The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-03-04

AHAA OA AllN -hAlA 4 AAAl liNn AtAsAA ~ 90
impossible 10 vote republican ticket,
but | went To Duck Hill. and there
learned that no republican could vote.
| went to the military guard sent there,
dressed in uniform. believing they
were the friends of the cOlored nan,
and they told me | would have To vote
the democratic ticket. said ! would
not vote at all. and said soldier said |
Was Obliged 10 vote; also one short
soldier said to me that the northern
people did not care cent for me, and
would drive me away from their door
with dogs; that they, the northern
people had done turned the negroes
loose. and they would have TO stay
here and make friends with their own
people by voting the democratic ticket
that they, the soldiers, had voted IL.
aud il he said Isaiah voted the radi-
cal ticket he would no more be
thought of than rattlesnake running
across the yard with twenty weapons
drawn upon him, because he would be
plucked out of the way; and said
Isaiah said he intended 10 vote the
radical ticket then stranger said TO
him he would have the democratic
ticket; he was compelled 10 do Ii. |
then went and voted the democratic
ticket against my viii. thinking We
had been deserted by our friends.
said deponenu sWears further. that
that his father. Samuel Harrison,
heard the above conversation, and lac
too went to the polls three times and
asked for a radical ticket, and was
told that there was none there, and he
would have TO vote democratic ticket
and lac also did SO.
.sI ia lao ha
believes that. with the exception of
four or five. every colored man at this
precinct would have voted the repub-
lican ticket if they could have done so
without fear or intimidation that he
felt so east down that he was sick and
went home.
Said dcponent further swears he was
present when the paper marked 4 was
written and signed by the freedman
named therein: and further saith not.
his
ISAIAH 4 DE- PROFFITT.
mark.
~ubscEibcd and sworn before me
this GHl' day Of July. A. d.. 1865.
l.. RILEY. 4. s.. COmSt.
Personally came before me, a United
States Commissioner for the Northern
District of Mississippi, Martin Neil,
freedman. who being duly sworn, de-
poses and SAYS. that he L. voter at
Duck Hill precinct. Carroll county,
Mississippi; that on the 26th June lac
went there 10 vote the republican
ticket; that the first thing he heard
was from Mr.. John Binford Ia Jack
Butts. freedman saying IL he voted
the radical ticket he would have To
take away his COW. his hogs, and his
mule that he was tending crop with,
and put him IN the big road. and then
he must get away from here. Next,
VIM. Campbell came up, and said Bin
ford asked him what he was going TO
do-was he going To vote the radical
ticket? and Campbell told he come 10
die dead. said Binlord said lie must
not speak 80 again. and tampbell said
he meant to vote the radical ticket.
said Binford then went to couple of
soldiers. and told Campbell 10 ask them
what was best TO do: and said soldiers
told him 10 20 and vote the democratic
ticket: said Campbell said he did not
intend 10 do H. and would not vote at
all. Then Edgar sykes, Willie sykes,
Samuel Elliott. and Major BlOunt got
round him and carried him TO the polls,
and compelled him to vote the demo-
cratic ticket. and he asserted that he
had voted against his will. said de-
poncnt further states that lac is me-
chanic. and that John Binford told him
If he did not vote the democratic tick
ct he must either take his tools on his
back or on "A dray, and put them on the
ears and leave tie State in the morn
ing of the next day; and accordingly
lac too voted the democratic ticket,
showing his ticket by durcs. to said
BinfOrd. Samuel Elliott aud Major
BlOunt. That John Mckenzie, among
Others, took one Frank sykes 10 the
car where the guard was. To ask them
how he should vote, which he did, and
guard Soldier, told him he had better
vote the democratic ticket; aud said
Frank Sykes said he wouldn't do IL To
save nobOdy's life; and said soldier
drew back and knocked said Frank
down; and when Frank got up Capt.
Jno. A. BinfOrd and lot of other
men got round him, and said Binford
told him 10 come right along and go
and vote, and he also went and voted
the democratic ticket.
Said depOncnt says that he then left
Duck Hill; and further says that he is
acquainted with nearly all the colOred
men in that precinct, and that with
the exception of three or four, they
would all have voted the republican
ticket if they could have done so with
out fear or intimidation.
And respectfully urges the authori-
ties, if in their power, 10 take some
measures to guarantee the colored
people of this county the right TO vote
and think ~ their consciences dictate.
his
MARTIN = NEIL.
mark.
Subscribed and sworn TO before me
this 9Th day Of July. 4. d., 1868.
l.. RILEY, u. 3. COms'r.
DUCK HILL, Carroll co., July 4. '6s.
nam Sir Nnur favor Of TuI.y IL