The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-12-24
APPEAL OF THE MINORITY OF TIE
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO
The PEOPLE CT THE UNI
TED STATES.
Chairman.

| The recent action OF the majority OF the
Legislature of Mississippi, in calling on
| the President of the United States for
troops to suppress an alleged insurrec
ton in Warren county, in this State,
demand from the undersigned, who were
a minority of that body, a statement to
yindieate their own conduct in dissenting
| from such action, and it is proper IL
| nrrserve the good name and fame of the
people OF the State, from the calumniOus
and wicked charges contained in the
message of the Governor, and reiterated
and endorsed in the proceedings of the
Legislature.
1t is difficult to make persons at a
distance understand the true condition of
things here, without making this state
ment too long for popular perusal. We
shall makeit as brief as possible, endeav-
oring, in the main, TO give a general
summary, sufficient, however, to afford Il
/ fair view of the present situation.
The resolution Of the majority of the
Legislature, calling on the President of
the United States t. suppress, what it
alleges, is domestic violence, is accompa-
MED by recital of supposed facts, which
there is not the slightest evidence to
sustain, and which there is the best reason
| to believe, constitute a studied and
unfounded calumny on the people of
| Warren county.
Perfect peace and order reign in that
/ county now, and there have been no
violence or bioodshed there except what
was occasioned by a manly defense by
the people of Vicksburg against armed
/ bodies of men, who, as we believe, were,
| by the connivance of the Governor OF the
Stlte, marchingon that city the purpose
of bringing abouta conflict of races.
/ When this attempt 10 invade the city
was defeated, the citizens of Nicksburg
| laid down their arms, and have since been
| quietly engaged in their ordinary business
and avocations, and there has not been
since, and is not now, the shadow
OF a suspicion of violence in their midst.
The holding Of the Courts, and the
regular process of law, have not been.
and are not now, in anywise INSTRUCTED in
that county or elsewhere in the State.
There is not even the slightest resistance
to the collection Of the most oppressive
and ruinous taxation, which is now bel o
relentlesSly enforced, and which, when
collected, will in the main be disbursed
III 10 PuDIc EOOu Whatever.
We do not hesitate to affirm that never
in the past history of the State, has there
prevailed among its people a stronger
love of law and order, a more patient
submission to wrong, and a firmer deter
mlnatlOn, under all circumstances admit
ting OF legal redress, to seek for it, only
through legal means
The result Of the recent elections in the
Northern section Of the Union, has held
out to us the hope OF speedy return
to the rule of an honest and Just local
government, and "a full redress, by legal
means, of all our local grievances. And
We have not been unmindful that anv
irregular attempt on our part to redress
grievances, however great, and to resent
wrongs, however irritating, would be |
represented by our enemies (and from |
these we do not feel authorized ta exclude |
many OF our present ruier-) as the |
manifestation Of a spirit of rebellion and |
dlslOyalty to the National Government. |
And hence, though we are now suffering !
from misrule, which is day by day
wasting our substance, and psraIvzinp the
energies, and crushing the hopes and
aspirations of our people, and is threaten
ing anarchy by the Punishment
ot all public spirit and private virtue from
official life, we have forborne to seek
redress, other than by legal means,
when such means were attainabIe.
Inspired by the hope, furnished by re-
cent manifestations in the North of SYM
pathy and good will, that we will no
longer be treated as aliens in the land of
our birth, or as unworthy of the protec-
lion and confidence of our common gov
and that once more, fir. ternitv
md real union were to be established
the different sections Of country.
md that the old flag should once more
De to US an emblem of national pride and
glory, we have striven, and are now striv-
ng so to act that the expiring flames of
sectional animosity shall not be kindIed
NEW.
The action of majority of the Legis- ,
allure, and of the Governor before re- .
erred to, places US, and as we believe. de. =
ignedly SO, in false position, and is an 3
ttempt to blacken the name and fame of {
he people of the State. 1t is even more j
han this-being deliberate effort TO in l
reduce into this State martial law. and {
he army OF the Union, Tor the purpose of +
ontinuIng IN power the present corrupt +
'vernment, by stimulating into unnat- J
raj activity the prejudice of race against !
ace, which happily had begun to sub e
de. T
This action of the Executive, and of q :
ajority of the Legislature, is based on no r
7idence whatever. The undersigned are Il
embers of that body, and in vain pro G
sted against this action, and demanded i
investigation into the truth of the r
lines alleged against our people. before T
ey were turned over to the tender mer- 5.
es Of martial law. This was refused >
ough there was not single armed man I
the actual or threatened resistance of p
e State authority. The opportunity of J.
If debate and remonstrance, and invas- Il
,ation, was denied blythe operation Of {:
e previous question; nor was this action
result of the deliberations of the rem
'entatives of the people
Both the preamble and the resolutions
ssed by the majority were concocted as
'arty measure, in a secret caucus of the kn
gorlty, were then put through the Leo CT
AZURE, under the pressure of party dis re
line, and for party ends, without the ex- So
lnatlon of single witness, and against
evidence furnished by the written 20
tement of peaceful and law abiding cit is
Us OF both political parties and of the ore
hest character and standing, who were tot
witnesses of the transactions about ba,
ich they testified. the
10 show conclusively that this action IND
ne Governor, and of majority of the I'm
was conceived and cary;ed go lea
ely from party considerations, we need Ih
call attention to the fact that the nee
vernon himself, under the constitution is
laws of the United States had annie Sta