National Republican., 1878-08-21

cultivate the rich bottom lands of Missis-
sppi toll from early morn 'till the sun goes
down. and chiefly to the fruit OF their
labor is the state indebted for the proud po-
sition she holds as The largest cotton-prc-
ducing State in the Union. Utterly un-
mindful Of the rights of these lahoring men,
these citizens Of this free Republic, Demo-
cratic Legislature, prompted only by parti-
san considerations, as Democrats invariably
are, hcrdcd them together in one Congress
sional district for the sole purpose ofruining
or impairing the political influence 10 which
they are justly entitled under the Constitu-
tion and laws of the land. subsequently
the impression obtained that these cOlored
people, being ignorant rs u mass and largely
dependent on the whites, could lie bullicd
out Of or dcfraudcd Of their rights, and the
memorable campaign of l-i5 was inaugu-
rated on the white line basis, now histori-
cal as the Mississippi plan In this con-
test General J. X. CHALMERS who won his
title in n former rebellion against the laws
Of his country. when he aud his coni6derItcs
! ''''FA'' w say llN hl'h Va uhi i''lN'i'f "'''
the chosen standard.bcarer of the still dis
loyal element that hoped to achieve through
u dchauched and outraged ballOt-boX and u
people paralyzcd by fear at the wanton and
unprovOkcd murder of scores of their fellow
citizens that which they had lost by the
arbitrament Of the sword to which they
appealed in lSdl.
Hon. 1OIN X. LYNCH, q colorcd man of
ability, learning, aud worth. a gentleman in
every particular, the peer of General CnAL-
MERs in all that is required to make rep
resentative in Congress, was his competitor.
The canvass proceeded. Mr.. CHALMERS
was given respectful hearing on all occa-
siOns. Mr.. LYNCH was hooted down by
armed bands Of Democrats The highways
leading TO places where it was appointed that
he would address his fellow citizens were
patrolled by uniformed companies and
squads in military array, and those who
desired to hear him were thus deferred
When II was feared that these more peace
lul and harmless methods would prove in.
cfiectual, the might riders" visited the lowly
cabins of poor colored people and unmerci'
fully whipped, mutilated, OF murdered the
husbands, fathers, and protectors of many
household-househod nevertheless
though the tcnements which protected
their inmates from the chilling winds
Of October may have been built O
logs aud covered with rude thatches
of eyergreens. by these and like
means Mr.. LYNCH was Obliged to abandon
the canvass. Had he persisted and sur
vived the terrible ordeal 1t would have beer
only to mourn over the murder of hundreds
of Ia is race and the dcstitution of husband
less wives and iathcrless children. Tn,
result could not have been changed. II,
would have been, rs he was, counted out, ,
and he would ha, e knocked, as he did, il
vain for admission at the doors of Con
fedcratc Democratic Congress
Mr.. CHALMERS is again II candidate, hav-
ing been nominated by acclamation for re
election to the high position that he now
usurps. lie is assiduously courting the sup
port OF the colored people. Mock demon
strations, in which they are sometimes in
duced to participate, are gotten up in hoao
OF the Little Brigadier," as he is ilmiliarly
called, and persistent efforts are being made
to make it appear that he is, in fact, theil
fivorite. The ohiect..of all this is apparent
II he can induce the, ,,colorcd people of hi
district, by plausible talk and fair promises
to support him for reelection, he hopes t,
wash lout the odrstains that besmea
the stolen scat in Congress he now occupies
lie hopes to bury further from recollection
the nanglcd bodies OF the inuocct victims
who were sacrificed on the altar of his am
bition; but he cannot. Their ghastly forms
will rise before his vision like the massacred
bleeding remains OF the slaughtered prison
crs at Fort Pillow, and these horrd spectre,
will never down at his bidding. They viii
haunt him through an endless eternity.
The district, as we have said, is thor
oughly Republican in sentiment, hut tn
people are truly in a most pitiabl
plight. He has rs yet, no competitor il
the field, aud they know not wha
to do. If some strong, able man, like, iol
example, ex-senator ALCORN, would take
the field against this pretendcr and prick
the bubble of his supposed popularity, til,
people would rally 10 the standard OF right
and remand the Little Brigadier " of For
Pillow notoricty to deserved Obscurity. w
, care nothing personally for General CHAL
: MFRS or any other candidate, but il is
principle for which we contend. So lonl
as Congressman can he seated hy fraud, in
timdaton, aud violence just so long an
our Republican institutions in danger O
, overthrow, and it behooves the loyal peopl
of the nation TO watch with Jealous car
further developments in the Shoe-Strn
= District of Mississippi