The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-03
: -nllrned from second page

convention--the proposed Constitu-
q ,beir legitimate Ofspring-they feel
con "a support il, under the
FaD1 Of the unlawful and cor
oaths administered to them
rr = known Of the Loyal Leagues to
-, them as criminal eonspiracies
e'l, ,bs freedom aud purity of the cleo
s-.rehise, aud an unlawful restraint ON
-,..tors themselves. In fact the negroes
y, vste-it is the League that votes for
thsm. . A.. 49,.
hiod themselves by oath, covenant, or
alliance. to do an unlawful act, or
lawful act. ior unlawful purposes
600. Cum Law, hss. Societies taAamg
fol oaths. are deemed unlawful com
-.,,,ps. ist Russ on Crims 277-s. 25l.
.rsrciss Of the elective franchise Ia
- bv law 20 all qualified electors, free
-, threats. intimidation, compilation. OF
- combination. The intention Of the
4 that every elector shall vote accord
to the dictates of his own free will.
Under our form of government the cleo
a.. franchise is considered the most valua-
:. ofal public rights, and persons unlaw-
suv interfering with the free and unpreiu-
,.sd exercise OF the same, are held to be
.,imiuals Of high character. The offer of
..s, nr re,rards TO influence the vote of an
slsetor. l. punished with disqualification for
.oy ofBce Of profit or trust, exclusion from
sgHrare and Imprisonment in the nanitAntiAry
at more than two years, or in the county
I'll one wear, or fined . thousand dollars, or
both. at the discretion of the court. Code
20 art g. That the managers of the 10y
a. Leagues have committed this crime, on
most gigantic scale, there can be little
Soubt The fact that they have sworn all
ne fredmeu ia their lodges to secresy and
threatened them with criminal prosecutions
they diyulged the secrets Of the order, 10
evidence Of criminal intent-that they were
and other re wards before the Convenr zion
election is a matter of confirmed notoriety.
Our statute provides as follows: Art. 80.
whoever shall procure, or endeavOr to pro-
cure the vote Of any elector, or the influence
or any person over otncr electors, at an y
election, for himself or any candidate, by
means of violence, or threats of violence, or
threat of withdrawing custom or dealing in
business OF trade, or of enforcing the pay
meut of debt, or of bringing suit or GRIM
inal 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 OF place
trust, honor or profit, under the laws or con-
stitution of this State, excluded from suf-
frage, and be punished by imprisonment in
the penitentiary, for a 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 inn
prisonment."
By our statute it is further provided "that
if any person shall offer or give a reward to
another for the purpose of inducing him tc
persuade, or by any other means not amount
ing to bribery, procure any person to rOte a
any election, for or against any person, the per
son so giving or offering, and he who shall
thereof he imprisoned in the common ia
for not more than one year, or fined not more
than five hundred dollars, or both, at tn'
discretion of the court" Rev. Code, Pag'
$40, art. So That this statute tally cover
the gigantic frauds Of the Loysl Leagues, IL
the elective franchise, there can be M
reasonable doubt. That they procured tn
freedmen, by means of unlawful oaths ant
false promises of rewards of a political AM
pecuniary nature, to vote for the Radica
candidates and against the opponents at til
Convention election, and that they hav
perfected this scheme and enlarged its GRIN
inal proportions for the election on the ~
inst, is fact of which they publicly boast
and no reason is perceived why Gen. GilleI
should not break up the lodges and dispers
the conspirators.
In addition to the Loyal Leagues estat
lished all over the State, the late Conventio
appointed a committee of fve-increase
now to seven, as we are informed-with pa
of $40 per day. This committee are author
lied to appoint three commissioners fc
eaCu County, dO tuo sdllO W Vi
to attend the election in each county, an
report to the committee Inasmuch as Gel
Gillem has sole charge of the election, wit
his military force, and has made ample pre-
vision for the same, this committee an
commissioners of the Convention have n
lawful duties to perform. They are not al
thorized by the acts of Congress, nor
military orders 1t is fraud on the publ
treasury of this State, and is manitestly
plan of the Convention to aid the Loys
League in casting the negro vote for tn
Radical candidates. The only duty requl
ed Of these commissioners is to "attend tn
election" "be present at the counting of tn
votes, and forward the result of the same
the chairman of said committee, With
three days thereafter"
There are three Commissioners for eac
county at So per day-with no time specific
when these offices shall end-and no duti'
to perform in which the public have an
interest whatever.
Tere are sixty-one counties in the State
three Commissioners for each makes Oh
hundred and eighty-three Commissioners
An -