The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-11-03

sure for withholding from the people the
right to fill these vacancies, as he has
done in the case of members of Congress.
A law was passed by the Legislature re-
curing him to issLo writs of election,
which entrusts him with no discretionary
authority. The law itself is objectiona-
bic in its provision to bring into use the
hateful registration prepared by the des-
picable tools of Ames, which is contrary to
the constitution, framed by the Mongrels
themselves; but it also requires the Com
missioners to enter on the poll books, the
names of such persons as have become
qualified voters since the last election.
This class embraces every person who
was disfranehised by the reconstruction
acts and not permitted to vote in the
elections pending the organization of the
State government.
This fact should be borne in mind. =
The XIVth amendment prohibits from
holding either federal or State Office, all
persons who took an oath to support the
Constitution, and afterwards engaged in
hostility to the U. S. government; but it
does not interfere with the right to vote.
The proscriptive feature in regard to suf-
frage, was expunged from the present
State Constitution, so that all persons
(males above twenty-one years of age, who
have resided in the State six months and
in the county one, except idiots and con-
victed criminals, }. are entitled to be reg
istered as voters, on subscribing the
following oath: 81 do solemnly swear
"that 1 will faithfully support and obey
''the constitution of the United States, and
"of the State of Mississippi, and will bear
''true faith and allegiance to the same. "
In advance of the Executive proclama-
ton, we beg earnestly to call upon
the conservatives of the several
counties in which vacancies exist, to take
care that the name of every voter, is reg
istered; and that the claims of popular
and competent men are canvassed. and
that they be agreed upon as candidates for
the vacant seats. 1t is not possible in
filling these places to reclaim the
present Legislative from the control
of the profigate adventures who
are robbinS the people under the pretence
of law, but vasegood can be accomplished
in checking these abuses by recruiting
the minority who steadfastly refisted them
during the late session. Let the conserv
atives bring out strong and capable men,
and call upon all classes of taxpayers to
come to their support.
The Mississippi Central attributes the
following expression to THE CLARION:
1t is deeply to be regretted that one
of our good men ever accepted an APP
pointment under Alcorn."
The Central must know that no such
remark has been made in the editorial
columns of The CLA4roN. 1t is copied
from letter of one of our numerous cor
respondents who are permitted to express
their own views and to give the reason for
the faith that is in them through It's col
umns without restriction.
1t was the general wish of the Conser-
vatives so far as we know, that good men
would accept Office under the Administers
ton as so much clear gain by the friends
of honest government and law and order,
but many ofthem were induced to change
this opinion when it was announced by
the central organ of the ruling party that
the price paid by Conservatives for ap-
pointment was the abandonment of their
principles by joining the Republican par
ty. We ourselves have had occasion to
doubt the correctness of this declaration,
because it conflicts with the statements of
some worthy men men who have accepted
and we have seen no reason
to change the opinion that good men
ought to take places of trust rendered
them, provided always the offer is not at
tended with the disgraceful and humiliat-
ing condition described by the Pilot. We
trust that the policy of this paper, which
is defined in its editorials and not in the
expression of its contribut-
Ors, will not be misunderstood by the
Central in future.
THE LATE CAPT. DAVID DALEY