The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-10-07
The standard EBearer'so very
M - maunnn. aa-.aamma.annlm Mich W -


III JAcEsox. MISS, Sept. %, 1869.
Gnasemen: I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your communication
handed me by your committee. MessIs'
webster. Of Fishoningo, Smith, OF Lauder
dole. and Jacobs, of Adams. Coyness Is.
believe, the fashion OF replies TO compn-
ments so distinguished as that patu me oy
vour Convention. The responsibility M
yolved in a matter so momentous l. too
great 20 permit any affeetauon. Assuring
voaI of mYFprofound sense OF the partlallty
"a thr Convention. | reply therefore.
though not withoutdistrust or my own Mt
ness, by a frank acceptance.
" the standard bearer of the Republican
Marty of the State, my duty is one OF concil-
iatiou. In the ardor OF early MANHOOD my
battles in the politics of the state, may paye
Iaft affer them. some unhealed wounds. In
The mellowness ofriper years this apprehen-
SION comes on me with profound regret, win
that commingling of memories under Which
the events of early life become, after time
touched insensibly with the rose eolorot the
= elections. An earnestness. perhaps an &C.
cantricity of conviction has placed me for
tventy-fye years in opposition 10 the ma
;oritv Of the people Of this state. and hav-
mo nlaced me In the same attitude towards
re xSbite people OF the State to-day, de-
n,ards that Justify this unfortunate diver
1ence by offering them an explanation IN
must. I'm the first place. correct an error
under which public opinion does me wrong.
The vehemence Of my mode OF discussion
does not necessarily originate. submit IN
an0rv passions My heart and brain are
,or fc6nceive, treated justly by the supposi-
ZION that I regard the Democracy win nate
| Does the intelligent judgement Of the peo-
Die rate me no higher than a slave OF NY
oWn Dassions-a mere creation of factious
,nimositiesY No party, as such, has any
nIace i'm either my loves or my hates. No
narty receives either my support or my OPP
position because of It's past or its per
snneI; but simply and solely De
rause of it's principles. its policy.
md It's capacity for good. l shall
inter- on the pending contest without likes
,r dislikes for any body OF men whatever.
md shall stand just a. ready To aet with
Democrats rs with Wings, IN carrying out
common views for the promotion OF our
common interest In the peace, prosperity,
and happiness of Mssississippi.
The peace of the State demands unity of
poIitical action between both races. In
Standing to-day by the favor Of your Con-
veHtion a. the head OF the Republican party
4 Mississippi, | seek TO guard, as far as lies
in my power. the people OF the State. with
Dut distinction Of color, from the great evil
of political bodies, based on races.
Identified with the public life of Missls-
.ippi tor twenty five ears, Identified with
uer political history a. a slave owner and
revolutIonist, identified with her material
Interests To. perhaps, as great an extent rs
any other man amongst L hold myself
charged BY my nomination to make on be-
nAlf of the colOred men 60 the whites tile OF
fer and terms of generous alliance Tor the
common good.
The Democratic party OF the State has
made overtures for the cooperation OF the
eolored men. In refusing these overtures.
ct me ask who, in truth and justice, can
lame the colored people for their refusal
In It's last National Convention the Democ-
rAcy declared tile reconstruction laws 'un-
Constitutional, Revolutionary aud void
The guarantee of the colOred man : Freedom
lis right of suffrage-being bound up In
those laws, is he TO blame for his refusal 10
act with men committed 70 their annulment
In Ohio Pennsylvania. and New \ Ork, the
Democracy has pledged itself within few
weeks i'm opposition TO universal suffrage.
several hundred thousand of our citizens of
color are in actual enjoyment of the political
franchise, and cannot be blamed by any re-
hecting men for refusing 10 Identity them
elves with "A party which insists that they
shall be striped OF that franchise.
In Mississippi the Democrats have IL i
rue, formed "A Republican party-with the
Republicans left out! whats in name
10 guarantee the cOlOred man, In this case.
against the prejudices thai he knows 10 be-
ready to intrigue against that safeguard Of
his lfberty-the franchises Who j. 10 blame,
IN this case. for the separation OF parties, 20
such an extent as we behold, on the basis of
race? If the Democratic party, when
crowned with all the grandeur and glory OF
its old devoted principles, cannot, In fair
ness, ELAINE the colored man for refusing IL
his cooperation, how on earth can this or
ganiZation of the Democracy, on the basis
Of shameless prostitution, blame him Tor
shrinking from IL notwithstanding its good
y outside as from "a william with smiling
cheek" And that very william, after prac-
Tennessee, is now, that 10 has caught him In
It's embrace, calling out loudly In Its organs
for his Acknowledgement The fathlessuess
with which it has flung away all lis old
principles, the sword-swallowing jugglery
under which IL appears 10 have eaten the
leek, in the matter OF scallawags and car
pet-baggers, constitute good grounds why
the colored man should repudiate its accept
ance Ofthat essential defence Of bis freedom,
the ballot.
The Democrats have, in truth, made the
colOred people of the State no proposition
on which an alliance was possible In the ma
tuTe of things. That the Democracy are
the party responsible in the eyes Of truth
aud justice, for the extent TO which the orr
ganiZation of our political parties Is based
on color, receives further proof in the over
lures made the whites of the State By the
people of cOlo- Driven To the necessity OF
acting to a very great degree by themselves.
what do we behold the party. made up
chiefly of colored men, doing to-day la con
citation Of the whitesy They are impressed
profoundly with the necessity of preparing
their children by education for their duty 10
the State, but In insisting, under that con
viction, on the establishment of public |
schools, they insist that while their children
shall have schools for themselves, similar
schools shall be established tor the children
If the whites. La demanding the equaliza-
ton of taxation and assessment AS between
property and labor they ask no Justice for
he working man of their own complexion !
that does not apply To the working man of
my complexion; no justice for the agricul~ |
tural labOrer that does not apply 10 the pain |
ter, the smith, the carpenter aud all other !
artisans. In demanding the guarantee of
their own freedom by universal suffrage. /
they pledge Themselves in spirit at the |
I'D kindness between the master and the /
slave, TO the principle of universal amnesty. |
His political franchise. the cOlOrcd man /
seeks TO place 1eyond all further doubt. |
Who can blame him for thisY This IL the 1
key of his political alliances. la establish |
ing that bulwaTk of his freedom he il not /
more ready To associate with the man of the |
North than he Is with the man of the south /
stand this moment AN irrefragible proof Of
this truth. Leaders OF the Democracy OF /
Mississippi do not feel themselves disgraced \
by assailing me as "A Shareholder, secPs- /
siOnist, rebel, last ditcher. They accuse 4
me of crimes upon my slaves. which. II true, \
would make me justly infamous; crimes /
whose utterances against me--a man who /
has never been challenged by the law. who /
has mixed. unquestiOned by moral sense, IN /
the best society OF the State, who has held |
for twenty-five years past, offices of public |
trust and honoT-crimes whose utterance |
against me holds up to the execration Of the /
whole country, our law, our private virtue, |
and our public morality.
But what say the coLored men 10 all these /
infamous appeals 10 their passions? They /
meet them with the reply that am true 10 /
the guarantee OF their freedom. They have |
come forward in your Convention, gentle /
men, with peace, offerings TO this people. Ia /
giving their approval even by reclamation |
of the choice under which have become |
the standard bearer of the party. they have |