The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-05-13

| Carpet.Baggers' stock In Trade.
We had thought il would be an insult
to the intelligence of the most uniformed
of the freedmen to tell them what they
know by their everyday experience, that
no such laws are in existence in this State
as the Pilot, carpet-baggers' organ, Is in
the habit of parading under the head OF
" Democratic Platform"
/ In imitation of the custom borrowed
/ from the Yankee States after they had
gotten rid of slavery by selling their ne
groes TO the Southern people, and when
by reason Of natural causes the institu-
ton had ceased ''to pay" the blacks
were restrained of some privileges when
thew were freed here, which were enjoyed
by the whites.
The passage of the vagrant act was in
conformity to this custom, and it was due
moreover to the false pledges of the agents
of the Freedman's Bureau, who promised
the emancipated slaves that they would
be supported by the Government, and
that the least that would be done for them
would be the bestowment of ''forty acres
and mule" 10 each. Under the promise
of mamma from Government, the deluded
freedmen crowded in the towns, and in
idleness and want awaited the bounty that
had been promised them. Gen. Tarbe1.
recently appointed Judge of this Judicial
District, in his evidence before Congress,
in 1866, truly testified to the trifing
character and pernicious teachings of
these Bureau agents. While they
taught the uniformed negro that he
should live without labor, and as the vir
tuous author of the Manning letter ex-
pressed it, that something should always
be coming to him, right or wrong, in suits
between him and a rebel" they taught
him also that the ''rebels" had no rights,
not even the right to live, which he was
bound to respect. Hence the passage of
the vagrant act, and the acts forbidding
the carrying of arms without license,
cited by the Pilot---acts which the Pilot
editor does not seem to know, or knowing,
has not the candor to state, were repealed
by the same Legislature that passed them.
With this reference to the causes which
led to the passage of the act, we will copy
the following clear exposition by Colonel
Hillyer of the Vicksburg Times, who was
a member of the Legislature at the time
of their passage and repeal, and is con-
versant with the facts:
The Jackson Pilot, publishes as part Ofthe |
Mississippi Democratic platform. sections ,
and of the vagrant act of Nov. "A, 1861 |
and section l. of the act of Nov. %, 1865, to |
punish certain offences. These sections re- |
luired freedmen to have lawful home or |
and written evidence thereof, |
md punished vagrant negroes in particu- !
ar way, and prevented them from carrying /
ire-arms unless licensed to do so.
The Pilot ought to have known that these |
sections of the law were virtually repealed |
BY the act of Feb. 81, 1867; pages 232 and /
l33 pamphlet acts. This act amended the |
avs of 1865 so as ''tO give to freedmen the
ame rights of acquiring, holding with same
benefits and exemptions, and dispOsing of
ZEAL estate" as they had of personal proper
YIN short putting whites blacks and mu-
attoes, upon an entire equ ality with refer
snce to real estate.
The third section of the act of 1867, places
Ill whites and blacks upon the same footing
Is to fying-repealing all laws restrict
ne freedmen on the subject.
The fourth section of the same act places
Ill upon the same footing as to Offenses, pro-
.eedings in criminal cases, and penalties and
)unishments for crime.
The section is in these words
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That all
avs imposing discriminating punishment
IN freedmen, be so amended that for all Of
enses committed by freedmen against the
criminal laws of this State, they shall be
ried in the same courts and by the same
proceedings, as are the whites, and upon
conviction, shall be subject to the same
pains, penalties, forfeitures and punish
nents.
In common justice the Pilot should in
orm its readers that there are no laws of
he State preventing any negro from keep
ng or carrying firearms, &C., or forfeiting
hem if kept; and that the vagrant laws are
he same Tor black and white; furnishing the
ormer to no greater extent than tie latter,
md trying them in no different manner.
1t is well to observe in the same connec-
ion, that the law of Nov. -, 1865, regula-
ing the relation of master and apprentice,
5 relates to freedmen, &c, was repealed by
ct of Feb. 81, 1867, (see page 443, pamphlet
cts,) and that all apprentice laws of the
state now existing, place negroes and
whites upon the same level.
--~-.--0~---~~~~-
A significant article prOtraying the
igns of Generalization in the dominant
arty, is copied elsewhere, from the New
/ ork Herd.
The Herald was Grant paper in the
asst election, but has always managed to
eep aloof from entangling party ALLAN
es, so as to float free on the popular
urrent, which ever way it may turn
'or this it has quick eye, and a ready
pring, consequently it rides upon the
rst wave.
The breaking up Of former combina-
ons, and the formation Of new ones, is I
n event which has been confidently pre-
icted by other sagacious observers, be-
dies the Herald. Public plumber will
,se its cohesive power when it shall have !,
cen dispensed among the spoilsmen; and /
ne head ofthe Administration Will cease 5
, be an object of attraction to them when a
he offices are all divided. But it does
OF necessarily follow that he will 90 ,,
q 1