The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-15
= "a fgDIy % the statement III tihe pE-'

~ III reply to the statement Id ihe RI
lot of the 18th that Mr.. John Gum, a
planter of this county had ordered the
negro, "Ben. Griffin to leave his
plantation because he attended
Radical meeting, we are requested by
his kinsman of this place, Capt j. P
Stevens, to say that he discharged by
Mr.. Gum for stealing corn.
If the negro was under contract to
his employer to perform faithful SER
vice, and left his business to attend
a political or any other sol of meet
ing, without consent, the employer
would have been fully justified IN dis
charging him, but the negro's absent
ing himself from his business had
nothing whatever to do with the &C
ton of Mr.. Gum in this case. From
the number of negroes in attendance
at Radical meetings as reported in
their newspaper, we inter that the
planters are not interfering with the
wishes of their employees to leave
their vocations when they choose not
withstanding the urgent necessity for
the farmers to have every moment Of
time allotted to labor, occupied in the
field. With the general restitution
which prevails throughout the coun-
try-the mountain load of debt that
weighs upon all classes-the rate of
taxation which is increasing under
Radical legislation at distressing
rate--it is natural that all sensible
people should realize that as little
time as possible should be lost from
the labor required for making crops.
But speaking of the discharge of
the negro by Mr.. Gum for stealing,
and not for attending political meet
ing, we are reminded of the case of
the discharge of freedman in Co
lumbus, by Radical, not for losing
time to attend meetings, but simply
for being a Democrat. The fact is
mentioned by the Columbus Index as
follows:
1t is reported that Frank Blake, the
intelligent freedman who opposed the
violent proceedings of. the Radical
Convention last week, has been dis
charged by Mr.. S. b. Steers because
he was Democrat.
We are not informed whether this
act originated with Mr. Steers himself
his newly importt d factotum, or the
prejudice against Blake among the
negroes who were employed with him
but the fact itself stands out in promi-
nent relief, that freedman who bears
the character of a reliable man, has
been discharged by his employer, as
the freedman asserts and believes,
solely on polit' cal grounds. Here is
precedent for you, DISTINGUISHED, in
suited whites! Here is an issue.
which, if you refuse to accept, you are
towards and deserve every obloquy
which Radicalism has in store for you.
If Northern man, hardly domiciled
in your State, can discharge his en-
ployees because they will not JOIN the
dangerous game which Radicalism is
playing, surely you, the white people
of Mississippi, will not shrink from
the issue Manhood, prudence and
common honesty demand that you
should refuse to furnish employment
and food to the men who are conspir-
| ing against you.
The editor OF the Vicksburg Times
who was in Columbus when this oc.
Cured, corroborates the above state
ment:
We CHANGED to be in Columbus
when this dismissal of Frank Blake,
the negro carpenter, occurred, and we
were assured by several gentlemen
that his discharge from employment
was made distinctly on the ground
that he IS q Democrat He WIS dis
charged by Northern Radical VINO
came to Columbus since the war, while
Frank Blake, ifnot a native, is an ole
resident of that town and the county
of Lowndes