The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-11-23

| IN the late cfAHN MS, ING A4A1lckAA - ~
was loaded down With the odiuni Of il
multitudinous depredations on the public
treasury. 1t had deprived an imPoyerish-
ed people of their hard earnings for un-
righteous ends- Taxation, lis robbery
when imposed for private gain, or to build
up monopoIies for the benefit of the few
at the expenseofthe many. 1t is robbery,
when imposed for any object except tosup-
port government in its legitimate aim of
protecting life, liberty and property. The
Radical leaders had increased the ex-
penses Of the State government from an
average of $3.50, 900 tothe property vall-
alton of $500, 000, 900 to 81 200, 900 on a
property valuation of $40, 900, 900. And
they had increased the taxation for coun-
ty purposes, at least five field.
The people naturally revolted against
this Wholesale robbery by the government
of aliens and renegades and the result
is seen in gain of about forty members in
the Legislature and the control OF ma
jority of the county offices, including
Boards of Supervisors, in spite of the all
powerful agencies which official patron
age welded by corruption could exert.
But the persistent and INSCRIPTIONS
spoilsmen have commenced a record of
more fearful crime than even the public
robbery by which their career previous to
the late election had been characterized.
Heretofore, they have been arraigned for
cheating the people Of their money. In
the future, they are to be arraigned for
the more heinious crime of cheating them
of their votes, of depriving them of their
UNREASONABLE choice, as expressed
through the ballot box.
This objectionable rascality with which
they have inaugurated their new career,
will figure prominently in the issues of
the canvass TO come.
Of this crime, numerous examples are
coming to light, and none are more con-
spicuous than the cases of Newton and
Copiah COUNTIES.
In Newton they have presumed to de-
clare their clansmen elected to office
though their Conserva:iFe opponents, re-
ceived upwards of six hundred majority
of the legal voters of the county, in an
election held under the direction of In
spectors of their own choice. The pre-
text for thus attempting to set aside the
viii of the electors, is indeed frivolous.
BY an arrangement Of the Inspectors, it
was agreed that the registration oath
should be administered to the white voters
by a white member, and to the colored
voters by a person of their race. This
latter person happened to be the second
member of the Board, and on this alb
surd ground, it is the purpose of the Radi-
cal spoilsmen to throw out the entire
white votes, and thus to give the election
to the Radical candidates though they
were in an actual minority of six hundred.
1t is not assumed that any person voted
who was not duly sworn.
It is not alleged that any person who
voted did not possess the qualifications
prescribed by law.
1t is simply assumed that the white
voters were sworn by the first, or third,
member of the Board of Registrars, and
that, therefore, they are not entitled to
have their votes counted; and that the
carpet-baggers and scalawags who were
not elected are to be installed into the
offices of the county in contempt of the
viii of the people because of an agree
ment among the Registrars they were
sworn by the second member.
And thus it is proposed that the Radi-
cal managers shall take advantage of
their own wrong, set aside the voice of
the legal voters, and deprive them of the
right to be served by individuals of their
own choice.
In the case of Copiah it is alleged that
at two of the boxes a number of votes
none of which are charged to have been
deposited before the mama |
gers of election subscribed the oath pre-
scribed for them. The law was of Rad |
zeal creation, and its executors were of |
Radical appointment. If they failed to
perform their duty, it is monstrous that
The entire innocent people of the county
shall be made to suffer by deprival of
heir constitutional right of choice.
None but sneak thieves and scoundrels
would appropriate to their own uses off
res obtained by this sort of fraud on the
,enPle and in defiance of their wishes
'ut nothing is to be inferred from the
honesty or the sci f-respec: of the Wreck
rs who have been supported for the past
wo years upon the proceeds of public
,lunder.
We have pointed out mode of bring
ng these criminals to punishment. In
he first place, let the elections be con-
ested in the mode set forth in the cleo
ion law. But let not the wrong doors
scape arraignment, trial and conviction
nder the Enforcement Act. Their vio-
alton of it has been clear, fragrant, un-
and their villaiRy should be
romptly recompensed with its severest