The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-03-01
senator AIcOrn's ''EDersOnai ENpIa-
nation

Congressional Record, Feb. II, 1876.
Mr.. ALCoRN: | rise for personal expla-
nation. l desire to have paragraph read.
The PRESIDENT pro tenPore: The Secretary
will read il.
The Chief Clerk read, as follows
WASHINGTON, February S.
\ conclave of carpet-baggers was held
tonight in the room OF the Senate. Spencer
and about sixty of his brethren we're in
council, the purpose OF which was to decide
on policy for better presentation of the
bloody shirt and the upholding OF Norton
ism. Spencer in behalf OF the committee.
OF which he is the leader reported that he
waited upon Chief Justic Waite, with
Morey. of Louisiana, and represented to the
Judge the necessity of an early and favora-
bic decision on the enforcement act. Spen-
Ger related in lugubrious tones his discom-
future with the Chief Justice. That gentle
man listened to his remarks coldly. and
replied. with no evidence of sympathy, that
it was not the practice of the supreme bench
To discuss decisions before they are rem
dered, and that, in short, sucn an appeal
from any source was no more or no less than
contempt of court.
Rebutfed ut this point the disconsolate
carpet-baggers waited on the President and
Informed him ofthe situation of things. urg-
ing his cooperation. They informed him
that kilograms had been received from kel.
logg TO the effect that one of the judges i'm
Mississippi had been impeached, aud would
inevitably be deposed ; that he expected his
own i'm parchment daily. and that unless
the strongest clauses of the enforcement act
could be brought to bear the last vestige of
power would be torn from the hands OF the
l>resldenGs supporters Gen. Grant prom
ised to lend hand, but gave no very definite
idea as to how it would come. A warm
discussion followed on the presentation of
these reports. Letters were read from Gov.
Ames, suggesting plan for campaign for
the recapture of Mississippi, which met with
Senator AlcOrn's approval. Alcorn, who
has heretofore been bitterly opposed to
Ames, now supports that gentleman, and is
urging the bloody-shirt policy.
Mr. ALCoRN | should not deem it neces-
sary to NOTICE this matter but for a state
ment that shall make. This article was
published in the Chicago Times, and pur-
ports to be communication from the cor
respondent of that paper at this capital
The extract thar | have had read at the desk
was published in the Memphis Appeal
which credits the article to the Times /
am placed ty it for the nrst time, believe
IN the category of q carpet Dagger. l had
up to this time escaped at least that impu-
tation. That however IL small matter.
That to which desire to direct the atten-
ton OF the Senate is that am charged with
having approached, or having belonged to
a conspiracy that approached, the Chief
Justice of The Supreme Court of the United
States, at the head of the judicial depart
ment OF this Government, fer the purpose
of endeayoriug to influence his action upon
certain case now pending before that
court for its decision. Had | been guilty
OF this | should not only be unworthy as
lawyer and deserve to be stricken from
the roll, but | should in truth be unworthy
OF seat in this body. Whether any such
conspiracy or association OF gentlemen
ever assem- b!ed in the capitol do not know
am sure l was not party to it.
While am up, may as well remark APP
on the latter clause of the paragraph, in
which it Is stated That i am in cooperation
with Gen Ames, and that / was in accord
before the President with Gen. Ames' sug-
gestion as to the means To be used to recap
ture the State of Mississippi, those means
being chiefly by the use of the army, or
Federal interposition / have had no cor
respOndence with Governor Ames for the
past five years, and l am not acquainted
with his views touching the reeaPtUre by
the Republicans, of my State. Governor
Ames defeated me for the Office of Govern
or, in 1873. The leading Democrats Of t,iat
state, the Democratic newspapers OF that
and other states, VINO supported his claims
to tue otlice-the paper from which the
paragraph is read being one of thuse-are
better entitled to the private views OF the
Governor than /, who opposed him, can be
suppc sed to be. | viii state emphaticallv
that no such interview was held within nv
knowledge. | have had no meeting upon
any such subject nor have | com L. unicated
any such ideas as are imputed TO me by this
correspondent, eince | have been in Con-
sress.
My record touching Federal troops is one
that those in Mississippi and in the country
VINO desire to know can without trouble as
certain. 1t cannot be forgotten by the peo-
pie of that State that in 1861 when a candi-
date for governor, | refused TO canvass the
State under the protection OF Federal troops.
1t cannot be forgotten thIt when | was ten
dered in 1869 the position Of military gov
ernor OF Mississippi . declined the office up
on the ground that would not consent to
rule over the people of my State except by
their free and unrcstraned wish expressed
at the ballot-boX. 1t cannot be forgotten
that in 1870, when dissatisfied members of
the Legislature of Mississippi appealed to
the President for troops in order to suppress
tnS.rrection in that state, | protested
against that appeal THAT demonstrated with
the President against interfering in the
civil affairs of the State. lily kilograms
now OF record were So many protests against
the pOitcy now Imputed to me. It cannot
be forgotten by the people there that did
protect both life and property i'm Missis4
sippi while | was Governor OF that state.
and without any interposi tion upon the
part of the Federal Government. It can
not be forgotten that. when resigned the
office OF Governor in 1871, | left the State in
repose that it had not enjoyed for ten
years, and which it has not since that time
enjoyed. As TO who is responsible for the
condition of things as they now exist in
Mississippi | may at soma subsequent time
upon the floor OF the Senate explain to the
country.