The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-23
RFATIyO ALCORN.
How Old "Shep" was Induced TO Vote for
Ames- sharp Politicians.

From ne chicago Times.
WASHINGTON, Sept Ex-senator Alcorn
OF Mississippi, who has been In the city several
days, placing his two little girls in the convent
school at Georgetown, relates no end OF good
stories about Mississippi plantation life. MT.
Aicnrn lives upon a plantation, where he en-
ploys one thousi and negroes, and he says that
lie never had any trouble with them. In among
these one thousand men there are no end Of Sc.
cret societies, and every night there are IN rch-
ings and counter marchings all over his place;
Still any Of these commotions have never caused
him or his family to fear an in-urfecuon. Illus
tratlve OF how the negroes are led about by the
nose by unprincipled men, the Senator relates
an amusing story. During his last canvass
against Ames for the Governorship Of the state,
there was avery eager contest. As Alcurn EN-
tation 1t was feared by the Ames men that they
would all vote for their employer Upon the
plantation is one old patriarch by the name Of
Shep,' who was the property OF Acorn before
the war, and who had the most OF his lite seen
service on the Acorn plantation. One day a
small sized, dapper-na nnered carpet-bagRer
came up to Alcurns plantation, and went around
secretly electiOneering among the negroes. lie
discovered that "Shep' was leader among
be useless to look for votes for Ames on the
plantation. He fell into conversation with
tails OF his past life. lie then went away with
out saying word to " Shep" about the election.
several weeks after that, and short time be-
fore the election. large letter ppstmarked
Washington. and resplendent with red seals and
official ri ,nps. came To- the Alcorn plant ition
old mans life. A meeting of hia favOrite secret
society was at once called, aud one Of the pre.
siding officers who could read was detailed TO
oucn and read the awe-inspiring document. 1t
was as follows
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsutNGroN, u. G., HEAD
QAtErERs Of rnH ARMY AMI NAVY And GLORIOUS
CoMNoNwF ALrI.- ~ Dcdr SheD Although you live
at great distance from anu although you only
one OF my many cOlored CHILDREN. yet Know all about
you, AMI often have my eye upon you. You were OOrn
on plantation near lynchburg, IN Virginia You
we're owned there by man by the name OF Charles
Soucrs. some years before the yCu I'd to
Mr. Aicurn IN Mississippi | Know julius Robert and
james Henry Augustus your boys rs vel A. susan
Ann Jane aud kONana NirgiLi1, your daughters You
see. Shep, that although | am very great man,
know an about my children. ! have vatchful care
over you all. aud have plan 10 make all happy.
want you 10 vote Tor Gen AIMEE for Governor this fall.
and, my dear Shcp will give You my reasons for 50
wishing In The urst place, Gen Ames Is NY officer In
your state and want you to OBEY him. Mr.. Acorn Il
an Old stakeholder you must not vote Cor him. IL
Gen. Amcs Is elected. propose to cut up MIR Acorn's
plantation and gvct to the slaves who many ears
WORKED for hun for noihinS Wi. give you, my dear
Shcp your choice ou 81 the lots Whcn toe plantation II
cut NJ 10 not forget to do all to get votes for
Ames Good.hy, my dear shep. Your iriend ana bene-
factor L. :. GRANT,
The grea, General OF the army and navy. aud Com.
mandcr Of the commonwealth.
This letter carried Shep" completely by
storm. An angel from heaven direct could not
have convinced him that the letter was not from
the President. lie voted Tor Ames. and carried
upward of five hundred votes with him.