The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-20
GOV. ALCORN's REBUKE.


One of the most remarkable letters
which has appeared in this remarks
bic age, we find in the Heekly Er-
amiaer, published at Aberdeen, Miss.
1t is from Gov. Alcorn, the Radical
Chief Magistrate Of that State, who
has been regarded as the idol and ex.
emplar of Southern Radicalism.
The circumstances under which
this letter has been written are as
follows: A certain individual by the
name of Flournoy had some sort ola
conditional promise Of the Governor
to appoint him brigadier general of
State. Before, however, the Govern
or had made up his mind to sign the
commission, Flonrnoy uttered two
unfortunate speeches one was de-
nunciation, in the vulgar and malig-
nant style of Radical ultraism, of the
great and good Robert E. Lee, and
the other was an assault upon the
! principal University of the State,
where the best of her citizens and the
most distinguished of her sons had
received collegiate education. BY
these unfortunate, but truly and con-
sistently radical utterances, Gov.
Alcorn concludes that Flournoy has
shown himself unworthy to receive
commission in the service ofthe State.
He announces conclusion in the fol-
lowing manly but rather extraordi-
nary letter, every word of which will
be found worthy of perusal, remem-
brance and reflection:
feel it duty to my State TO re-
fuse the issue of commission that
would beeven an apparen approval
of your language on the death of Gen.
Lee, and the policy of the Legislature
and Executive in reference TO the
University at Oxford.
| / am pledged to the establishment,
OH sure foundation, of the freedom
OF the negro. I am so pledged with
singleness Of purpose which turns
neither to the right nor left in any
spirit Of self-seeking. If the colored
people are content with this on part.
well if they arc not content, again
well. Ny earnestness in the cause is,
i'm either case, none the less positive
in its conviction that a people pluck
ed suddenly from slavery cannot be
trusted by anxious thoughtfulness
to maintain their freedom in hOstil-
ity TO the wealth, intelligence and
passions of powerful mass, trained
in all the skill of politics, and nursed
i'm the exercise of social and moral
power. My devotion to the cause OF
free labor pledges, therefore, to the
duty of maintaining the attitude OF
mediator between the two classes.
, Ny oath of Office demands an enforce
. ment of the law, and forbids me to
compromise my mission of concilia-
ton by even an apparent sanction OF
line of thought calculated TO make
that enforcement impossible by the
} inflammation Unpopular passion.
Gen. Lee was perhaps, ''rebel,
vet, in much humber position, |
myself stand guilty of the same of
fence. Neither must / overlook the
. fact that my party embraces in its
ranks men who have been amongst the
most devoted soldiers of the South.
I cannot therefore seemingly approve
: of anv slur cast upon the memory OF
Gen. Lee. because of his participa-
lion in the " rebellion
A wise Cancellation would lose
: sight of the "rcbcl," in presence OF
, the noble qualities of the man, and
. shining achievements Ofthe soldier.
The University of Oxford is one
of the traditions which patriotism
/. holds it a duty to cherish. Precious
as il is TO the cultivated minds of the
State. that noble remnant of the past
retains strong hold upon the aflec-
: ton of the mass of citizens of my
race. Against that inheritance of my
: people no man or set of men shall,
with NV acquiescence, dare to raise a
sacrilegious hand. | can never for
get that / am a white man, with all
the pride of the race that has given
: to the world that browning glory OF
. civilization. liberty. And if cannot
push the negro forward on the glori-
Gus pathway opened before him by
God, without arresting the Caucasian
in his Heaven inspired progress, then
must negro liberty learn, so far as /
am concerned, TO take care of itself.
If the Shaw University does not
: meet the wants of higher education
amongst the freedmen,I am determin-
ed, as far as in me lies, that it shall
bc made to do so, but am not the less
determined that the University OF
Oxford shall never be plucked star
5 from its orbit, subserve any political
: ambition of mine or that of any other
/ man.
hope that have satisfied you that
the misapprehension which has plac-
l ed YOU in the false position has not
-. originated in any intention.
In fulncss of the explanations
!. which have here made of the rea-
sons why | cannot issue commission
! TO whose issue you are pleged with
| out proving false 10 the great pur-
, pose TO which ] stand committed by
devotion TO the interests and happi-
ness of nv State and people.
Believe me. my dear sir. very truly
yours. j. l.. ALcokN'
; Col. i. W. Fl0prnoy