Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-12

citizens, ana hhAl DC lelL lIub ~
pursue the race of life under a code
which shall throw open oil the re-
wards Of success, intellectual or
industrial, to be worn regardless OF
the previous condition Of the win
ner.
The colored population are an
infant people struggling to main
tain themselves in the presence OF
intelligence more advanced than
their own. And the first duty Of
wise aud %paternal government, is
to protect the weak against the
strong. From me, individually the
colored people of Mississippi have
every reason TO look for a profound
anxiety for the realization Of their
new rights. In the face Of memo
MES that might have separated
them from the as the wrOnged from
the wrongcr, they offered me their
contldence-oilercd me the guardi.
amship Of their new and precious
hopes in a trustlulInCss whose very
mention stirs my nerves with emo.
ton. In response to that touching
reliance, tho most profound anxiety
with which l enter my office as
Governor OF this State, is that OF
making the colOrrd nan the equal,
before tho law, Of any other mIn-
the equal, not in dead letter but in
living fact.
And the weak and poor amongst
US are not confined to the people ol
color. Thousands Of our worthy
whites have ever remained, to a
great eX cnt, a stranger to the hc!p'
igc hand OF the Stntc. But all
these citizens have at last risen to
their proper level under Republic
car Z rernment ; and shall hence
forth be made the special object Of
the state care. The poor aud the
weak of the whites are in need OF
our fostering help. In the neglect
0 fthcir education aud d%cfGnccless-
ness Of their industry, they must
command the tender soliciludc of
til. political system, which is plant
ed. his day, in Mississippi, not up
on its point, but upon its base
the wh0ie people. And We pro-
ceed TO this work regardless OF
considerations Of race; going for
ward with ii in hearty good faith
under the mission Of men who
bring mercy aud justice to the
weak aud lowly.
The Legislature Of the State, will
no doubt, do its duty earnestly to
the new order Of fittings. But laws
are of very little value in the prac.
teal establishment Of new systems
unless they be committed to an
administration which combines the
necessary conditions .or embody-
in2 those laws IN facts.
Our legislation in the interest Of
the poorer classes will be confront
cd. in tradition OF centuries by n
great force OF virtual nulliiicatien.
While lcgi,lalivcpOwcri is vcrygrcat
in organized states, we must know
that, under precisely such circum-
stances as those by which we are
surrounded moral power is some
times more real.
Wealth, intelligence, social posi-
ton have been always, as | trust
they ever shall he, great powers in
the State. During the present mo.
ment of passion these arc arrayed
in lar-e muses. against the spirit
our forthcoming laws. They
threaten, therefore, 10 make those
to a greater or less extent, q
dead letter, il any unwise policy
shall influence me in my selections
1l the officers of the law. The laws
'or the Profession of the rightssandI
privileges OF the poorer classes oil
'ur population must not be- icft1
TO the Interpretation Of an
opposition bar whose eminent
does not scorn to enforce
Is subtle logic by bold brow.brat-
ng aud arrogant Gxclusivnnc,s.
)ur Judges must be men Of a
tandins that %yocicty cannot pre-.
.nme 10 ignore. They mast be
men learned in the law beyond
heir fellows, men OF courage and
conscience, in hearty accord
with the mission OF the men charg-
III with the consolidation, in this
state, Of the work Of recgustruc-
ion.
The Chancery courts will en-.
,race ia their practice, not only ex-
'lusive Chanccry jurisdiction, but
ilso exclusive jurisdiction IN cases
Probate. Adjudicating AS they
viii, all the subtle questions of
'rlaciple aft citing the rights OF the
and the orphan, these
courts will necessarily be Of the
most direct importance to owner.
# estate. And while we devote
he utmost sOlicitudu to the inter.
'sls CT labor, we must see to IL that
We bestOw no less anxious solicit.
udc on the interests Of property.
The incoming order of things is
hat Of a well ordered society in
which, while the working class are
made to enjoy the fullest rights of
wise aud free government, the
'ropertied classes are made TO en-
the fullest rights of wise and
government. The men to
,e chosen for the administration OF
he ChanCellor's courts Iaust.
therefore,, be, under the very high.
st considerations of sound policy,
men distinguished for probity and
earning amongst the members OF
lac bar. In the still more impor-
ant court that which decides,
all appeal, on questions in-
diving the properly, the liberty,
he life of the citizen, the men to
&c placed upon the bench shall be
nen OF the highest order of cour.