The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-08-12
For the Clarion.
WhaA l. our best PoIfcY2

best policy for us to pursue not. what i
) the best as tested by Individual proelivitie
t aud desires-but, what is essentially the hes
for the political and material interests of tin
state 1t Is often necessary, in the histor,
OF people. and iris often eminentIy prop
er that issues should be met with diploma
cy and dealt with upon considerations of ex
| pediency.
Our course should be predicated upon
complete recognition of 1.-THE situation" ant
a matured estimate of our resources and tin
. dlf1cnlties to be overcome. Let us, then
look at our condition, Ind let US see what w,
really have the power 10 accomplish for oul
good Let US determine by reason, and thu
lInexeOrable logic of events what course
promises us the greatest attainable good, AM
then see If in pursuing that course, %Nhcthe
or no We sacrifice our integrity a people
IL is not necessary to go very far back u
past events to determine our present con
, dltlon. But as starting point, in order t,
avoid all dangerous distractions, we mus
comprehend it fully.
Four years ago cur WaT-wOFn armie,
stacked their arms and we were then i'm the
saddest sense of the term,a PROSTATE people
Since that time we have been completely in
the power of the national government;
government which has been administered
for that time by party hostile to US. 1t Ii
not necessary TO inquire whether this power
Is rightful or wrongful. Let us say, how
ever, that it is usurped power, obtained
only through the forms of a tortured and
bitrarily and tyrannically. 1t has resulted
10 the overthrow of our State government
and our deprivation of all participation Ell
Their in State or National government and
| the deprivation of many Of our dearest per-
sonal rights, and in the establishment OF
| military despotism over US. It is useless
to enumerate in detail that which we all
| feel SO acutely. In word. everything we
do is done by the sufferance of the party in
power.
We claim that we have political aud civil
rights and privileges guaranteed to US by
| the Constitution OF the United States, and
| rights and liberties given US by the laws of
nature. 1t is true, in the abstract we have
these rights and privileges. But it is idle
TO talk of theor teal rights, unless. we have
! the power to enforce them. The remedies,
like the rights, unfortunately, exist only
theoretically in a disregarded and profaned
constitution. Have we the power. indie
pendently of the will of the National gov
ernment, to remove one of our greatest
grievances. the vast tyranny of this military
/ DeSpOtism? Have we the power t o assume
| again the government of our state, and re-
gardleSs OF the powers at Washington. re-
| store her broken relations to the Federal
| government and assert for her the indepen-
dence and prerogatives of a State in the
| Union? Alas. the stubborn facts around
| us answer but too promptly.
Assuredly it is sufficient to say that had
we possessed the power we would have ac-
! cOmplished long since these great ends. If,
| then, we are powerless ourselves. and'inde
! pendently of the conquering power to at
tain and hold these great fundamental lights,
how utterly powerless are we to remove all
the minor consequential ills and grievances
appertaining to our condition.
1t may be taken for granted that could
we attain our wishes We would reconstruct
the State on basis different from that pro-
posed by Congress. But choice is not left
us.
Every reflective reasoning mind must see
that reconstruction cannot be effected from
the SOuthern'stand-p point. That tand-point
practically has long been passed in the on
ward march of facts. This problem cannot
be solved to meet what are practically some
of our exploded ideas.
How will it then be accomplished? That
it will be on some plan is inevitable.-Can
it ever be accomplished on the National
Democratic theory. That is the standpoint
of many of us. A settlement on this basis
cannot be possible for four years, and can
not be regarded as scarcely a proba bility df-
ter that time We should not predicate our
action upon any hopes or calculations of
this kind.
Then how will this State be restored
Only one answer remains. Either under
Radical or Conservative auspices. we must
admit the existence of the two parties We
have watched with breathless interest the
Virginia campaign. We are anxious OBJ
servers of the contest now progressing III
Tennessee, and these two States, particular
We cannot fail to see in this, and in the adj
vocacy OF conservative principles by lead
ing Republican journals, that there is
growing tendency TO a reaction in our favor.
Wisdom suggests that we should lend our
energies to the policy that promises the bast
results, rather that exhaust ourselves in vain
efforts for what we all must admit is unat-
tainaBle.
Now we say it is manifestly our policy
suggested by reason,and, we may add, dicta-
fa1 hu nIIr nRppSSitipS. tn avail ourselves full
ly of this favorable reaction. and in no way
can this be done except by supporting the
recently organized Conservative Party.
1t seems to be admitted by our thinking
men. that a Democratic ticket in the coming
csmpaign, is impracticable. All seem to
feel that Democratic triumph at the ballot
box. would be rejected by Congress.
Whether impracticable or not. we have
every reason TO believe that no Democratic
ticket will be announced.
Then the whole question presents itself
as simple alternative. Shall we support
the Radicals or Conservative Republicans?
No true man can hesitate between the two.
No man who is not so wrapped up in his
own vanity, so absorbed in the contemplation
of his own pet ideas, as to be unmindful of
the vital interests of the people, can be neg
alive in this contest.
On the one hand are the Radicals, set of
political vampires, ready and anxious, not
withstaHding their recent soft words and
fair promises, to suck our life-bloOd. and to
sweep away the last expiring breath of our
liberties. We have read their hearts by
their revolving acts. and we see that nothing
but the most detesiable tyrannies will fol-
low their advent into office
/. On the other hand is the new but power
full National Union Republican Party, COM
posed of men of intelligence and honesty,
Republicans it is true, but in no way identi-
fled with the political monsters who nave
worked for our rsin. This party has plant
ed itself upon the most conservative ground
occupied by any part of the Republican
party North. 1t proposes to give TO every
white man his rights, and 20 administer the
government fairly and literally, thereby
softening many of the asperities OF laws
which We regard as oppressive. BY this
party we will secure, if not the hearty SYM
patiiy, at least the non-interference OF the
Executive Department. and the certainty OF
a fair election; and lastly, the most impor-
tant of all. the great probability of ratifi-
cation by Con gress, without which all effort
on our part is vain. Can we ever hope for
better terms than Universal Suffrage ana
Universal amnesty, promised by this party
Is not the only open question in this State
whether we, the white population, shall nave
our political rights! Are not the other
questions closed upon US by power which
We must all confess IS SO far as we are con- con.
cerned. supreme. Every jurist knows that
from the political questions arising under
acts of Congress, there Is no appeal 10 the
courts. The great question OF negro SUI
frage will soon be lrreVOcaDiy settleu ~
constitutional amendment. Congress VIII
never reverse its. action
Many of these facts alluded TO are paIniul
to us, and they are only alluded TO because
they are existing realities. and because we
must recognize and act upon them, and turn
them, if we can, TO good account. We must
as morally brave people, turn from the
past, and gather up all that Is len Of our
liberties, and not dispairingly relinquish the
attainable because we cannot gain all we
desire. We should, in word, go to work
as philosophical, earnest people, TO rebuild
liberties, restore the State government on
tha Rocf vsrncffen1 haxfs and foster the mate