Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-10-22
From the Prairie NeWs.l
Correspondence
OKOLoNA, Oct 7th, 1870.
Col. r. w. FLouRNoY:

= Col. r. w. FLOURNoY:
DEAR SIR In the Equal Rights
Of the 18th Of September, my atten-
tion has been called to an article
emanating from your pen rejecting
upon q number Of gentlemen, some
of them members Of the Senate and
Legislature, among others myself.
In this article you arrOgate to your
self the divine attributes Of the
Heather divinity, Jupiter, and !,
with others appear before your
Godship for augmentation such
{. tribunal may the good Lord de-
liver us. Doubtless your excess
Give vanity has led you to believe
that you are really the Jupiter To.
mans Of the Republican party. But
unfortunately for yourself the par
ty does not think so. Your thur
ders are so weak that none are ter
rifed. For my humble self IL am
armed so strong in honesty they
pass me as the gentle winds, which
| respect not" You say II sold out
about the time l got that letter
written to the Governor asking him
for an Office for my former owner
who l acknowledge to be my dear,
master" Among the JeW who
read the Equal Rights, there may
be some who do not know me, and
may believe your vile ISLANDERS.
But where | am known / am
proud to say l am respected by
all colors and parties. AS regards
recommending Col. Henderson to
the office of Chancellor to the
GovcrnOr-an act you so much
condemn, because l would
not betray all the better feelings
of my heart, and ungratefully turn
against my best friend to become
the tool of Col. Flournoy-thank
God, l still have the moral cour-
age to say 'get behind me, Satan"
Col. Henderson was from infancy
my playmate, master and friend.
All the associations of my youth
are in connection with him and
his fathers house. And to-day,
as a freeman, l gratefully return
my heartfelt thanks TO Almighty
God, who in his divine wisdom
cast my early lot in slavery, for
giving me so noble, generous and
kind q master.
When the secession convention
met, of which you was a member,
and by your votes inflicted Il ter
rible war upon the country. While
Col. %Flournoy's oycrseer was car.
rying his slaves hand. cuiied into
Georgia, Col. Hendcrson's slaves
remained at home, except myself.
| remembered his long years Of
kindness to me and followed him.
through love, not compulsion.
through the war. When he was
left wounded and dying on the
battle field, | remained with him,
and by my attention restored him
to his family and friends, when by
deserving him | might have been
free n year or two sooner. And |
thank God for giving to the coun-
ellis OF my State n Governor and a
Senate who could appreciate the
sacrifices of a faithful servant in q
time of great temptation. When
God released me from the bonds
Of servitude, l received his gift of
freedom as his greatest blessing
on earth. But | did not rejoice
that the blow which gave me my
freedom struck from Col. Hender-
son his fortune. As time wore on
many changes occurred. My
former master, with only his edu-
cation and talents, was strug-
Cling against poverty. And L,
the once INDUCED servant, was
honored by the people of my
county to represent them in the
State Legislature. My position
gave me some influence. And |
leave it to a just and enlightened
public opinion to decide whether
or not | was right, when my form.
or kind master, a crippled and dis,
abled man both bodily and pecu-
niarily by the result Of a war he
had no voice in bringing about,
sought of the Republican party,
to which We both belonged, an of.
flee he was well qualified to fill
with honor and credit, was | not
right in supporting his claims
AS for my selling out to Messrs.
Tindall, Hodges, Little ~ Co., for
two dollars and big promises" it
is beneath my contempt, and | will
give it no further notice. AS for
shrinking the Constitution made
a mistake in freeing my race"
! thank God for that freedom for
my race. And while my heart is
full of christian love and friend.
ship for the white race, | honestly
confess ! love my own race best,
and have no confidence, in any
white man who pretends to love
my race better than his own.
l am very respectfully, DC,
AMBROSE HENDERSON.
The Sheriff of Monroe county
nHnrs n rau,arI 90 5kO0 Cor H.