The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-21

TERRY, February 10, $50.

Terry, February 10, ISSO'
IT, the Editor OF the Comet;
hope you will pardon Little rest
lessness from the "rural districts v
while we watch the doings of the
Solons who are guiding the Ship of
State.
And in tie first place, we deny to
YOUR Yalobusha correspondent of the
18th, the right to speak for the "R.D,s"
on the "jury" hill, however readily we
may concede his proposition that "pnre
unadulterated honesty" ETC., is found
among the "hard listed yeomanry."
I have not the qualification of know
ing exactly What provisions are made
in this BILL but enough for inc to
know is, that Gen. Featherston, sup
ported by his able committee, has
brought his best intelligence and large
experience to the front; in an honest
effort to free our courts from the
damning domination Of professional
Jurors, and ignorant and vicious riff
raft. In the name of all that IS decent
let me ask who can respect our courts
of justice however pure the judge may
be, when he, in the application of all
matters of tact, must submit to the
average juror. Don't miSunderstand
me and jump at the conclusion that :
would concede to Gen. Featherston,
or any other, the right to palrvey opin-
Fions for lfAe. Indeed, L was very much
struck with the simplicity and direct
ness with which McTIaurih's C'Ans."
as his constituents cali him) amend
ment approached the highest success
in the selection of grand jurors, but |
would say distinctly that any change
chat Gen. F. would suggest would be
far better than our present methods Of
selecting jurors. The distressing, and
I might, perhaps, with justice, say
the disgusting feature. of this discus
sion, is the fact that all every man
of sense and honestly sees the neces-
sity of discrimination in the selection
of jurors, but in holy horror throw up
their hands in cringing servility and
proclaim that Democracy" will be
killed if we do one secsible thing.
Sir, we have been "bulldQzedN long
enough. Irepeat, say what you will
about Amite county bulldozers, no
poor negro voter was ever worse bun
dozed than has been tie Democratic
party. We have calmly accepted the
paternity of many of the most obnoX-
ious measures of the reign of terror
from '67 to rs, and all lest we offend
Che negro; while the least patriotic
and farest seeing ones among them
are chuckling in their sleeves
at our folly, well knowing that
the Democracy with its coWardicei
is disgusting its own best Clements,
roofing out it's own foundations, and
preparing for its own fall. Aye! dig
ing it's own grave. Why cannot we
assert our manhood-do the right be-
cause it is the right-legislate just as
if there was no white man, no black
man in the land; legislate for the
country, and let party take care of
itself Then would we command the
respect of our adversaries. Then
would we maintain our selt-respect
The honest black man wants an hon
est intelligent jury as much as we-he'
wants voter with at least enough APP
probation of the duties of citizenship
to make him pay his taxes as well as
we. And yet the boosted intelligent
Democratic party cringes and trem-
bles to take one step, guided by the in
stincts of truth, lest it offend somebody.
This is bad policy. You remember
in your neighbor paper, about
last April, an article over my proper
in which l boldly discussed
the above questions, and others, and
vouched for che endorsement of tall
the better class of negroes" I can
show you to-day the written endorse
ment of quite a number of our best
colored men, from different parts OF the
county, fully endorsing the thoughts,
and bidding me God-speed in their
advocacy. The negro is not 4 fool.
He understands when We are sacrific-
ing truth for place, and as long as we
do 50 he will distrust us. When we
get our own consent to march right
up to the truth for the sake of the
truth, then he will respect us and not
till then. Then will he trust us, and
not till then. 90
Let those members of the Logisla-
.ure who are proposing to compro-
mise the best interest of society in the
lbove matters, and are alike pander-
ng to the demands of capital, on the "
len laws, know that they are not o
merely sacrificing themselves, byt|C
ligging the grave of Democracy in the o
learts and homes of its friends. 4
Yours, PLow. HANDLES. v
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