The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-05-27

what influence. more than any other. de
feated the passage of measure that haI
received the approval of two committees OF
reconstruction. / would unheSitAtingly an
swer, Gen. Grant. 1t was known in Febru
airy last. TO Mr.. Watson, Gov. Brown ah'
myself, and other gentlemen from MisSis
sippi. that Gen. Grant looked with disfavo
on the Constitution sought to beimposed oil
| the people. In an interview, had with hin
| oy Mr.. Watson, month or more before hi
Inauguration, Gen. Grant, with copy Of tn
Constitution before him, objected to part o
the Sd section, and all of the 5th section o
! the article z, on franchise. The Sd section
among other things, refuses the ballot Il
every person DISTINGUISHED by Congress
and whose disabilities have been removed
unless the Legislature concur in the reno
val of them" The 5th article exclude
from Office, s'all who gave voluntary aid
| countenanee, counsel or encouragement 4
persons engaged in armed hostility to tn
United States; or who accepted, or attempt
ed to exercise, the functions of any office
civil or military, under any authority o
pretended Government, authority or power
| or constitution, within the United States
| hostile or inimical thereto-except person
who voted for the Convention, who advoca
ted the assembling of the Convention, an(
| will continue To advocate It's acts-eXeep
! that the section shall not apply to the pri
vate soldiers of the Confederate army
Shortly after this, Gov. Brown and mysel
him about the Boutwell, bill, then pending
! in the House; especially that portion of tn,
bill giving the Convention authority Il
elect the Governor, and transferring to hin
all the appointing power vested by the re
construction laws in the District comman-
der, and placing the election under his su.
pervision and control. Gen. Grant quite
distinctly intimated that it would be better
for the State to remain under military gov
eminent, until reconstruction was accom-
plished, and dissented from the policy in
vesting the Convention, or its appointees
with the reins of government.
Especially did Gen. Grant think it I'M
wise TO confide TO any person such RESPONSE
bic trusts, who would be selected by the
Convention-for the reason, that he would
administer the office tor the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
and promotion of himself and friends. Ii
Congress were to refer the matter to him af-
ter his Inauguration, he certainly would in
dictate an officer of the army. The officer,
as il seemed to him, would not have any ul-
terror personal ends of ambition to CRAFTY
would be but temporarily separated from
the military service; and when the duties
were over, wonld again resume his place in
the army. These views of Gen. Grant, en-
tertained by him in February last were not
put forth in such form as could be brought
before the public. He was not then Presi-
dent.
But the Butler bill was reported at the
late session, the opinions OF Gen, Grant
though expressed in an Informal and unof-
fetal way, were being known. A large
committee of ConventiOnists, headed by Col
Perez and Gen. Eggleston. made formal
call ON the President, with view of elicit
ing ex pressions from him favorable to their
plans. Gen. Grant, however, emphatically
said that the Convention ought not to reas-
semble-that it ought not again to meet,
either to form constitution or appoint OFF,
GERS to govern the State. When one of the
cn1
to convince Gen. Grant that he was in error,
the President arose, and bowed TO the dele
CATION in token that the hearing was ended.
A reporter was present, and next morning
the city papers published an account of this
very interesting and significant interview.
A few days after this, the President received
those of us at the Capitol who were opposing
the Conventionists. Something of what was
then said, was also published in the Wash
ingtOn papers.
Did 90 too far. when I said to the Presi-
dent that thousands and thousands of our
people would be gratified at the views which
were understood to be entertained by him
in reference to Mississippi affairs? That
they would be accepted as assurance of gen.
uine Peace" and would contribute to a
more complete restoration of cordial rela-
lions between people and sections lately so
discordant? The President remarked that
he had sent for two of the committee on re-
construction. and desired to confer with
them before bill was reported: (that fact
was known to u.s. and that he had given to
these gentlemen his views. He repeated
that he thought il best not to convene the
Convention-it would be attended with
heavy expense. which the State could illv
afford TO pay; that the Military Government
was cheap; that the shortest way would be
qualified submission Of the defeated Con-
stirution. The day before the President
saw these members of the committee, Gen.
Butler had been instructed to report his bill.
When the bill came into the House, Mr.
Beck moved its amendment. so as to give
the appointments of Provisional Governor
to the President, instead of the Convention.
Gen. Farnsworth offered substitute for the
whole bill; embodying as l understood, a
submission of the Constitution, and some of
its Objectionable provisions to a separate
vote; and at the same time moved the post
ponement of the subject until the next ses-
sion of Congress. That motion prevailed
by the vote before stated.
The subsequent revival of the matter took
every body by surprise. The special message
of the President, arose out of conference
with Virginia delegation. The COnstitu-
ton made by the Virginia Convention is ex-
elusive and disqualiying like ours. 1t had
at Washington, that the President was OPP
posed to these DISTINGUISHING Constitutions.
The Nirginians thought that il was favor
able time, after the House had been tested
in our case, to urge the President to inter-
fere and procure vote on the Virginia Con-
stitution, such as he had recommended on
ours. They pressed him to send a message
to the House. The President said he would
consult his Cabinet and perhaps might do
so. The message was sent IN, mainly for
Virginia; but as Mississippi was in very
much the same category, the President at
its close, recommended the same measure
for this State. i was surprised when saw
the text of the law; that il did not specify
upon what clauses, separate vote should be
had. That is referred to the President, and
| cannot doubt, that he will at least indicate
tor separate vote, the cumulative disabili-
ties of the franchise article.
/ have no hesitation in saying il that be
done. il is the dictate of prudent and en-
lightened reason to accept the Constitution
with the disqualifying clauses expunged,
and at the same time vote for good, reliable
man, Republican or not, so he be liberal,
and national-Whig, Democrat or not
qualified to take the oaths of office for Gov
ernor; and so with the entire list of cleo
tive officers. doubt whether any party, or
fraction of any party, will go into the can
vass for the Constitution as il is. / shall be
surprised il the Conventionists themselves
do not take ground for expurgation of these
franchise sections. They well know upon
that rock they have stumbled and fallen.
THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The condition is added to the other terms
of reconstruction-that the Legislature
should ratify the 18th Article of amendment
TO the Federal Constitution. That Article
prohibits either the United States or State,
from denying suffrage, on account of race,
color or previous condition.
repeat to you, what often said to mem
bers Of Congress on this subject-that we of
Mississippi. did not suppose that we had any
special concern or interest In this amend
ment. That we regarded the amendment,
as providing for States lying North of US !;
ton for us; that our people would prefer
colored suffrage with eight members in the
House of Representatives, TO four members
without it; that whilst the 14th amendment
considered by itself apart from the recon-
struction laws left it with the States, TO
deal with suffrage as they pleased, yet the