The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-13
THE MISSISSIPPI STATE CONVENTION.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE HERALD.

~ setting Of the COnventiOn-Speech of the
Temporary Chairman.
JACKSON, Jan. 7, 1868.
The Reconstruction Convention me. day. Eighty
of the hundred delegates elect answered to their
names There upwards Of thirty conservatives in
She bodythc balance avoweiiy radical. or the whole
number about eighteen negroes A temporary
organization only was effected to-day. A. Mygatt OF
Warren county, was elected temporary chairman who
delivered the following address,
BRETHREN CosvEyrroy-The hour for our as
eembps has arrivedthe hour thai registrars hav
10 long toned TO orng aDout-the hour that all loyal
OF this State have abored hasten and now
reJocc to behold the hour that all opponents
structon ana dsoya press have striven hard to
vent has come. This hour brings 10 hnai end that sys-
tem that enrches the lew al the expense of the
shat system that hrdered the growth of towns
and cities and bunl up large landed aristocrl-
eies-tnat system that discouraged agricultural
improvements and mechanic artsthat destroy ed free
schools aud demorazod church and state has come TO
end The last sand has fallen from the glass Of old
time dispensations, and they have to return no
moro forever. We meet, then, in this eliminating
hour under circumstances Of great responsibility Two
points Of time important in hstory--the
day this State seeded aud the day OF assembling
TO effect her return IL is a notable fact,
a0o coincidence, that six years ago this day in this
hall the sword " treason by act OF secession
ths state from its peaceful position and sent 1t ndrift
ON the dark and unknown sea Of blood ana ruin. What
language can depict s flowing resuitsr VINO shall de-
thirty thousand brave men CALAMITY fought for igno
bic cause, and went down TO the soldiers grave Who
sha measure tho anguish Of the thousands OF widows
and orphans who lost husband father protector and
lett with shattered fortunes buffet the
ptcss storms OF ifef Behold the dcsosting war
path, and the vast wealth scattered the wnds And
Why all this? What cause? causeiess cause
whose very would have proved direst
sly II had origin in necessity no reasonable nope
OF lettering condition IL had It's origin in tho mad
ambition Of q few and the slaveocralic OF praise
and gain Of still larger class both leading the deceived
ma sss along the pathway OF ruin God in HIS over.
Tu ing providence often brings good out evil This
desoatng has wrought out mighty changes, winch
MALLS tha mt
The destruction OF the life-shortenng influence OF
slavery have its compromising value saving
from untmeiy in the long run, than the
has destroyed Let blood OF the OF lost
soldiers out against those who signed
able instrument; let the scading tears OF widow
and the orphan burn upon their conscences; let the
wrecks OF thousands on thousands Of ruined fortunes
protest against .hsm aud those who aided
srucuon; let this Convention place them their g.
franebised list We have met to perform = solemn
duty Let US lay aside all malice, all undue partisan
feein2, and form constitution that shall reader equal
and exact justice TO all Loyal men, irrespective of
or color shall be protected 10 the matter Of
Congress- Inc hope form constitu-
ton founded In so much wisdom and justice
that il shall meet the approval OF good and loysi men
everywhere DO raned by the people received by Con-
and respected by future generations. Under Its
benign influence confidence shall DO restored, capital
shall come from abroad and seek investment; the
stream OF immigration shall flow in upon US, seeking
our sensl climate and fertile soI; large landed
shall melt away into small div ons thus density ing
population; cities shall grow, towns spring up, me-
canism flourish, agriculture become scentilc internal
cry district, and loyal men shall ruo. Could
cUrding angel unro the scroll oil Tie future for nun
dred years the boldest ght OF ima inston would BE-
tame before these living realities. feel the pressure
OF our solemn surroundings ne sister States like
~ ION, watching course with intense iuteres
Ihe shall Hasa from day day TO every loyal stat.
and to- noble Congress- Our enemies preoict q
fauure Aud shall We fair Not all the powers OF an
Rpostatc President with all his Official yInpatnizers
snd ~ power Of hostile press, and the bitter OPP
ponentst OF reconstruction shall TO fail But
81 descend TO wicked COMPROMISE time serv IN 4
cxpedle uts, then shall fail and shall perish
hui plant Ourselves the brm basis Of
justice t oil, irrespective OF color the gates
hell sbsH not prevail against God IN his providence
wni.1ct permit 10 faL The over-rulng Providence
cloudy, merry pillar that brought through the
sea- assed tho tbunders o! Mount sinai politI
iderpess shall guide all the journey throug
Soon shall the Jordan of difficulties, ane
before the glad shouts OF our loyal hosts walls 81
Rebelss m Shall fall and their giant leaders, with the
train vi mouraers tho 0st cause saall fee away
The Grsi Jehovah who rules high and directs tn,
affairs " men, who ses up and casts down whom III
will and whose piercing ere penetrates the universe
bcholdns the evil aud the good rests on US indvidu
ally and collectively, and will hold respongble 10
shis soleIl IA trust.
After Il appointment Or a Committee on C-eden
Lsls tho onyenilon adjourned until tomorrow morn
Ing
phero aps quite number Of talented mon in th
Con renon but the majority OF the body represent th
dark aulerr leagues rather than d,eeat constu ency