The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-30
MIS- sIsslPPI.

"Grave and Reverend Signors's-The
Rebel Soldiers the Only Conservatives
The Election or 0evsrnor sharkey and
y. L. Alcorn ~ Senators, &c.
OUR JACKSON CORRESPONDENCE. ix H3.
JACKSON, Miss, Oct 81, 1865
ar MISSISSIPPI LEGaLATuRx.
Considering tho fact that the present LEGISLATURE is
the rs assembled under the regime Of those States
which were for four years. by force OF arms, fairly
OF Onion may interest tho readers ofthe HRRAID
10 peruse pen and ink sketch photograph Of the
honorable assemblage W
r1N SENATE,
taken as whole, may properly be described body
OF graye and reverend sgnors,' although there
few exceptions. The President, Colonel simonton, Of
Itawamba county is middle aged man, fully six feet
high with prominent forehead blue eyes and full auburn
whislScrs He was colonel Of Mississippi regiment
during the war and recently member Of the late
constitutional convention There five or six mcm
bers in Shaspcres sixth stage of fe with white hair
toter ng footsteps and goldhoaded canes. Their memo
ries date back TO the days OF Governor Claiborne the
war Of 1872 the Aaron Burr conspiracy, and other
"reminiscences OF the Southwestern Territory. They
are all probability rendering their last services to the
State nation and before the results Of their pre-
sort deliberations are they will have gone that
'bcurne from whence no traveller rcturns.'' Many
others have passed their three score and only wait
sg the lapse Of the before they too, will to
render their account few young men, whose eyes
yet beam with tho light and fire Of youth make mp the
Senate Their deliberations peculiarly marked with
gravity becoming the important OCCASION and all seem
10 that great weight OF responsibility rests upon
them They sit sercnciy in their seats. and mechani-
cy pod through the routine Of local business anxious
10 to the 'nigger question:" they term II.
Upon question they all have speech prepared and
VIII he i
OF s.Mr Presidentsn at Happily for
the country, and the State in particular there is ma
ority OF who opposed 10 the rebellion al rst
and who matter Of course, support the principles
cnuncated by Governor sharkey in his proclamation.
with which your readers have been made familiar.
correctly illustrate tho present status Of the
Senate than by introducing the following preamble and
resolution which brought before that body for the
express purpose Of orcs'ang the chances Of election Of
Judge Sharkey for the United States Senate
Bv Mr. Taylor 1855
Whereas an unprecedented and an unhappy condition
OF affairs environ the people OF the State OF Msss
spp in consequence Of the liberation Of the slaves OF
the state recognized guaranteed by the constitution
thereof by the constitution OF the United States by
force OF arms Of the United States; therefore
Resolved That we the Senator'S Of the state Of Misss
who s shall be in favor OF giving 10 the slaves thus
manumitted any rights civil political social further
The doiclatcd fror negro bv tho statutes or re state
prior 10 the late revolution Messrs Taylor and Lvlcs
spoke IN support Of the resolution and Messrs McCago
Miller King and Wilson against II.
On motion Of Mr. McCargo, the resolution was laid on
the table by the following vote.
YEAs-The President, Messrs Anderson Rnford
Brown Cain, Dnncano Hooker, King Icachman. Lowry,
Lyle, Martin, McCargo, Miller, MONTGOMERY, Moseey,
Napier Robinson smith, Stephens and Wilson-21 N,sl
NAYs-MessYs Hawkins jackson, Lycs, Seal, Stone,
SWEET. TAYLOR and VOLTS. eft9 r ItN
There being twenty against and only eight for the
resolution, those figures may be considered showing
the relative strength OF the negro testimony and anti
negro testimony parties in the Senate Unfortunately,
however there Is stronger opposition in the House.
