The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-27
Letter from Hon. W. ?, Harris.

JACKSON, March Il, 1867.
| Genuemcn-I proceed to reply briefly to your let
| ter of the Sth inst, requesting my views on the
ofacton proper be adopted in regard to the
recent act of Congress providing for the government
| of the Southern States.
1t is to be observed that the act of Congress does
not leave either the extension of the right of suffrage
the disfranchisement of certain class of the white
citizens of the State to depend our consent Both
these results accomplished by the act and are not
| demanded of US concessions The civil govern
ment existing here is declared be without author
ity, except to the extent that it may be permitted to
exercise its functions an instrument of admnstra
ton by the district commander. This precarious ex
isence cannot be continued without resort to cleo
tons, and these elections conform the prDci
pies OF the act to qualifications for suffrage and
these qualifications involve the dsfranchisement of
portion of the white citizens and the extension of the
right to vote to all others without regard to race or
! color. Therefore, whether consent or not no
civil government can be created or protracted here
without conforming to the principles of the act of
Congress IN these respects. Negro suffrage there
FORE must be regarded as one of the conditions on
which we are to have civil government here.
The Reorganization of the State government undar
the provisions OF the law will inevitably take place If
the white citizens of the State whose rights are still
preserved TO them (and they comprise the great mass
OF our white male popuation,) should decline to CO.
operate IN the which shall be taken 10 Or
ganse civil government here their refusal to act
vi" be virtual surrender of the civil power into the
hands OF those who will surely employ it to perpetu
ate their power by further prosecutions I cannot
alter the most anxious consideration of the subject
perceive how any of the evils of this law can be
averted by, how any good can possibly result from
silent nacuon on the part of those who still retain
their political rights; the contrary it seems to me
that such course would be attended with the most in
Juros consequences. Even if it should be supposed
(ahd the supposltion Is, in my opinion wholly unwar-
rahted that by refusing to recognise in any man1er
the authority OF Congress- might delay or prevent
the organisation of civil government here we must
continue to live under form of government the most
odlous and oppressive to which mankind have erer
been subjected and with all its seventies aooravated
10 US by our attitude Of gallen hostility to the will of
Congress.
AS the propriety Of seeking redress in the Supreme
Court has been suggested in some quarters take the
occasion to say there is power in the Supreme
Court, at the instance of the State to prevent the law
from taking effect, do see how the State GOV
ernment can make case for judicial action which
can only be invoked in controversies about proDertr
rights, or at least rights and questions which are not
purely political The power of recognising the ex-
stence of State government has by that Court
oeen held to be a POLITICAL and not judicial cues
on and to pertain to Congress; and although a con-
roversy may arise in which that Court NAV be called
N to decide the validity of some of the powers con
erred upon the military commanders it is matter
u grave douot "heter 1t VIII ever venture to declare
he political status of the existing government here or
ny that may hereafter succeed it: and should the
jourt venture hereafter to do So its decision would
lot be respected and it would have no power to en-
orce it.
With these views of our situation, and under the
alntrl conviction that no favorable change can be
easonably looked for in the policy ofthe Government
ashlngton, think it is the duty of those who still
eain their political rights to take an active part in
Ii elections under the new order of things and to give
the suffering people of the State the full weight of
heir influence in creating and controlling the govern
'ent under which they destined to live do not
now where the power to call State convention will
placed, that matter is still under discussion in
congress. When the call shall be made it ought to
c responded to by every white voter in the State
Respectfully, your obi serv't, ". P HARRIS
o Messrs Robinson, Allen Helm and others.