The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-09-29
The Mississippi situation.
Memphis Ledger.

1t rests with the people of Missis
sippi-the white people = whether
they will carry the next election and
( throw off o despotic and reckless
I State government, which hangs to
! them as relic of the war, or by
some indiscretion give Ames and his
crowd the advantage and so open
the way for Federal interference.
We know that the great body oil
these people are peaceful, law-abid.
ing and conciliatory, almost to a
point of submission. They have
been under bayonet rule for many
long years and have in some meas
ure become reconciled to this state
OF affairs as an edict of fate not to
be averted. On the other hand there
are few hot-headed. impulsive per-
sons in their midst for whose mis-
takes all are made responsible, and
1t should be the earnest aim of those
most vitally concerned to control
this small class, There is no ques-
tion but what Mississippi affairs are
rather critical. The true people have
taken matters in hand all over the
State and if let alone will carry the
coming election most gloriously. The
Radical leaders see and feel this,
and will do anything on earth to
provoke a difficulty and break up
the Democratic organization. This
is their last and only hope. The
people, therefore, should exercise
the utmost caution and firmness for
the next few weeks. That they
should maintain bold front and let
the negroes know that they are pre-
pared to defend their homes and
property successfully, we unhesitat-
ingly assert but let them not be the
aggressOrs, but sustain the law. stand
by the civil officers. obey every sum-
mons and process cheerfully and
maintain the right at all hazards.
The world understands pretty we'll
by this time that reports from Mis-
sissippi are highly colored usually
for effect. The false statement tele-
graphed after the Clinton trouble
that fifty negroes were shot down in
the woods by Vicksburgers is gener.
ally discredited, and the Govern
ment so far seems but little inclined
to prop the carpet-bag dynasty any
longer with Federal bayonets. The
country has long since grown tired
of this sort of thing. and no interfer-
ence can he justified unless the peo-
pile permit themselves TO be provok-
ed into some false step. Let them
keep cool and keep their powder dry.
The negroes should know by this
time that, with all their drilling and
arming, they are no match for the
white race when it comes to an open
conflict, and that tlIeir Radical mas.
ters care not how many of them get
killed so the party is benefited
Ames would see Twenty five or
thirty" of his best colored friends
with delight if that would
give him control of the Federal
troops now in the State. Another
thing we will mention: Rumors of
negro instructions are not always
facts, and threats uttered under the
influence of mean whisky do hot con-
stitute ontrages. If the negoes are
and threaten vengeance
in community, let the leading white
men act prudently, control the young.
hot-headed set and wait for some
overt act. We are assured that they
are we'll organized in political clubs
nearly ali over the State and abund-
antly able to take care of themselves.
One united judicious effort will carry
the State and redeem it forever.
This surely is worth a superhuman
effort.