American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-04-04

Ay ueu O"
When | vert to jackson, a few
fIays since, to attend meeting of
the Democratic State Central Com.
mittee, | had very well matured
views in reference to the policy we
ought to pursue in the election, now
shortly to come off, on the ratica-
tiom or rejection of the proposed new
Constitution. Though the conclusion
I arrived at was the result of much
anxious reflection, as well as of con
ference and discussion with my
friends in this county, yet feared
implicitly to rest upon if. We are
now surrounded with difficulties M
brecedentcd III our history, Or in tie
history of any other people; aud we
are threatened with prrilS so dfsis-
trous and ruinous, not only to our
selves personally, but to the torn of
government and the soCts''and roIlt-
ical institutions under which We have
heretofore lived, that he who seeks
the pathway he ought to tread. ne
tessa:ily halts and doubts and leSl-
tates, fearing lest he may err, and that
fatally. Thus cf:cnmStancrd, / could
not have been otfft'f@fsr than greatly
edited, and pleased; at listening to
tho very able, full and frank discus
sion, which took place in the commit
ter.
Upon the main point discussed by
us, the conference sire rSthtncd my
PREVIOUS convictions.
On this point, you expressed an
opinion advrrS" to my own, ana l
deem the matter OF such vital imp"r
lance, that now propose to tate for
YOUR consideration, tine reasons wbrcir
have caused me to differ with It1'
and to ask You to review the ground
upon which YOU stand.
The question is, Ought Ne ~ ran
candidates for the STATE and county
Offices provided ter by the proposed
constitution, If, hS rs almost certain,
ali election for tlIe*e Offices viii he
ordered by the Convention think
We ought, tor the following, among
other reasons. @hici! might be urged.
In the first place, mrn are so con.
stituted hat they do not exert them,
selves so much to carry out Il prnci
pie, as they do to advance the man
hho represents it. \ mere principle
without material and an ontwalH
representation OF it, is altogether too
etheiial and spiritual to exc t the
passionate aud earnest action OF,
tnalfttfnd. Hence in every system OF
tclf9fon, the personal character and
actions OF it's founder aud his aSSHrI |
Atcs are more the object of aimlIn F.,
tion aud love of their followers, tIan |
the great principles, whether false
brtrue, upon which ii is founded. 81 /
IN philosophy and science, we iind /.
tir devoteeS OF a sect OF system cher +.
ishing with passionate admiration
the mcmrry Of the great man who
founded it, after they had strayrd |
from or forgotten the truths, or alan- /
,lone,l the errors, which he promul ,
gael.
Much more is this true in politics
For all his story shows that the rise [
or fall of parties depends rGrr npon I
the personal qualities tf the Leaders,
tHtu ulO'l ibO Ia iI'iN'' WI NV ''N''lN - /
they are formed to carry ont. Men
admire truth and virture, but they
love good and virtnouS man.
We despisc falsrhood and treac'r,
ry, but We spurn and punish the liar
aud traitor. Principles appeal To
Judgment and reason aione. They
make lodglnent in the mud as q
part OF our intellectual health, hEt
except in rare instances they never
arouse to passionate and cnrI irtiC
nction. Who does not knew that III
fine late war, the northern hraI't, VAS
more fired by love tor the "Old flag"
the symbol of national glory and VA.
tiOnal unity. than any conviction oi
the importance of maintaining the
Constitution, and enforcing the laws!
And who does not know that on our
aide :the personal qualities of our
great leaders were even more potent
to excite to heroic deeds, and not
less heroic suffering, than even our
cherished idea OF national indrprn.
dence?
So then, l think it manifest, that
we ought TO have men a> well as
principles represented in the Conven-
tiOn. Our adversarieS will have both.
and there ought to eXist sOmc very
powerful reasons 20 intftlce MS To fore
10 so ObvionS an advantage upon the :
mere point o! exciting to enthusiasm
and inciting to action on our side.
The Ultimate end We aim at is not
merely to defeat the ratification of
the constitution at the polls, int 10
prevent the reconstruction of MISSiS.
sippi under L.! Our Alabama friends T.
defeated the ratifiuatiOn of the cnnStI-
tuition in their State, but because
they permitted the Radicals t., elect
all the State and county otiarcrS ,anl
thus have it organized fully in the
interest of that party, it is very evil
dent that the Constitution (though :
reiected) will be accepted by Con. :
tress, aud the Officers thus elected l
inducted into office. Fhe same fate {
will attend us, if We allow the I
Radicals to elect all the State ami
county officers. For ii there be any i
thing which is incnntrovertihlc, it is {
Ia