The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-04-04
TERRY, Mss, March 5, 1872
GEN. J. Z. GEORGE,

bEN. D. L. OEOh6E,
My DEAR SIR If 1 have been slow in
answering your late friendly note, you may
be sure / had good reasons for it. They
were, however, purely of private charac-
ter, and would not interest you if stated.
will not attempt TO answer your ques-
tions seriatiDl, but will proceed TO give you
a. briefly as possible. my views generally
as to the political situation.
From the beginning | accepted the re-
suits of the war as finaities. As con
quered people, there was, in my Judgment,
nothing for US To do but accept such terms
az the conqueror might think proper to i'm
pose. That less rigorous terms ought to
have been imposed, | think is, and will
continue to be. the Judgment ofan enlight-
ened civilization. And that such would
have been the case bad our people accepted
the situation with better grace, at least
is probable.
| do not so much censure as deplore, the
rash conduct of too many of our young men.
aud of some at least whose ripper years and
greater experience justified us in hoping for
more dispassionate conduct and counsels.
Smarting under defeat, it was hardly to be
expected that they could submit without a
murmur TO their fate. But the decree had
gone forth--the fortunes of war had placed
US at the mercy of the conqueror, aud itiis
to be deplored that our people had not from
the first have comprehended their situation
as they now comprehend it. II would have
saved vast deal Of suffering, not TO say
degradation. They are now. | think COR /
may rather say, hope) prepared To correct
past errors and take a new departure.
For my self, and TOR those who have been,
or may be, influenced by my advice. de-
clare that we accept the situation in good
faith-that Is we accept the XlIlth. XIVth
and XVIII Amendments as valid parts OF
the Constitution, and as equally binding on
us all as are any other part or parts of that
instrument. In this we admit. as we are
very well aware the equal civil and politi-
cal rights OF the colored citizens with the
white citizens And having done this with
out. as we declare, any mental reservation,
we announce our readiness to cooperate in
every needful and proper moveInent for
CARRYING these admissions into the fullest
effect. We admit the binding force of the
civil rights or enforcement acts. and we
will counteuance no other opposition 10
their enforcement than such as may be
offered through the courts We deprecate
all armed or forcible resistance TO the exc
cutiOn of these or any other laws, whether
such opposition come in open day, or in the
guise of "ku-klux."
We think the enforcement act unnecessa-
rily harsh in SOME of IT'S features. and that
it has sometimes been executed with unnces-
sary rigor. It is nothing bat an act of Con-
gress, and like any other act, is subject to
modification or repeal. We do not expect or
desire its total repeal; but we do desire TO
see it shorn Of its more objectionable fea-
lures.
We admit that many of the favorite the
ories of the Democratic party were finally
and forever settled by the late war between
the States Among these we enntnerate the
right of a State 90 inscrpoSe its sovereign
authority to arrest the execution of an act
of Congress within its limits, by nullifica-
ton secession, or in any other mode than
by an appeal to the courts.
We admit the Constitution of the United
States, and the acts of Congress in pursu-
ance thereof TO be the supreme law of the
land, aud that il Is the duty of every good
citizen 10 yield acheerful and ready obedi-
ence thereto.
We appeal to every citizen, of every c0lor
and OF every party. 70 join US in our ear
nest and honest efforts TO secure equal and
exact justice to all men. And along with
this fair. just. honest and economical adj
ministration of the State and Federal Gov
ernments IN all their branches. Prom Ising
on our part equal and exact justice TO ali in
the courts, at the ballot box aud every |
where else. And we appeal TO our colored
fell0w-cltizens TO trust us nc least until we 1
show ourselves unworthy of trust by falsi- |
flying our promises raE eIA fli
AS 10 social equality. ne leave it 70 regu- |
late itself. We would not make laws 70 |
enforce fe or restrain il. We believe that
the better and more Intelligent classes Of
colored people no more desire social equality |
with the whites than the whites desire tr 4
with them, and that the question would |
perish II il were not kept alive by design |
ing demagogues tohiedy white), who keep /
il alive for their.oNn selfish and base pnrT
poses .lfs
we declare our unn0mDromising oppose
ton 30 Radical men and Radical measures,