The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-06-24

| AAGW80M8
| None of the Southern States have been
compensated by the refusal of the mass
of the white citizens to accept the plan
Of reconstruction submitted by Congress.
Their refusal to participate in the prelim-
mary stages of reconstruction, and its ac-
complishment solely by the adventures
and the blacks who thus became the
dupes of the former, in the States where the
forms of reorganization have been gone
through with, were fatal indeed to their
peace and prosperity.
1t is not to be doubted that if, under
the baleful influence of narrow-sighted
croakers of the Perry school, the great
body of the whites of South Carolina,
though in the minority of the population,
had not abandoned the work of recon
struction to the corrupt and ignorant clas-
ses, her new government ere this time,
would have been controlled by conserva-
tive influences. A united and resolute
effort by the resident white population
with the advantages of property, intelli-
gence, experience and tact on their side
would have rescued the State from the
horrible condition into which she has
been plunged.
Arkansas and Florida present still more
pitiable examples of the absence of states
manship, and of the wretched blindness
and stupidity of those who assumed TO
control the action of the masses. In both
of those States the registered whites were
largely in the ascendant. If they had
taken the trouble to have voted for dele
gates to their Conventions, they would
have secured decided conservative major
tiles, and imposing no other disabilities
except those required in the plan of Con-
gress, their permanent governments would
have been placed under conservative
guidance The adventures required but
one thing to give them the ascendancy,
viz: the refusal of the resident white
population to take part in the election. -
With amazing indifference to their own
welfare, and with consummate folly, the
latter played into their hands. The Con
ventions of those States representing con-
sentative majorities who had refused TO
participate in the election of delegates,
were mere tools to do the bidding of
the Loyal League conspirators. And to
the last, the people were true to their folly.
Having permitted their carpet-bag enc
emies to take control of the negro vote,
and to secure majorities in their Conven-
tons and thus to frame the most loath-
some forms of government, ever devised
for wicked purposes, they did not have
the energy to shake off their lethargy and
to save themselves in the final vote on the
question of ratification. They who had
looked quietly on while their enemies
forged letters for them, surrendered their
limbs without an opposing effort, to be
manacled.
If it be said of Mississippi that she
was betrayed into the folly of giving the
Convention to her enemies, let it also be
written that she became wise enough to
retrace her steps before her final doom
was pronounced, and to rescue herself
from the infamy of DISTINGUISHING con-
stitution.
The perils which she has encountered;
the postpOnement of prosperity; and the
clouds and darkness which still hang over
her future, are causes of sorrow that she
did not promptly accede to the require
ments of Congress and elect a Conven-
ton Of men whose aspirations were for
her welfare. But there is no time to be
lost in useless repinings. The examples
Of what other have suffered by inactivity,
and the experience of what Mississippi
may yet accomplish by the timely, united
and properly directed effort Of her citi-
zens, must serve as pillars of fire to di-
rect their steps in the last opportunity
they will have to escape from the wilder
ness, across the Jordan and into the pleas
ant retreats beyond.