The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-31
From the Philadelphia Mercnr.
FW,1,e Nec.ro fu the SeuHfe.


We are told that { c grandest result Of the
late civil war Is the election of a negro to the
United States Senate. Those who can hnu
in that fact any cause OF triumph ana con
graduation, are welcome 10 it. We ear see
none. but on the contrary. much reason, as
patriots, for shame and apprehension. 10
our minds, the negro Revels has not been
exalted. but the Senate debased. Indeed.
the practical effect of investing the coloreu
lace with fun political rights As voters and
office holders. IL TO degrade the standard OF
American citizenship 10 a very low level
And as the character of the constituent and
and the representative Is lowered. that OF
the governments morally and intellectually.
in all its departments, must of course be
depressed. In the language of the Repub-
licans, this is progress; ia ours. it is lev
cling downwards We rather pity, than
denounce that wretched folly which rejoices
to see a negro from Mississippi succeed Mr..
jefferson Davis in the National Senate. 1t
cannot see that the triumph, II there be any.
is not over him or over the South. but over
the dignity and glory, we'll as the welfare
ofthe whole country. That the enfranchise-
ment OF the blacks proceeded from any hon
est love of justice or any Imperative and n
lightencd regard for the public COOL no
sane man can believe. It found its whole
source in the selfish calculations OF a politi-
cal party. seeking to fortify lis prccarious
tenure Of power and waning strength, by
the accession of several hundred thousand
Ignorant AlIltattS. LIMO Nc-
tiers upOn the implied condition thai they
would be the political slaves OF the faction
which has clothed them with political
rights. This fact is plainly confessed by the
appeals which the Republican orators and
papers are already making to the negroes TO
ally themselves with that party To which
they owe their civil franchises. And a more
infamous prostitution of the political privi-
leges. the official functions and honors the
directive sovereignty OF grand and proud
people, To the vile and grovelling aims Of
demagOgulsm. never was witnessed in all
previous history. The preteXts in which
the process was disguised are so thin that
the light shines through them. The negro
was made soldier in the civil war; lac was
emancipated because he was a soldier; as
he was a freeman, he was entitled 70 be made
a citizen as he was made a citizen. he must
have the rights of a citizen and hating the
rights of citizen, he must be elected and
admitted to the National Senate livery
step in this series of absurdities was made
. the ground of the one that succeeds i'm the
progression. As the first was conceived in
cunning and wrong. the whole but forms n
scheme of national degradation which can
not fail to result eventually in the worst
possible consequences to the peace. the good
order. and the happiness of the country.
An element has been introduced into the
government which its best Intelligence and
virtue may not be able to control and which
il may be difficult, il not impossible to ret
faction which hopes 10 profit by it may be
disappointed in its desires, while the integ-
Yity and prosperity of the entire common
wealth may be sacrificed TO a miserable par
ty eXpedient. That innovation IN our po-
litical system which only one section of the
country yet suffers. must soon ailict the
whole. The so-callcd Fifteenth Amend
ment' OF & e federal constitution. carried in
several States by duress. and in all by fraud
or passion. must speedily operate i'm the
~ IL. =.
fail to work incalculable mischief ia both
From the danger that threatens we can see
no means of escape but a combination Of the
whites for their mutual defence against
what will otherwise prove to be the lomi-
nation of a comparatively small league of
negroes holding in their grasp the balance
of power. Certain influences may put off
for time the only measure that can sue
cessfully oppose the evil we have suggested.
but we cannot help believing that the COM
mon interest of the white population Of the
country will ultimately unite them for their
protection.