New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-24
HE MIS- SISSIpPI PLAN
An Interview with Prominent Ger.
tlemen Of that State.
Exposition Of the Method by which
the D Democrats Carried the State.
A REIGN OF TERROR AED VIOLENCE

District Attorney Ware, of Mississippi,
Judge Chisholm, candidate for Congress
in the late election in one Of the districts
of that State, nd Captain Raymond, also
of that State, will show by what means the
State was carried Of the last election by the
Democrats.
Messrs. Ware and Chisholm are native of
Mississippi, and served with distinction in
the Confederate army throughout the war,
the former losing leg in that service.
ca, tain Raymond was an officer in the
Federal army, " no settled in the State after
the close of the war.
These gentlemen called on the Republi-
can delegation at their rooms in the St.
Charles Hotel during the early part of the
week, and were invited to make state
ment in reference to the affairs of their
State.
Mr.. Ware as spokesman Of the party
gave q long and detailed narration, OF
which the following substantially covers
the ground:
The appliances by which the Democratic
party carried the State OF Mississippi at the
late election we're Of such character as
under the circumstances could not have
failed to secure the desired result. With
the effect OF the terrorism which stifled the
voice Of the State in 1875 still abiding and
active and the election laws and machinery
administered and controlled by Democrats.
under fixed and avOwed purpose to con.
strue and manipulate 80 as to defeat the
Republican party at any hazard, it was IN
necessary to resort to that general and
of
timidation which prevailed in 1875.
This view was taken by the Democrats,
IA will appear from an editorial OF the
Vicksburg paper which appeared 1T the be
ginning OF the campaign, IN which 1t was
| stated ''that it would not be necessary to
shoot any body, but only to pop few Gaps"
Nevertheless, the Republic Ans made so
| earnest an effort to bring out their vote at
| the late election, and were so united and
unanimous in their desire and intention to
sustain their party, that had such an cleo
| ton a. is common at the North and West
| been held, they would have carried the
State by 80. 600 majority.
This statement is not only borne out by
the Republican majority at the elections
prior to the terrorism OF 1879, but will be
admitted by many well-informed, fair
| minded Democratic.
To prevent this result various means
were adopted, OF which the following are
| tAir examples:
When the colored people, who constitute
the bulk Of the Republican party, and who,
a. is universally known, are ignorant and
uneducated, applied for registration, they
| were asked in what township, section or
range they resided and by whom employed,
| and many other questions difficult and Of
ten impossible Ior an iiliterate man to
| ans wer, and which many white Democrats
| were neither able nor required to answer.
| When these questions were not properly
| answered the cOiored applicant was denied
registration.
Then, in addition, the plan of 1875, of
supervising Republican meetings was adopt
| ed. Armed men we're sent to each meeting,
! and when y Republican speaker made any
assertion of which these armed Democratic
Supervisors disapproved, he was denounced
| as liar and tho NEE ing violently broken
| up.
| illustrated by what occurred at the meet
lug at Canton, in Madison county, where
General Mckee, elector tor the State at
large, on the Republican ticket. was to have
| addressed the meeting.
The General was knocked down from the
| stand and left insensible, and the meeting
taken charge OF by Democrats. At night
tho mob followed General Mckee, a!though
he was still insensibie from the blow, to
the postotiices, where they fired into the
building, and wounded another Republican.
In consequence Of this, general cOnsterna-
ton spread through the Republicans OF the
county, OF whom many Of the most prom.
inent insisted that no more speakers should
be sent to the county, as the democrats
had avowed the determination to break up
| eyery Republlcan meeting in the same way
Accordingly, Governor Powers engage.
4 ment 10 epeas at Canton was canoe ed, and
I NO farther attempt to canvass was made.
The result in this county was that the
Repub leans polled only seventeen votes
instead OF $500, where, as is shown BY past
elections, they have always had, prior to
1875, majority OF 1000.
The same course was pursued ct Her
nando, De Soto county, in Colonel Wa1ton'e
| district. The meeting was violently dis
persed, and after wards the Republican,
dared not hold meetings in the county
| The result was that the county, though Re
punllcan by G000 majority, as shown by
eiec iJrs prior to 1875, this year gave q
Democratic majority OF SOL.
lie same state OF facts exists in Lynch't
district. HIS meetings at Port Gibson
Rooney end Fayette were all violently
broken ND and colOred man fled from them
in dismay, followed and fired at by mounted
hOrsemen.
It ia scarcely necessary to say that in the
sections referred to, the Republican vOt'
was almost nothing, whereas it amounted
prior to 1875 to heavy majority. IL
Lownds county, where there shout 1, ant
with a tair and peacea6le canvass W0uit
have been Republican majority OF 20OO OF
vote OF 2775. there was not single No
pu, lean vote cast at the late election. II
Yazoo, where with fair and peaceabl'
| canvass there would have been q Repub
Ilcan vote OF 2i00 and Republican major
lily OF 1000, theIe we're only two Rrpu ollcan
votes. In Amite county, which a. joins the
| F.Ici ina parishes OF Louisiana, tho keDuh
llcan ticket did not receive single vote
where, with peace anu fairness. Their
|. ! --crll have been Republican majority O
1000.
A colcred Republican, q man of property
and good standing, asked if it was cOn1rar,
to las to organize Republican c.uDs. IL
was ans wereu IN the negative, out earnest
" advised not to attempt it. Disrega'dip
this advice, he organized club and he'll
one or two meetings.
A few nights afterwards an armed bod
Of men waited on him at his house, and !
the presence Ut his fife ehot fifteen oulle.
through his boay, killing him on the spo
This gave the unanimous vote Of Amt
county to the Democratic party.
The saD,e thing, varying only IN ~,
; minor circumstances, occurred near wave
Valley In Yalshusha county, and there at
out zoo many instances Of eimilar ones.
Armed BODIES of nen, generally disguised
} rode about at sight through the count!
Tor many Lights before the election, intlm
( dating, f.ogg,ng and otherwise maltreatln
colored Republ cans, but promising to pr
tect them 1t they woula Join Democrat
club q.
: f,elfpreservation caused many of them
, | j lin these clubs and to vote the Democrat
! ticket, and in the future VIII cause them