The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-22
OUR PLATFORM.

9TH, 1869.
These words define the principles b,
which we intend to be guided IN the pend
ing election. We believe they embody thu
views of all with whom we are politically
affiliated. They are the essence of the doc
trine on which they planted Themselves
against, and successfully fought, the Pro
scriptionists in the election of June, 1865
They are in direct antagonism to the fea-
lures which rendered odious the constltu-
tion in the form in which it was presented
by the Eggleston party and which led to its
rejection, and the defeat of that party. They
marked the line between the contending
parties in that struggle. The one opposed
it, because it denied civil and political
rights" to large number OF yiltuous and
patriotic citizens, and the other advocated
it, because its chief end was the accomplish
ment of the foul wrong. The course of the
one has been triumphantly indicated by
the President whose supporters claim that
he is the ''true representative of loyalty"
/
ically condemned by the same high Repub-
| lican authority.
| Discerning the iniquity of those repudi-
ated clauses, and declaring the said consti-
tuition to have been rejected" notwith-
standing the aflidavits of the Committee of
Five and their co-conspirators against THE
civil and political rights" of the people, Gen.
Grant recommended to Congress that it be
re-submitted for their action with the OPP
portunity secured to them of voting separ-
ately on, and again rejecting, the proscrip-
tive provisions, and its champions.
To close up every avenue of doubt in ref
erence to his policy, and TO furnish a guide
for its Interpretation, he coupled the en-
phatic words contained in the extract above
quoted. with a recognition of the previous
rejection of the instrument subr.itted.
The law under which the election will
soon be held in this State was passed in &C
cordanee with this recommendation In
again submitting the constitution, Il separ-
ate vote will be taken on the Objectionable
clauses. The same motive that inspired
our former opposition to these provisions
still exists, but, when they shall be seen
erased by the united action of the opposers
of prescription, the remaining causes of
hostility to the Constitution will not weigh
against the considerations which require
the restoration of civil government in the
State under the control of agents chosen by
the people and having her best interests at
heart, and the resumption of her relations
with the federal government as State in
dependent and co-equal with the others.
In other words, considerations Of duty and
SAFETY demand that ace should cote dozen The
DISTINGUISHING clauses accept those ichicl re
main; and stree by all the legal means and the
legitimate agencies az command 10 elect good
and reliable men 10 administer the ne'g gorerR-
nent and to repres ent o,r neglected interests at
Washington.
On this broad platform, bodying the
identical principles on which stood the tri-
umphant party that beat down the cohorts
of Prescription in the persons of Eggleston
* Co.. in June 1868, all who co-Operated in
defeating the iniquitous project of the Com
mittee of Five, are expected and invited to
rally. The same motives of action which
prompted the adversaries of anarchy and
oppression to combine against the conspira-
c1xr
toned Congress to force law of disfran-
chlsement on an unwilling people, and
themselves as its executors, still remain.
There was no party obligation which inter
tered with their joint action then; and we
propose that there shall be none no'o. The
battle against Prescription is not yet fully
won. though great advantages have been
gained.
In the selection of agents to administer
the new government and to frame, and eX-
pound. a code of laws under it for the secu-
rity of person and property, and to represent
the people in the national councils, duty
and patriotism will be needed if the dead
past be left to bury its dead, and if our acts
are shaped with reference to the living is
sues of the present. These issues are purely
local. No Republican can be charged with
abandoning Gen. Grant who stands on his
doctrine AS defined in his message and lends
all his influence against Prescription, its
authors, and champions. No man can
be charged with abandoning the Democratic
party, who persists in his opposition to this
heresy and strikes hands with all its foes.
The ground is common one on which patri-
OTIS may meet in the spirit of true brother
hood. The election can have no proper re-
lations to, nor legitimate connection with,
national parties, or outside organizations.
We ask no Democrat to abandon his nation |
al party. We ask no Republican to aban-
don his We only ask good men to unite on
common ground, to carry out a measure of
State policy, which, at this time, is para
mount to all other issues. On the one side
will be arrayed the advocates of "equal,
civil and political rights to all persons on
the other, in the persons of its candidates for
S tate, Legislative and Congressional places,
or by open avowal of their atrociOus creed,
will be arrayed the twice baffied authors and
champions Of Acknowledgement. The for
mer, impregnable in their position, and en-
dorsed i'll their course by the highest author
ity which the dominant party of the nation
itself acknowledges, viii assuredly triumph.
The latter, under sentence of condemnation
by the people, by the President,and by Con-