The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-11-18


FELLOW CITIZENS: I appearbefore
you in this public manner a. an Hepen-
dent Republican candidate for Ccrress in
the 4th Congressional District, smpos-
ed of the counties of LauderdaleC Clark,
Newton, Jasper, Scott, Rankin, Kinds,
Smith, Madison, Holmes, WarrenW ash
ington, lssaquena and Yazoo.
In the Eastern portion of the Istrict,
am well known as an uncomprmising
Liberal Republican-in favor of Recon
strucIion from its incipiency on te plan
of Congress, and In favor at all ines of
combining all the elements of wealtl intel
lect, education and that which com hon.
orably be concentrated upon the ae i'm
portant subject to our people-thatofs res
toring civil government to our cate on
the basis of fairness and justiceto all,
and the security of the indefeasibIri
of everybody before the law, witbut re-
gard to race, color, or previous conition.
Having been born and raised n the
South, and having lived for twenE-nine
years in this State, all my interest being
here, it is but natural that shout sym
pathize with our people, and wish bring
them back to q condition of peae and
prosperity under the new order of Kings
which the late terrible war has orced
upon US, with as little of bitterness and
remembrance of unpleasant sectional as
sOciations as possible.
For this reason | early allied myself
with the Republican party, which control
ed the nation, and carried it triumphant
ly through four years terrible war for
the maintenance of its own integrity.
When Gen. Lee laid down his arms at
Appomattox, and Johnston surrendered
his sword to the victorious Sherman, then
it was, that saw that the cause of South
ern Nationality and Independence apart
from the Union of the United States,
was an impossibility. then thosght, as
l still think, that it were better FOR the
Southern people TO accept the termsof the
conqueror with such grace as a proud
people could, after their gallant struggle
for separate nationality was lost, and BY
the grand attitude which we then held
before the civilized world for the s.lf-sac-
rifcing bravery of our struggle, we would
commend ourselves to the magnaImity
of the Nation of which we were destined
still to form part.
Right here, fellow-citizens, it is poper
for me to say, that / always was a onion
man. l fought secession step by tep,
till borne down by the popular tide hat
swept my beloved South into the votex
of civil war l maintained my Uion
sentiments throughout the struggle,
though should have considered myself
less than man if / had not sympatfzed
with my neighbors and kindred who vent
forth bravely to battle even in a mistaken
cause. And had it not been for physical
disability, doubtless should have dine
what thousands of other Union men lid
after war commenced, took my chances
with my neighbors in the ranks. But the
war happily, is over. The smoke of bat
tie has cleared away. Four years ano a
half have come and gone since we stad-
ed our arms on the plains of North Gao
| lima, and we are as yet without civil GOV.
eminent of kind which Americans have
been reared to. l accept the results Of
the war in the emancipation of the slave,
and in good faith l world carry out the
pledge of the Nation to the entranchised
black man, and secure to him for all time
to come, the means of protecting his free
dOm-THE BALLOT. In doing this, it i
not implied that / should bind my owl
race in chains, and tie my white fellow
citizens with cords of disabilities, howeve
wrong-headed they may have been in tn,
past. Hence it is, that spoke and wrot,
against that part of the New Constitu
| ton, known as the disfranchisinl
clauses" last year, and should have voteC
against that instrument with those clause
in it, had / not believed that the part,
to which | belonged would speedily re
move those disabilities. thought it bet
ter to adopt the Constitution even with tn,
Objectionable features in it, and trust t,
the good sense of the people for its alter
alton for the better, than to remain longe
in the abnormal condition we are now
with government half civil, half mill
tary, and no government at all. l die
what did in this regard with "malice to
wards none, and with an eye to the futur,
when we of Mississippi, white and colored
should get possession of our own affairs
and control our own domestic Institu
tons in our own way, subject only to tn,
| Constitution of the United States" ant
without the interference of unreasoni,
bayonets. But in the canvass now Coins
on, we are happily relieved from the ne
cessity of placing ourselves in an awkward
and anomalous position. We can cot
do,on the Objectionable features, and adop
the Constitution shorn of them, and &c
up civil government housekeeping on
plan of fairness towards all, and securin,
the ''civil and political equality of al
men. This will give our people chanc
to show how earnestly we desire restors
ton of those kind relations which ough
to characterize the sections of common
country 1t viii also place us of Missis
sippi in a position not to be misundel
stood when we invite labor, capital, an
immigration to our State, because we ca
then guarantee protection to every intel
est, which insure prosperity.
As to my being a candidate, / will simy
ly say, that it is my right, as it is the rigf
of every citizen to run for Office if b
chooses. AS to my competitor, Ger
Mckee, ! have got nothing to say, e,
cept that he is only rsOmindQy Republ
can candidate, having, as / think, obtair
cd his nomination in q manner not strict
according to party usage. And hence
consider myself quite as regularly car
didate for Congress as himself, and hay
right to ask your votes on the broa
platform on which / stand, -''UNrvBl
SAL SUFFRAGE, AND UNIVERSAL ANNE
IT," The first part of this proposition
now on every lip, consider our peopl
thoroughly committed to- The lattt
part, universal amnesty, should
be elected, / shall devote all my energi.
to secure. consider the Republics
lParty of the nation, and the Congress {
the United States, through that party, {
pledged to UNIVERSAL AMNESTY. An
should l go to Congress, viii at lea
take good care that the member from Il