National Republican., 1878-08-05
MISSISSIPPI POLITICS.


tected-CitizensiipN Not Clothed la Democ-
racy u Farce Conciiiation II Failure.
The following correspondence, which Is
from a very intelligent and reliable source,
presents the political and social situation in
Mississippi in a very fair light The picture
Is not overdrawn:
"FAYETTE, MISS, July 12, 1878.
DEAR SIR: You ask me certain questions
which will endeavor to answer soon. Cap.
tain -- was In Fayette ten days ago.
had long talk with him, particularly as to
member Of the House to be elected frum this
district this fall The Democrats Of this dis.
trict have plainly foreshadowed the style Of
their campaign, and II is pre- eminently bull.
dozy. They don't intend any fair election by
any means. gave - my idea Of the style
OF ,intimidation to be used, and you will
find II In my answer to that question. gave
him my idea Of how speakers from the North
would be received, &c. Ofcourse they would
be feted and toasted, and received by Demo.
Gratis with open arms, just as Truly and others
received the military hero and took possession
ofthem You remember how. would sooner
encounter the impudence and duplicity Of the
devil than Of the Democratic party. But
did not start to write you a letter. only in.
tended to acknowledge re ,eipt Of yours, &c.
"FAYETTE. MISS, July II, 1878.
bfhh Clhs htuu tO-uty " TtplN
questions propoundod without comment, ex-
cept such rs is necessary, to partially explain
my meaning.
II. Are the primary meetings intcrfered
withY
None have been held In this and adjoining
counties since the last Presidential campaign
closed, nor none attempted. / know they
would be interfered with and broken up. We
cannot now, or will we this fall be able to
organize clubs without being bull-dozed. This
Is true Of two-thirds Of the counties.
"2. Can Republican speakers hold meetings
freely2
None have been attempted since last Presi.
Dental campaign. Might be held In few
counties for minor issues, but not for purposes
of campaign, unless attended by prominent
Northern speakers. think, through policy,
they would give them hearing but us soon
as they have any future meetings they would
be broken up.
"3. Are there enough polling-places2
mo. For the first time In the history Of
this country the polling.places have been re-
duced to one for each police beat. There are
five beats In each county. There are 700 votes
for some Of these polls, and many Of the voters
live fifteen miles'from the polls. The law or
ders the polls opened and closed at certain
hours, and the idea Is to pile votes up at one
poll, consume time in wangling, and shut out
all Republicans possible from voting, taking
closing Of poll. The Democrats expect to gain
from 25 to 100 votes at every precinct, should
II come to close poll.
-. Can colored men reach the polls and
what Is the form Of intimidation to prevent
themr
mo. A large number will not go through
fear. The form Of intimidation will be as In
1876, to wit If the Democratic clubs see that
Republican clubs are forming they will break
them up; but II they fail to break them to
their satisfaction then for mob before cleo
tion day. Democratic clubs will be out every
night, armed with guns and pistols trave
through their respective beats, discharginl
firearms, whipping negroes under pretense o
some theft committed, warning others to leave
getting up quarrels with them, pretending
to be drunk, and many really
drunk entering their houses under pretens,
Of hunting for stolen property, and all sorts o.
devices to awe them, aud for twenty -foui
hours before the polls are open these Demo
cratic clubs will be out in full force, day and
night whipping and threatening-warninl
leading Republicans to leave, shooting int
their houses, shooting on highways, &C.; and
when the morning of the election breaks yor
can see them onevery road, and they will go II
by relays and vote, leaving squads in the road
until noon, and not unirequently on election
morning you can see laying by the roadside
or hanging from a tree a dead negro, put ther,
to frighten any who might have the hardi
hood to go to the polls. These and many
other devices equally wicked were resorted I,
in 1876, and will be again, If necessary, to Sc
cure Democratic success. There were in 1877,
ut least twenty negroes killed in this count,
the three days preceding the election day-t,
say nothing Of the wounded. l know and car
name numbers of those killed.
"5. Does violence continue are there muir
ders nowP
There is no political violence: now becaus
the Republicans are doing nothing and 50,
nothing; but the lawless condition Of thing
has begotten a disregard for life which still
continues. There Is no regard for negro
life. II Is not considered criminal 10 kill
negro for being In melon-patch or cornfeld
aud there are murders occurring constantly.
"6. DO the newspapers record outrages, an
do they represent the peopler
$ "Only such outrages rs they think will no
: injure the country. They have u way Of req
resenting that = certain man, at a certain tim
: and place, attempted to commit a rape-whe
none had been attempted-but they desire /
/ get this negro out Of the way for some caus,
and go and kill him, aud II they are not sur
they can hide 1t they publish II as u rape.
great deal Of this Is done this year. The Jack
sou Clarion Meridian Mercury, Columbus IN
dec, and Vicksburg Herald represent nine
tenths of the Democracy, and the people ar
more violent than the papers, because the pa
5 peY like to be little polite, aud they cove
up very much"