The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-23
4 Conservative Meeting at Vicksburg
tow the Negro vote was to be


4 Conservative Meeting at tIckSDurg
-nOW the Negro vote was to be
Managed.
I'll over the South we notice that
meetings are being held in the inter-
est of the Conservative or Rebel
Democracy, calling the negroes to-
gether to council with them on the
political situation which is brought
about by the Reconstruction act of
Congress. Rebel generals, governors,
and other political leaders are appeal
ing to the negroes to stand by their
former masters and not allow the
Southern Unionists and the Yankees
to lead them off into Radicalism 1t
is astonishing what change has
taken place in the situation of affairs,
and to what position of importance
and respect the negroes have been so
suddenly elevated in the regard of
these aristocratic rebels, since the
right of suffrage has been conferred
upon them. 81 70 noiiqiysrsi' ,.i,.ss - seiai
We have quite an entertaining let
ter from friend at Vicksburg, Mis-
sissippi, which we would be glad to
give to our readers. but it was not
written for publication. 1t gives an
account of a large meeting in the AT,
rican Baptist Church last week, which
was called in the interest of the Rebel
Democracy 1t was addressed, among
others, by one HARPER HUNT, South
ern Yankee" skin flint well known to
all Northern soiourners in that place
during the war as protested Union
man, but a disguised rebel; also, by
Col. MANLovE, Judge SMEDEs, and
several other local politicians. All Of
the speakers used the soft-sawder
just now SO prevalent in the South, in
which they endeayored to convince
the negroes, that the, Southern people
had always been their best friends,
always treated them kindlya knew.
theirswants and what they required.
and were disposed to live IN peace
and harmony with their "colored
brethren,1 andlo that they must not
separate from their friends, % go
The speeches were listened to IN
silence, hut. respectfully and with good
order. After they were through one
of the leading Southern loyalists who
knew every negro in the house, was
called out; and completely turned the
tables upon the rebels. He was fol-
lowed by a number of Radicals, some
of whom were old army officers; and
the character Of their speeches can
readily be imagined The letter says
the rebel Democracy were completely
foiled in this their first effort in the
famous city of -Vicksburg to gain
the negro vote and influence The
chivalry. had made up their minds ITO
swallow the niger, stink and all, and
declaring that3al.e Ussmells f4esweet,
nothing better. a5nTrue he had been
held as a Slave. but that could not be
avoided, and all that was among the
things = of the past. Truly it
is pitiable to, see these peo--
pie bending the knee ito this
despised. race, and begging them
to come up to their help But
all to no purpose. 1t is said that the
Radical party has about one hundred
and fifty white votes, aud the negroes
in any quantity, and that they are
confident of carrying that city and
county. And from this party is the only
hope of genuine reconstruction upon
the Congressional plan. A strong
movement is going on in the State of
Mississippi. as in the other Southern
States, tending to consolidate the vote
of the loyal whites and negroes; a. nd
it is confidently expected that they
will be able to carry the elections, and
thereby gain the control of. the State
Governments Butswe are not entire
ly certain that in the rural districts
the negro vote will not be managed
by the Rebels, and used to retain
them in power: ''s54A e
3 THE War of the Roses has COM
menced again. Although the Courier
has, for about the tenth time, declared
the Border Re6ian )" beneath notice
and contempt, and foresworn1 Its ex Z