though there majority or eleven votes joint ballot
in favor OF Governor Sharkey's principles
TIE HcUsE
Is composed OF such motley thai am loath TO
derake description Of that branch OF the wing upon
which hangs to great extent the destincs Of the State
General Gholson the Speaker is n man borne down by
the weight OF years but cnacously retaining much
Of the vivncy and elasticity OF youth. His empty sleeve
hangs useless M his SIDE and he otherwise disabled
from the effects Of Mimic ball through the body He
prcsides with dignity and discretion There but few
old members in the House. and that unfortunate BODY
presents the fearful spectacle of 'shous~ divided
against ITSELF There three distinct classes or repre-
sentatives in this body
Erst-Those who opposed the inauguration OF seccs-
SION but Afterwards overwhelmed and drawn into
quasi support OF the war.
Second-Those who said AT home and made money
VIII lie their brothers in the field. and who have be-
come rampant secessonsts since the danger IL over
7Airc-The war party, composed mostly Of besrdless
captains Of the late confcderacy mostly mnmed, and
who have received the support Of their friends through
sympathy. fsH Nf lf .
mostly sustain the late Governors proclamation but the
middle, or second class are almost unit In opposition
Thus see there Ii fearful storm brewing but have
fears for the result Those who toocowardy to 20
10 will not be able TO maintain protracted conflict
against those old athers in Israeli and the brave sol
ders combined So you may set u down as fact that
Governor Sharkey's proclamation win form the very
groundwork OF the new laws regarding freedmen.
Several Of the mcmbers of the House have lost leg or
an or been otherwise manned In battle and the
empty sleeves and suggestive crutches remind one
forcbly Of the horrors and suerngs the people Of the
South have through In the purifying process OF the
past four years Many of them yet dressed in their
gray uniforms contrasting curously with the black Of
the other members and the Union blue OF federal officers
nd "
paradoxica as may seem, however these cxsoldcrs
are ut once the most safe and conservative men, as
rule in the body. They first In war; but arc now
first peace They have Of the fruit Of rebellion
and II turned 10 ashes their lips They now want
something more paiatable.
On Thursday the Senate met the House In convention
for the purpose OF clecng two United States Senators
The opponents Of Governor Sbarey having failed 10
the pledge OF the Senate 10 support him. deter
mined 10 hostilies In convention. motion was
made TO postpone the election Of Senator until Monday
the 2itl, which being lost. another motion was pre-.
seuted that both houses take recess until Saturday,
the 22d These caucus movements OF the opponents OF
convention proceeded with the election. Judge Sharkey
and Hon. Fulton Anderson, both or this city were put
~ s 1.. the o SsDs inc u yos an
sSartey received one hsndrsd and Fulton Anderson
all the votes cast declared duly elected Senator
the Congress OF the United States for the term COM
Scss
So not because they endorsed his position regarding negro
testimony. but In cbedcnce 70 instructions from their
constituents others said they did no from policy not
from choice
The election or Senator for the long term attended
with more difficulty Six candidates were In the Held as
follows.--Hon VIM Yerger, Of Kinds county Hon j. W.
G. Watson and General W. a. Feathestone OF Marshall;
Hon. L. Acorn, Of Conhoma Hon 3 a. Gholson,
0f Monroe, and General r. G. Wathail OF Yalobusha
Thrice calling the roll failed 10 elect and the convention
adjourned until nine O'Clock on Friday On Friday
morning the convention met, and the roll was again
10 nj
TO choice The three candidates receiving the lowest
number Of votes withdrawn, leaving the contest be-
tween Judge Ycrgcr General Ghoson and j. L. hcorn,
when first call Of the roll Mr. Acorn having received
constitutional majority Of votes cast was declared duly
elected Senator tho United States Congress for the
term commencing March 4, 1885.
There was question raised before the election TO
what status the Senators To he elected would occupy In
the Senate Some maintained that tho Legislature had
right classify them but others maintained that they
had which opinion finally prevailed and they were,
therefore, elected Gil respectively the seats vacated by