The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-05-10

! Gtuefat IancOck Tor PRESIDENT was owe
5000. The much abused county of Mad
son gave to him aud your humble represer
tatiye two years ago maiOritjes Of abou
1900 votes. But admitting that Madiso
county is lost 20 the Democracy, and sha
continue to east her whole colored strenyt
against Us, yet it would not have imperila
/ the Fifth district had she been allowed {
remain, since it has bsen able under IN
/ hottest fire to send up majority of nor
I than 5000.
! But how is it as 10 the Seventh or Hook
er's district? Many Of the seash0re whit
counties have been cut OF, and Claiborne
/ Jefferson, and Madison, with a large pre-
poaderauce of colored population, have
been added. Hinds, too, one of its counties
has some two or three thousand majority o!
colored voters.
Is it not a fact, which stares Us uupleas-
antly in the face, that should Madison
county, in the Seventh district. give the
500 majority against the Democratic csudi-
date for Congress which she gave for King
at the last election, that the district is in
great danger?
Madison in the Fifth district was harmless
and could have been held ia check by the
majoTitieS OF other counties, but in the
sNShGtANLI AI3 btiu ttlC sCtICS Stl1 ltl~C Us q
member in Congress. 1t is clear then that
a. least two districts, the Fourth and Sixth,
have TO some extent been jeopardiZed by
this bin, all of which might have been easi-
~ avoided.
After an examination of the whole bill in
the light of truth and reason, and not OF
passion or prejudice, who will not say it il,
full of inconIruities and bluniers? that
, H-sa OK ri al mr.
political necessity for such Il gerrymander-
ing bill, bat that each OF these Considara-
Liuns have been neglected, even outrIged2
Buta few words rs to history aud passage
of this bill. Il came into the Legislature
during the last days of the session: was
never published in the newspapers, that
the people might see and approve or disap-
prove it. 1t was not considered and discuss
ed in the House As its Importance demand
ed. It was put through at a night session
under the spur Of the previous question de-
mauded by a member of the House not
member Of the committee in charge OF the
bill, but who was then understood to be-
and is now, Il pronounced candidate forI
Congress. The previous question had the
aiftct to cut off all further amendment and
Iebate, leaving the bill to be voted for or
against in the shape given to 1t by its god
athers 1t was forced through the House
ust Is hours before adjournment, and after
many members had gone home not TO return. !
It received SO votes out Of l20, Of which /
he House is composed, lacking s of a ma /
GRITTY Of the whole vote. The record before /
ne, furnished by one OF the Mississippi /
State officers, and which | take to be cor
ect, shows that rs members did not vote 40
Il, which added to the 81 voting against it,
made a majority of the whole House.
In the Senate the bill was called up and
assed on the very day and only a few hours
.fOre final adjournment, never having been
onsideaed by the Senate, 50 far rs | can
EARN, before that time. The record further
lows that on the tinal vote there were on
Z nineteen of the tLirty-cight Senators
ut a maioritv-who voted for it, and sew
raj Of those were Republicans These are
le facts attending the accouchment ofthC
i'll as far as they can be collected from the
)stract of the journals of the two Houses.
do know cannot be driven to impeach
Ie motives of whole Legislature knowing
| DO how often members of such bodies, {
r want of time to examine and critcjse ,
o reports Of committees, adopt them by .
ason of the confidence they repose in their
llow-members.
My Indictment is not against the whole I
agislature, nor against all who voted for
c bill but against its originators and man y
ers, who seyerally had axes to grind, and
rHcd the grindstono for each other.
few words personal to :
yself, and ! am done. After a careful re- Il
ew of all the circumstances, facts and i
ures Of this case, can you find any reason .,
motive for disconnectng Madison county VI
I'M her old associates, except it was TO sew u
the ties which had so long and pleasant d
bound Us together as constituents and Re u
sentative? Is not the conclusion forced >,
on you, however reluctant you may be VI
receive it, that such was the object Ot =
2 dismem5erment of your district IfI u
are yoa prepared to sanction the act, and Il
0w those who took part in it to profit by -
'ir own wrong? ~
What has your Representative in Con- y
- done to demand such summary expul- III
n from your presence? Has he ever fh- -
Ell in the discharge of his official duties, u
failed to guard your interests, as far AZ he n .e
lld against every encroachment? Has i"
re ever been an act of his life that was ~
loyal to the people Of Mississippi? Has !!
ever refused to respond promptly to the ~
of his party friends in the darkest hour u
heir political troubles? Has he not met
ir adver~aries upon the stump and in Con- ~
IS, fought their battles, upheld their stan ~
d, and stood frmly.to principle2 Way -
n, without your wish or consent, legls- ~
him out Of your district to make room ~
another? va
you will soon have an III ~
'ortunity in your county aud district r.
ventons, which | trust you will not fail 90,
attend, to give expression to your views
feelings upon this subject, and ofsettIing q.
question definitely, whether political w
irants will be required TO come into Office "t
ough the broad, open front door OF ~
,ulIr consent, or whether they will be ~
,wei to enter through some dark, narrow -,
=, or climb over some back wall. This al
,sti0n, IS good citizens, you ought 10
.t, and require every oitica-seeker b. d"
w to the line, let the chips fall rs they -,
v" J'l
he intrigue and management BIZ which 80
yes got into the Presidential office re- ~,
1ed your merited scorn and contempt, wi
you should see to it that the STANDARD
political morals and public virtue is not
cred by indorsing the slightest act OF
tical legerdemain.
n conclusion, fellow-citiz5ns, to viudicata
self against what | consider personal in
ice, aud to battle, as, l have ever done, pu
what l believe to be your rights, l have
Ell an appeal from the late act of the
,islature to you, the sovereign people,
, must decide whether / am right or tn
ng. To your decision, whatever it may yo
| will bow without a murmur. cv
have changed my citizenship to Scott W
nty, where have owned and paid taxes oY
landed estate for eighteen years, and now ou
sent myself a3 a candidate for Congress WI
-our district, subject to your will as it may
expressed in your district convention.
Respectfully,
Your fallow-ctizan, lor
o. r. SINGLETON.
liz
n. II. H. Woods Card to the People da
the Fifth Congressional Dis trict. Br
nll