The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-10-04
REVELS VS.. boutwell,
The COlOrcd Ex-United States
Senator Explains Why Missis-
sipPi Went Democratic.
from the Ne,O York World. I

From the Ne,O York World
Doubtless the Republicanism, not to
say the honesty, of the Rev. H. W
Revels, the the cOlored ex-United
States Senator from Mississippi, is as
unimpeached as that of Senator Bout
well. Against the recent garbled, I'M
fair and false presentment of alleged
facts made by the Massachusetts, Sen
ator touching the last election in Mis-
sissippi, it is sufficient to set the facts,
as atte,ted by Senator Revels, who was
present in Mississippi before and du-
ring the election, and could not but be
aware of everything that transpired.
The letter was written and published a
few days after the Democratic victory
was assured, and PROFESSIONALLY nc
counts for the great change in the vote
since the preceding contest. 1t is as
follows:
HOLLY SPRINGS, Nov. It'll, 10.
To His Erccllency u S. Grant, Presi-
dent Of the United States;
My DEAR SIR: In view of the re-
suits of the recent election in our
State, l have determined to write you
letter canvassing the situation, and
giving my views thereon. will pre-
mise by saying that 1 am no pOliti-
clan, though having been hOnored by
O seat in the United State Senate. /
never have sought political preferment
nor do l ask it now, but am engaged
in my calling (the ministry, and feel
ing an earnest desire for the welfare
of all the people, irrespective of race
or color, I have deemed it advisable TO
submit to you, for consideration, a
few thoughts i'll regard to the political
situation in this State. Since recon-
struction, the masses Of my people
have been, as it were, enslaved in
mind ply unprincipled adventures
who, caring nothing for the country,
were willing to stoop to anything,
no matter how infamous, to secure
power to themselves and perpetuate it.
My people are naturally Republicans,
but as they grow older in freedom so
do they in wisdom. A great portion
of them have learned that they were
being used as mere tools, and, as IN
the late election, not being able to cor
rect the existing evil among them
selves, they determined, by casting
their ballots against these unprincipled
adventures, to overthrow them. My
people have been told by these schem.
ers, when men were placed upon the
ticket, who were VIGOROUSLY corrupt
and dishonest, that they must vote
for them that the salvation of the
party depended upon it; that the man
who scratched a ticket was not Re
publican. This is only one of many
means these malignant demagogues
have devised to perpetuate the intel.
lectual bondage of my people. To de.
feat this policy at the late election,
men, irrespective of race Of party af
filation, united and voted together
against men known to be incompetent
and dishonest.
1 cannot recognize, nor do the mas
ses of my people who read, recognize,
the majority of the officials who have
been in power the past two years a:
Republicans. We do not believe thai
Republicanism means corruption, theft
and embezzlement. These three of
fences have been prevalent among the
great portion of our ofice-holders. II
them must be attributed the defeat o.
the Republican party in the State, i
defeat there was, but /, with all til,
lights before me, look upon it as al
uprising of the people, the whole PEG
pie, to crush out corrupt rings anC
men from power. The bitterness anC
hate created by the late civil strife
have, in my opinion, been obliterateC
in this State, except, perhaps, in som,
localities, and would have long sine,
been entirely effaced, were it not 70
some unprincipled men who woulC
keep alive the bitterness of the pas
and inculcate a hatred between tn
races, in order that they may aggran
die themselves by office and its emolu
ments to control my people, the ei
feet of which is to degrage them.
lgivc you my opinion that had on