The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-08

be expurgated as propos@1, 1e4r .~anis,aa
most az che counties can protect thefnsc w.
Al conservative 7Governor ana 1egi.iaitu l.
| can do much in a legitimate way 10 nltigt.e
| file mischiefs of this and some OLher pIoNiss
4 ions Of the constitution but thc 49, ~. :
| thev have the Majority, can amend the con-
| sfitIltiou and after there IA some experience
| Of the operation of this instrument, ! think
n nrobable that many OF the blacks VIII
unite in call for the change. Ihoss ~ l1ast
among them who hold property "no "4"St
| stand their interests. ,,.,-
Rut there Is yet another consluefatloh
| which makes me desire to rehabiltate the
state aud restore her to the exercise OF poiilt-
| teal power. i wish TO see the RepresentatNe
| scsts Of Virginia In Congress- ftileu by l1eu
| who will represent her truly and honestly
who will look to her honor and interests'ahu
| not sell them out to cater To the aVailce OF
! animosity of her enemies. Let the power 10
/ Which she will be entitled under the conHtu-
| tjon as In now stands be welded by such men
| I'm her defense, and they will ind the means
| to protect her. She will no longer be treated
| as the cheap subject of every polltlcal eN-
| nerin,ent which may please red republicans
| ar New England radicals to try at her eA-
! nense Here Is the true "braZen wall OF
our defense, which will be more To US In the
way of protection than all the good feeling
! tovard ms which exists in all the North,evcn
| N ave had unlimited power 10 draw upon
| that capital. Ii Il work of difficulty, L
| confess. for the present; but IL We can SO adj
| minister and manage our state governments
|
tween the races, it may lead 10 common
pursuit of common interests Should IL
| happen that this invention OF negro suffrage
conceived as it was supposed for the injury
Of the South, should be so returned as to
plague the inventor. IL must be remembered
! that we are not responsible for such result
We did not originate the measure, but
against our earnest remonstrancc II was
forced upon us.
So far have endeavored 10 enforce my views
by considerations special 10 virginia herselti
but confess that there are others of more
general nature which have weight with me. /
believe il is a matter of general interest that
The influence Of Virginia should be once more
felt in the government of the Union. Her
worst enemies will admit that il was an hon
est influence, and all must feel that such an
element was never more needed than now in
the conduct of national affairs. When ! reflect
upon all that she did 10 delay the establish
ment Of the despotic power of IA mere majority
of numbers cannot but think that there may
yet be some potency in her voice 60 check
abuses and restrain oppression. Whom re-
mbcr, too how long she maintained her gal
liant struggle with no other weapons than rca-
son, the constitution and the moral influence
bequeathed her by the mighty dead aud that |
corruption OF the times aud the vast odds /
against her, IL seems 10 me that she must have /
discovered the true line Of defense against /
des pOtism ia every shape even though il should /
appear ia its last development aud final form /
OF imperialism, whose coming many secretly /
believe and some openly declare 10 De ineyita- I
those
whom ITS approaches are unwelc0mc may re- /
joice in the assistance of her who has been /
ever ready TO resist unlimited power in all its 1
forms. Weapons that are now rusting FROM 4
disuse in her political armory. may again come /
into play, and she may be called upon for hands |
skilled in welding them. II is true that in the !
