New-York tribune., 1871-03-28
POLITICAL.
CHARGES AGAINST GOV. ALCoRN.

PARTY.
JACKSON, Miss. March 22-The nation has
been greatly deceived in regard 10 the political condition
OF Mississippi The accession OF James L. Ac0rn 10 the
gubernator,a chair considered solution OF al thc
various problems Of reconstruction and the Republican
party was deemed especially fortunate In having secured
such astandard-bearer II thought that he would
be especially successful harmonlzng the diScordant
elements of the body polite and all who desired 'S
prepared TO give his administration cordlal sup
port But, from the first, Gov. Ac0rn mas SHOWN us
position to prove false recrean to every pledge and
interest Of those to whom he owes his 0cei anu more
than this practically at least, he is acting In concert
with and in fact assuming the lead Of that secret oath
bound association that long been terror to the en-
tire South.
Ever since Gov Acorn became known to the political
world he TO have boen considered as wholly unre
liable we'll this understood by Gen. Amos ana
those whom he had drawn about him. that they all bt-
terly opposed the selection OF Alcorn their standard
bearer they having no confidence either in his repub-
Ian principles his professions OF future falt ut rs
he Of the most prominent of the old Line WINGS
IL felt that his, profer OF services should not DO
wholly rejected. In proferlng such services, too IL
especially understood that Gen. Alcorn did not In
any manner aspire TO made Governor and, upon
this. compromise made. In written document
s In existence, AlcOrn not only dscaimed all aspra-
tions that kind but he would consider il great
hardship to he compelled 10 remain Governor OF Msss'
party that he should be placed at the head OF the
party with the pledge to support him tho United
States Senate he would give his time, influence, ana
money to securing for the party As understood
at the time Gen Acorn desired, in consideration OF bis
services election 10 the United states Senate and the
position OF Governor to be the stcppingstOne to the
coveted prize. Once elected United States Senator,
he was Immediately TO resign Governor, and turn the
position over his lawful successor Mr.. j. L. Powers
Upon these weundorsood stipuations all opposition
to Cen Acorn removed it being considered that he
could as Senator do the party harm, while they IN
would get his recognized influence in the STATE and
thus he the candidate of the party of law and
order.
consequence Of the unsettled condition Of affairs an
almost unlimited and unheard-Of appointing power was
placed in the hands OF the Executive. Gov. Alcorn at
began his power in dsorgIniIng the party
to which he claimed to belong The proposition origin
aed with Gov Acorn Of cecting u s Senator for the
long term by the Provisional Legislature and year In
advance Of the time when the Senator should take his
seat. 1t was ginay intended that few weeks after
Acorn elected Governor he should be elected to the
L. S. Senate to fiji unexpirod term of Gen. Ames. but
by unscrupuous OF the appointing power he man
aged. already in 1870 he elected not to ill the
cancy for the long term commencing on the 4th OF
the present month. Thus lac beoamed installed
Governor for at least year instead OF
few weeks, with the right Of going into
the Senate for six instead Of four years
/
consideration his pledges to the party TO which he
owed his sudden elevation violation Of the promise
lie made in his inaugural address, to stand by his party
in tie of the appointing intrused 10 him. his
first five nominees Trustees Of the state Lunatic
Asylum all bitter and yirulcnt Democrats. The
refused for time TO confirm them, but they were
dealing with unscrupulous master. They were told
plain and unmistaka3e English. upon the hoors Of the
Senate, by a recognized mOuthpiece Of the Governor
Gentlemen, you must sustain the Governor right OF
WRONG, or you will be made to feel his power" From
that day to this the Of that appointing power has
been the of the Republican party in Mississippi In
violation of the Constitution which does not allow mem
bers OF the Legislature hold other Offices Offices were
given to such OF them could be controlled one
prominent Senator made Circuit Judge; an
other was mado Distrct-Attorney; third was made
Wharf and Harbor-Nlaster at VcksburR; a fourth
became Treasurer OF Warren County; and
fifth, President Of Board Of Supervisors
In the House, the same policy was maintained
TO still greater extent These men thus ap-
pointed were at commissioned, but retained
their seats train In harness until the close OF the se5
SION Ii will thus be that the Governor during tho
first session. managed to manipulate the Legislature
pretty much at will. Gradually the Governor became
more open in efforts TO dsntegrate the Republican
party of the state. The cO0red members were invited
IN be Executive Mansion from time to me and every
effort used to prejudice them against the "carpetbas-
gers and thieves" as the Governor designated Northern
ernor was laborine build Native as opposed to
Carpetbag" party. His appointments, fully three
hftbs Of which, from the first, Democrats became
more and more obnoxious 10 the Republicans, who bad
placed him IN power. Party measures were lhVallaoy
vetoed and that too In many cases. as Claimed III open
violation OF his pledges to approve Very naturally an
n, tbIs began after time to engender open and bitter
opposition The Northern men found themselves con
demned and osracsed They began to organize for the
fight they saw In prospective, and soon in the Lower
House. with three four EXCEPTIONS the Northern e-
pubcans and the blacks were found IN solid phaIahA
against the Governor, while his only supporters were
the Democrats and very few Native Republicans.
STILL however the Governor managed to hold IN suhec-
ton three or four kneed Republican Senators, Who
with a united Democracy gave him negative power Ia
the Senate thus, with comparatively no Republican
upnort he managed still to be Osensiby iDdorsed by
iten1i TO nave new election for the position Of
IT. T. senator n his stead. All OF the leading kephlcdh
a. veil as an or nearly all OF the most prominent mem-
bers Of the party, signed address asking the Gov
ernor take his seat IN the u B. senate Az INC SANE
time to show how things were driitlng most OF me
Democratic papers throughout the state, including wtl-
Lnon organs. that openly assert that ass0ola-
fon 10 be "an organization composed OF the
beet men in the South" were calling G,ouIor pgon
Two committees appointed by the Legislature waited
Po He would give no satisfactory answer and said
the time came he would be thc Judge a. 10 wher
he should 20 not claiming, at the same tme ne hhtW
NJ no law State or Federal prevent his holding both
J of the positions. The issue was made BOlh hOuScs
oasscd resolution 10 go into Joint ballot for election OF
limited states Senator Up 70 this time the Governor
had allowed the impression TO prevail that he did not
care the position senator, ana II thc L,gslduIe
saw f TO elect another would acquesce. The resou-
fiOn for an election having passed. however the Gov
eruor began do every thing n his power ~ defeat th
measure Az ever before ms chief Efforts we're confined
IN be senate Of the state Those who hrid positions,
aud their friends, TO be ruthlessy slaughtered II
they dared to stand up to the resolutions ol the paI
/ caucus. The day FOR election came on Dcspte
| NH previous professions the name OF Tue
| Governor appeared candidate ior rcele' non;
Tlrcc or four weak-kuecd Republican senators stood
with solid Democratic phalanX. Ihc senate ~ CON
s,nucuce could be got into clecuou, ana CON
seTyativc ,sOcate Press report proclaimed 10 tc illoh
! that Acorn again victorious. But what a Victory