Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-30
LIyELYPOLIrICs MISSISSIPPI

Correspondence yicksbarg Herald
coLrSnrs. Mss. September e. 1873.
Though the negroes had been regu
l1arlv m session for three days previously
the clans responded 20 the call OF Ames'
Gibbs, Barry and Bliss, anu the court
house WAS crowded 20 hear them. Ames
made fair speech, which was especially
conciljatory 10 the white people. He
handled Alcorn roughly and made out a
GOOD case against him, particularly on
The bond question. He charged Alcorn
viii being unable to account for $l3,
O00 Of the Secret Service Fund, aud re-
oarded IL as somewhat Of coincidence
that that was the precise amount for
which the Hon. o. G. French was falsely
declared to be a defaulterl The differ
encv. however, he said was great. The
government was protected against loss
by the bondsmen of French, while the
deficit of Alcorn was dead loss to the
people Of Mississippi
The next speaker was Gibbs, the car
pet bag candidate for Auditor. In
speaking his little piece, the gentleman
from Wilkinson took occasion to refer to
Alcorn as a man who was " nobody until
the Republicans took him up and made
him Governor This brought Colonel
Bey. Matthews, the candidate for At.
torney General on the Alcorn ticket,
prominently to the front. The Colonel
was leaning against the railing outside
the bar when this uncomplimentary allu-
sion was made to his chief and met it
with the uugentle response, That IS
id lie Alcorn said to your face that
YOU were thief and you dared not
resent il. Will you resent the present
insult?r You may think you can imag-
inc the scene that followed, but no mag
nation can do justice to tue occasion.
Gibbs said he wopld see Colonel NJ. out.
side, and the Ames negroes yelled and
brandished their sticks and other weap-
ons like so many devils from the regions
of the DID. The result Of the affair
was that Matthews was to be heard after
Gibbs aud his crswd got through. Gibbs
soon finished, and the horse-thief and
forrer. II. w. Barry, the disgraced mem
her of Congress from this district, came
forward and rected little piece. When
he concluded, Colsnel Matthews took the
stand, whereupon the carpet baggers and
a large majority of the negroes left the
house.
Matthews made swinging speech,
and the feathers and other debris were
scattered around promiscuously. 1t was
about shutdown when he concluded, and
there was weeping, wailing and gnashing
of teeth among the RAIDS when he closed.
"Bev." and two or three friends took
supper at the Gilmer Hotel and when
they entered the dining room, Ames,
Gibbs, Barry, Lewis and Bliss, were par
taxing OF the evening meal. Both par
ties retired about the same time, and IN
doing so Matthews strobe up to Gibbs,
seized him, aud demanded to know if be
was responsible for what be had said in
his speech? Without waiting for re-
Spouse Beverly sailed in, and struck
from the shoulder with emphasis
Gibbs cried out, hold on, hold
on, and obeying his injunction, Mat
thews held on until his holt broke
and put in his ticks fast and furious,
Lewis, the carpet-bag Sheriff, rushed
frantically forward, but Jake | grappled
and held him firmly bound BY these
presents." Amas took the position Of
soldier, and placed his hand on a pistol
John z. walked up, and quick as
thought had pistol on his man, with
the encouraging remark, Draw, d-n
you. drawr' The hand Of little Abel
bert fell as though suddenly struck with
paralysis. Horse thief Barry, thinking
il a good time to leave, darted through
the diping.Ioom, and was seen no more.
Postmaster Bliss, our modern Hamlet,
ran through the Eantlemens parlor,
leaped through a window and Sid dorm
an drBtag post
Amss started for the garnet, making
about six steps to the leap, closely fol-
lowed by his fdes achates Gibbs, while
Lewis alone was left to catch two or
three stunning leit-handers from
Matthews. who was sloshing around
ia a very promiscuous manner.
1t is said to day that Ames and Gibbs
slept on the roof Of the Gilmer House
all night and left before daylight with
out waiting to tell their friends goodbye!
This change Of base disarranged the
plans of the sire-Borkers. for Ames and
Gibbs we're 10 give ons day to Columbus
to endeaFor to hsrponize the dissen
sions of the party, which just now need
a good deal OF haTmonizihg. There are
two Republican county tickets in the
field, both of which are sworn friends Of
Buffers sonin-law
Colonel Matthews was fined $40 for
his part Ct the performance.