The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-05
Loyal League Conspiracies Pub.
IicIy Admitted.

Editor Clarion: Col. John w. Forney,
Radical leader and editor at Washington,
writing from the Chicago Convention, to
one of his two daily papers at Philadelphia,
the Press, makes the following confession
by way of boasting:
"The Radical party, five hundred thous-
and strong, composed of the black Union
Leagues of the South, and the white Loyal
lists of the North, are armed cap-apie, and are
ready with the BALLOT or BAYONET to
carry the election this fall.
Here is an admission that the black Union
Leagues of the South, are combined with
the Loyalists of the NoIth-are all armed
oap-dpie, and are ready with the ballot or
bayOnet, to carry the election this fall.
That the members of the Leagues drill
with arms here aud carry them to their
nightly conclaves, has been known long
time Their purpose to carry the elections
by fraud, force, intimidation and bribery, Is
manifested In a variety of ways, susceptible
of legal proof. The negroes publicly admit
that they are sworn to support the Radical
candidates. aud IL reatened with violence ii
they refuse to vote for the Radical candi-
dates, or refuse to vote at all
The public proclamation of the chief con-
spirator, Forney of the Washington Chron-
ice. that the black Leagues here, were arm
ed and ready to carry the election by the
bayonet, is undoubtedly true The negro
delegates at the Chicago Convention, un,
dOubtedly informed Forney of this armed
body of men in the Loyal Leagues, who are
ready noG only to intimidate the negro
voters, but the white men also, If occasion
requires.
These men are guilty of three distinct
Offences. under our code:
Ist A conspiracy of two or more persons
combining 10y oaths or other covenants or
agreements to procure the votes of freedmen
for or against any person, is Penitentiay
offence. See code, p. SO, art. 80
2nd. A similar conspiracy lby an oath
| bound armed force, or threats OftOrce to pre-
vent or endeavor to prevent, any eiector
from giving mis- vote, Is Penitentiary Of
! fence Code. 5S7, art. 30.
! Sd. Similar spiracies to interfere with the
| freedom of elections. and to compel by fraud,
| force threats or int 'midatiOn, a large body of
| freedmen to vote for or against any person or
! class of persons tor public office, is often e
! against the public policy of the United States,
and of the State of Mississippi.
| Tue Recon tructiOn acts of Congress were
! pas ed to protect the freedmen in the free and
| uurestrained exercise of the elective franchise
| 1t was feared by Congress that the former
masters of the freedmen would conspire to con
| troll their votes. Hence they provided a law
and an army for their protection. But MEM
bers of the same CONGRESS that passed that
! law, such as Wilson, Kelly, and FOrney, who
is Seer tary of the United States Senate, estab-
! lished the LOH al Leagues to commit the same
CRIME that Congress protested to legis ate
against. They are therefore caught in their
own tolls. They are liable to fine and impris-
| onme at alike at common law which is part
| of our criminal Code, and by the Code itself.
! Code, page 5S7, article 80. LIST Chitty's Com
mon Law. 1lS0.
A combination is conspiracy in law, when
ever the act to be done has necessary tendrn-
cy TO prejudice the public or OppreSS indtUjd-
! ldls by lDju>tly subj citing them to the power
| of the cOnfcderates, and giving effect to the
| purposes OF the latter, whether Of eXtOrtiOn or
mischief of any unlawful or immoral charac-
| ter Wharton'S American Criminal Law page
1923, section 1922 Such combination, either
| Dv white men or freedmen, to induce freed
men to vote particular way j. a criminal act.
| The facts can be readily proven by any judi
| ci1l officer. The oaths administered to the
freedmen are illegal, and do not bind them
| legally to secresy. When summoned as wit
| nesses they would he compel to disclose all
| the facts touching the case. The oath and its
! terms and obJects-the instructions of the
managers to the members Of the League, and
the entire objects to be accomplished ana all
tho means to be used in producing the intend
ed results. Every freedman who has been i'm
posed upon by these Loyal Leagues, and sworn
into their associations, has right to complain
before Gen. Gilem, justice of the peace, or
| Judge of any court, and by an affidavit of the
ldtIS- " nave All DtI>OLs dlI6Sltt anu lIIeu
who have been parties to such fraud on his
| personal rights, and upon the public policy OF
the State.
! Now if the Loyal Leagues are in fact innO-
! cent of any Otfense against the law, let them
come forward and make public all their o this.
! covenants, agreements, bylaws and purposes.
If they are honest law abiding men, they
| will do this. The exercise of the elective
franchise is a public act, in which all per
sOns are deeply interested, and no man or
set of men have the right to cOnspire secret
! ly to influence large bodies of electors in the
manner attributed to the Loyal Leagues.
Certain colored clergymen, residing in
this city, are said to be agents of these
! Leagues, under pay, and thus while pretend
their focks together under the pretense OF
their deluded victims the unlawful, irrev-
erent, irreligiOus and blasphemOus oatbs OF
the Loyal Leagues
AS these are offences alike against the Re-
construction acts, and the State law, the
Commanding General of the District, and all
| the judges and Justices of the Peace in the
State have jurisdiction of the same. The
Commanding General has the power to ar
rest, try, condemn and punish the formers
and managers of every Loyal League in the
State, or in his District. The Judges and
Justices of the Peace have the power, and it
is their duty, when they know of the
| offences of their own knowledge or on in
| formation, on oath, by others, to arraigne
| examine and bind over the offenders foI
trial by the Circuit Court.
REVISED CODE.