guidance and instruction-but woe to the
people that have q false press. recently
became a subscriber to the Clarion, because
it's course in the main pleased me--but /
would have it raise its standard little
higher still would have it refer still less
frequently to the past than it now does, and
if possible say more of the present and ftl-
ture material, as well as political interests of
the southern country. We cannot live in,
nor be governed by the past. LET the dead
bury the Dead" and let the past be forgot
ten in the activity Of the present and the
hopes of the future.
not merely representation in Congress, but
peace, harmony, business prosperity and the
development OF the beauties and wonderful |
resources of the South-while successful op-
position is more trouble, further humiliations
and severer penalties for che people. more |
starvation, further depression of business,
degradation, ruin, and calamities hitherto |
unknown.
If read the southern press Alright there is
4 ITOrI rIan1 lafn so1
to the people, "wait till we are recognized |
and then we will live in the past, in the full
indulgence Of our deepest prejudices in |
which we will be aided by our old time de-
lusive allies, the democracy of the North"
On the other handtwe are entering upon o
new era, requiring new ideas, new thoughts,
and new energies, to lead in the way of pro-
gress, not merely in our business interests,
but in schools, churches, legislation and all
that pertains to our internal affairs.
The people cannot and will not follow
those who can to-day take solemn oath of
allegiance, and tomorrow throw the coun-
try into the vortex of another war, who to-
day contemplate and aim to prepare the peo-
Pile for another rebellion and yet will cody
take any and all oaths of allegiance which
may be presented to them. viii the people
never get their eyes open2 Will not the press
help theml
1ou Will OF course understand me as refer
ring to Col. Holt as the representative of q
class, or as one of class, and not in any per-
sOnal sense. He is stranger to me and I
presume is gentleman of sincerity and hon
Or, but fatally and terribly in error politically
His heart is no doubt sincere, and it is to be
hoped he will take the second sober
thought" aud get in the right track, as he
IS now Wrong-wrOng--very wrong. He
believes he is true friend to
the people and to his section; but never, as
conceive, was man more mistaken.
One or two general suggestions and am
lone. 1t has seemed to me that the thoughts
Of the people have been kept, not only too
much upon the past, but that they are now
100 much filed with merely partisan affairs
with the organization of merely political
PARTIES for party and selfish purposes to 4
'he neglect of nobler, more important, more
necessary and more elevating matters and
hat reconstruction is urged, not humbly,
for the good that may follow--for {
sake-but in pride, defiance, {
selfshly. {
And. finally, though net prophet, nor the
on of prophet, it is deeply impressed upon {
ny mind that a terrible famine is impending l
'ver the entire South, and though not ordi.
arily rellglously inclined, am coming to G
'elieve that Providence has directed and is
Erecting all our disasters and misfortunes
n His own Infinite wisdom. Reconcilia ion
nth our enemies and oppressors, and with
he supreme Ruler and His judgments. is
ne grand prerequisite of the situation
ne alpha and omega Of our duty. All else
'll De added unto us. He who cOmpre-
ends and attains unto the Sublime Truth \
'ouid present, will find that peace of mind,
nat absence of self and of party, that faith I
nd nope IN, and devotion to the South and !