The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-08-10
Outrage Upon the Liberty OF a
PcaceabIe and Law Abiding
Catinens---Hmfrlmg ON
Has Right OF OPhmhOu and
OF Conscience.
Mr.. THOMAS ScANLAN, OF NEWTON COUNTY,
IHE VICTIM.

We have 10 record anOLnef hlFoelVhH
crime which has been committed in the
course of the prosecutions instituted under
the atrocious Bayonet Act. Mr. Thos.
Seaman, a peaceable and law-abiding
citizen of Newton county, who was sum
moned before the Federal Grand Jury,
has been committed to Jail at the instance
of the imported carpet-bagger, jacobson,
as we infer from the language Of the
Pilot, who in the capacity Of U. :. At
torney conducts the prosecution upon
grounds as unjustifable as they are
malicious and disgraceful to all concerned
in it, and we will add, honorable to the
gentleman who is the victim of the
outrage.
Summoned to appear before the Grand
Jury, as a witness, he did not hesitate 10
testify that he knows no member Of a
Ku Klux Khan, or any other association
which is forbidden by the laws Of the
county-that he knows nothing to impli-
cate parties against whom information
is sought in violating the laws Of the
government. On these points, his testi-
mony is full, free and unreserved. And
therefore it is not true as cunningly in
situated by the Pilot and Leader that he
is member of the Ku Klux Khan.
But the Grand Juror the majority
under the ruling of the District Attorney
having constituted itself n sort Of
Political Conclave-has gone beyond
these points of legitimate enquiry under
the law and required him TO state wheth-
er he is a member Of any other political
organization, or society, and what are il
principles, secrets, &c, if there be any
Contenting himself with the emphatic
declaration that he is ignorant Of the
existence of any Ku Klux organization
which is forbidden by the law Of the
land-and that any other association of
which he may he a member is strictly
lawful, as it is peaceable and promotive
of good order-he declines further to be
Intercepted concerning the details Of lis
organization which he is pledged not TO
reveal
When he had thus teseifed without
reservation he declined to go further, and
stands upon his invulnerable right to hold
whatever political principles he may en-
terrain; to form whatever political asso-
citation he may think proper; and adopt
whatever plan of organization he may
choose without subjecting himself TO the
inquisition of Grand Jury or any other
body of men. The right of opinion and
the inviolability of conscience appertain
to every American citizen, and are guar
anteed by the higher law of human ex-
istence as well as of the Constitution of
the United States which is founded up
on it,
In violating this fundamental principle
VIGOROUSLY for political purposes, the
Grand Jury prostitutes itself to unworthy
uses. Its object is not to find out if crime
exist. If the laws have been violated. /
BIT ,chat are The forms Of organization and
secrets, If any, of the party, or any portion
of it, which is seeking to break the rod of
the Radical plunderers who have been
put in authority over the people Of this
State by fraud and violence. Mr.. Scan
Ian chooses not to be made an instrument
in the hands of this conclave. He
chooses not to concede their right TO in
quire into the secrets Of any political as
to which he may belong any
more than to institute inquiry into the Sc
crets of Free Masonry or Odd Fellowship,
and is suffering the martyrdom Of pris-
on life with all its consequences to him
personally rather than surrender it. His
treatment is the most significant common
tary yet afforded upon the barbarous en-
Of the Radical party-the most
striking exhibition yet seen of the blood
hound spirit in which they are executed
by its agents.
1t constitutes a new claim Of this party
to the hatred of all justice-loving and
right-thinking men. 1t furnishes addi-
tional ground of desperate and united
effort to defeat it at the coming election.