The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-02-02
Gov. AIcOrn's Letter Assigning his
Reasons for Refusing to Com.
mission R. w. FlOurnOy as Brig
adier.GemeraI.
EXTRACT.

| / feel it duty to my State to refuse the
issue of a commission that would be even ar
| apparent approval of your language on the
| death of General Lee, and the policy of the
Legislature and Executive In reference II
the University at Oxford.
| am pledged to the establishment, on a
| sure foundation, of the freedom of the ne.
! gro. l am so pledged with a singleness OIL
purpose which turns neither to the right OF
| to the left in any spirit of st'lf-se+king. II
| the colored people are content with this on
my part well; II they are not content
again well. My earnestness in the cause
Is. In either case, none the less positive that
| people plucked suddenly from slavery can
not be Il listed by anxious thOughtfulness to
| maintain their freedom in hostility to the
wealth, intelligence and passions of pow
| erful mass trained i'm all the skill of poll
| tics. and nursed in the exercise Of social and
moral power. Ny devotion to the cause OF
free labor pledges therefore. to the duty OF
maintaining the attitude of mediator be-
tween the two classes, NV oath OF Office
demands an enforcementsOf the law, and
fOrbids me to compromise my mission of
Cancellation by even an apparent sanction OF
line OF thought calculated to make the en-
forcement impossible by the Inflammation
of popular passion.
RGeneral Lee was perhaps a s'rebel." vet in
q much humber position l myself stand
guilty of the same offense. Neither must
overlook the fact that my party embraces In
its ranks men who have been among the
most devoted soldiers of the South. I CA,
not, therefore, seemingly approve of any
slur cast upon the memory of General Lee,
because OF his participation in the '.rebel-
lion."
A wiseconciliation would lose sight of the
''rebel." ia presence of the noble qualities of
the man. and shining achievements of the
soldier \
THE University of Oxford IL one Of the
traditions which patriotism holds il a duty
to cherish. Precious as it is TO the eulrivat-
ed minds OF the State, that noble remnant
of the past retains strong hold upon the
affections of the mass of citizens of NV
race. Against that inheritance of my peo-
pie no man or set Of men sh II, with nv ac-
quiesceace, dare to raise a sacrilivious
hand. can never forget that am white
man, with all the pride OF the race that has
given 70 the world that crowning glory of
civilization and liberty. And if | can not
push the negro forward on the glorious
pathway opened before him BY God. WIKI
out arresting the Caucasian in his HEAVEN
inspired progress, then must negro liberty
learn, so far as l am concerned, to take care
Of itself.
fthe Shaw University does not meet the
wants OF higher education among the freed
men, am determined, so far a. in me lies.
that &c shall be made TO do So but am not
the less determined that the University of
oxford shall never be plucked q star from
its orbit to subserve any political ambition |
Of mine or that of any other man.
hope L have satisfied You that the nlisaD-
prehensi0n which has placed you in a false |
position has not originated in any Improper |
intention.
In fulness Of the explanations which 1 |
have here made OF the reasons why / can L
not issue commission to whose issue YOU are
pledged without proving false to the great
purpose 70 which stand committed by de- |
1otiOn TO the interests and happiness OF nv
State and people.
Believe me, my dear sir, very truly yours,
j. l.. ALcoRN. |
Col. r.. w. FLoURNoY.