The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-02
BEATING ALcoRN,
How Old "shep" was Induced to vote for
Ames--sharp Politicians.

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. Mr.. Alcorn lives upon
plantation, where be employs one thousand
negroes, and he says that he never had any
trouble with them. In among these one
thousand men there are no end OF secret
societies, and every night there are march
ings aud counter-marchings all over, his
place. Still, any Of these connections haye
never caused him or his family to fear an
instruction. Illustrative OF how the ne
Rroes are led about by the nose by unprln-
cipled 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 one thousand men on
his plantation it was feared by the Ames
men that they would all vote for their en-
poyer. Upon the plantation is one old pa
triarch by the name of 'Shep," who was
the property of Alcorn before the war, and
who had the most of his life seen service
on the Alcorn plantation. One day
small sized, dapper- hammered carpet. Dagger
came up to Alcorn's plantation, and went
around secretly electioneering among the
negroes. He discovered that 'Shep" was
leader among them all, and unless he
gained him over 1t would be useless to look
for votes for Ames on that plantation. lie
fell into conversation with "Shep," and
gathered from him the scanty details OF his
past life. He then went away without
saying word to ''Shep" about the cleo
ton.
Several weeks after that, and short
time before the elections large letter post
marked Washington, and Respondent with
red seals and official stamps, came to the
Alcorn plantation addressed to 'Shep.
1t was an event in the old mans life. A
meeting of his favorite secret society was
at once called, and one of the presiding Of
fcers who could read was detailed to opeI
and read the awe-inspiring document L
was as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. c., HEAD
QUARTERS OF THE Army AND NAVY AND GLoRIou
live at a great distance from me- and although 20
are only one Of my many colored children, yet
know ali about you, and often have my eye upo
YOU You were born on plantation near Lynch
burg, in Virginia You were owned there by
man by the name Of Charles Somers, Some year
before the war you were sold to Mr.. Alcorn In Mis-
eissssippi know Julius, Robert and James HeI
ry Augustus, your boys, as well as Susan Ann Jan
and Roxana virginia, your daughters. Aou SCI
Shep, that, although am very great mau, kno
all abont my children. Ihave watchful care owe
yoI all, and have plan to make yon all happy.
want you to vote 70 Gen. Ames Jor governor TIL
fall and, my dear Shep, will give you my eeasoT
for so wishing In the first place Gen .Ames is IN
officer in your state, and want you to obey hin
Mr.. Alcorn Is an old slave holder; you must NJ
vote for him. II Gen. Ames Is elected, l propose
cut up Mr.. Alcorns plantation, and give 1t 10 Ii
slaves who so many years worked for him for not
ing, will give YOU my dear Shep, your choice
all the lots when the plantation Is cut up. Do n
forget to do all you to get votes for Anne
Good-by, my dear Shep. Your friend and benefa
tor, u. >. GRANT.
The great General OF the army and navy, al
Commander OF the Commonwealth.
This letter carried "Shep" complete
by storm. An angel from heaven dire
could not have convinced him that the lie
ter was not from the president, He vote
for Ames, and carried upward of five hu
dred votes with him.