The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-10-06
JACKSON, Sept. 20. 1870.

GENTLEMEN BY your favor of the 18th
inst, you ask my views on the political sit
uation, but particularly on the proposition
for meeting of Old Line Wings, at Jack
son, for consultation
| The call for such a convention was to me
"A matter of surprise, as l could not see how
| IL could result in any good TO the Wings or
| TO the country. The criticisms which the
proposition Drew from the public press. |
| had supposed, had put an end TO the subject.
| In this, however, may be mistaken and as
| you ask for my views on the propriety OF
| the proposition, l proceed to give them
| But my opinions, without reasons to support
| them, would probably be OF little value,
must therefore, TO some extent, To give YOU
the reasons on which my opiHions are
! founded.
The call professed to be for meeting of
| the Wings OF the State 'for consultations
The folly of such a meeting. merely for
such purpose, is so manifest thaVwe must
conclude there was some other motive. some
Interior purpose other than consultation
| that consultation was but preliminary TO
| action. The question naturally presents it.
/ self, what can that motive be? The Wings,
/ il they were completely organized as a par
! ty, would be in meagre minority In the
| State, and separated from Democrats, could
not elect single State or district officer
| They might possibly elect few justices Of
| the peace, but consultation for such an in
I significant purpOse cannot be necessary,
/ even If an election were near at hand. Then
| repeat what can the matter be?
There are now but two parties In the
State, or in the United States-the Repub-
can or Radical party, and the Conservative
or Democratic party. Is IL contemplated
/ by such convention To take the Wings in
a body 70 one or the other Of these parties
and il so, to which one > IL cannot be to
| take them to the Democratic party; for a
| great majority of them, perhaps four-fifths
| actuated by their deep-rooted aversion to
| TO usurpatiOn and misgovernment, are al
| ready cooperating with that party, and. rs
| far as | know, are satisfied with their affili-
! alton.
! AS we must judge of mems motives by
| their actions, and must suppose that they
| intended to accomplish that which must
| necessarily be the effect of their actions. in
| the absence of proof to the contrary, l
| must conclude that il was contemplated by
! the movement TO give strength TO the Radi-
| cal party. for such undoubtedly would be
| its effect; and would result in one of three
ways: First by uniting the Wings and TAX
! ing them in body To the Radicals second
| ly, by inducing them to separate themselves
from the Democratic party and thirdly, by
uniting them as body in third party
All OF these plans would tend TO the same
result.
1t is not likely the first would be Success
full, as it is scarcely probable the Wings, az
| body, could be induced to abandon the
great and distinguishing principles of their
old party, and to join party with doctrines
antagonistic to theirs, although some few
may have already done so. The second
would promise better success IL they could
be induced TO separate themselves from the
Democratic party they would be in "A condi-
ton in which they could do nothing, and
would be likely, when the trial came. TO CO.
operate with one of the parties. Having
just broken off from the Democratic party,
they would not be likely TO go back to IT,
and besides, they would be abundantly
cOurted by the other party, and probably
might be induced to act with il. or at least
portion of them might be induced TO do
so, which would be just so much strength
gained by it.
The third way in which this movement
would strengthen the Radical party is this
unite the Wings as a third party, co-opera-
ting with neither OF the Others and OF
course it would be just so much strength
withdrawn from the opposition party, and
by just so much would the other party be
strengthened.
In any point Of view, then, the Radicals
would be the gamers. This is simply my
view as to what would be the result Of such
a convention as that contemplated. If il
should take any action At all, as il was no
doubt expected it would. l do not charge
the gentlemen who made the call with de- |
signs like these. yet have no doubt such
would be the consequences OF their action il !
carried out. They may have acted, unwit- |
tingly, as the innocent instruments of 9TH |
ers, for am strongly inclined to believe the /
scheme had its origin in the hot-bed OF New I
England Radicalsm.
But why should the Wings be unwilling /
TO act in unison with the Democratic party ? |
There are now but two parties, and but |
single issue before the country that issue
is, Is the Constitution paramount to the |
will OF Congress! or is the will OF Congress I
paramount TO the Constitution? The party
questions on which Wings and Democrats |
formerly divided are utterly obiterated, and /
II they formerly engendered aniInosities /
there is no sense or propriety I'm keeping |
these animOsitles alive when the causes
which produced them have ceased TO exist
The party now known as the Democratic
party is an opposition party, new party of .
Wings and Democrats united for the pur-
pose of restoring the Constitution to its
primitive vigor by utterly abrogating every
innovation that has been made upon it,
This is the high, the chief purpose Of the
Democratic party, all other questions being
subordinate to this.
What is the Republican or Radical partyY
The doctrines or principles which had orig
inally distinguished that party from Others,
ended with the war. They were then ex- /
hausted, but very soon began new system
OF tactics. 1t commenced by denying rep
resentation to the Southern States, although
the people had established for themselves
State Governments as they had a right TO
do, which governments were in successful
operation Senators and Representatives
were elected, who went to Washington and
claimed their seats, which were denied them
in direct violation of the Constitution. The
heavily without representation-the very
grievance that brought on the American
Revolution. Congress next assumed un-
limited power over the State governments
abolished them and substituted military
despotism over the people, with unlimited
power In the military commanders over the
lives. liberties and property of the people In
utter disregard OF the most sacred guaran-
tees of the Constitution. But this Is not all
State Constitutions and amendments TO the
Constitution of the United States were die
tated to and forced upon the people. The
validity and propriety of these measures
now constitute the cardinal principle of the
party; all other questions which may be
put In platforms are but side Issues intended
to divert attention from the main issue. or
course, all who belong to the party must be-
lieve all these reconstruction measures IN no
valid and within the constitutional power
OF Congress. ANY one who does not so be-
lieve should promptly abandon the marty
for Is is said to be hypocrisy to belong 10 ~
cnurch ana dlsDeheve its creed. / not only
believe these measures fragrant Violations ~
the Constitution, but utterly destructive ~
Lne foundation and superstructure OF the ,
government; hence, A. between these mar
leS, tue path OF duty seems plain 70 me. ,
But. at the cost of being Somewhat nroIix
propose TO extend nv remarks On this
question: somewhat further: Is IL gupnosed
nat the Wings throughout the f'nited
states VIII rally and unite at the call OF
LILY. oHHu Ia Misslssippi-break up their
paI.y ahliauons and organizations which
lave eqisted for over three years, and thus ,
l a ali prospect, all hope of Defeating !
ne radical party, which is now. and has
oeen their cherished object and for which ,
purpose they first united with the Demo- :
rats! VIII they thus strengthen the naS-
y ttn;ey have been so yehemently opposing. I
mo insure success? VIII thew abandon ~ :
,0Pe OF restoring constitutional liberty as
Guaranteed 70 them by fathers? They viii i
e s guilty OF no such folly; and, therefore a !
= I, mig convention In Mississippi would be /
~ OBJECT OF ridicule and nofff hn.sa- ~ =