The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-26

mn the rejected Constitution OF 1000,
IA 80 .msnd II as to make it conform
30 the requirements of the fourteenth
srt;cIe az the Reconstruction acts, the
reonle would accept it with unparalleled
ppnanimitv. They would not, however,
he said. willingly accept as ofhcers the
NON who had been rejected with the
because those men STOOD
ss the exponents of that Constitution
and were pledged to carry out all It's
yindictive and proscriptive features.
a Joint resolution was passed by Con,
oress early in March, 1859. 1t declared
that the Offices held in Virginia, Texas;
and Mississippi by persons VINO couiu
not take the test oath prescribed py the
act of July ,, 1862, should be vacated:
II declared also that the commanders OF
the military districts, embracing those
States should fill such offices by the
appointment of persons who couId taSe
the test oath. An exception was haoe
in favor of those whose disabilities nau
been removed. This joint resolution
was carried into effect in MISSISSIPPI oy
a general order of General Ames' l.
was dated March sd. Another general
order was issued requiring that men OF
color should be received by the courts
as competent jurors.
Considering the ardent temperament
of the Mississippi character and the pro-
foundly important questions at Issue tne
nolitics of the State took singular turn
Moderation became the order OF the gay;
Fooleston and his associates, VINO hao
framed the constitution OF May, 1000,
who had made it so proscr1puve that !!
was disapproved by General Grant ana
majority of Congress, were thrown
overheard by the Republican party
while the Democratic party, which hao
urged affairs to the opposite extreme
had the good sense to stand aslde III
fsvor of the National Union Repuoil-
can Party" President Grant, unoer
| the authority of Congress, issued
proclamation ordering new election on
the question of ratification OF the con
stitution, in which the sections contain
ing the obnoxious features thaS mao
been pointed out were submitted ior a
separate vote. The result was tnat All
these were rejected by large maJorl5ies.
The constitution itself, thus auien9eu uy
executive pruning, was ratlned. 1t was
ratified by an almost unanimous Wy !e
There were only 954 votes against ra'ih'
cation, to los, s23 in Its favor.
1
under inspiration from Washington, pu.
in nomination relatively conserva'iIe
t;cLet for State officers. James l..
Acorn a studious economist and cotton
raiser of fair and conservative views,
was at its head for Governor. Their
nlatform also was denuded of all Its
most offensive features. ltdiffered very
,, EttIs in tome from that of the National
!, | ITn;on Republicans. 1t pledged fidelity
! 70 the Union and to the Republican
, oorty II favored a lust and economi
cal administration of the State and
National Governments, freedom oil
: sneeeh and of elections, free schools, ano
reformation of the system of taxation
, It declared that all men, without regard
T TO race. stood as equals before the law
{ The platform declared in favor OF re
: moyal of political disabilities as soon a
i the dawping spirit of liberation shoule
q warrant Congress in declaring them a
n an end. 1t recommended the ratitica
a tion of the Fifteenth Amendment.
q The National Union Republican part.
. adoptad a platform quite as liberal a
: that of the Radical Republicans. 1t ex
. pressed the thanks of the party to tn
q President and Congress for rejecting th
r scheme of Eggleston and others to seeur
/ the acceptance of the constitution ate
4 il had been rejected by the people. l
a declared in favor of universal sutfrag
y and of free schools for all. This part
4 nominated as its candidate for governor
J. Judge Lewis Dent. He was brother
r. in-law of President Grant. He doubt
| less expected to receive the support Q
i General Grant and his administration
. In this. however, he was mistaken
v General Grant declared in an emphatl
j letter his purpose to sustain the cand
# dates of the other party. This letter
] which was addressed to his brother-ir
n law, was as follows:
'e LONG BRANCH, August LIST, 1869.
"DEAR JUDGE: l am so thorough
satisfied in my own mind that the sue
sess of the so called conservative part
ID in Mississippi would result in the defea
= of what | believe to be for the hes
u interest of the State and country, tina
= have determined to say so to you On
u writing of course). / know, or believ
. that your intentions are good in accept
- ing the nomina ton from the coaserva
Is tive party. / would regret to see yol
e run for an office and be defeated by m
= act; but, as matters now look, mus
throw the weight of my influence i
!, favor of the party opposed to you.
!. earnestly hope that before the election
{ there will be such concessions on eithe
: side in Mississippi as to unite all tru
: supporters in the state of reconstruction
and of the administration together il
: support of one ticket.
= This letter of General Grant wa
D volunteered on his part In order to pre-
. vent misapprehension of his wishes
e 1t gave tone to public feeling.
E The reply of Judge Dent to letter o
. the President was manly and vigorous
1t deserves place in this history. III
] said:
! SIS it reasonable to suppose that &
: people having the free choice of theil
representatives would elect for theil
rulers a class of politicians whose aggres
) sive and hostile conduct hitherto has
rendered them peculiarly obnoxious and
disagreeable?
"And to this class of men, whom you
foiled in their attempt 70 force upon the
people of Mississippi the odious consti-
, tuition rejected at the ballot-box, you
now give the hand of fellowship and
, support; and spurn from you that other
class who, accepting the invitation of
the Republican party in good faith,
came en- n,asse in Virginia and tennessee.
as they will come in Mississippi and
Texas. to stand upon its platform and
advocate its principles"
The result of the election showed
that General Grants letter had the
desired effect. There were ia, 2S3 votes
cast for the Office of governor, of which
Mr.. Acorn received 76, 1856 aud Judge
Dent 3S.O97. The entire delegation to
Congress chosen on the same day was
composed of Republicans. That party
also elected three -fourths of the Legisla-
ture. A military order which announ-
ced the result Of the election directed
the Legislature to meet at Jackson on
/ the 18th of January 1870. Another
general order appointed Mr.. Alcorn
provisional governor; and the other
gentlemen elected on the ticket with
him were Professionally appointed to the
places for which they were chosen by
the people. These provisional appoint.
ments were to continue until Congress
should decide on the validity of the
constitution and the election under it.
| Mr. Alcorn for reasons which do honor to
his head and heart, declined this appoint
ment. Coming from military authority
and subject for its support to military
power" he said, "the fitness of things
appears to me to forbid my acceptance
of it, while hold in immediate prospect
the position of civil governor by that
sanction most acceptable to my instincts
as an American citizen, that of popular