Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-04-05
LETTER FROM MEMPHIS.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE
HERALD

MEMPHIS, Tenn, March "a, 1874.
EDITOR HERALD: Just now the
rage is for California; everybody is
talking and inquiring about Califor-
mia, and Nordhoff's book is in demand
above every other publication, which
by the way, barring an occasional and
pardonable inaccuracy, is very good
thing. Probably you will wonder
why it is that people are so eager to be
told about the beauties Of your coun-
try. 1 will tell you, 1t is now nine
wears since the end of the war, during
all of which the white people have
been hoping from year to year for
change in the public sentiment in the
North, which would give them back
the control Of affairs. They have
hoped against hope; their prayers
have been in vain. Year by year they
see affairs get worse. Day by day the
negroes become more aggressive, until
the thing is absolutely unbearable.
Last year leading negro named Ham
Carter made speech to large con-
course of his people at Grenada, Miss,
spectators and remarked that it was
high time that they, the whites, should
understand that the negro had a ma
iority in the State, and that he knew
the advantage of that majority and
meant to control the State and county
agairs. "Sell out" said he, "young
man, and go West; there is no room
for you here in Mississippi. The col
ored man runs this State, and he
knows how to manage it. The fiat
has gone forth, and an memorable law
says that you must leave" Following
this declaration we see the negroes
drop their former leader Alcorn. Ca
good thing, by the way,) and take up
Ames for Governor. But when they
elected Ames they also elected a negro
Lieutenant Governor, an ignorant
field hand, who will succeed to the
Gubernatorial chair when Ames shall
be reelected to the Senate. They have
also electeda negro United States Sem
ator, a fellow who was steamboat
portera few years ago. The Secretary
of the State is negro; so also is the
President of the Senate and Speaker
of the House of Representatives. In
nearly all the counties the Sheriffs
and Clerks are darkeys. They have
County Superintendents of Public In
struction, who get good salaries-ne-
groes almost invariably get these
places. The Legislature proposes to
sit half the year, as the members are
paid per diem which is more than
the negro members would get as field
hands at home. Under the rule of
such people the country must become
wreck. So, at least, the white peo-
pie believe; therefore, they propose to
flee. Carolina has long been in a con-
dition infinitely worse than 1 have de-
scribed. Arkansas has been torn and
robbed as shamefully as possible, and
Louisiana is past praying for. Ala
bama and Florida, especially the lat
ter, are totally bankrupt. By happy
accident we got this State away from
the cormorants before they had en-
tirely destroyed her. But in the space
of three years under that cheerful
statesman, Brownlow-who was be-
queathed to us by that other cheerful
statesman, A. JOhnsOn-they managed
to steal 500, 100000; about eight times
as much as your State debt.
Now then, l have given you reason
why the whole county is wishing to
move. Can you do anything to turn
the tide in your direction? The peo-
pie who will come will bring money,
brains and energy. II you would
send Ned Kewen to canvass Missis-
sippi and Alabama, think it would
swell your population by thousands.
1 venture that if he were to speak of
California at Columbus he would be
heard by every white man within ten
miles of the town, and the same thing
would occur everywhere. Send him
along. Mr.. Wentworth's admirable
publication, the Resources of CdlUor-
mia, should be sent to every County
Clerk in the South, and possibly sew
eral copies to each. l wish very much
l could make the people on your side
see matters as do. You do not hest
tate to spend money to import red
republicans, but you make no move to
secure far better and more useful
population. Bestir yourselves.
wish to say one word in confidence
to your printer, and then I will close.
In my other letter (Which friend in
Mexico says was "silly gush," and 1
think he is rightD you butchered me
geographically in manner 1 will
not endure. Repeat it in this case,
and l will scalp you when 1 come to
Los Angeles. Though I am not the
person who promised, in '6l, to revisit
your glen with banner, brand and
bow" yet am I terrible when mis-
nrinta1 GEODnC w Grr,U