New-York tribune., 1871-04-11
MISSISSIPPI.
LETTER FROM GOV. ALC0RN.

Having no political or peISoua Wteies'S III Nc"'
York. | concluded not 70 withdraw the attention
necessary TO an acceptance OF your tamt from the
nressinq and anxious duties by which am sur
roppded here. On reconsideration. however feel
that the misrepresentation to which you give pub
hcitv. finding as they do, an echo in high places
demand correction at my hands duty to my
state The ISLANDERS put upon this people before the
whole country threaten consequences so grave that
must pray you TO permit me to give Them through
y0ur columns an authoritative correction.
Tie Auditor of Public Accounts Of this state has
placrd b,fcye me list OF all the claims allowed ana
paid since March 1850, for Corouers mquestS' AS
summing hc uquests therein set forth to represent 50
many murders find that the number committed
during Gen. Alness administration OF military gov
crnmeut beginning with April 1859, and ending
with March. 1870 counts up %, Still taking the
iuqu,s,s as representing 50 many murders find the
number committed during my administration of
ciyil government, beginning with April, 1870 and
ending with March. 1871, counts up precisely the
sane number g. may observe that Gen. Amess as
sigumont TO duty District Commander having taken
place March begin the count Of murders in his year
with April; and my Inauguration rs civil Governor haV
ing taken place also in March. begin the count OF muf
ders In my wear with the same month.
hsye shown above that civil power has been fuy as
effective military power the suppression OF violence
comparison of The year succeeding Gen. Auios' 10
sguucnt to duty with ne year succeeding my inaus"-
ton. But my Inauguration does not designate 'he t'n
Of the Inauguration of civil government Ine "orA VI
giving shape 10 that government by egsauo' anu VI
filling that shane ont by appointments 10 oince, hIeI-
yened Embracing as this did. the selection ana con-
frmaton of 500 officers throughout the Stae' WI" oi
necessity work Of time. The Judiciary was not com
plc'ed until July. The Courts were not fuy OrGsnlzeu
INIT, the close Of the appointments to CerkShips ana
sbrievslties i'm the month. At that time III was
that the military appointecs having been set aside as
such their places in the public service were occupied
All over the State by officers OF the CIVIL government
The Military Government was not displaced in this
state therefore, until July. 1871 Though civil govern
ment assumed the rens at that time, the violence that
prevailed during the period of the bayOnet naur
ally 10 greater less extent into he period OF the
law The change from the TO the other cannot be
held have asserted itself at for it certainly must
have required time Of transition to obtain, in the
popular mind realization Of the fact of the change in
form 30 decided to arrest that impatience Of milf
tsry rule which took expression in popular passion. In
Justice 20 the cause OF civil government in Mississippi,
therefore submit that allowing two months for the
power the WORKING results Of the cv government can be
acualrue with the corresponding SIX months of the rule
OF the hayOnet on this ground of Justice and reason pre-
sent the acts OF the two years embraced in the Auditors
return OF iuQuests in the following detail, viz:
April 70 September (inclusivel, 1869, 2i murders
October, 1863, 10 March 1870 dnclusiye Al murders
October, 1870 to March 1871 Gnclusiye) 10 murders
walton OF Violence in the last half year of the Military
Commanders actual rule 1t shows also that after his
dcpre the acgTavatOn went under the rule OF his
sppoutees; and did so with an impulse which bore
restoration Of civil government But the transition from
a government of force TO government of law having
been fully passed the half year Of the full and free oper-
alton Of law shows most gratifying falling off in deeds
Of violence While military power IN Mississippi is seen
I'm the above statement of official facts, to have been
dssccndag by rapid strides in the development of fnar
chy oir power in Mississippi IS seen IN that stslement
to be ascending by rapid strides in the development OF
absolute repose.
and conscience They are cited IN proof OF the c0neu
sion that in calumnes put upon this state has
this proof thus made, let me now ask who is your
authority Of the scandals which have recently
the coumns of your Journals If you give me the name
of your Jackson correspondent think eah snow you
newspapers Of Memphis Little Rock, and NicEsburg, as
a swndier And If that evidence as TO character should
not he sufficient to convince you how unworthy his state
nents are OF any credence think can put yOu in pos
session Of documentS that prove him IN his attempts to
ami knove. Though the statements OF such an md
vdual be WORTHY OF any notice as Iefecons upon man
ourna which hey would be looked for as accusations
OF 20 Republican administration. -
The Legislature. were not verified before TIE public by
the writer's name. WHY was the name WlthheidI An
,xclse 20 the effect that the mans personal safety de
manded would be simply puerile and In the eyes OF all
men men To o, AST SbbodBe i from Being set down as self
impeachment the writer's truth AT this point that
ietterhas think, received al the attention 70 which it
is entitled but if any concurrent proof in the be
necessary may be found in the baseneSs which puts
in eyicIce when dragging in even false light before
the senate OF the United states business proper to my
Mr. Hugqins is an Assistant Assessor Of internal
cnue. tie is stationed in OF the counties in Mi-ss
s9 M n,tS stgtes he Is also an officer Of Mssissipp He
is Superintendent of the Public Schools Of his county
Much ii ,5asiaction-righty wrongly, do not pre-
;o ~ tair school funds They proest vebe emently
sgans he taxation for which they hold him response
bic. Now, Nj. Huggns proceeded to certain part OF
his school jurisdiction 10 transact some business con-
vrrfh Having STAYED
b"r.e h. VAS seized by body of armed men They in
sisted hat the school taxes Of the county exorb
tant and that he the person TO blame for the fact
taSss those taxes to be reduced; and on
M a. 65a the Subject eoP OF eowaTdH voence @ Whe
such crime this Is dsgacef TO the state and to the
agency OF detection at my service unemployed in bring
lug the perpetrators OF It TO Justice protest earnestly
ing that crime appear TO be committed upon an |
officer Of the Federal Revenue rather than really
was upon officer Of the State Board Of Eluca AS
Federal agent, Mr. Hqegns has venture to affirm,
ple Of district. Iwil further: the war
have heard Of the commission Of popular violence in
this state Oh any officer whatever of the National Reye
Federal officers generally in Mississippi hold, under
more Ciices Of the State. With but very few exccp-
tons. they are Northern men. Their local offices
min them into contact with the people in light iden
tying them with the burdens OF taxatOn-a taxation
hv trayagance. With the one exception of the tax on
cotton the people OF Mslsspp regard the direct taxa
IN ne northern States as well TO the sOuhern-as lib
OF, aud humane: and while the representatives that
txO1 transact such, their business in presence
ccsrf acquescence, the representatives OF the local
ave. arc REGARDED with increasing dislike. IT, there
fore the I'M mrnity which has followed the officer Of the
N,flonI Treasury shall appear 70 be violated IL
NAV be always presumed that the violation mas arisen,
moi der Ills relation 10 the United states, Dut under his
relation 70 the local administration.
A Northern man I'm the State wrote recently letter,
which has been published TO the effect that even though
he voted for Judge Dent he dare not remain among tue
Ilcpe o, lis cOunty-the County OF Alcorn The Sher1
of tcofn County edits the Republican paper OF Us ehlef
....-.N ~ IN mt