New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-25
Mississippi Democracy.


of the Confederacy. Democracy in its purity
ought to be found, if anywhere and there. if
anywhere. we may reasonably look for its
ablest and truest expounders. The Legisla-
turs of that State, during its last session, con-
tanned q number Of these eloquent, brave
hearted, and clear.hea champions of un-
adultersted Democracy according to President
DAVIS. A resolution introduced into that
body near the close of the session by Mr..
LYNCH, re,indorsing the several amendments
TO the Constitution, led to heated discussion,
in which Mr.. LANDRUN, Democratic men,
Der of the House from Lowndes county, very
emphatically set forth what he understood to
be true Democracy and the objects it had in
view. After q brief and luxuriant exordlum,
declaring his purpose to vindicate bis people.
and setting forth the terrible wrongs they
were suffering from this "imperions and
tyrannical Government" he proceeded thus to
elucidate the views of his party:
These amendments, sir, were ratified by
fraud and violence, at the point of the federal
bayonets, and l have the independence to
stand here to-day and reterate and indorse
the sentiments of Frank Blair, Of Missouri,
that the reconstruction measures of the United
States Government were null and void alb
initfo and ought to be wiped out. And, sir,
say further, that those Southern men who have
supported the Government of the United States
in these acts of tyranny over the Southern
people, such men for example as General
James Longstreet. should be classed by the
future historian as Benedict Arnold-as trail
tors to their country
At this point in his philippe Mr. LAspRux
was irreverently interrupted by the question
whether he took up arms in defense of the Con-
federacy during the rebellion. He replied that
he did not, as he was residing in Georgia at the
| commencement of the war; and was driven from
| the State for his "Union sentiments" and then
proceeds
81 came 10 Mississippi, and subsequent cir
cumstances prevented me from joining my fell
low-citizens OF the South in making war against
| the Government at that time. But, sir, let
| flag now be raised against that Govern
ment by anybody, in behalf of the oppressed
people of the South, and in vindication of their
rights, and will be the first to rally under that
Gag body of troops and fight so long as |
have breath to put down a naughty, corrupt
and tyranncal Government, for the deliverance
of an outraged people,
Mr.. LYNCH, the author of the resolution.
in offering it was to unearth the Democracy of
Mississippi, and ascertain where they stood
upon the important question Of negro suffrage.
He continued:
"The gentleman from Lowndes declares upon
this floor as the representative of his party that
| the amendments have been illegally ratified.
| That he represents the sentiments of his party
| there can be no doubt. The Democratic party
| of this State has proven to the satisfaction of
the colored people that it is not only party
of false promises, but exceedingly ungenerous.
Every cOlored member of the Legislature has
Joined with them in pettioning the Govern
| pent Tor the removal of their political disabil-
| tiles, and what do we receive in return They
now come forward and tell US that they regard
| the 18th amendment as having been illegally
ratified. 1t certainly was as little as we could
expect Of them to stand by US in the hour Of
trial as we have stood by them in asking for the
removal of their disabilities. But they have
taken their position and are now against us, as
| they have, in fact, always BEEN
We copy these extracts from the speech of
one of the leaders Of the Southern Democracy,
| that our readers in that and other Southern
| States may under stand how revolutionary and
wicked the schemes Of the party are, and how
basely false and ungrateful they have been to
the colored people. Though the coored mem
/ bers Of the Legislature have pursued the most
liberal and magnauimous policy towards them,
they have received nothing but ingratitude in
return. They have acted in bad faith towards
them throughout, and now plainly tell them
that they are resolved to take from them the
right of suffrage, and reduce them again to a
state of servitude if the people will again trust
them with the management of the Government |!
Such evidence as We have quoted of the deter.
mination of the Southern Democracy to nullify
| all the acts of Congress making free citizens Of
the colored people of the South is daily accu-
mulating. 1t will be the issue in the next
Presidential campaign.