The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-17
THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.
Substance of the Speech of E
ASarl&SdaIe at the Mass Meet
ing at HaZelhursf. June
l6. 1865

circumstances so important as those
which now surround them. All that
they have been accustomed most dear
ly to prize is at stake. Their consti-
tutional liberties, and the social insti-
tutions, are involved i'll the issue.
They have no other recourse for the
protection of their rights but the bal
lot box, and to this they must appeal
with all their energies.
do not propose to review the PAST,
but to deal with the vital issues of the
PRESENT. 1t is needless to discuss the
reconstruction policy of President
Johnson To say that it was harsh
and vindictive, is but feebly to de-
scribe it. To say that it was founded
upon the false theory, that the gov
ernments existing in the Southern
States at the close of the war, were
not Republican, and not founded on
the will Of the people, is to deny what
all know to be true. To say that the
dispersion Of our Legislature in its
very act Of passing law to call a
Convention for no other purpose but
to restore the State to the Union; and
the removal of her Chief Magistrate
when he was busily engaged in pro-
noting this very object, after the fall
Of the Confederate government-were
measures of unnecessary tyranny, all
must admit. But the requirements Of
the Executive were promptly, and
without a murmur, complied with A
State Constitution recognizing all the
results Of the war and declaring the
perpetual freedom of the slaves, and
the duty of the Legislature to protect
them in their rights Of person and
property, was Immediately adopted
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
But further exactions are required
BY virtue of series Of acts which were
passed by Congress in 1867, a. Con
vention was called in this State which.
after a long session involving a heavy
expense to the people, framed Con
stitution, utterly subversive Of all the
safeguards which it is the object of a
just government to provide. 1t rep
resents not the spirit of justice, OF
peace, and good will but the passions
of discord, hate, revenge, and all I'M
charitableness. To only portion OF
the legal white voters of Mississippi,
and to all the male negroes above
twenty one years of age, the privilege
of voting to reject or ratify this exc
cradle continuance is accorded. That
the happiness and true interests of all
classes and both races, will be protec-
ted by rejecting it, is clearly demon
strabIe. 70 accept it is to embrace q
positive unmixed evil.
THE FALSE PREAMBLE TO THE CoNsTITU-
It's preamble is a falsehood The
object of its trainers are precisely the
opposite of what they are described to
be. It's operation will be precisely
the opposite of what they declare to
be intended. Instead Of establishing
justice" it will establish the foulest
injustice which wicked ingenuity can
| invent. Instead or maintaining or
DER" it will organize anarchy. Instead
of "perpetuating liberty" it will erect
a CALLING and intollerable despotism. ]
assume these statements to be true. ]
will Prove them; and will compel the
conclusion that the man who votes to
impose this Constitution upon the
people Of Mississippi, knowing the
real nature of its provisions, does il
with determination formed, by sci
fish, corrupt, wicked or dishonest mo.
tive, to inf1ict horrible wrong upon
his fellow man.
FREE SUFFRAGE PROHIBITED.
First, as to suffrage. The privilege
most priced by the Anglo Saxon race
is that of taking part in framing the
laws by which he is governed. The
Republican maxim, is, that taxation
and representation must go hand il
hand, and that when this rule is vic.
lated, justice is trampled under foot
The trainers of this Constitution have
made it their special business to violate
this principle. They have proposed {
form of government by which many
thousands, probably one-fourth of the
permanent white citizens and proper
ty holders of the State, will be disfran
chlsed. And they have done it, in
violation of the law of Congress
which is the measure of their authori
ty. 1t was not declared in the military
bills that the exclusion of any elias;
of our citizens from the polls, should
be provided for in the Constitution;
that the Conventions were authorized
to frame. They were promised tina
the excluded States would be admitted
to representation when, among othel
conditions, the said Constitutions Sc
cured the privilege of suffrage to tn,
new class of citizens. who were quail
fed to vote for delegates to the Con
yention. Not only was it not requir
ed that any class of whites should b
4 excluded from the polls, but this in
! depreciation Of the law was explicit,
disclaimed by its trainers. Mr.. Sum
ner of Massachusetts, objected to ii
on the ground that it did not con
template the acknowledgements of th
whites. Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, re
iplied that it did not, and that no meas
Iure of the kind demanded by the Sen