The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-06


Gen. Freeman before the Democratic AS
socati n and citizens generally, delivered III
the REPRESENTATIVES Hail. on Saturday even
inc last, and we have now the pleasure of
I,vinr before our readers a correct report OF
it;
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
GENTLEMEN AT q former meeting of the
association, resolution was passed request
ipg Judge Johnston and myself to address
YOU on the topics of the election, soon to be
held to ratify or reject the Constitution pro-
posed by the late Radical Convention.
Bv the Constitution of the Democratic
party, adopted throughout the State, we are
required to support the Constitution OF the
limited States and of the State of Mississippi,
and all laws passed in pursuance thereof
It has ever been the province of the Dem
ocratic party to defend the constitutional
rights, aud especially the reserved rights OF
the people The Bill of Rights of the State
Constitutions reserve certain inallenable
privileges, which are excepted out OF the
general powers of government. THESE are
alphabetically the peoples rights, and the
Democratic party had its origin in the de-
fence of these rights in the early history OF
tLaIruitad States, and maintains that posi-
+ion today. Hence it is that while many
other parties have arisen and fallen, the
Democratic party has always maintained lts
orc,,,iza+lon. and will continue to do so I'M
I'll the constitutional forms of government
shall have succumbed to despotic power.
The recent attem pit of the Radical party
in Congress- to impeach and remove the
President, was an effort, by two-thlrds
majority, to overthrow the Executive pe
partment of the Government ana lhstah
despotism of numbers over the the constltu-
tional form of government. Although fFeS
ident Johnson was elected to Office by the
Radicals, in opposition to the DemocraClc
candidate, the Democratic party sustained
him in opposition to the Radical party ano
the result is that the Constitution is mann
tanned and anarchy prevented.
The principal charge against the Fresi
dent was his vetoes of the several recon
struction acts of Congress. BY the Consti
tuition of our party, we hold these acts 10 D
unconstitutional also, and this brings us u
the discussion of the acts of the late haolca
Convention in this State, and the ConstIIu
tiop it has proposed for the ratification
rejection of the people.
We held, in common with the Denoci avn
party everywhere, that the State OF M'ssls
sippi alone has the power tc FORM aitel
amend her constitution.
THE AMENDED CONSTITUTION OF le6
ABOLISHED SLAVERY, ANO fh,}-
TECTED RIGHTS OF FREEDMEN.
Immediately after the surrender OF ts
Confederate armies, the Legislature wa
convened bv Gov. Clark, for the purpose
calling a convention of the people to amen
the constl aItion so as to conform TO III
Constitution of the United States In a
particulars. This Legislature was not pc
mitted to act upon the subject. GOV. Gar
was arrested and imprisoned. Gov. Sharke
was appointed in his place The latter
the instance of the President, called a sta
convention to adopt constitution III
convention assembled in Augu t, 1860, al
adopted a constitution Republican IN toi m
abolishing slavery, protecting the rights
freedmen in all respects, but not conferrf
on them tie elective franchise
Under this constitution the Legiislatu
convened. The State was regularly orga
lied in all its departments. All State ONCE
were duly elected, and Congressman al
Senators were also elected and sent on
represent us in the Federal Government. y
REPRESENTATIVES were rejected on the groul
that the freedmen were not allowed to vo
CONGRESS EXTENDS ELECTIVE FRA
IHISE 10 FREEDMEN.
Congress then passed and submitted
the States for ratification, what was cali
the l4th article, as an amendment Oh
Constitution of the United States, intend
to confer the elective franchise on the fee
men. This was rejected by our Legisiatu
Then came the Reconstruction acts
object of which was to compel the peol
of Mississippi, with other States, to en1ri
chlse the negro. These acts provided u
the negroes should vote in common Win
white electors, not DISTINGUISHED, for
delegates to the convention to be assemo
under said acts-and that when said c.
vention should adopt constitution eAtel
ing the elective franchise to all male aou
of whatever race, color or previous G!
ditiOn, twenty-one years of age and upwar
etc, said States should be admitted TO
resentatiou in Congress. The convent
was accordingly elected-it assembled
The capital and could have performed
Iho duty assigned it by striking SIN
Word from our present constitution.
DUTY Or CONVEN rION.
The electoral clause in the present con