The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-08-16
MISSISSIPPI AFFAIRS,
GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL.
NEW YORK. August 4, 1876.


statement in reply TO allegations concerning
Mississippi affairs. contained III the recent
letter of the President OF the United states
to the Governor OF South Carolina, and
communicated by him. with o her papers,
to Congress. They are "a fo'lows:-
TIL. scene at III tmburg. as cruel. blood
thirsty. wantOn, unprovoked ANA unc1I'ed
for : IL WAS, is only IA repetition OF the
course when has been pursued i'll other
Southern States within the lat few years
notably in Mississippi and l. 'uiSana. Mis-
sissippi Is govtrard to-day bJ oflcla,s
chosen thruu GA fraud ami violence, such as
would scarcely be accredited Il sHvage>,
much less To "A civilized and Cristian people.
How lOug these things are To continue. or
what is To be the final remedy, the great
Ruler of the universe only knows.
Nothing could be more Il provoked and
less Justified by the truth OF the case, 50 far
as .dissiSsippi is concerned, than this assault.
At this moment, under the administration
installed by the Dsmoe tic-ConServatiVe
party of the State, as n result OF the over
throw OF II ,dicSl misrule in the election OF
1875, the State presents All uneXampled con-
ditiOn OF peace, order and obedience To law.
The language of the President is, therefore,
presumed to have reference to the canvass
of last year. His allegations are amply re-
futed by the following facts -
During the canvass Governor Ames, who
was protege OF President Grant and was
elected Governor over Hon. j . l.. Acorn,
another Republican, mainly by the patron
age and influence welded by the Presid. Mt,
made repeated and earnest applications to
the latter for troops upon the ostensible pre-
text of domestic violence" The President,
alter mature consideration OF the case, re-
fused to comply, for the rca.s III that the
Governor had presented no grounds which
would warrant such Interference by the
United States authorities. To make sure
that no opportunity for such Interference
should be lost, the President despatched a
special agent To Mississippi, after Governor
Ames had made his call for troops, charged
with the duty of investig ,ting the condi-
ton of affairs. This agent remained in
C INSTANT intercourse with Governor Ames,
at the Capita! of the State, for weeks before
the election. He employed skilful corps
of detectives, and was vIgilant in the per-
formance OF his trust. He was required To
report to Washington whenever occasion
should arise to justify interference by the
L
a tair election. lie failed to find such OPP
portnnity, and so reported to the President.
Thus We have not only in the refusal of thr
President TO furnish troops at the call OF
Governor Ames, but in the the action OF his
own, well informed and accredited agent
who was on the spot, complete refutation
of His Excellency'S statement. On the day
of the election this agent was dOmicilel at
the CIpital of the S.a C, as he had been fOI
weeks. where military past has been es-
tablished since the war. The troops were
held in readiness to move to any point
where their services might be required to
preserve the peace, protect the voters and
secure a fair election. The county in which
this garrison is located has colored voting
majority of 1900 At the precincts sta
TONED Immediately under the guns of the
garrison large numbers OF coored people
who had hitherto been controlled by the
carpet-bag politicians, went to the polls,
and, with open tickets in their hands, voted
for the reform candidates. The county was
carried for this ticket by l. 500 majority.
Under the circumstances. it cannot be as
Sumed that the result was due to violence"
nor could it have been due to fraud" mas.
much as the entire election machinery
was in the hands of the Radicals. 1t wa,
simply revolt of the people, white and
colored, against The prohigAcy, fraul and
const qurnt Generalization which had sig
naliZed the rule or the political adventurer.
who, by the aid of the Administration, had
seized the State government and welded it
for selfish and corrupt purposes. In addi-
ton the facts before mentioned. exposing
the injustice of the Presidents vehement
denunciation, it is worth while to mention
that he has in his possession letter from
colored ex-senator Revels, OF Mississippi, a
republican, positively declaring that the
election was fair and that the republican
State administration had caused its defeat
by its own misconduct; and also a letter
from the present Attorney General of the
State Ga republican, attributing the result
to the same cause. l might add that the
republican predecessor of that officer. n
gentleman oftalent and Endorsed by his par
ty with nomination on the HAYES and
Wheeler electoral ticket, in Decem Der, 1874.
predicted that the maladministration, cor
ruption and imbecilty of the republican
State authorities wondering defeat and dis
grace upon them and their party. The pre-
diction was verified. The party was defeat
ed. Governor Ames himself resigned un-
der charges which had requiredhis i'm peach
ment. Another State official was removed
on conviction OF bribery, and still another
fled the State to avoid punishment for forge
ry and embezzlement, upon which charges |
judge ment of forfeiture has recently been
rendered against him in the Circuit Court
OF the county in which he resided
have said that no State could be moro
free from violence and disorder than Missis- |
sippi. Her people of both races are content
and happy in the prospect Of brighter dav
since the expulsion of corruption and cor |
ruptionists from her State government
ndar the mllign intiulnce of radical leg
Islatlon 100000 acres of land had been
forfeited by the owners to the State Gornou-
payment of taxes. The property basis of
he State has been reduced in six vears
nearly $40 100000. Industry was prostrated
ana the earnings OF labor were consumed by
axes, which touched the point of confiscs-
ION. NOW all this is changed. The reform
legislature, without inptiring ths efficiency
'f any branch of the public ser,i ice. has 70.
luced expenditures more than one-third and
'educed taxes proportionatelv Good fol
ng exists between the two races. Both fool
ecure in the possession of their rights 60
ong rs this state of affairs continuesto exist.
The reform Legislature has faithfully re-
eeIned its pledges to dispense Justice eoual-
Y to all classes, and there is no complaintl
n consequence OF the result OF the election
kept by discarded office-holders. who have
rought upon themselves their own punish-
lent. It is confidently believed that rho
r. n will cast har elaotoroI -.