The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-09-02

1t has sometimes been alleged by per
sons who have opportunity of KNOWN;
better that the proposition to support Ma
tional Republicans in the pending election
originates in motive to reward the lead
ers of that party for their services in de
feating the scheme of the Ultra Radica
Clique to force the rejected constitution
on the people, and that it looks TO the
elevation of those men to the neglect Of
popular and capable members of the con.
sentative party.
No misrepresentation could be more
palpable. The proposition to vote for
National Republicans is due to the we'll
known rule of the governing party of the
nation that the State shall not be admit
ted into the Union and escape from Rad
zeal military despotism, under democratic
State officers and Democratic Congress
men. The fact that the National Repub-
lican leaders for the past eight months
have resolutely opposed all the schemes
of the Bitter-Enders, amid obloquy and
reproach, and many of them at the sacri-
fee of the offices they held, is cited as
proof, not that they deserve to be reward
ed by our own people above distinguish
ed Conservatives whom they would de-
light to honor, but that they are in favor
of reconstruction on a basis as liberal and
honorable as the laws of Congress will
permit, and may safely be entrusted with
the responsibilities with which it is pro-
posed to clothe them in view of the ext
gencies of our condition.
We have full faith in the National Re
publicans because their acts have com
manded our confidence. Yet we are free
to say that we are not supporting them
not for what they have done, but for
what they propose to do. This was the
consideration that induced the Virginians
to support Walker; and this the motive
that prompted the Tennesseeans to vote
for Senter.
The National Republicans well under
stand the reasons that are assigned for the
course the conservatives are advised to
pursue; and they are clearly set forth by
the Vicksburg Times, one of their ablest
follows:
If our State were fully restored to the
Union, If her people were relieved from an
acrurGp6 and hateful fanafipal nacnOtiSm- If
they were free to choose their new rulers, |
no one pretends that the democrats would
vote forJudge Dent, or any other Republi-
can, save as matter of necessity. and
choice of political evils If they were free
to carry out their own views, is it not the
most natural thing in the world that they !
would desire TO elevate to power some one |
of their old citizens, those who have shared |
their joys and their sorrows, their prosper |
ity and their adversely? Ii they had the |
power they would gladly confer office and |
honor upon the mer who have served in the |
past; and who is there with heart alive to |
every generous and grateful instinct, that
would not rather honor, than condemn |
their foes doings? If the people Of Missis- |
sippi could DO so, we do not doubt that they |
would prefer to honor such citizens as
Clark, Humphreys, Gholson. Featherston, |
Walthall, Lowry, and Martin. Each of
these gentleman held honorable and respon- |
sible civil positions prior TO the war, and |
during that unhappy fratricidal strife, they |
each did what they and the great mass of
the people believed was right. We, Of course /
believed they were wrong, but we do not |
less honor the man who bravely acts Up to
his convictions of what he believes right,
because we are satisfied that he is grieYous
ly in the wrong. with such men
to choose from, it would be strange and un-
if our people did not prefer to select,
for honors and offices. those who have serv-
ed them with courage and fidelity in the
past. As, however they are not free to
choose those they prefer, they are determin-
ed to select those least eXceptionable. 1t
is this spirit OF wisdom and patriotism
which actuates our people in their prefer
ence for Judge Dent. They will ignore
their personal and political preferences. and
sustain Judge Dent because he is honest
and capable, because he is gentleman who
will strive to promote the best interests of
the State.