The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-16

hE CA<AANAO-N A4eNo lINNhtlb GnACiIu
upon its Thirty-Ihird Voume; it Will be
the aim of its publishers to maintain for
it the confidence and favor of the public.
-~@-o-e~-
A Retrospect.
On the 23rd of April, 1867, the pres
ent writer published an article in THE
CLARION, entitled Prompt Action Tn
der the Reconstruction Measures, the only
Safety" An earnest argument was adj
dressed to the ''white people Of the State
''to take part in reconstructing their gov
''ernment according to the terms of the
Congressional measures, ~ order to re-
'Fiere hemselrc. IF military control and to
''arrest result ia The future far more deploy-
"abte' than had then been experienced.
In this appeal, we deprecated reliance
upon the various expedients which were
proposed by non-concurring persons in or
der to avoid facing disagreeable trouble.
Blind faith in the stupid policy Of mon
action"-a simple trust in the saving vir-
tues of violated constitutional re-
lance upon the interposition of the SUI
preme COurt-were all shown to be i'm
aginary resources which would in the end
fail our people, and plunge them deeper
into calamity and carry them into difficult
ties still more inextricable.
At that time the carpet-bag emissaries
of mischief had not swarmed into the
State. A District Commander was in
control who exercised his enormous pow
ers sparingly and with commendable re-
gard to the sensbiIities of the people.
All the officers elected by them under
their own laws, from Governor to the
most inferior, were permitted to hold their
places. An election was ordered for a
Convention under the former Legislative
apportionment, and registrars were APP
pointed with view to their qualification
rather than to carry the election in the
interests Of a party.
An attempt by the class of people to
whom THE CLARION addressed its appeal,
to save the Convention, would have been
successful and Congress would have
gladly received the State if its plan had
been promptly acceeded to- The worst
Radicals in that body, admitted that it
was stringent and oppressive, and they
actually paused in the first instance before
they would venture upon the step. But
the downward road, once taken, was of
easy descent The Convention was taken
control Of by the adventures who framed
a Constitution which the people could not
accept without dishonor Consequently
they rejected it, Meantime, the refusal
of the conquered people to take part in
the election and to accept the terms orig
inally offered, and their vain appeal from
Congress which represented the controlling
party of the government to Andrew John
son with whom they were at mortal en-
nifty, begot resentment. TIE screw was
turned. New conditions were added.
embracing the 18th amendment, and
the sweeping removal of every
incumbent of office and appointment of
mere placemen charged with the duty of
organizing Loyal League clubs So rap
idly had affairs grown from bad to worse,
that District Commander was appoint
ed who demonstrated that his mission was
dot to give the people fair election, but
to carry it for the extreme Radical party. |
nj tbus tho State bo- HOO, Io,,.,l -
and foot, and become prey to the swarm
of hungry vultures that are lowering
around her PROSTATE form with beak.s
ready whetted to be plunged into er
vitals. Men confess to themselves that
their only reliance for present protec ton
against the ills that are threatened, is
upon the strong arm and determined will
of the bold man whom their adversaries
themselves have armed with power to
save them, if he choose.
1t is not little strange chat thousands
of the men who were loudest in their dis
appreciation of tie course of this journal
in 1867, IN urging the ''white people to
take part in reconstructing their State
government IN order to rcliere themselves
Of Military control, in their eAgerness to
witness the attainment of this end, stood
aloof in the late election and refused to
vote for conservatives, let their success
would defeat it. Our prophesy in 1867
has become history in 1869.