The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-03-18
WORD FOR THE SOUTH.
From the Philadelphia Telegram

A gentleman who has for many year
been connected with one of the largest In
surance companies of the city, and wht
has occasion to travel extensively through
the Southern States, has just returned
from a tour of Mississippi. While IN tina
/ State, he made careful notes of his obser
vations, which he has put IN connected
/ form as given below. He is careful OBJ
server, a man of sound judgment, impair
/ tial and unprejudiced, and he thus sums
| up the state OF affairs
/ Having recently passed over nearly the
entire State of Mississippi, on a tour OF
observation, | feel that it may be confer
ring some little benefit upon Northern
readers to give my impressions of the con-
dition of affairs in that State, and Of the
sentiments and spirit of the Southern
people.
In the first place, ! would say that l
am reader of the newspapers, and be
lieve that | keep myself as thoroughly
posted in matters of general interest as
most readers, and yet, while looking
around me in Mississippi, felt contlnu-
al rebuke for the ignorance, or prejudice,
or want of perception that had held my
IDltiu III SuCu Il H8t iSllcu Juii7
as to Southern affairs before | went
South
The large majority Of our Northern
people, though not wishing TO harm the
South, even in thought, have wrong views
regarding the sentiments, disposition,
and present aspects, social and political,
of the people-I mean the whole people,
white and colored-of the South | speak
advisedly in saying that such is the case,
at least, so far as Mississippi is concerned,
In all the towns [ visited in issippi
| made myself familiar with the citizens
called on the doctors, lawyers, clergy
men, merchants, mechanics, on all classes,
and talked with them freely upon subjects
pertaining to their social, political and
material interests. ETC., and now feel quail
fled to speak to them Understandings and
without prejudice.
Nearly all the more intelligent men
whom | met, and who made any refer
ence to the NATTER said they were Union
men before the war, that they were
crowded into the Rebellion by force of
circumstances, that, the Confederacy be-
ing organized, their convictions Of duty,
even against their feeling, led them to its
support; that when the war was over
they acknowledged their utter defeat,
dropped all antagonism and ill-feeling,
and only wished for peace and fraternal
relations again with the North and they
say that they have the same feeling and
wish now.
As people, looking at their past, they
have been Inundated, broken, and utterly
crushed. Their business methods, social
relations, and modes of government are
radically changed or passed away beyond
recall. This change, these ruins, may
have come as the natural consequences Of
a national entailed sin, or as the workings
of Il Divine adjustment of human affairs,
but, whatever the cause, it is not with the
past that the present should be mostly
concerned.
Let every intelligent man look the
present straight in the face. What
is the present condition in Mississippi to-
day
The entire municipal authority of the
State is in the hands of the black man.
He holds the majority in the Legislature
the majority of votes in nearly
all the counties, holds the majority of
offices in the State-is the maker of
laws and the supreme director Of public
affairs.
And what is the result of all this ?
Simply ruin-ruin to all the best in
terests, present and prospective, of the
State.
There is no question in this matter
there is no room for discussion nor for
the )rizing; it is but palpable fact. The
men who hold and direct the Government
of the State pay little or nothing towards
the cost of It's annual maintenance. The
men who impose the taxes have them
selves little or nothing Of material inter
ests upon which to pay taxes.
In several counties | found the super
visors were composed entirely of negroes.
They assess the property, determine the
very few of them possess any property
whatever, and the large majority of them
can neitherread nor write their own names.
When sworn in office they make their
*" mark
Such men make laws for educated white
men, merchants, landowners, etc. And
what are the taxes imposed? From to
8 per cent. and upon their own arbitrary
and excessive valuation.
Is is any wonder, under such rule, that
schools are neglected, that business is at a
stand still, that enterprise is checked, and
the development of all material interests
and resources of the State utterly neglect
ed?
And yet after all, the great body of
white men, the former rich planters, with
their once luxurious living, the business
men, the educated, refined, the real gen
uine old MissisSippians, nearly all with
whom | conversed, surprised me by their
very humility OF submission-not ike ''pa
thence on a monument" but as monument
of patience. But they understand better
than we of the North can understand the
causes thas have led to this lamentabe
state of affairs; and the reasons became
Obvious to me as learned in what manner
the Northern carpet-bagger had manlpu-
lated the negroes into their present atti-
tude, and now holds them for political
purposes, in aniagonism to their own best
interests.
The Mississippians have, for some time,
been convinced of the fact that the carpet
Dagger in their midst are not fair repre-
sentatives of the Northern people, nor of
Northern sentiment They are a kind of
renegade Yankees or political scapegoats.
Having no influence at their own homes in
the North, they 60 South in search of
position and plumber. These they obtain
by affiliating with the negroes. These
men have effected most complete and
thorough organization of the entire negro
population of the State, each town or
neighborhood having its own league, or
club or society, Gas it may be termed), and
their meetings are held at mid might, and
are designated by them as their speak
mos - 4 these GtSnea Eiopse inf mn oatorv