The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-06-20
A lid R E y "
DDR E y y
OF THE
n,mocratic Executive Committee
TO THE

TO THE

II IS uGo lot tbe secret political combination
sou an .i,n III T,oyal League is the org anizatior
aleu up9nnnnnblican party In this State, that the
0'n' lanes Lynch, a colored man from
@s' @s'.5aInhia-whO admits that he receive:
RllSS' RiaS YEAR from the Methodist Church
i.'tb has been, and now Is leadlng agent
A~VHl1 marty in the formation OF said
Of SaLu That the said Lynch, under the
Ieisunooge of said church, ,and the pretence OF
paun service and forming religious socie-
lN"nd holding nightly prayer-meetlngs
tlss' '.%'non,bled %nG the freedmen in all portions
d. Btn a' State. aud by falsely representing to
G'n G4' that the white men of Mississippi were
l1or lI1o0irrenemies and intended to reduce them
.ssin TO slavery, and to deprive them of all
r. rigbts of frcemen, has induced great
no p1hsrs of the freedmen to become mem
IsnI Ir.- Of lid LOYAL League-hostile in their
Slinos and conduct to the white race, and
), arm and combine against them.
That the said Lynch has inaugurated said
,.a'-na a. an oath bound, secret religious
aocietv. that the freedmen and freeman who
tar the same are solemnly sweFn- under
we're mains and penalties, extending to
vrivation of liberty and property, that they
Kin keen the secrets of said League-that
tbav will vote for none but the candidates
ofthe Leauge or the Republican party for
oHce-that they will support no public men
and adopted by the League-that they will
maintain and support none but members of
tbe League in all the dealings, associations
and duties in public and private life, and
bat thew will combine and exert the full
nower of the League with arms, if necessary
70 accompishe their object. These facts
and many more to the same effect are sus-
ceptible of legal proof
The candidates of the Republican party
fO la hQra of the t.paOnR.
and in full accord and conspiracy with the
said Lynch, who is put forth as cats-paw
because of his clerical character and negro
n blood.
The result of this combination has been
and will continue to be to put PERSONAL
political and social enmity and animoslty
between the black and white races-and IT
persevered in, will render the liberty you
now enjoy, curse instead OF blessing
cut you off from the support of the employ
ers of labor throughout the State, anu rem
der YOU liable, with all the members of the
League, to prosecution for a high crime
against the laws of the State, and to punish
ment bv 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. Inc
Whoever shall procure, or endeavor TO
procure to vote of any elector, or the ln11n-
ence of any person over other electors, at
anv election. for himself or any candidate,
by means of violence, or threats OF violence,
or threat of withdrawing custom or dealing
in business or trade, or OF enforcing the
paymsnt of a debt, or of bringing sut or
criminal prosecution, or by any o1ner Unreal ti1
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-
stitution of this State, excluded from suf-
frage, and be punished by imprisonment IN
the Penitentiary, for term not exceeding
two wears, or in a county Jail, not more than
one year, or by fine not exceeding one Ehou- gu
sand dollars or by both such hne anu ln-
nrisonment Rev. Code, 579, Art. 81.
"If any one shall, by illegal force, or
threats of force prevent or endeavor to pre-
vent anv elector from giving his vote, ne
shall unon conviction be punished by inn
nrisonment in the Penitehtiary for term
not exceeding two years, or IN county J1il
not exceeding one year, or by me hoG eA
ceeding five hundred dollars, or 1y pom
sncb fine and imprisonment" ."-Revlsed
Code 5S7, Art. 60
Hinder tbns law. a combination to induce
icnorant persons to take an oath to vote Tor
particular measures or men at an electloh
with threats of violence or with denial OIL
custom or any other injury II the peIson
shall see fit to vote contrary to his eaeh' Is
is unlawful. 40
You all know that the sole obJect Oh Ihe
oaths you are required to take, ana the ~ IL
structions you receive, as meiiloeie Vi onu
League. and agree to obey, is to procure your
votes and the votes of all freedmen In the
State for the Republican candidates-thab
Won are not at liberty to vote as you please,
either as to men or measures, anu afe hoi.. 1
in narsonal fear and dread of punishment
and personal injuries and persecutloh' 1ronl
members of the League, II you 40 no1 w W.
according to the orders of the League. loul u
Master, James Lynch, In ms iate 'iuuleSS I1 ~
Won commands YOU to go to work and hunt
mn votes" He orders you to : vote LOT Tue
Constitutions and for the men selected py
the Renublican party to hold office Ihese
are tbe official commands of the League W
vou.-You dare not disobey-lour J1us
mant and vour will are both enslaved,-1o ou
are NOT freemen to vote,-You have uhiaM-
fully bargained your vote away for tne PLo.
lection of the League, and are heia LII voiAoi
of its pnnishments- 4ho+ +besa ar.
tcIes If the Code of 1857, prohibit and ren.
dor criminal the very acts which mempetS
nc tba TovaI League are required, py 1non
oa+bs agraements and obligations, 10 com
nit "a asrt se,,od To hf
Criminal conspirators are denheu W ~ u
those that do BIND themselves oy oaon ~
covenant agreement, or other allance, ne ~ =.
do an nn1aaofI act, or Jagf"t aet' 1or un u
law nnrnoses; and such as retain men II
the country with liveries on Ieesdaioe, ,;nion,
saIarv or nay-to maintain their maileoou' eao
entarnrizes s.-Tomliaus Law. Dlc. T. ~
Cbitty's G. Law, /, 1159-lst Russ On Criihe
277, and 28l. .n-arg-a.a,,;,.acv in law
whenever the act to be done has necess'aa,
tendency to prejudice the paot.e or & op.oo to th, h
digdaais by nninstly subjecting them 70 stfae sn
power of the confederates, ana gixLns of ofte :,
to the purposes of tho latter, whetnsr u i'm :,
tortion or mischief of any unlaWiu, o,.;ca, % 90.
moral character. - Whartons ,aan
Criminal Law, page 1928, section 25I1 o,,e
The combinations of the Loyal la'ss an, :"
ONE clearly within these dennre,on ll,,er,nn la !
prohibitions of the statute and conlino onnres
lst They prejudice the pubic anu fear ear an
individuals, by holding them ~ a, of th
restraint-by corrupting tho minus tben an
electors and voters, and swearing rns, ,nsa,
without knowledge of candidates ~ Ina na,
ures, to vote for particular party, anu of FL f.
ticular men and measures, regaruio9s = If
public welfare. The latter 10 the SOU, ,rhe =,
and existence of free government, anI "nr ~
x,,I In nv the Lf1k$, Y