Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-11-19
How the Democrats Carried Missis.
sippi.
From the Cincinnati Commercial,

From the Cincinnati Commercial
JACKSON, Nov. 2.-It has been as
quiet an election as l ever attended.
When every man knew that every
white man was armed, and that sim
gle personal difficulty might fire the
mine and lead to the slaughter of a
hun lred, there was great circumspec-
ton Of conduct and exquisite care
to avoid treading on other peoples
toes.
Every business house in the city
was closed from early morning until
night, giving the city Sunday APP
pearance. This was done that every
white man might give his undivided
attention to securing the election of
the Democratic ticket, upon the sue
cess of which they believe that their
very salvation depends.
| never before saw such determine
ton to carry an. election, the whole
body of the white people beng NOV
ed by common impulse. The
wealthy citizens have given literally
of their means to secure votes, with
out nice scruples as to how the votes
were obtained. Every white man re-
solved himself into committee to
secure the vote of at least one colored
man.
The result is astonishing. Iwould
not have bell, we'd that SO many col
ored people could have been got to
vote the Democratic ticket rs I have
seen do it here to-day.
More voted with the whites here
than ever before-yes, more than
twice as many as at any other elcc-
ton. They were chiefly influenced
in this by the non-interference of the
Government. Because the Govern
ment did not step in at the request
of Governor Ames, they have got
the notion that it has ''gone back on
them," as they call 1t, and now, be-
ing without its support, they must
cultivate friendly relations in politics
with the whites. They know that
they cannot maintain a contest with
them without Government support,
and as they have been deprived of
that support, the next best thing is to
accept the inevitable. This was the
chief influence operating among
them here, and the great cause Of such
an unusual number of them voting
the Democratic ticket.
Another influence was the well
KIN ,wn fact that the whites are in
arms; that they intend no longer to
live under negro rule if they have to
fight to get out. The negroes do not
wan. to fight. They know what that
means. So many voted with the
whites as a matter of Cancellation, pre-
terring to see Democrats elected than
to have row in which they would
be the chief sufferers.
I witnessed many strange scenes
at the polls and around about among
the crowd. This sort of thing was
repeated often by men who were sup
piled with money for the purpose. A
man would select his darby and ope-
rate upon him in this wise:
"Uucle, have you voted?"
"No, sah."
"Going to vote?"
eyes, sab"
'How?"
"The publican ticket, sah."
. "Can't persuade you to vote the
Democratic ticket?"
mo, sah.
"You are afraid to vote it, are you?"
"No, sab; not bit"
"I'll bet 50 you are afraid to step
up there and vote the Democratic
ticket"
"Me 'fraid No, sab; dis niger
amt 'fraid; he amt the skeery sort,
he amt"
"Well I'll bet You 50 you are afraid
to do it."
"Put up your money. I'll take dat
bet, sab; Pm no skeery niger"
The money is handed to a third
party. The negro is given Dem
ocratic ticket and accompanied to
the polls by white man who sees
that it is voted. Then the negro re-
turns and is paid the wager" he has
won
A neat way that to buy votes, and
at the same time to escape the pen
atty of the law. A hundred dollars
thus expended goes some distance in
adding to Democratic "gains."