, 1869-08-19
THE CONTEST In MISSISSIPPI.

The attempt of the Mississippi e1-rebel
Democracy to make use Of Dent rs means
Of bribing President Grant to sustain the
reactionary party in that State, has been
properly exposed before the country, and
sautbel by the President Il has fallen
dead. II the Mississippi rctrogrades now
nominate this defaultiug carpet-bagGer and
of6ce-hsokcr, just now OF Washington and
late of California, but never a pcs.nanent
resident Of Mississippi, in place Of responsi-
bic citizens Of their own State, they will at
once insult and offend the President, whose
supposed family vanity they attempt
to bribe; they will incur The hos
tllity of tho administration, and
il is hard TO see wherein they will
encourage their party in Mississippi. THIS
Den. is hardly in the humblest sense
lawyer or Judge. Some corner gathering
Or cross-road district in California elected
him Justice Of the Pence. Without dig
tinguishing himself il this exalted Judicial
field, he started d plantation in Mississippi,
md failed to pay his bills. Thence
he dzifted to Washington, in the
hope that his relationship to Cen
cral Grant would in some way
make his fortune. He appears to belong to
that class of !" strikers described in late
article by Nh. Parton, who see where some
good thing has fallen, will fall, or may be
made 10 fall, and strike for ahare of it.
Thus far his share has been enthusiastically
snall, and Is likely to grow less. The diyi-
sion Of purties in Mississippi is Of that na-
tu1c that the reactionists would have liked
extremely to have counted the President on
their aide, For, ct tho lost reconstruction
election, with johnson against Them q.
Washington, aud General Gil1e1u command
ing the district, d bitter Johnsonite, and
Governor Humphreys in control
Of the State, an e1-Confedcrate
Geuernl, the Republicans came
within 1000 Of carrying their new
constitution md electing their ticket. In
deed, rs the registration shows clear sur
Plus Of 1000 black votes over white, and
rs from $4,000 to 1900 white votes are
confidently counted on for the Rebublicau
ticket and the new constitution, and the
colored vote ~ill be thrown fur them almost
solid, it is obvious that without some out
side help the reacionists would be beaten
by the figures before going into tho fight.
Hence the prodigious stress they have laid
on the Dent movement.
They viii now, however, probably nomi-
nate one Of their own class, While tie Re
Pubicans hovc in view for their State
ticket some thoroughly Trustworthy men, to
be headed, very probably, by General West,
IN old Aississippian, and President Of the
With such a ticket the issue in Mississippi
will be reduced mainly TO one between NIL
who desire the progress of the people and
the building up Of the business interests.
levees, railroads md sschools Of The State
On the ono hand, and those who cling to
tho hope Of restoring black subjueation or
displacine the negro br cheap coolie labor
on the other. The division will he one
OF lone and spirit, not easily to DO e1nressed
IN platform, hut easily to be felt ly every
citizen aud voter Of The State. II will be
between those who desire to revive the iu-
fanous black code enncted for Mississippi
l,y the johnson Reconstruction Convention,
whereby land and rights nre confined to
whites. and the taxes arc levied on the
blacks. This code stands unrepealed. md
would still be the Inv Of the State were
not its enforcement arrested by the
military rover. The new constitution.
on the contrarv il l;beral None are e..
cludea f,om vot,no br II orc.nt thosc ,vho
a,o a;sf-ancb;snd nndar tbe pacon st,7 ,7,ct;on
1ous ~ ,hosa xbo. aftcr .akin,, nm off;.
iii oo,1, W .,,sta;r, ~ aoran.ont nv
;1rna thenso,vas ny io;n;na in tha reha,-
lion, These nre not mora than three or
four thousand. The registration has
been ube.allr conducted. The cs-
rebels hayo reall7 no grievance. Dr.
ccpt the sapid disappearance Of Ill
prospect Of the restoration OF
slurery. They still foudly cling to the
hone that q Democratic President nny be
elected in 1872, aui in that event the Re
construction luws may be set aside, and
sepa.ate black codes frar1cd which mar re.
.,nce tho co,orc5 rac,. m D,,,., n eut;cc.
=, N;.ss'.-.s. :; -. s,,l.aaa',.1s. f
Nil 1,;t,, ,,,,t;ra Io,;,.,rs ~
c,xv1 sr-,lau f,r s.nmn;,o ,ho
S,uto l,,,t - hoa .n.o - ~