The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-06-28
Results OF Democratic success
Last Year.

OF the state government--the Leglsla-
tive, Judicial, and Executive-have
been reduced at least one-half:
.st US look at some of the other bene-
fetal results that were accomplished for
| the people by the Reform Legislature,
, and which an effort will be made to de-
stroy if the threat contained in the plat
form'of the Radical party to restore car
pet-bag rule by the military power of the
government, is carried into execution.
The Democratic Legislature repealed
the infamous Gatlin gun bill which was
| devised to create a standing military
force in the State to overawe and in
timidate the people and render them
submissive to the Radical schemes OF
races and thus furnish pretext foI
armed Federal interference in our State
affairs. Early in the spring OF
1873 before the canvass opened, and be.
fore there were any riots or signs OF
riots, Governor Ames made prepare
tons for procuring arms and ammunition
for carrying on the campaign. To sup
port the military scheme an appropria-
ton of $50, 900 for the year 1873 wa:
voted. Five thousand dollars of this
sum were expended. The balance was
saved by the timely action of taxpayers
who prayed an injunction which was
granted by Chief Justice Peyton to re-
strain the Auditor from issuing his war
rant for the balance Of the appropriation.
The further squandering of the public
money under this contrivance Of ambi-
ton and malignity, was saved by the
Legislature in promptly repeating the
law.
Itrepealed the scheme known as the Dis
trict Printing Bill which levied forced
contribution on suitors, administrators
and others, having legal advertisements,
for the support of Radical newspapers
which were dedicated to the one purpose
of disappearing and villifying the peo-
pie who paid the taxes and supported the
State government.
1t simplified and economical the Reg
istration Law.
1t accomplished what the Radical
leaders promised again and again in
their platforms, but they failed to fulfill
| 1t submitted an amendment to the Con-
stitution returning to the old system of
biennial sessions of the Legislature. 1t
will be adopted by the people, and will
be saving of from one hundred and
fifty to two hundred thousand dollars to
the taxpayers.
1t falsifed the predictions of the Radi-
cal leaders that if the Democrats succeed
ed they would destroy the public school
system. On the contrary, by cutting
off useless expenses they have guaranteed
five months tuition instead of four to the
children of the State, as under Radical
rule.
They have falsified the predictions of
mischievous demagogues, who lived by
organizing strife between the races, that
they would pass laws discriminating
against the colored people. All the
pledges of the Democrats to secure to
that class every right possessed by them
selves, have been carried out; and there
is no cause for discomfort among the col
ored people with Democratic rule. The
large numbers of colored voters who
placed their trust in the pledges of the
Democrats to do ample justice to their
race, have reason to be more than salts
fed with their action.
ARRANGEMENT OF FAITHLEss OFFICIALS.
But there was still something more
needed to complete the proportions of
the victory won by the Democrats and
Conservatives ; it was the arraignment of
the faithless State officers elected by
the Republican party. Three were
found to have been guilty of mis-
conduct that demanded their impeach,
ment; and the Democratic State Con-
vention, responsive to the wishes of the
people, declared their gratitude to the
Legislature 'for driving them, by the
" terrors of the offended law, into obscu-
g rity from the public trusts which they
g had violated" If the Legislature had
faltered and failed in this solemn duty,
the legitimate results of the hard fought
battle which the friends of reform had
won, would have been lost; but that
body thanks to the firmness, integrity
and patriotism of the majority, was
equal to the emergency. General Ames,
the head of these conspirators, had ruled
with high hand ; and retributive justice
demanded that he should be arrested in
his career Of ambition. It had been
long one. As military commander,
he had trampled upon she privileges of the
people. and elected himself to the United
States Senate. In tEat body it was his
vocation to malign and caiumniate the
State be assumed to represent. In the
office of Governor. he usurped the pow
ers of the other departmeEts-su bordi
mated the Judiciary TO his partisan
schemes-trampled upon the Constitu
tion-and exercised his powers to produce
war between the races. The records of
the Executive Department show that
early ii the spring of 1879, before the
canvass opened, or tieFe was sign of
disturbance or riot, he meditated var
and commenced his preparations for it
by the appointment of military command
ers of his own party sad the procure