The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-12-23
The Figures or 1I.e Elecff02---Gem.
AHcOrms@ Vote

AAcOrmsS Vote
Notwithstanding Gen. Alcorn's large
majority over Judge Dent, the official
returns show that he has received barely
a majority, if any at all, of the entire
registered vote Of the State. In round
numbers this vote was 40, 900 before the
last registration, which is supposed to
have increased the number from ten to
fifteen thousand-making in all, say l52,-
900 registered votes. OF this number,
Alcorn received but 1861, showing
that though his majority over Dent was
large, his vote represented only about one
half of the registered voters. In this
estimate no allowance is made for the
fraudulent votes which were not cast, but
counted, by the tools of Ames.
1t is clear from these figures, assum-
ing that every vote set down for General
Aleorn was cast by Donna fde voter, he
has been elected by minority of the
persons in Mississippi entitled henceforth
to the privilege of suffrage under the new
Constitution.
Any calculation of the number Of per-
sons who were DISTINGUISHED at the late
election, necessarily must be the result OF
conjecture We are informed by for
mer District Commander that there was
no method by which an accurate enumer-
alton could be made. Before the election
we saw an estimate attributed to the Pilot,
fixing the number at 1900; but this is
evidently incorrect. There are about
three thousand offices, exclusive OF mem
bers of the Legislature, existing under
our State government, which multiplied
by ten Representing that number of terms)
would make 80, 900; but estimating that
one-half of these persons no longer exist
in the State by reason of death, or reno
val. and we would have 10, 900. To this
number, are to be added, Postmasters,
members of Congress and others who have
held federal officers and were DISTINGUISHED
for having participated in the
rebellion (so-called) 1t is safe at least to
assume that fifteen thousand would
be a very moderate estimate Of the num-
Der of persons excluded from the polls in
the late election, but are henceforth en-
franchised. Add these $4,000 to the
152, 900 already registered and we have
......... 167, 900.
From which deduct Alcorn's
vOte..---........... .-.......-..... Io,oId,
Leaving 9O,oof.
From which take.................. 1851 /,
Leaving. .................... 1926.
In other words, on moderate calcula-
ton it may be reasonably assumed, that
the majority of voters who were not
counted for the Governor elect, was not
less than -, 800
A portion of these voters cast their
ballots for Dent another portion re-
manned at home and refused to take part
in the election-and still another portion
were denied the privilege to participate
by the stringent and oppressive recon
struction legislation of Congress.
These estimates made upon the most
reliable data at hand, and with no motive
whatever to exagerate, or to build up
false hopes, are full of encouragement fo1
the future. The Radical party, under
the lead of candidate who is trammeled
by no pledge except to accomplish recon
struction ON the most liberal basis, tC
Danish prescription and to regard qualif.
cation, and not partizan service, as the
highest recommendation for office-with
all the aid Of an INSCRIPTIONS ruler, who
had unlimited authority to manipulate the
election so as ''to carry" twill go into
power clearly upon minority vote, on
their own showing. The majority COM
pose a mighty army of observation, strong
in the confidence of their numbers, differ
ing about non-essentials in the past, but
firmly cemented by a common bond of
principle and of high and patriotic en-
deavors, and by the still stronger incen-
tive of selfpreservation, which will indis-
soluoly link each to the other, as a band
of brothers--will stand ready to act in
the future as the exigencies of their con-
dition may require.