The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-13
ADD SIS
OF IN ~ssue-- r-zz
Democratic Executive Committee
FREEDMEN OF MISSISSIPPI.

FREEDMEN OF MISSISSIPPI.
It's now publicly admitted and known to
you all that the secret polite Il combination
called the Loyal League is the org IMITATION
of the Republican party in this State, that the.
Rev. James Lynch, a colored man from
Philadelphia--whoa admits that he receives
$500 year from the Methodist Church
North, has been, and now is leading agent
of said party in formation of said
Leagues. That the said Lynch, under the
patronage of said church and the pretence of
divine service, and forming religious socie-
ties, and holding nightly prayer meetings,
has assembled the freedmen in all portions
of the State, aud by falsely representing to
them that the white men of Mississippi were
their enemies and intended to reduce them
again to slavery, and to deprive them of all
the rights of freemen, has induced great
numbers of the freedmen to become mem
bers of said Loyal League-hostile in their
feelings and conduct to the white race and
to arm and combine against them. s.
That the said Lynch has inaugurated said
League as an oath bound. secret religious
society. that the frt edmen and freeman who
enter the same are solemnly sworn under
severe pains and penalties, extending to
privation of liberty and property, that they
will keep the secrets of said Leaghe--that
they will vote for none but the candidates
Of the Leauge or the Republican party for
office-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 III 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 t-.-rt-t
The candidates of the Republican part Y
| 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. i-ssa III l.ta pFh
| 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, a curse instead of a 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 loss 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 influ-
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
I in business or trade, or of enforcing the
Payment of debt, or of bringing a suit or
criminal prosecution, or by any other threat
, or injury to be inflicted by him, or by his
means, shall, upon conviction, be forever
disqualified to hold any Office or place of
trust, honor or profit, under the laws or con
i stitution of this State, excluded from suf-
frage, and be punished by imprisonment in
the Penitentiary, for term not exceeding
two years, or in county Jail, not more than
one year, or by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars, or by both such fine and i'm
Rev. Code, $40, Art. 80.
"If any one shall, by illegal force, OF
threats of force prevent or endeavor to pre-
vent any elector from giving his vote, he
shall, upon conviction be punished by i'm
prisonment in the Penitentiary for term
not exceeding two years, or in a county jail
not exceeding one year, or by fine not ex-
ceeding FIVE hundred dollars. or by both
| such fine and imprisonment" Revised
Code, 5S7, Art. go. -+.,-,r
Under this law. a combipation to induce
Ignorant persons to take an oath to vote fol
particular measures or men at an election
with threats of violence or with denial OF
custom or any other injury if the person
shall see fit to vote contrary to his oath, is
is unlawful.
You all know that the sole object of the
oaths you are required to take, and the in
structions You receive, as members of the
League, and agree to obey. is to procure YOU
votes, and the votes of all freedmen in the
State, for the Republican candidates-that
you are not at liberty to vote as you please
either as to men or measures, and are helt
in personal fear and dread of punishment
and personal injuries and persecution, from
members of the League, if you do not yot'
! according to the orders of the League, You
, Master, James Lynch, in his late address t.
you, commands you to s go to work and hun
up votes" He orders You to " vote for thu
!; CONSTITUTION, and for the men selected b,
; the Republican party to hold Office" Thes
! are the official commands of the League f
t you, You dare not disobey.-Your jude
: ment and your will are both enslaved,-Yo
d are not freemen to vote,-You have unlaw
: fully bargained your vote away for the pro
: lection of the League, and are held in terro
:, of it's pnnishments. $50 SO 9iins 3
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