The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-07-27

THE Use OF THE SECRET SERVICE FUND TO
REINFORCE THE RADICAL PROSECUTORS
OF OUR PEOPLE

REINFORCE THE RADICAL PROSECUTORS
OF OUR PEOPLE.
Editors Clarion Charges from all quar-
ters-from the public prints-by individual
averment, and from rumors which cleave
the air in all disadvantages gravely
made and seriously discussed-charges not
denied although they have reached every
nook and corner Of the State, carrying with
them a sense of humiliation and shame,
must be, because of their gravity and non
denial accepted as facts.
These charges are to the effect that to the
glorious old State of Mississippi, alone, it is
reserved to have the degradation of an
Executive Chief who, not content with the
remarkable notoriety achieved by GPproring
a bill giving him the control of $4,000 of
secret service money, as to the disposition
of which he was to make no report, has ac-
tually made use of this fund in the prosecu-
ton of Mississippians before Federal trfb1-
nails, arrested under the infamous Bayonet
law.
Can it be true gentlemen, that this excep-
tional exhibition of political infamy has
indeed been made by an occupant of the
| place once filled by the illustrious Quitman!
Let us yet hope that the present incumbent
is the subject of Misrepresentation or the
victim of SANDER.
The desertion of his people and the aban-
donment of every political principle may
be overlooked in a second rate man with no
check in public morals or judgment over
his wild ambition. In such man, We may
even excuse the association with a set of
migratory adventures at time when the
Acknowledgement of so much of the intelli-
gence of the State-and the Dfranchisement
of SO much of its ignorance-made his cleo
ton to the office of governor for the first
and last time possible. 1t is barely possible,
in such a man, even to overlook the gross
indelicacy of the approval OF the secret
service money measure.
But, if it be true; if the damning fact be
fully ascertained that the Governor of this
State has used this fund in the prosecution /
of kidnapped citizens, taken from their
homes by federal bayonets, for trial in dis /
tant places for violations of federal law, be-
fore Federal courts; then do affirm that
this man who so degrades his Office and dis !
graces his State, ought to be, by resolution
of the legislative branch of the Government,
soIemnly declared to have abused the func-
tions of his high office, to be unworthy TO
conduct the administration of the public af-
fairs of free people, and to merit the un-
qualified Reproduction of all good men.
1t will not do to overlook such an act
merely because of the insigfcance of the
politician who perpetrates it. Even though /
elevated into prominence solely by the
most remarkable condition of affairs the
world has ever seen-to the surface by the
boiling of the political cAuIdron-the mere
occupancy of high office gives such sIgnifi-
canoe to his acts as demands grave and care
full consideration. There is no more exc Sc
for the msappropriation than to send mon
ey to Dublin from the pockets of our
taxpayers to fee counsel in the prosecu-
ton of some Mississippian who had turned
Fenian.
Our Governor has solemnly averred that
the State authorities and State tribunals
were enough to dispose of violators of tie
law, and that no need of Federal bayoneis
or Federal protection existed within the
borders of Mississippi. Can it be that tie
fact that his letter failed to satisfy Greeley,
or the Republican party at the North or
his masters who control at Washington,
that "mercifnl Suzerain' whom he loves so
much, furnishes an explanation of his con-
duct? Can it be that the prospective jeo-
pardy of chances of enjoying the honor of
being the colleague OF Gen. Ames, has in
duced him, with such hot haste, to GO back
on all his solemn asserveratiOns Can it
be that fears of the condemnation of party
who seek the destruction of all civil liberty,
prevailed upon him to cut off the editorial
head of the gallant Manlove, the only man
OF. any political virtue of any prominence
in his party? Has he no common sense of
public decencv or pride of political man
hood?
If it has come to this with a Governor of
Mississippi, then truly may we fear that the
day will come when high office and the faith
of our people will be openly sold at auction
to the highest bidder. Then truly may we
expect the day when it will be esteemed
respectable to trade the rights and liberties
of the people for the reward of individual
promotion. Let us hope the charges are
untrue.
write thus as one of the people, because
the people feel and talk much on these sub
iects; and because, in common with all true
men, hope the day has not arrived when,
at least, the sembldRce of public good faith is
thrown off, and when enormous public
wrongs come to be accounted meritorious, or
to be disregarded as mere matters of course.
Gentlemen. the great depths of popular
feeling have been stirred; general scorn and
have usurped the place of silent
and apathetic contempt. At the next cleo
ton there will be an upheaval of the masses,
and resistless voice of total condemnation
will speak out of existence the scum of inn
ported infamy and home-born treason
which now rule and ruin the grand old
State of Mississippi The honesty of Mis-
sissippi will rise up in its strength, vindi-
cate its care of the honor of the State, and
eject from power in the home of Quitman,
and Poindexter, and Prentiss, and GuiOn,
that confessed political seoundrelism which
now degrades her high office.
MIssIssIPPIAN