Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-02
JACKSON, Miss, Sept. 25, 1878.

IOr NOVernOr III 1OOS, duu "liPPeu out thS Cn
ion-C Conservative-N National-D -Democratic-an
forth candidate, Lewis Dent. Dent was
taken up by the hard-pressed Democrats be-
cause he was the administrators brother-in-
law, and would draw influence from that high
and mighty source. He was bad specimen
ofthe genus carpet,bagger, and it is said that
up to the opening of the campaign ne had
only resided in the State long enough to have
his shirt washed, and failed to pay for that.
But these are all dead issues. Dent was
smothered under heavy black majority and
returned to the family residence at Washing
ton, there to 60 into the claim business and
mourn over the instability Of human events.
Time passed on, as it always will pass, even
in Mississippi, and Alcorn was elected to the
State as fiery and untamed Radical.
Preceding Alcorn, however, to the Senate,
was Adelbert Ames, formerly of Maine, but
at present of no place in particular. Ames
came here as General in the Army. He
was here in command during reconstruction
times. He fooled around the Legislature
with his epaulets blazing before the eyes Of
the skillet headed negroes, and his sword dang
ling among his legs, and they-the negroes, not
the legs-elected him to the Senate. He got
into that body by tight squeeze and ought
MOTTO have got in at all, being no more citi-
zen of Mississippi than Queen Victoria is
citizen of Yorkvile
He and Alcorn did not get along we'll to-
gether Two Tom-cats tied in tow'sack
would have been more harmonious, ifnot more
melodious than they. Ames thought Alcorn
was bad man, whose hard heart would not
relent if the ku-klux killed fifty niggers day,
while Alcorn freely gave it as his private
opinion that Ames was d-n fool. As the
people of Mississippi had no particular stock
in either of these men, they did not weep at
the solemn spectacle.
James L. Alcorn is an altogether different
man from Ames. There is not particle of
similarity or sympathy between them. AL
corn is a Mississippian, one of the richest men
in the State, owns plantations enough to make
nigger's head swim, and is as fully identified
with the interests of the State as man posi-
bly, can be. He was rebel during the war
and fought the fight to the bitter end, and
then turned his sword into cotton strap, and
went into business both political and agricul-
tural. His negroes were gone, thousand or
more, but he said he didn't care, as they could
now board themselves He became a violent
Radical, was elected Governor and promoted
to the Senate as before detailed.
Well, the campaign of this year burst upon
the country. Ames got his fellows together
from the four quarters of the State, white,
black, brown, and saddle-tinted and had him
self nominated for Governor. To have a
Massachusetts man take such liberties with
the proud State of Mississippi was more than
Alcorn could stand, and he swore like a pirate
duringa dull season. He said that Ames did
not live in the State, owned no property here,
paid no taxes, and his candidacy was fraud
and humbug. He came out in big speech
and announced himself an independent can
didate for Governor against Ames. He said
he had not gone back on the Republican par
ty, but only turned against thieves and rob-
bers. He called a convention of all good cit
liens to meet in Jackson on the 18th.
Meantime, on the seventeenth, the regular
Democratic convention met at Meridian.
They had high old time. Some were for
giving Alcorn the field, some we're for a
straight-out nomination Of a straight-out Dem
ocrat, and numbers of them were so befogged
that it took the inspiration of several drinks
to tell exactly what they were for.
The session of the convention was long and
noisy and heated. Eloquence was poured out
like oil from flowing we'll, but it did not
calm the troubled waters. At last resolu-
ton was passed declaring a nomination mex
pedient. This was considered death-blow
to Mississippi Democracy, and the Bourbons
howled like whipped boys in district school.
Three counties bolted outright, and another
sat on straight bench with eyes closed, and
mouth open, and refused to vote on the NOM
ination question.
The next day Alcorn's convention met
here, and of course nominated Alcorn. 1t was
composed of blacks, white Radicals, Demo-
Gratis, carpetbaggers and every body opposed
to Ames, In numbers, enthusiasm and abili-
ty it was success. 1t put a good ticket in
the 6eld-as good as could be when success
is the only end in view.
The campaign has opened with great brisk
ness, and will be warm enough to suit the
most enthusiastic Ames and Alcorn are al
ready on the stump, and the smaller guns pop
daily. Ames is no speaker, and if he would
agree to joint canvass with Alcorn he would
be entirely chawed up before November.
Probably for that reason he will not consent
to the arrangement.
So far ahead we can not judge of the result.
Ames has the negro vote under his control,
and unless Alcorn can break into that, his
chances of success will be somewhat dubious.
We shall see. MEMO.
THE NARROW GAUGE RAILRoAD.-The
Chester Reporter of last week, says: "Dr. A.
H. Davega returned on Tuesday from trip
to different points along the proposed Chester
and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad. He
gives an encouraging account of affairs in
connection with this new enterprise. The
road has been located to Lincolnton, begin.
ming with Yorkville. DR.. Davega reports
that the estimates for building the road from
Yorkville to Dallas twenty-five mlles-wlll
not exceed six thousand dollars per mile in
Guiding grading, tressel work, cross ties and
:-.. r. ,,,orlonoo with bie ronuost Ua nuh-