The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-25
A DDR E SIS
OF THE
Democratic Executive Com ittee
,,.EEDMEN OF MISSHSSrPPH.

rrEEDMEN OF NlISSISSlPPH.
II is now publicly admitted and known to
oil that the secret polite ii combination
!eIed the Loyal League is the organization
oStbp Republican party In this State, that the
o. lanes Lynch, colored man from
ppSiladelphia--who admits that he receives
555n0 a year from the Methodist Church
xortb. has been, and now is a leading agent
~ said party in the formation of said
Toocues That the said Lynch, under the
IotTonage of said church, and the pretence of
Fvine service, and forming religious socie-
ties and holding nightly prayer meetings,
has assembled the freedmen in all portions
nffbe State, and by falsely representing to
tbem that the white men of Mississippi were
tbeir enemies and intended to reduce them
again to slavery, and TO deprive them of all
t6e rights of freemen, has induced great
nnmbers of the freedmen to become mem
bers of said Loyal League-hostile in their
feelings and conduct to the white race, and
IN arm and combine against them.
That the said Lynch has inaugurated said
Teague as an Oath-bound, secret religions
societv that the freedmen and freeman who
enter the same are solemnly sworn under
severe pains and penalties, exteriding to
nrivatiOn of liberty and property, that they
will keep the secrets of said League-that
theywill vote for none but the candidates
of the Leauge or the Republican party for
ofiee-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 i'll 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-
ceptible of legal proof. Ju
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, curse instead of 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 Joss 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 lnfiu-
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
1aIRf of
criminal prosecution, or by any other threat
or injury to be inflicted by him, or by his
means. shall, upon conviction, be forever
to hold any Office or place OF
trust, honor or profit, under the laws or con-
stitution of this State, excluded from sur
frage, and be punished by imprisonment IN
+he Penitentiary, for term not exceeding
two wears, or in a county Jail, not more than
one year, or by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars, or by both such fine and lm-
nrisonment. 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, ne
shall. upon conviction be punshed py I'M
in the Penitentiary for term
not exceeding two years, or IN county Jali
NOT exceeding one year, or by line not eX-
ceedinp five hundred dollars, or by both
snch fine and imprisonment" Revised
Code, 587, Art. so.
Hinder tbls law, a combination to induce
ignorant persons to take an oath 10 voCe Ioi
nartieuiar measures or men a6 an elec6ioh,
with threats of violence or Win dehiai Vi
custom or any other injury II the person
shall see fit to vote contrary to his oath, Is
is unlawful. e .1,o
Won all know that the sole object OF the
oaths YOU are required to take, and the IN
structions you receive, as members Oh uho ~
I,aagne, and agree to obey, is to procure your
,-otes and the votes of all freedmen IN Ihe
STATE for the Republican candldates-tnat
Won are not at liberty to vote as you pi9as1e, =
either as to men or measures, ana are hoiu :
in personal fear and dread OF pu.ilsnnon. e'a..,
nrd personal injuries and persecution, 1ronl
Taambars of the League. if you do not vote
ancordino to the orders of the League r foul
Master. James Lynch, in his late aduIess ], . "
Won commands you to 9 go TO Work anu e nun az :
nm votes y He orders you to " vote ior tht
Cppnstitntion. and for the men seieeue9 Ell py
the Republican party to hold once: -
are the official commands OF the Leas ~ uo :.
vou.-You dare not disoDey'-loui J%VIS
ment and your will are potn en1Iae 90, ~
are not freemen to vote,-Iou nave uhia" SNo
f1I11 hargained vour vote away for the pro
+ant;on of the league, and are held In terror
of it's pnnishments. mt +besa ar
Won cannot fail to perceive that THESE al
+;cIes of the Code of 1887, prohl6it anu Ion
dar criminal the very acts Whlch lnoiuS @ .t' Z;
of the LOYAL League ale required, py Cnu, o,
oatLs agreements and obligations 10 com
nit. dafnad to b.
those that do BIND themselves, oy oaen
covenant, agreement, or other an aatia6, fnr mn
do an ,,nIaUfut act, or laacfat act' @ ~, u, !,
law nnrnoses and such as retain men ID
the country with liveries on IeesdaS so,;n;on
SaIory or nay-to maintain their maiSnoo coz
enterprises :-Tomliaus Law, DC = Crime
Cbitty's G. Law, !, 1138-lst Russ on oii-''
277, and 281. :; Law
wbeneyer the act to be done has necessa. !,
tendency to prejudice the pubic OF oRp,eo't to tb h
Sjr;dpn1s nv aniustly subjecting them W effsr sn
Uower f II tbe confederates and giving efeC
to the purposes of tho latter, Wnesn1i sni or " in
tortion or mischief of any uniawia, r,o,.;ca o. 90
moral character. = Wharton osaa' o- -
Criminal % Law, page 1928, section aI I'Is. League
The combinations OF the 51Syn;t;ons L9y; an
ONE clearly within these dennle,oon an,nmon la ,
prohibitions of the statute ana oo ond onpres
ist. They prejudice the ppono ppiam nn IN fear Ca an
restraint-by corrupting inc nar;,,g ,n then
electors and voters, and sweal"9 o. mea
without knowledge of candiaa.ets canSty and pa
NASot W 'OSo raOarQl6cc VI