Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-09-24
AMES' ELECTION METHODS.
A Very Good Little story Told BY
senator AIcOrn.

senator AIcOrn.
Chicago Times Washington Letter, l6th.l
Senator AlcorrS 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.
Mr.. Alcorn lives upon plantation where
he employs 1000 negroes, and he says
that he never had any trouble with them.
In among these 1000 men there is no
end of secret societies, and every night
there are lnarchings and countermarch-
iugs all over his place. Still, any of
these commotions have never caused
bim or his family to fear an instruction.
Illustrative 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 very eager contest. AS Alcorn
employed upward Of 1000 men on his
plantation, it 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 Alcorn before
the war, aud who had the most of his
life seen service on the Alcorn planta.
ton. One day q small-sized, dapper-
hammered carpet bagger came up to AL
corns plantation, and went around Sc
cretly electioneering among the negroes.
He discovered that "6hep" was leader
among them all, and unless he gained
him over it would be useless to look for
votes for Ames on the plantation. He
fell into conversation with "Shep, and
gathered from him the scanty details of
his past life. He then went away with
out saying word to "Shep" about the
election.
Several weeks after that, and short
time before the election, large letter
post-marked Washington, and resplen-
dent with red seals aud official stamps,
came to the Alcorn plantation addressed
to "Shep." 1t was an event in the old
mans life. A meeting of his fsvorite
secret society was at once called, and
one of the presiding officers who could
read was detailed to open and read the
awe.inspiring document. 1t was as fol-
lows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHIxGToN,
d. c., HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY AND
NAVY AND GLORIOUS COMMONWEALTH. =
My DEAR SHEP-Although you live at
great distance from me, and although
you are only one Of my many colored
children, yet l know all about you, and
often have my eye upon you. You we're
owned there by a man by the name Of
Somers Some years before the war you
were sold to Mr.. Alcorn in Mississippi.
| know Julius, Robert and James Henry
Augustus, your boys, as we'll as Susan
Ann Jane aud Roxana Virginia, your
daughters. You see, Shep. that although
/ am very great man, | know all about
my children. have watchful care
over you all, and have a plan to make
you all happy. want you to vote for
General Ames for Governor this fall,
and, my dear Shep, / will give you my
reasons for so wishing. In the first
place, General Ames is my officer in
your State, and | want you to obey him.
Mr.. Alcorn is an old Shareholder; you
must not vote for him. If General Ames
| IS elected, i propose W CUT up MI'
Alcorns plantation and give it to the
slaves, who so many years worked for
him for nothing. | will give you, my
dear Shep, your choice out of the lots
when the plantation is cut up. Do not
forget to do all you can to get votes for
Ames. Goodbye, my dear Shep. Your
friend and benefaetor,
U. GRANT.
THE great general Of the army and
navy and commander of the common
wealth"
This letter carried Shep completely by
storm. Ar angel from heaven could not
have convinced him that the letter was
not from the President. he voted for
Ames and carried upward Of FIVE hun
dred votes with him.
The above related incident is only one
of the many ways used by INSCRIPTIONS
politicians to hoodwink the simple
minded and gullible negro.
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