The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-06-17
LETTERS FROSI TEIE FHoFE.E

For the Clarion.
Pass CmIsTIAN june B, 1869.
The present hour isan important epoch in
the history Of Mississippi. Amer four years
OF unparalleled warfare between the North
and the south. After four years OF militia
~ rule and oppression, the people Of che
State are called upon 20 decide what shall
DC our future status. The President VIII
soon submit the constitution framed by thc
late Radical Convention, 20 the voters OF tho
State with the right 20 vote upon the pro-
scriptlve and odlous features separately. At
the same time the people win vote for Menu
bers OF Congress, and State officers.
Shall we accept OF this constitution. shorn
OF lis prescription, and be hereafter govern
cd by officers Of our own choiceG Shall We
be represented.in the Congress or tho Uni-
ted States? Or shall We continue 20 be- tho
bone Of contention with the present Radical
Congress, whose legislation Is becoming
from year to year more odious, unjust and
tyrannical, and the sport Of military des-
pots, who "clothcd In little briofnuthority.
''cut such fantastic tricks as makes tho Au-
gels weep"
The new constitution has many good fea-
lures Ia II, and II lis proscriptivo sections
can be defeated, and We believe they can bc,
will be tolerable 20 the people. and if hon-
estly executed Will ensure 10 them political
ana religious liberty.
The great bugbcar that a. held up t0
Brighten the white people Of the State, De- che
18th amendment 10 the constitution of the
United States. We see nothing Ga this chat
ought 10 deter reasonable men from voting
for the new constitution, and the establish
ment OF a State Government. But 90 IA OBJ
jected that our Senators and Representa-
tlves will not be admitted unless we adopt
the 10th amendment. This amendment con-
fers what h commonly called negro suffrage
In all the States Of the Union,-b0th North
aud South. Ought we 10 object 20 this n8
sufficient reason 70 keep rs out Of me
Union, aud under military ruler We think
not. The l4th amendment provides, "That
no state shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges nr immu-
mites OF citizens Of the United States" aBd
makes all persons born in the United States.
or naturalized, citizens.
The right 70 vote has been already cone
ferred upon all citizens, IN an the late slave
states By their constitutions, except Virgin
Ia, Mississippi and Texas. 10 70 worth
while TOR ms 70 fight for chlmcrn for
mere abstraction, when such a course en-
tails upon us all Of the curses Of our present
military rule, and such others, an Congress
may visit upon us for our contumncy Tho
18th amendment viii boz adopted without
our aid and can we hope TO war successful
ly against negro suffrage when 90 shall Boz
adopted by every other State Of the Uuionp
Let us rather,like reasonable men, acQuleaCc
la that which we cannot prevent aud in-
stead Of repinlng over the past and Don
QuixOtte like, fight windmills, embrace th0
present favorable moment, 10 establish our
State government under rulers elected by
ourselves. and responsible 10 tho people i1r
theirlonlcial conduct. Lot all conservative
men, whether Democrats or Republican
unite and elect the best men we can. and
teach the carpet-baggers, that we are not
mad enough to commit the great crime of
burying the civil liberties OF our State, un-
der the ruins which have been caused by
the fate Of war.
With such aiman a. Lewis q. Norycii for
Governor, or Jenords, Wonord simraii. or
Warner we can all unite and make ono
grand effort 20 restore civil liberty 30 our
down-trodden people, and restore confidence
at home aud abroad, in our lustItbtIous.-
Then will immigrants and capital n0w into
our State and prosperity once more be tho
lot OF our whole people. Let us nu unite
in rebuilding the Temple Of liberty, and rec
consecrate IL 70 that God, who helps those
who help themselves. SENrk.