past she failed TO commend 10 the favorable /
consideration Of her cO-States "A democracy 4
with limited power, but her voice may be bet I
ter needed when il becomes q question as to the /
limitation upon the power Of a monarchy, /
should that be ever established, an event upon /
which IL used to be thought almost sacreli giOus /
to speculate but which now somehow seems 20
have become a familiar topic ia the mouths Of
men. If Iiscas dead skin, when stretched
upon drum could give forth n sound, as fa-
bed, 20 awe even the naughty Turk at the
height of his pride and power the voice Of
what yet lives in Virginia, like "the shout Of
king among them may once more rally the
hosts who are called upon TO repel the approach
Of oppression with the tramp Of It's iron heel
or of despotsm with its merciless and all-ab-
sorbing grasp, ] could wish that the country
night be saved from such trials but what ma
ton, what government, and especially, what
republic has ever escaped them But am APP
preaching subject which would take me too
far from the matter in hand. have given the
reasons which, in my opinion, make il proper
for Nlrginiu 10 accept even the Underwood
constitution, if il should be 80 expurgatcd as
TO bestOw the political power Of the State upon
the white race which constitutes the majority
of its people. | would accept almost any con-
sttutiOn which would have that effect. | would
composed of Nirginans who would respect her
honor and represent her interests. There may
be worse things, know, than even military
government, but IL was reserved for these er- ! ,
the mind Of one trained up ina the enjoyment ,
and tradition Of social and individual liberty !
confess, however, that am weary Of see .
ing the sword OF the cOnqueror in the scale of !
Justice. ] can live under arbitrary power :
know, because | have done IL, aud still do: .
but IL Is comparatively n new thing 10 me, and l
en- ha 10 IL 4 H. all til. q
the first fair mode of escape from IL which IL =
open to me. think the opportunity il now g
afforded in the issues presented by the conser- I
Yatiye party Of the state. They do not offer,
il is true, all that | would like, or all that n
think we are entitled to- but ii is all that they d
can give. i am for taking every step towards c
for which an opportunity may =
be afforded me by the majority that rules us a
Concessions may be forced upon them by the
necessities Of the times, or may be made from d
A slow returning sense of Justice. / will take a
them az they come he that little or much with !,
out inquiry into the motive which prompts N
them If they enable us To take another step to- -
wards the restoration of our State TO the rights ~
Dfself-goyernmct. will not only accept them N
but accept them promptly, for | believe this il
Congress to be capable Of resuming tomorrow !,
what they may have granted to-day. Should :,
we fail 70 ratify this constitution after il has 4
been expurgated feel by means sure that y
he party in power will not force il upon MS as !.
I came from the hands Of its makers Let no y
hope be entertained TO the contrary because
he constitution Of the United States forbids
hem to do so. When has that instrument
stood in the way Of accomplishing any purpose y
which they cherished Did IL restrain them ~
n their dealings with the President or the q
supreme Court Of the United States Has IL a.
been respected by them in their conduct to- u
wards us On the contrary, IL seems TO be the al
most approved theory with them that we are b
beyond the pale of the constitution, and sub Il
ect to their arbitrary power and absolute con- 81
rol. 81
| will not fail TODD anything which may help hi
ny State for the present, because hope they III
viii do something better for her hereafter. ] of
10 indeed hope to see n returning sense Of JUS
ice ut some future day, but that time il prob
'eople of Virginia have now an opportunity a
restore the State to the right Of scf-g0vcrn- til
nent and 10 obtain the control Of il political OF
,Ower at home and in the general government. ci
they fail 10 do 50 il will De their own fault 81
nd owing to their apathy and INDIGESTION. va
Before they lose such result let them consider Ia
n Time what a loss that will be; let them re- bf
member, too, that their majority, though deci-
led, j. small, and 10 secure such relief as IL al
,Ossible every conservative voter should cast A.,
lis vote and unite in the common cause. l -
now that our position is difficult and that :.
ven if we obtain the victory we shall require W
wisdom, forbcarance and energy 10 reaps its -
ruits; but have faith in my fellow-citizens, u
nd when | see Nirginians ruling Virginia /
hall feel that the first great step, which costs u
nOre than any other, has been taken towards
he restoration of her rights and prosperity.
Ind now, my dear sir, having responded fully
0 your letter, | will conclude by subscribing i.
nyself as being, very truly and respectfully, n
our friend, X. VI. 4. HUNTER. .
The way they are Working. Of
All eyes are now turned to the Old Do II
ninion. The following stirring appeal "
Ias been issued by the Executive Com y