The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-18
An mn Ess
OF THE
Democratic Executive Committee
TO THE
FREEDMEN OF H5ISSssSun

calied the Loyal League is the org nizatior
oi the republican party in this State. that RI.
Rev. James Lynch, a colored man froa
lnialaueiphia-who admits that he reeei We,
SSooO year from the Methodist ChnrcI
Noltn mas been, and now is a leading agent
oi SAID party in the formation of said
4 Leagues That the said Lynch. under tn
patronage OF said church and the pretence ~
| uiVlne service, and forming religious socie
tles, and holding nightly prayer-meet,nps
nas assembled the freedmen in all portions
| OF the State, and by falsely representing to
| Gnem that the white men of Mississippi We're
their enemies and intended to reduce them
again to slavery, and to deprive them of ali
the rights of freemen, has induced great
numbers OF the freedmen to become mem
oers OF said Loyal League-hostile in their
| FEELINGS and conduct to the white race, and
TO arm and combine against them.
mat the said Lynch has inaugurated said
League as an oath-bound, secret RELIGIONS
society, that the freedmen and freeman who
enter the same are solemnly sworn under
severe pains and penalties, extending to
prIyatIon of liberty and property, that they
Will keep the secrets of said League-that
they Will vote for none but the candidates
of the Leauge or the Republican party for
ofhce-that they will support no public men
| or measures but such as are recommended
and adopted by the League-that they will
maintain and support none but members of
the League in all the dealings, associations
and duties III public and private life, and
that they will combine and exert the full
power of the League with arms, if necessary
to accomplishe their object. These facts
and many more to the same effect are sus-
eeptible of legal proof.
The candidates of the Republican party
are known to be members of the League,
and in full accord and conspiracy with the
/ Il Il.
because of his clerical character and negro
blood,
The result of this combination has been
and will continue to be to put PERSONAL
political and social enmity and animosity
between the black and white races-and if
persevered in, will render the liberty you
now enjoy, curse instead of a blessing
cut you off from the support of the employ
ers of labor throughout the State and rem
der you liable, with all the members of the
League, to prosecution for a high crime
against the laws of the State, and to punish
ment by fine and Imprisonment in the Pen
itentiary, and loss OF suffrage forever.
Before you obtained your freedom, and the
right to vote such combinations between
white men were declared unlawful, and
those laws now apply to your race. The
Revised Code of 1857 declares that
whoever shall procure, or endeavor to
procure to vote of any electOr, or the influ-
ence of any person over other electors, at
any election, for himself or any candidate,
by means of violence, or threats ofviolence,
or threat of Withdrawing custom or dealing
in business or trade, or of enforcing the
payment of a debt, or of bringing a suit or
criminal prosecution, or by any other threat
or injury to be inflicted by him, or by his
means, shall. upon conviction, be forever
DISQUALIFIED to hold any office or place OF
trust, honor or profit, under the laws or con-
stitution of this State, excluded from suf-
frage, and be punished by imprisonment In
the Penitentiary, for term not exceeding
two years, or in county Jail, not more than
one year, or by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars, OF by both such fine and i'm
prisonment Rev. Code, $40, Art. 80.
IF any one shall, by illegal force, or
threats of force prevent or endeavor to pre-
vent any electOr from giving his vote, he
shall upon conviction be punished by i'm
prisonment in the Penltentiary Tor term
not exceeding two years. or IN a county JAIL
not exceeding one year, or by fine not ex-
ceedng five hundred dollars. or by both
such fine and imprisonment" REVISED
Code, 5S7, Art. 80.
Under this law. combination to induce
ignorant persons to take an oath to vote Tor
particular measures or men at an election,
with threats of violence or with DENIAL OF
custom or any other injury if the person
shall see fit to vote contrary to his oath, is
is unlawful.
You all know that the sole object of the
oaths You are required to take, and the IN
structions you receive, as members OF the
League, and agree to obey, is to procure your
votes. and the votes of all freedmen IN the
State. for the Republican candldates-that
Won are not at liberty to vote as you please,
either as to men or measures, and are held
in personal fear and dread of punlshmenG
and personal injuries and persecution, from
members of the League, If you do not vote
according to the orders of the League 1our
Master, James Lynch, in his late address 20
Won. commands you to 6 go to work and hunt
mn votes" He orders you to g vote tor the
Constitution, and for the men selected by
the Republican party to hold office; Ihese
are the official commands of the League TO
you.-You dare not disobey.-1our JUG
ment and your will are both enslaved,-1ou
are not freemen to vote,-1Ou have unla"-
fully bargained your vote away for the pro
lection of the League, ana are helu III 'oAhoi
of its pnnishments.
You cannot fail to perceive that these ar
t;cIes of the Code of 1857, prohibit and rem
der criminal the very acts when meinpe!s
of the LOYAL League are required, by then
oaths. agreements and obligations, TO COM
nit. ,e5 70 no
Criminal conspirators are defined TO De
those that do BIND themselves, Dy eath'
covenant. agreement, or other alliance, 10
do an unldicful act or a tdtcfat act, LOT un-
law purposes and such as retain men I'D
the country with liveries on Resumes
salary or pay-to maintain their malicious o
enterprizes :-Tomliaus Law, Die. i, 81
Cbitty's C. Law, /, 1139-lst Russ on CRIME
277, and 28l. - low
A combination is a conspiracy IN law,
whenever the act to be done has a necessary
tendency to prejudice the public or Cypress an
S;r;duaIs by uniustly subjecting them TO tne
mower of the confederates, and giving eaecl
TO the purposes of the latter, whether Oh OK
tortion or mischief of any unlawfai OF I'M mi
| moral character. = Whartons lam American
| Criminal Law, page 1923, section 81,
Tbe combinations of the Loyal Leagues
ome clearly within these definitions ano
nrobibitions of the statute and common Ia =.
Ist They prejudice the pubhc ana GO oppaes5
;nd;v;duals. by holding them in fear ana
restraint-by corrupting the minds OF 4ha ene
aiectors and voters, and swearing tneIn
e,;tbont knowledge of candidates or meas
WIS to vote for particular party ana par.
t;cnlar men and measures, regardless VI , :e.
mnii;c welfare. The latter Is the soul, ne
pn n59 distance of free government, ana wneI
eorrnpted or perverted, as it Is by tne IessI
tba wbole system of free government Ia a!s
These Leagues extend, not only 70 Nus an,,
/ s;ss;nni but to ten States, ana nav son