The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-07-07
From the Chicago Tribune.
Condition of the South.


The people of the Northern States have
never participated in any scheme for the
persecution of the white population of the
South. Had Mr.. Lincoln lived, he would,
in due time. have issued a general proclama-
ton OF amnesty to all those engaged in re-
belliOh, save, perhaps, the official head of
the insurrection. No one can dOLb t that
such an act would, ere this, have met the
approval of the whole people. But, as time
has removed all lingering asperities from
the popular heart, the political persecution
OF these people has increased. Reconstruc-
ton has been practically accomplished, but
the lawmakers are daily finding new pre-
texts for prosecuting whole classes, against
whom they have long since abandoned all
pretexts for legal prosecutions. There is
no spirit of rebellion at the South. These
people have been effectually cured of that
delusion. But there is discomfort, the result
of practical evils, and Congress is seeking to
encourage that discomfort by doing all that
is possible to perpetnate and aggravate the
evils.
In q recent speech by Mr.. box, member
of Congress from Alabama, a Northern man
by birth, and who was alOyalist all through
the rebellion, we find fair and candid
statement of the present condition of things
at the South. The great body of the white
people are laboring under political disfran-
cAisRment, and those who are eligible TO any
of tie offices essential to local government,
are g1nfined to a class not the best qualified,
either intellectually or morally, for such
duties. Mr.. Dox says:
bad laws are being constantly enacted
by the strange dynaStieS which govern in
the South, while good laws are badly ad-
ministered. Men are elevated by the votes
of poor, ignorant. innocent negroes, to the
highest judicial positions a1hO acOald not dare TO
aspire ia any Northern State to the office Of the
cross roads Justice /; Sherifs are chosen acho
are incompetent to make an Ineligible return
Of the service Of process and offices OF all kinds
through all the grades of responsibility, are
occupied by men atter9y incompetent to the
proper discharge of the commonest official
duty Indeed, incdpdcity and the groSSest
ignorance are the rule Ito which there are
exceptions, but ercepti0 Pr0bGt regataD1)
among not only the inferior officers in my
State, but with those ofhigh judicial position
and thus is there generally violated fun
damental principle of Magma Charta. That
no man should be an officer of justice with
out kno Wedge of the law And yet with
such a condition of things generally pre-
vailing, with everything like official quail
fication branded and Ostracised. it is eXpee-
ted that crime will not exist nor outrage be
perpetrated!
This picture is not overdrawn. Ho1eeUer.
useful these cdrpet-bdggers may hare been for a
eohile. their day has gone by. Yet they are the
men who seek TO perpetuate the present
state of things. All offices must be filled
acith these dduenturers or with colored men
wholly untitled for such places; and. as a
general thing. the negroes make the better
officers If The tloo. because, though ignorant
theg are not dishonest, nor are they mere
Spectators in public plunder. The whole
country is interested in good government in
these States. No good cause is subserved
by subjecting them to the nais-gorerRDaeat Of
political adUentatrers or ignorant and tRc01ape-
tent persons The freedom which permits q
man 20 vote, but withholds from him the
right to vote for whom he pleases, is mock
cry, which would not be tolerated in any
Northern State. Yet that is the political
freedom" which has been granted to the
South, and which Senator Drake insists shall
be enforced by the strong arm ofthe military.
1t is made felony for any man, not within
the favored class, to accept any office, no
matter if elected thereto By the unanimous
vote of the people. It is made a felony to
induce any person to vote for such man.
And this is the freedom which faction in
Congress insists that the Republican voters
of the United States shall perpetuate.