The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-09-21

marty intent alone, as he well knows, upon
their own advancement. The one tning
essential to his happiness-the object to
which all his efforts arc scrupulously
devoted. without shadow Of change or
deviation, is the acquisition and retention
of power. He would join the Conserva-
tives as against his present associates, II
in his Judgment, that would secure his
official advancement. He would make
war ON carpet-baggers to attain the same
end. Possessed of keenPolitical instinct
he has endeavored to restrain the excess
of his followers, because, in his judgment,
they led to the ruin of his party. He has
even quarreled with them, and threatened
a disruption of the unholy ties which bind
them together; but he has never failed,
if he could not lead them as he would, to
lead them whithersoever they desired 10
be led. His imperious nature makes him
aspire to the absolute mastery of his
political associates; his ambition compels
him to accept modified leadership, when
autocratic sway is impossible.
In fine, though not utterly destitute of
public spirit, his inCrdinate ambition, and
selfish and dominating nature, together
with his intense hatred of all who at any
time have stood in the path of his adj
yancement, have so blinded his intellect
that he can see no public good in any
measure which does not tend to his official
elevation and to the humiliation of those
who dare to oppose him. From these
causes has arisen that curious patchwork
of political inconsistency which has mark
ed his course.
| Elected to the Convention in 1861, as
a co-operationist, he yet voted for and
signed the Ordinance of Secession, with
the reckless boast "to cross the Rubicon
and march to Rome" He then sought
and obtained from the Convention a lead
ership in the armies of the State TO he led
against the old flag which he now so much
admires and adores. Not satisfied with
this promotion, he sought and failed 10
obtain Generals position in the Confed-
crate armies.
From this failure, he ceased to feel an
interest in the success of the Southern
arms. In his judgment, it was right to
fight against the "old flag" if he were
General and leader, but the worst of
treason if his merits we're overlooked.
When the war was over, he sought and
accepted the leadership of the 'ctites of
Mississippi, in an election to the L. S.
Senate. Failing to get his seat, he rallied
against reconstruction in the Fourteenth
Amendment; which was a bar to his
advancement, and denounced il as dis
honoring to his people. When recon-
struction became a means of advance
ment to those who advocated it, he dis
covered that it was just, proper and
magnanimous; and denounced its oppo-
nents as untrue to the Government, and
headed the blacks and carpet-baggers to
impose it on the people. BY this means
he is Governor and Senator in Congress. |
AS Chief Executive of the State, he
announced in a bombastic Inaugural |
Address, that he would appoint an able
and respectable Judiciary, Learned above
their fellows" and that he was opposed |
to prescription, \and in favor of general
amnesty. Many trusted, but were de-
ceived. The people asked for fish, he
gave them serpent; they cried for bread,
and he gave them stone. For virtuous
and stainless Judiciary, he has, for the
most part, given us political hacks, whose
elevation to the bench is but the price of
political and personal subserviency. For
ability and learning, he has given us
weakness and ineompetenoy. In his
judgment, the ability to write a newspa-
per squib, and the cunning to manage a
political caucus, is far better recon-
to judicial position than pro-
fciency in legal lore; which, in former
times, was the mark and glory of the
Judges of Mississippi. For general
we have the most bitter and
prescription.
He has preached economy in public
affairs, and even lectured his party upon
their extravaganza and corruption; yet
he has approved and signed the laws
which they have passed imposing the
most burdensome taxation, and making
the most inordinate and reckless appro-
priation of the public money.
He has denounced carpet-baggers, and
for an editor to conduct his
personal organ, with the view Of driving
them from the State; yet, he now hugs
them to his bosom, as his most trusted
and overwhelmed them with
official favors.
His chameleon tints are varying and
nconstant; yet they never fail to reflect
hat color which he deems most con-
lucive to his personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Such is the present Governor of Mis-
iissippi, whom. Senatorial honors will call
rom the head of affairs in December;
when the mantle of sovereignty will fall
lpOn the shoulders of ,
ONE r. C. POWERS.
Who Mr.. Powers is, whence he came, =
What is his past history, what his intel I
ectual and moral standing, are unknown >
o the writer, and to nine-tenths of the '
)eople over whom he is about TO rule. I'm 1