The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-17
<ishi ADDREsssilsa
OF-lH
Democratic Executive Committee


Rev. James Lynch, a colored man from
Phlladelphia-wh admits that he receives
92oO0 year from the Methodist Church
North, has been, and now is leading agent
OF SAID party in the formation of said
Leagues. That the said Lynch, under the
patronage of said church, and the pretenee of
Irvine service, and forming religious socie-
tles, and holding nightly prayer-meetlngs
nas assembled the freedmen In all portions
Oh The State, and by falsely representing to
them that the white men of Mississippi were
their enemies and intended to reduce them
again TO slavery, and to deprive them of all
the rights of freemen, has induced great
numbers of the freedmen to become mem
6ers of said Loyal League-hostile in their
feelings and conduct to the white race and
60 arm and combine against them.
That the said Lynch has inaugurated said
League as an oath-bound, secret religious
society, that the freedmen and freeman who
enter the same are solemnly sworn under
severe pains and penalties, extending to
privation 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
office-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
that they will combine and exert the full
power of the League with arms, if necessary
Go accomplish their object, These facts
and many more to the same effect are sus-
ceptible 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
said Lynch, who is put forth as cats-paw
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, a 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 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 int1u-
ence of any person over other electors, at
any election, for himself or any candidate,
by means of violence, or threats OF violence,
or threat of withdrawing custom or dealing
in business or trade, or of enforcing the
payment of a debt, or of bring ing 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 OF place of
trust, honor or profit, under the laws or con-
stitution of this State, excluded from sui
frage. and be punished by imprisonment in
the Penitentiary, for term not exceeding
two years, or in a county jail, not more than
one wear, or by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars, or 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 he punished by inn
prisonment in the Penitentiary for term
not exceeding two years, or IN county JAIL
not exceeding one year, or by line not ex-
ceeding five hundred dollars, or by both
such fine and imprisonment,"-R Revised
Code, 5S7, Art. ~.
Under this law. a combination to induce
IGNORANT persons to take an oath to vote for
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. 90
You all know that the sole object of the
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
YOU are not at liberty to vote as you please,
either as to men or measures, ana are held
in personal fear aud dread of punishment
and personal injuries and persecut on, from
members of the League. if You do not vote
according to the orders of the League Your
Master. James Lynch, in his late address TO
won. commands you to go to work ana hunt
nm votes" He orders you to vote for the
Constitution, and for the men selected oy
the Republican party to hold office: lhese
| are the official commands OF uhe Leasuo ~
vou-You dare not disobey.-Your Judg
| mant and YOUR will are both enslaved,-1ou
are not freemen to vote,-You have uniaw
fully bargained your vote away Tor the pro-
| lection of the League, and are held III terfor
| of it's pnnishments.
You cannot fail to perceive that theSe ar
t;cles of the Code of 1857, prohibit ana rem
der criminal the very acts whlcn ne4 tSo;r
| of the Loyal League are required py 0noii
oatbs agreements and obligations, to com
nit. ,oenod IN he
| those that do BIND themselves, by oaIn'
covenant, agreement, or other aiilance, W
| do an unlatcful act, or LAYOUT ac6' lol un
| low nurposes and such as retain men III
1
salary or pay-to maintain their MALICIOUS CLIO
enterprizes :-Tomliaus Law, Die. L, 81
CbittT's c. Law, 1, 1I38-lst Russ on Crime
| 277, and 28l. .;roov in Jaw.
Xvhaneyer the act to be done has necessary
tendency to prejudice the public or opPress ~,
SiridUals by nniustly subjecting them TO OF tn at
never of the confederates, and giving eHecl
To- the purposes of the latter. whether Oh eA
tort;on or mischief of any unlawfnl OF llli,
nooraI character. = Whartons american
Criminal Law, page 1923 section 2S9z
The combinations of the Loyal leagues
ONE clearly within these definitions =, ana
nrobibitions of the statute and common Ia :"
p ist They prejudice the public and OPP Cypress nS
;ndividuals, by holding them IN Tear anu .hl
res EST corrupting the minds OF ent
electors and voters, and swearing snean
e or;thont Knowledge of candidates OF meas
mrea 70 vote for particular party ana par h
.;o,1or men and measures regardless OF , !et
uuhi;c welfare. The latter ls the so9i, nc
puI axistence of free government, ana Mnel
rrnnted or perverted, as tits by the
tba whole system of free government i M;s
tue Tb m Leagues extend not only to Mls
;a1;ro; Init to ten States, and nave con