The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-03-18
BILE Letter from Rev.
Lester Williams. Chaplain OF
the Convention.

He dsnOlrnces tn scheme Of the EggleSt0I
Party and Ic0TTis against tt-Sdys Il a
shdm-nnd charges that its authors
egere guilty CT a trick.
WEST SPRINGFIELD. MASSACHUSETTS
December 16. 1865
! DEAR SIR: It IS not my habit to in
l trude my opinions upon public men
/ In the present instance, however. L ain
/ impelled by the fact of the knowledge
| | have of the subJect-matter in view,
the thought / have given it. the differ
/ ent conclusions | have reached from
I that of most of my friends, and its
/ vast importance. | refer to the ques-
/ ton of the reconstruction of the State
| of Mississippi as it is now presented
Z before the reconstruction committee
I of the House of Representative in
I Congress.
was an officer of the constitutional
convention of that State, intimately
and constantly associated with il all
through its session. and took the stump
in favor of the ratification of the con-
stitution after the convention present.
ed it TO the people. | have made the
people, black and white rich and poor,
and republican and democrat. of the
State study, and ! believe / under
stand all classes. as we'll as its politics.
| left the State temporarily in the lat
ter part OF summer, expecting at that
time TO return in 4 few weeks. Being
out of the State still, L think l can
grasp the whole subject more compre-
hensively than friends who yet remain
in the State. / believe that to restore
the State of Mississippi TO the Union,
on the basis now sought for by the
leading republicans that are now hav-
ing hearing before the reconstruc-
ton committee, would be the greatest
political calamity that could befall
them and the State. The whole pro-
ject is hollow, visionary. Republicans
are anxious 10 have the State restored.
| don't blame them. But the whole
past warns against it, and the more
especially with the slender show they
are able to make for it.
l understood this whole plan. of de- !
claring the constitution carried on the /
charge of fraud in seven counties, so /
throwing out the count, as long ago as /
in July last. But there was the same /
kind of fraud and intimidation prac-
ticed in every county in the State; so /.
that the whole, if investigated. might I
be pronounced a nullity with equal /
force as the part. If you will observe /
the location of these counties thrown
out, you may perhaps note that they
are culled, here and there, with spe-
cial purpose in view. There the re-
suit of the election was acquiesced in
by the great body of the republicans
all over the State, without loud press,
for the space of three or four months.
The proclamation of the committee of
five first saw the light on Thursday
~, bo IL
Pilot, after the returns were received I
making the election of General Grant
sure, and Gated N0Uember 3.
But with the position acceded to that
these republican brethren take, and
their requests granted, what viii be
the result? VIII republican princi-
pies be made secure in the State and
the cause permanently established ,
VIII the black receive all his legal
rights, and be permitted to enjoy them
without fear without which the whole
becomes a wicked farce and an impo-
sitiOn? viii the white enjoy life with
out the threat, persecution, or the as
sassinr If not, the whole will be mere
surface-work and a sham. 1t is my
belief TINT this would not follow, so 1
am against g; not willing to sacrifice
the whole future for the little to-day
in hand. If Congress endorses the
what will be the complexion
Of the State legislatures On Joint
ballot the two houses would have but
a very slender republican majority
What would such a majority be. or
amount to, in the hands of the white
mans party of the State-pOwerful III
intelligence, wealth, and So
;ial position : just like chaff in the
Y;ld--see Georgia. The end would
be then, believe, that whilst a hand
ful of republicans would hold proni-
nent offices, the great MAS of the State
would be under the hoof of the mex
)raDly despotic ald cruel sham de-
noCracy, only to he thrown off ut the
expiration OF their term and never
heard of more. SO endeth republican,
SIN and security.
L have indicated to you. to some OK
tent, my thoughts upon this grave
matter. have written oon1ldentially.
These republicans from Mississippi
before you | know, probably all of
hem. and they ku1w me. They are
my friends. II would not be best, per-
laps, to Introduce my name in opposi
ion to their project, Though neither
afraid nor ashamed but my ideas are
FOR anybody. | nope | have not writ
.en too late, though may give nothing
new, ! am the chaplain TO the con-
gention. IL may be said l am then an
witness. This viii not de-
.ract from the truth.
/ am. very respectfully. yours.
LESTER WILLIAMS, JR.
Hon. GEORGE 5. Boutwell,,
Member e CeagresS.