The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-09-09
The issues that v1lI he requ1ired :
be Settled I'm = Demscrnalc
stare g.oR wemffoms


ence to the wisdom and necessity of which
we have grave doubts) a duty even high
er thar the one Of paroelling out the Of
fees. or Of ratifyiing nominations already
in the field, win devolye or the Conyen-
ton. 1t should clearly and unequivocal-
" define the position of the political or
ganization it will claim to represent, on
the new and living issues Of the day. In
no Convention that has ever assembled
assuming to represent the party OF the
State at large, has II distinctly declared
itselfin favor Of Universal Sufrage-dls-
tinctly committed itself to the principle
that inasnuch as governments derive their
lust D wers from the consent of the gov
erned, every citizen, without regard to
race, color, or previous condition, has an
inalienable right TO participate in the leg
islation Of the country. By sort OF taelt
agreement, this seems to be understood to
be the creed of the Democratic party, and
certainly is. But if the party meet in
Convention, there will be no excuse for
leaving It's attitude to be defined by the
utterances of stump speakers and news
papers representing the .views of its con-
ductors individually.
1t Is charged that the Democratic party
is not a party Of progress. That 1t Is
party Of Bourbons eking out a wretched
existence on the prejudiees of the past
That il Is still looking backward, rather
than forward This charge should be
forever put to rest. There is no victory
in dead issues. We must accept the in
evitable; and move onward to new fields.
If there are fossils, they must be left be-
hind to sleep in the graves with the issues
that are past and gone. 1t is the rule of
genuine republicanism that all the people
who pay taxes and bear the burthens OF
government, have a right to participate
in its legislation and the real question
for sensible men to address themselves to,
is not whether the negro will vote, but
Lo,o he will vote A man who assumes to
be a Democrat, and is yet unwilling to
allow the largest privilege of suffrage,
appropriates to himself term to which
he is not entitled. The very name i'm
plies the doctrine that the people, not par
ticular class. or caste, but THE WHOLE
PEOPLE, shall rule. If there be men
who have been thrown together, and yet
do not agree upon this living and essen
| tial principle, their union is unnatural and
must necessarily be inharmonious, and
the sooner they can come to an under
standing, so that each may fight on his
own preferred ground the better.
There is another point upon which
distinct and unequivocal declaration, will
be required if it be decided to call a Con-
vention. We assume it to be settled that
the people desire to reconstruct their
State government in accordance with the
terms prescribed by Congress, so as to
escape military despotism, and regain
their right of self-government. But since
the last election, a new condition has
been imposed An essential step to re-
construction, is the ratification of the
10th amendment The 9th section of
the re-submission act is in these words:
SECTION G. That before the States of Vir-
GINA, Mississippi and Texas shah be admit
| ted to representation in Congress. their seS-
eral Legislatures which may be hereafter
| lawfully organized, shall ratify the 10th
article, which has been proposed by Con-
/ gress, to the people of the several States, as
an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States.
1t is evident that it viii be of no avail
for the people TO take single step ON the
road to reconstruction, unless they are
willing to ratify the 18TH amendment.
1t cannot be evaded. 1t is between them
and the goal of restoration to the Union
and of selfgovernment, and must be
crossed over, or the end win not be
achieved The party should define its
position on this question; and elect a
Legislature with reference to it, or its
labors will be expended in vain.
We have thrown out these suggestions
as proper topics for consideration. They
viii require the authoritative decision of
the Democratic party when it again as
sembles in Convention. Opinions may
differ as to the utility of such Conven-
ton at this time, but not in regard to the
questions that will come legitimately be-
fore it for decision if it be called. If in a
position to speak, it should do so in no
Delphie phrase. In the language of an
able cotemporary, the Louisville Courier
| journal, eve cannot afford to stand STILL
This is a moving age, and the people will
not be bored with platitudes about dead
issues.
Directly in point, is the recent address
of John Quincy Adams, to the De
mocracy of Massachusetts, accepting their
nomination for Governor, from which we
quote as follows:
! do not for one instant hesitate to declare
| my conviction that the democratic party, if
| it hopes for permanent usefulness, must
mind the advice of DIR. Holmes-"Yet in
opinions look not always back, the past is
nothing, mind your coming track" But.
! gentlemen, it Is not for ME TO dictate to the
/ party. and If my services are of any value
| to you, they are equally at your disposal
/ whether require at one end or the other
whether as an officer or as a private in the
ranks. For, according to my notion, the
man is of less consequence than the policy
and principles which he presents, and it is
/ for that reason that | dare to obtrVde upon
your deliberations nay own idea of the fit
| ting attitude for Us TO assume at this time.
/ And first of all, upon matters of national
| politics. although they do not enter this de-
/ bate, vet it Is proper for us to propose what
/ we deem the wisest course to steer. In my
/ Judgment our defeat in the last election sub
| SfnntiaIIv serfletl the reconstruction and ne