The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-02-01


Wells knowledge.
The Truth of the Matter
We are permitted to copy the fol-
lowing letter written by Mr.. Calvin
Copeland to his daughter, Mrs. Wilson
of Palmyra. Comment upon it is un-
necessary H,
LAKE CRY, Florida, Nov. 20, 1876.
My DEAR DAUGHTER:- Yours OF
the 18th inst, came to hand this day
| You remark that ohm would like to
know if the stories OF violence in this
country are true. will tell you. This
county is called the worst in the State.
1t is charged by the Secretary of State
that the election in this county was
carried by fraud, violence and intimi-
dation. The voting precincts of this
county were all at Lake City, and were
all within 400 yards. l was there all
day, and the election passed off as quiz
city as possible. There was no SEM
blance of violence or intimidation on
the part of single white man. Neither
was there any fraud, only on the part
of the negro party. Two men were
arrested and taken to Jail for repeating.
One Ga minor voted three times. No
doubt this would have been continued
until there would have been a majori-
| ty for the negro party if they had not
been watched so closely. The white
men used every possible precaution to
prevent any disturbance. The liqnor
shops were all closed from Saturday
at II, IN. TO Wednesday morning.
was very intimate with the white men
during the campaign and know that
they were determined to have peace
aud quiet. Heretofore the negro par
ty has carried this county, bu, this
time the Democrats carried 1t by lS5
majority. The candidate for the Sem
ats of tLis State, of the negro party,
in this county, is County Clerk, Reg
istrar and chairman OF the board of
county canvassers. lie recorded the
result, gave the. Two representatives
and senator their certificates OF cleo
lion and the return 10 the State can
vassing board, and yet the vile charges
are made against us, Nothing could
certain knowledge. So far "a known,
there were only five white men that
voted with the negro party and two of
these were illegal. Now, so far as the
Democrats are concerned, | have no
doubt the charges of fraud and vio-
lence and intimidation made agai nst
them in other parts of the State are
utterly false. They have worked very
earnestly in this campaign. but, as |
believe, they have only worked for an
honest vote and ali honest count, Now
on the other hand, there has been
good deal of violence and intimida-
ton en- the part of the negro party. A
black man was killed at Live Oak, 25
miles fr m here, because he had said
he should vote the Democratic ticket.
In this county one black man was
beaten nearly TO death for The same
thing. Others were threatened with
being mobbed and having their houses
burned, if they voted the Democratic
ticket. believe if it had not been for
these acts of violence and in.imida
ton very large number of the blacks
would have voted the Democratic
ticket. Now, l haye no doubt you
have been saying 10 yourself, Why
does he always say "Negro party"
and not Republican party? Well, in
my Judgment, there is no true Repub-
lean party in this State. nor in any
o her Southern State, for that matter.
Ii is only most corrupt ring OF a
few white men for piunder, kept in
power by the poor ignorant negro aud
by the worst possible frauds. l have
always been an anii-slavery man. /
voted the Free Soil ticket in 1852 and
have voied with the Republican party
ever siuce its organization. / voted
tor Hayes &c Wheeler, but voted the
Democratic State ticket. | don't be-
iieve there is an honest, fair-miuded |
Republican in tho North but would do |
as ! have done if he would live here |
two years. No honest intelligent man |!
could do differently No man can |
have any adequate idea OF the vilcness !
OF these Carpet-Bag governments
without living here. No regard is /
paid TO the Constitution and laws of /
the S ate whcn they are in the way of 1
their bad designs. Tie publ; moneys
are squanacred and stolen. The pub
lie school law is a good one, but in its /
application il is utterly worthless. It's
execution is in the hands of dishonest /
or incompetent men. ! speak OF thi.
county, for know how IL is here.
II is a mystery to me how il is the
white men are so patient and forbear-
ing az they are. IL would be utterly
j m possible for such y government to
exist at all in any Northern State, and
it could not here il il was not upheld
by Northern sentiment supported by
u. S. troops. Ii is a terrible blot npon
our country. | hope The northern
masses will Yet see this thing i'm its
true colors and that there will be q
peacable solution of our troubles.
Affectionately your father,
an CALVIN COPELAND. /