Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-04
MISSISSIPPI.
a Dose OF True.Inwardness from
Man who Calls Himself an Ex-
COnfederRte-SOmethI for
the Mississippi Papers
to Attend tn.

of the earth, bat also an exposition of a con-
dition of affairs which not only justihes but
necessitates their exodus as the only means
to them left of escaping far worse sort of
slavery than that from which they
we're released by the emancipation procla-
nation. "a order to make the subject in
telligible l shall have to 90 back to the peri
cd of my own experience, when, In 1865, in
common with the more intelligent represent
atives of that class OF men who composed
the rank and file Of the southern armies at
the 'front.' l realized that instead of having
fought for the rights of the south, was but
one of the tools IN the hands of its corrupt
and self-constituted leaders. Banishing my
chsgrin and regrets together, | decided that
the wiser course for me to pursue was not to
indulge In unmanly winnings over past losses,
which were clearly attributable to my own
want of foret5ought, but to 90 to work and
make up for lost tme In the short interval
between the surrender and the enactment of
the reconstruction measures, the pursuit of
this policy was easy, but no sooner had the
government made propositions looking only
to its own future security and peace, than
the so-called leaders of the south came to
the front again, finding ready to their hand
that element of society who there, as well as
elsewhere constitute the standing army of
Democracy. They soon rallied to their sup
port that chlvalry, each and every one of
whom contained within himself so much
prowess and valor that killing five Yankees
was an easy job. To these were soon added
those who, by their participation in plumber
incidental to the wreck of war, grew rich.
The first organization growing out of the IN
holy alliance was what is known as the ku
klux. This having run its course, they
adopted the policy of forming a secret coali-
ton with the corrupt members of what was
known as the Republican party, thus effect
ing junction which enabled them not only
to obtain the hons share of the plumber, but
at the same time make scapegoats of limo.
cent aud honorable Republicans. THIS was
the situation in Vicksburg in the summer of
1874, when, pending a municipal election,
intelligent Republicans were mortified with
being again confronted with ticket, claim
ing their support, which was composed of two
white men, all the rest ignorant negro poll
ticians, and the worst of their class. Cir
cumstances, as well as q sense of duty toward
those who constituted all that was dear to
me upon earth, made it incumbent on me
to Join a movement which, SO far as the ele-
ment OF Union Republicans that / represented
was concerned, only contemplated the over
throw of ignorance and corruption, and re-
placing them with those who constituted the
integrity and intelligence of southern Repub.
licanism. And had we succeeded, Mississippi
would to- day be one of the most prosperous
States in the Union. The riots that followed
were but the successful contamination of
plots and manipulations on the part of the
leaders of tha Democracy to make the inno-
cent negroes the sufferers for their own I'M
mitiRated rascality. The expulsion of Gov
ernor Ames from the State was in pursuance
of the same object. The withdrawal of
troops from Mississippi having deprived
Democratic leaders of all the capital with
which they expected to achieve a victory in
1876, 1t soon became plain that they had
adopted different tactics from those hitherto
And fboca rvbOv,, Tod
as the honest Republicans, who helped to get
rid of what they term bayonet rule, were to
be made the victims and special objects
of the most cowsrdly spite and cruel per-
secution. The determination SO manful-
ly displayed by the colored people of being
led only by honest men, subjected them also
to the same treatment. But we all bore up
with good spirits In anticipation that in the
near future, with free field and fair fight,
we would be enabled to effect our own de-
hverance. OF the many incidents encourage
ing US in this hope | will mention but one.
1t was shortly after the Kemper county TRACE
dy that Captain Shaughnessy, in his gallant
effort for the relief of the helpless family of
the murdered Chisholm, was subjected to a
challenge to mortal combat from the editor
of the Vickburg Herald, he being surround
ed and supported by the elaqueurs and as
sassins of the corruptlonistS In power. It
was very evident that Mr.. Shaughnessy's ac-
c6planCS OI luS pldCeU MIN IN a
very critical position, At this stage of the
game Mr.. w. 81. Andrews, the recognized
leader of all the best men in the community,
protfered his services as second, to see that
fair dealing was honorably carried out be-
tween both parties. The antagonists thus
placed on an equal footing, the fight did not
take place. During this summer (l877) 1t
became more and more evident that the
whites had at last come to realization of
what had all along been evident to Republi
cans, that the only result of trials and tribu-
latlons they had undergone was q change of
operatives. That the same persons and in
huences that had engineered the Republican
machines were running things still. 1t
eventually eliminated in a proposition from
the dissatisfied members of Democracy to the
honest representatives of the defunct Repub-
lcan party to come to the front and they
would assist US in making a fight for the
right. Republicans insisted that inasmuch
as the party in power consisted of a combi-
nation of corruption of both parties, who
had taken the right of suffrage away from
the white man as well as the black man, the
only issues involved were the rights of free
speech, free ballot and an honest count, soon
coming to mutual agreement upon this
basis. In looking back over the causes OF
the national administration party of Warren
county In 1877, there is nothing occurs IN my
memory that would impEcate any one of the
transaction. But, on the other hand, all the
disasters experienced on that occasion are
clearly attributable to the non-ful6llment Of
promises 30 profusely made by our Demo-
cratic allies. The murder of Russell Graham,
at Oak Ridge precinct, was not only con-
cocted plan between Democrats on both
sides, but 1t was also designed to trap me
to my death at Holly Grove church; and
it seems like retributive justice that since
then some of the most prominent Democrats
in Vicksburg have fallen victims of assassina-
ton, as is well known, in conformity with the
wishes and desires of the corrupt and murder
Gus leaders Of Democracy, Thus came to an
end all our hopes of effectinR redemption by
a combination with Democrats. The only
hope left US after this was that in view of the
heavy expenditure Of money (thirty-two
thousand d0llars) necessary to overcome US,
they would in future consider it the better
part of valor to let us alone. This also turned
out to be ilusory. Near about the first of
December, 1873, was summoned to appear
before a magistrates court for buying cotton
from mes roes, contrary to law. Conscious of
having complied with all the laws heretofore
in existence, | was astonished when the mag
istrate proceeded TO read over law which he
said had been enacted In the legislature of
1873, imposing heavy fnes and penalties
upon any one who bought from any negroes
cotton IN the seed, cotton ginned and not
first showing a written permission from their
landlord. l saw it was a ease in which
neither argument nor defense was admSsi-
bic. 1t was in vain l called their
to the fact that others had |
traded much more IN that way than had. |
Their reply was that their object being to stop |
trading with the negroes, they had to make |
an example Of some, and it might as well be |
me as anybody else. | appealed to the cir |
cult court, giving bond for my appearance, !
The colored people clearly saw the so-called |
law was framed for the purpose of enabling |
the planter and his favorite merchant to strip |
them of the fruits of their labor whenever |
they felt 50 disposed, and that myself being |
made the special object under the operations !
of that law, was because l had proved true |
to them in relation to their rights as Ameri- |
can citizens. The news spread far and near, |
gathering volume as 1t went, and my own |
attempt to run away on the night of the |
twenty-fourth of December, in all probability |
suggested to them that eight was the only |
way for them to escape the new slavery. |
From personal observation, can conscien-
tiously say that heretofore, no matter how |