The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-07-01
For the Cfarluh.
The Co1ored People.-.A Plea for
Magnanimity.

ments and feelings which. think, should I
be cultivated in the minds and hearts of our
people. mean the Democratic party to-
wards the colofed race in our midst In a
very humble way, / have aided in achieving |
the glorious victory, which, under the favor |
of Almighty God, has crowned our struggle |
have labored and toiled, in season and |
out of season, scarcely taking sleep to my |
eyes, or slumber to my eye-hds, since the |
campaign opened. Invent into it with my |
whole soul. I mention this, not to take to
myself any credit. felt that the cause of
constitutional freedom was at stake-that
the contest involved all that remained to us
of the once glorious and priceless legacy be-
queathed to us. by our sainted ancestry, and
therefore that every man should discharge
his whole duty offer it only as an apollo
gy for obtruding the views of one so humble
as myself on public notice, and over my own
name.
l confidently appeal to the testimony of
the people of the South, if ever servile race
exhibited such loyalty and devotion to the
interests of their owners, as our former
slaves did during the late terrible civil war
When the husbands and fathers, and broth
ers and sons, rallied to the standard of their
invaded country, they committed the sup
port and protection of their helpless wives
and children to their slaves. The trust was
sacredly observed. Their enemies, and our
enemies, had predicted if such war ever
arose, it wonId be the signal of immediate
servile instructions.
Since the surrender, their conduct has been
scarcely less praiseworthy. The sudden
transition from slavery to freedom, never
produced, with any race on the globe, less
Generalization. Every influence, which
wicked and designing men could bring to
bear, has been exerted, or attempted to be
exerted over them Their former owners,
and the people amongst whom they were
born and raised, stood aloof, and left them
an easv prev to the wolves in sheep clothing,
who have sought, for their own base and
selfish ends, to instill into their unsuspect-
ing and ignorant minds sentiments of dead
| ly hostility towards those who, from inter
est, if from no higher motive, would have
been, and still are, their best friends. They
were seduced, by these emissaries of the
Devil into midnight conclaves, and secret
oath-bound political societies. They were
there falsely taught that they owed their
freedom to the Radical party-that if the
Democratic party succeeded in attaining
power, their first act would be to re-enslave
them. They were made to subscribe pledges
TO support the men and principles of the
Radical party, and were told that they
would commit purjury if they did not sa-
credly fulfill these pledges and oaths. Men
of their own race and color came amongst
them professedly as ministers of the Gospel,
to preach Christ and him crucifed"-
Peace on earth and good will to man"-but
who prostituted their sacred Office by in
flaming their passions and prejudices, and
then moulding them to suit their own treas
enable purposes. The religious sentiment
always strong in the race, was easily en-
kindled. These high priests of his Satanic
Majesty mingled religion with politics
alternately holding prayer meetings and
Loyal League meetings, and by their he'll
born jugglery obtained complete ascendency
over them. One of them has been pre-
eminently distinguished in this Immediate
section. TO his direct personal influence
over the colored people OF this city and
surrounding country, may be attributed the
compact and almost impenetrable organiza-
tion of Loyal Leagues which exists amongst
u.s.
They have been subjected to his daily and
nightly manipulation. Is it at all wonder.
full that, with no cOunteracting influence
exerted over Them so many of the colored
people who were loyal and true when slaves
and afterwards, before they were thus Sc.
duced. were deluded into the Loyal Leaguel
1t has only been since the recent brief cam
paign opened that these false teachers and
doctrines have been exposed. With all the
efforts of these arch-tiends to prevent their
colored members from attending Democratic
meetings. and the refusal of their candidates
to divide time, in joint discussion, with oul
speakers, we have still been able to accom-
plish wonders. If wise and prudent coun
sells prevail predict with confidence that
in less than six months the last Loya
League will be broken up, and the colored
people of the State, with even more unanimi
ty than the white people, will rally around
| Un6 triumphant banner OF the DemOcratl(
party. We have but to convince them thai
these horrid oaths and pledges are not bind
ing in conscience, in morals or in law-tha
it is the observance, and not the riOldtion Of
them-that is a crime, and they will abjurt
them forever My recent canvass has con
WINGED me of this. 1t has also convinced me
that the black man possesses great dea
more intelligence and honesty than we have
ever supposed. The ballot was given hin
for our destruction. 1t was believed i
would radicalize the Southern States-Got
will override it to our political salvation
Hamon is hung on his own gailows.
From the thistle of danger we hav,
plucked the flower of safety" How els,
can we account for the result of the election
just held? With a registered majority o
! 1900 colored voters, with nearly or quit,
$4,000 free-born citizens deprived of then
: birth-right, is it not a demonstrated