The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-08-07
fudge @Farkcy'S Views of the
EygO Parties i'm mississippi.

Judge Shaskey, SO long and honorably
identified with the people Of Mississippi, in
4 letter dated July IA, has given his views
Of the two parties now .contending for the
ascendency in that state. Ee says; address
ing the Editor Ct the Clarion:
According to a promise made to you a
few days ago | row give you briefly my
! views on the relative Claims of the Rad ical
and Conservative parties to the support Of
the people.
We have now two organized parties in
the State, both calling themselves IRE
publican" and each c%ontending that it is
the true Republican party, and it seems
now certain that no party will be organized,
and no other candidates placed before the
people except such as may be nominated by
these two parties.
Many of the people probably do not lar
monizc in sentiment with either of them,
and vet all will be called upon. and it is
no doubt a duty to make choice between
them rather than to remain passive. This
becomes necessary from the force Of circum-
stances which are beyond control. Mi>sis-
! sippi is now under a government not of her
own formation, not of her OWN choice, but a
military desp"tism, forced upon her, and
admitted on all hands to be the most tyran-
nical and odious of all governments. 1t is
barely endurable when administered impair
TALLY for .Rrublic welfare alrne, which
unfor;nnaHaa, is seldom the case with such
go~vcrnncE g. The State has been deprived
of all her Wations with, and all benefits
that might be derived from the National
Government; she is nov to all intcntS and
purposes, a dependent province without a
local Legislature, without an Executive.
with a judiciary, but subject to the law OF
force alone.
, How all this has been brought about it
is now useless to enquire, since such an
enquiry could lead to no beneficial result;
the people must now deal with the state of
things as they find it, SO as to relieve them
selves from oppression as we'll as they can.
Their participation in public affairs be
comes the more necessary, as it is perfectly
certain that one or the other of these par
ties will control the destinies of the State;
the practical question is, which party will
best govern the State, and best protect It's
citizens in the enjoyment of life, liberty and
property. There is certainly a wide diff
ference between the two parties, and
whilst many might incline not to cooperate
with either, yet to remain neutral would
be very certain to add to the chances of
success Of the most Objectionable party.
In order to make a proper selection between
them, the safest guide will be found in their
antecedents, rather than in their present
professions, for works at last furnish the
best test for judging parties as well as
men.
These two parties are generally known,
one as the Radical or Extreme Republican
party, and the other as the Conservative
Republican party.
The Judge then reviews the course here
tofore pursued by the Radical division Of
the Republican party. He says they must
be judged by their works; and proceeds to
anaIyse the constitution formed by them
for the State. He dwells with force, upon
the proscriptive features of that instrument,
and particularly its clauses relating to the
"Militia.'" Trial by jury" and "Disfran-
chisement )" from which he argues that the
Radicals intended to Cypress the people, and
to disfranchise about one third of the popu-
lation. This is a brief synopsis of state
ments and arguments extending through
two columns. The Judge concludes as fol-
lows:
The other party known as Conservative
Republicans has made no record as an Or
ganization in power, but still We have
some evidences by which to judge it. Its
platform of principles, although in some
respects it may be Objectionable to many
of us, has an advantage over the platform
of the other party. 1t has more of the spir-
it of justice and liberality, and | will add,
of true patriotism.-But admioing that this
is not ofitself a safe criterion, still it stands
o rtifed by facts which cannot be doubted.
In the first place, it is an opposition to ex-
IRENE doctrines of the other party, in re-
gard TO State politics merely, and not in re-
guard to National politics, for both profess
to be in favor of the administration, and in
favor of carrying out the reconstruction
measures. Its opposition to the other par
ty must therefore rest upon the extreme
and illiberal, unpatriotic measures OF that
party, as delineated in the constitution ;
it has no other foundation to rest upon. 1t
is also very certain that some of the promi-
nent members of the Conservative party
went to Washington to prevent the forcing
Of the constitution upon US by Congress at
the instance and by the exertions of the
Committee of the ultra Radical party, sent
to Washington for that purpose. / know
that these gentlemen did exert themselves
to defeat the object of the Radical party as
pressed by its committee, and perhaps it is
very much owing to their exer'ions that
the Radical scheme was defeated. For this
we have reason to to be thankful to them.
1t is certain then that one party was not
only II favor of provisions of the constitu-
ton but in favor of having it forced upon
us; and it is just as certain that of the other
party some opposed the whole scheme.
and all their representatives .esisted the
effort to force the rejected constitution on
us, and this surely entities them to our
support. No one can doubt that by the
success of this party we shall nave a more
conservative administration of our State
government, and / shall rejoice in its tri-
umph over its rival. .aaG u -e tr. .r
.ss.... E5....s - w. L. SHARkEY.
JACKSON, July 14th, 1863. ,as
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