American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-08-08
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.

TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSISSIPPI.
The undersigned has observe,
with regret a disposition in severa
quarters to attribute to the Chain
matt of the Central Democratic Com
mittee; whatever of commentator
is due to the united action of all il
members.
The chairman feels that he is in
debted more to the magnanimity ami
generosity of partial friends than t,
any merits of his own for this mani
testation of public appreciation, ant
lie canhtt silently consent to appro
pirate the labOrs of his more abl'
associates to his own .exaltation il
the public mind. He begs to remin(
the people of this State that tht
members of the committee witt
whom he:is associated are selected
from the ablest legal and politica
minds of the State; and that what
ever of wisdom, prudence, patriotism
courage, energy and political strategy
has been bestowed Oil the late can
tass in Mississippi, is to be attribu
ted to their advice and direction
and not the chairman who was the
organ If the committee. These emf.
nent gentlemen have been prompt
and vigilant attendants on the
numerous meetings of the commit
tee1-they have given their anxious
and devoted thoughts-the applica
ton of all the learning of their full
minds and mature judgments, and
their energetic and courageous action
to all the great topics embraced in
the canvass, and they are entitled to
enjoy the full fruits of their success.
ftl labors in the homage of a CRATE
full people.
But in behalf of this committee,
WHO have witnessed tile cooperation
Of a united and determined people. |
may be permitted to say that it is
idle to attribute the success OF the
Democratic party to the exertions,
plans, argurhents, organizations or
directions of any one man or class of
men-tO any committee or class of
committees. The Press and the Peo-
pie compose the victorious cOmbina-
ton. Every Democrat, from "snowy
white to sOOty," has proven himself
"the right man in the right place"
Freemen and Freedmen have joined
patriotic hands, hearts, minds and
practical energies in the great work
ofrestoring the Constitutional Union.
The public orators on great festive
occasions have done their duty nobly,
but even they formed the mere
skirmishing line of the great logical
battle.
The mass meetings were called by
the committee Oh the lines of the
great railways to enable our public
men to address portions of the people
and arouse the men ot the interior
to prOpef comprehension of the
great work before them, and which
they alone could accomplish. The
mass of white men of the State was
with us, but the unfortunate freed
men had been decOy ed, betrayed,
and kidnapped into the oath-bound
Loyal Leagues and sworn to vote
against us and to support none but
that wicked and corrupt gang of
inayes imposed OIL the State by the
reconstruction committee ofCongress,
md SUPPORTED by the military power,
and orders OF Gen. Grant, the Re
publican candidate for President.
The army, and the Congress of the
United States--the frcedman's bu.
eau, and all its corrupt officers and
,gentS,-the Commissioner of the
Internal Revenue, with all his horde
If tax gatherers, spies; detectives,
jalse informers, thieves; f0bbers,
)rasS-- -knlckle-men, slung-ShOtS,
'houlder-hitters and assassins, (for
wo of our eminent lawyers were as
assinated in the night and basely
by the emissaties of Grant
md COlfaX,J were all combined
Igainst us under the direction of the
power of the United States,
tanding by with mounted Dragons,
md sword and bayOnet in hand, at
srty different points in the State,
as shown by Gen. Gillem's report to
to support :he oppressor
nd break down the constitutional
iberties of the Mississippian to the
manor born.
That such a power was not to be
'vercome by the mere influence of
'ublic oratOry, or the satiating fumes
# the reeking barbecue at few
POINTS in this State, was too plain to
dmit of moments debate. Nothing
hort of the combined physical, men.
al and logical energies of a great
nd heroic people personally applied
o every individual member of the
nemies' ranks could afford the pros
'ect of success. This ideasuggested
he plan that was adopted and ex.
cuted by the people.
The quiet and unostentatious men
Tho occupied the farms and planta-
ions, and controlled the labor, the .
intrepid and enthusiastic women
Tho presided over the homes and
onfestie circles of the State-thcse,
lese were the fervid, eloquent, un-
iring and successful pleaders of our
ause-.these we're the inspired
rOphets that reached the hearts of .
he freedmen, lifted the Loyal League
Gales from their eyes, and, under ,
lie Providence Of God, gave victory
D.the cause of constitutional liberty,
Mississippians have great cause to
e happy che friends of liberty {
ra;o;ao ok I