Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-03
The Mississippi Plan.
INTERVIEW WITH A PROMINENT REPUBLICAN
OF THAT STATE,


From the indianapolis journal, Sept Isl
Major Henry b. Whitfield, of Vicks-
burg. Miss. late district attorney of the
seventh Mississippi Judicial district and
United States attorney for the northern
district of Mississippi, arrived in the city
Yesterday. A Journal reporter called on
him and succeeded. with considerable diff
ticultv. in inducing the major to submit
to an interview He objected strenuous
" to making any statements for publca-
tion. for. said he. lit would iniure me
iii my business at home ; for whatever
statement make here would be noticed
either with favor or disfavor by my clients
NJ home. and | can say nothing that would
meet with their favorable consideration.
BY careful questioning the reporter turn
ed the tide of conversation on the trial
and acquittal of Henry ]. Gully for the
murder of Cornelia Chisholm. Said the
major ''Gully's acquittal was general
ly expected by the people of Mississippi;
and even the prosecution, although their
case was clear enough, had little hope of
ans other than the result that followed
This was due to the feeling in that por
ton of the state Judge Morris, my
partner. assisted in the prosecution. The
Democrats expect that verdict to be play
ed AS II big card by the Republicans in
the next general election"
The reporter here expressed desire to
hear Of the adventures Of Judge Morris,
the late attorney general Of Mississippi,
elected on the Alcom ticket, and was an
swered as follows: well, the Judge has
been shot three times now since the war
for the expression of ms political opln-
ions On once occasion he made speech |
at Port Gibson, and was rather pointed III |
his utterances perhaps Well, that night |
he was shot and badly wounded. He did |
not know who his assailants were at the |
tine, hut knows now they were assassins |
employed by political adversaries to take
his life At another time Judge Morris |
was engaged in politics, and having con-
cludeI a speech, was on his way home. |
As he passed by vacant lot a man sprang |
from behind the fence and fired at him, |
the bullet taking effect in his thigh. He |
fell to the sidewalk, but drew his revolver |
and gave the fellow as good as he sent
\ FAIR COUNT.
-Four wears ago Morris was the Re |
publican candidate for State senator from |
Warren county. He made a vigorous |
canvass, and was reasonably confident of |
election. The negroes were a unit in his |
favor. and Il considerable portion of the |
white population were also pledged to |
his support When the official count WIS
made. and he was shown the returns from
the voting precincts. imagine his surprise !
at gazing at a long string Of ciphers. Not |
one vote had been credited him on the |
blanks. Inquiry among his friends de-
veloped the fact that many votes had been
east for him. He realized the fact that in
that community, TO contest an election
once decided in favor Of Democrat was
worse than useless, and accordingly let |
the matter drop. Several months later
he met one Of the inspectors, and said |
''Now the election is over and decided, |
You can get into no trouble by telling me |
the truth. To contest would now be use
less. as the statute of limitations prevents |
such a course Just tell me what my ma
iority was at the last election The in |
spector, after a moments pause, replied !
Well, judge, I'll tell you. You had Il
majority Of l,367 by the actual returns
This SO rritated the Judge that he decided |
TO obtain the nomination and run again.
He did 50, and is now the candidate for |
State Senator for Warren county. He is
almost sure to be elected, too. "
Reporter What about the Dixon muir !
der?
Major VI see you are trying to in
tcrview me. | would rather not speak
nv mind on these subjects for the reason |
that have given before. Our firm de- |
Tended Dixon a year ago for the murder |
of Harrison. We did the best We could |
for him, as a lawyer will for his clients, |
and succeeded with little difficulty in Sc
curing hisaequittal
THEY WANT GRANT.
Rep Whom do the Mississippi Repub-
licans want for their presidential canli-
date next ycar2
MAJOR " They are as one man for .
Gen. Grant The magnanimity Of Gen.
Grant toward Pemberton's S army at Nicks- /
burg after the surrender made him solid /
friends. Not a negro south of the Ohio |
would refuse to vote for Grant. Many |
ex-cnnfederate soldiers, who were struck |
with his magnanimity, would honor him
with their ballots, and the white Repub
Leans want a man whom they know will |
protect them, and they know from expe-
rience the general will do that, and do 1t
well. No other man we could nominate
would poll half the vote south of Mason
and Dixon's line that Grant could.
Rep What are the chances for a sohd
South at present2
Mai W-Unless Grant is the nominee /
the South will undoubtedly he solidly !
Democratic They have given up the |
Northern States and..a solid North is also
expected and confidently looked for.
Rep.-You were IN the confederate ar
my?
Mai. WI was. l enlisted az a lieu
tenant in Mississippi regiment, and af-
terward served on Gen Baldwins staff.
Rcp.-You were then Democrat, |
presumr2
Nai. We
Rep What caused your political CON
version?
Mai W.-You must not insist upon in
teryieWne mr. / am now IA Republican
and shall continue tohe.
THE CoLoKED EXODUS.
Rep What are the prospects for the
revival # the exodus this fall?
Major w. Matters are Just in this
shape: If the crops are good and the
times improve, ami if the negroes receive
proper treatment It the hands Of the
whites, they will remain (; but if they are
not well treated they will go almost ei
H'0sF', and not one in 30 will remain.
They will make Indiana. Illinois, Ohio
and Pennsylvania their objective points, !
and Kansas will receive very small pro
portion Of them. They are fixed in their
determinations. and their moving or re
naming Will only he determined by the
treatment they receive in the next three
months.
At this point the major became distrusI