American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-06
Address Of the Democratic Conservative
Executive Committee, Of Mad
ison County.
adopted August 25th

| In view OF the fact that great
deal has been said about compTO>
missing and harmOniZing with the
! few gentlemen who have seen prop
er to tear away from the Democratic
pan ty, your committee have this day
met, and after dispassionate re-
view, we are satisfied that it is
neither polite, dignified or wise in
lis to undo any thing (even preSum-
ing that we had the power) done
by the party in its convention held
in this city On the 9TH day OF July
last.
We deeply deplore the fact tha.
a few influential gentlemen, should
either from pique, passion, disap-
J pointment or selfishness, attempt TO
divide the Democratic party in this
county, by placing an independent
ticket In the field. We have simply
to acknowledge their perfect right
to do so, and the right of every
citizen to run for any office from
lhat of consta BILE to President of the
United States
It may not have been wise in the
county convention to nominate in
telligent white men. it may have
been folly that unlettered colOred
men were not nominated. 1t is not
for US to judge
ColOred men had right to sub
nit their claims to the convention
and they did so One made a speech
,, and was respectfully stoned to and
loudly applauded. Their rights
were respected, but they as candi-
dates were fairly defeated.
We cannot see that because they
were defeated, the Democratic par
ty has committed a crime against
the colored man. Nor can we see
that simply because man is cOlor>
ed he is entitled to become legis-
lator, regardless OF his capacity to
make laws, or to uDmake or amend
them.
Madison county cannot he charg>
ed with ignoring the colored man.
since she has heretofore given them
representation upon our ticket.
We know that it. is not the wish
of the Democratic party of This
county to deprive any man of any
right that the laws of God or man
have given him. We know that
c"lOred mr. are as safe in their
persons n property in this county
az they a. :, in any part of the North,
that tkeI enjoy free speech, free
ballot. +" schools, free religion
freedom to work OF play, freedom
to pursue gain or pleasure in every
legitimate way. and We cannot be-
lieve that any number of honest
c0lOred men think their liberties or
rights are in jeopardy because a
colOred man is not on the ticket.
While this committee does not
feel it duty incumbent on them to
tamper with the ticket as put for
ward by the convention of July It'll
in order, that by so doing a few
gentlemen may retire gracefully
from an awkward predicament, still
they are free to say that if vacan.
cy occurs they would not object to
filling it with the name of some good
intelligent colored man.
As regards the threats made by
certain cOiOred persons, that if their
Independent ticket ia not elected,
they will move to Kansas, we have
only to suggest that they have the
right to migrate whithersOever they
may please.
That it is not to the interest of the
Democratic party to obstruct any
man in his perigrinatiOns, but on
the contrary to encourage west |
ward tramp in all those who can
not live and be happy in Madison
without holding off e.
Fellow Democrats you have put |
your ticket in the field, whatever
errors may have been committed,
must serve as a warning and be |
rectified by the next convention. 1t
is the duty of every good Democrat
to lay aside his personal prejudices
and support the ticket, because it is
THE ticket of his party, and because
it is only by unity aud by surreD-
der of personal feelings that the in
of this country can main
tain the ascendancy.
IG will be an easy matter for you
to stamp out the opposition which
arrays itself against you. You de.
feated the mighty Radical party in
Lie days of its strength and glory
when led by far more energetic and
able leaders than those who now
blush to lead the weak opposition
20 the Democratic party.
But we advise you to face the
enemy, however small. and dcmon.
'tTate at the next election how ut
erly useless it is in this country to
ry to ride into Office by appealing
o prejudice.