National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-20
FORT PILLOW CHALMERS.
A Specimen of Southern Bourbon
AudaCity.
Mr.. Chalmers Bill to Prevent Frauds In Flee.
tions-Something About Ills Past Record
"Reminiscences OF the war-The
Shoc-String District - Auda-
cious Inconsistencies
Denials Explained.
An Open Letter from James NJ. wen., Esq.


! Denials Explained.
| An Open Letter from James NJ. Wells, Esq.
| "BY Mr.. CHALMERS A BILL TO PREvENr
| FRAUDS IN ELECTIONS Congressional Record.
TO the Editor Of the National Republican;
SIR Mr. Chalmers is the accredited represent
ative Of what's known as the "shoc string" dis
triot of Mississippi--a district gorrymandered
by the Democratic Legislature created in 1875,
and extending along the Mississippi River
from the extreme northern to the southern
boundary of tho State, a distance of nearly
500 miles, and IN some places not more than
fourteen miles in width. The manner in which
that Legislature itself was brought into cx-
istence had already demonstrated the fact that
maiorities are unnecessary to secure Demo-
cratic success in Mississippi. Yet the great
weight of the colored vote of the State was
centercd in this district having conceded
coored majority of not less than 1900. 1t
was to have been turned over in fee simple
TO the Republicans, and thus made the scape
goat for Democratic u,urpation in the remain
ing five districts In the balance sheets of the
reformers. no doubt, 1t was to have been
charged up to the conscience fund but
such an act being deemed an innovation
upon the uniform system of Democratic book
keeping, the entry was never made.
Mr. Chalmers distinction at this time was
only that of military chieftain. As pre-
venter of frauds in elections he had not risen
to any considerable degree of excellence. In
arms his star rose somewhat suddenly at Fort
Pillow in 1863. Whether or not it was the
signal ability displayed by him in that memoir
able charge against colored garrison that
placed him at the head of the forces which
stormed and carried the "Shoe String" district
in 1876, and again in 1873, history does not
record.
shall present only the facts remote and
immediate. bearing upon the case, and quote
first from the report of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War, relating TO the Fort Pill
low massacre, at which time and place General
Chalmers commanded the rebel forces.
1t will appear from the testimony taken that the
atrocities committed at Fort Pillow were not the
result OF passion elected by the heat Of conflict but
were the result of policy deliberately decided
upon and unhesitatingly announced.
The rebels commenced an indiscriminate slaugh-
ter, sparug neither nge nor sex. white or black,
soldier or civilian. The officers and men seemed
to vic with each other in the devilish work. Men,
women, and children, wherever found. were de-
lbcra,elv shot down, beaten and hacked with
sabres. Some of the children, not more than three
years old were forced to stand mp by their murder,
were shot without mercy All over the
hill side the work of murder was go
geiher in lines or groups and deliberately shot
Some were sho while in the river; while others on
the bank were shot and their bodies kicked into
the water many of them still living. but unable TO
make exertion TO save themselves from drowning.
No cruelty which the most hendish malignity
could devise was omitted by these murdercrs. one
white soldier who was wounded in the leg, was
compelled to stand up while his tormcntors shot
him. One negro who had been ordered by rebel
officer to hold his horse, was killed by him when he
demonstrated. ARoitcr, mere chHd rhcm an officer
had taken up behind him on his h0rsC lCrs seen bB gen
crdi Chalmers ,Cho at ordered him to put linn
do,cn and shoot him, Which trds doae.
From the above it will he seen that Mr.
Chalmers was not altogether without a repu-
taton rs n military hero when his career be-
gan as q preventer of frauds in elections, and
we come now to discuss the latter subject on
its merits
quote from letter dated Frar's Point,
the place where Mr. Chalmers is said to re-
side:
a! 1t has before been n question in my mind
whether General Chalmers is a citizen of MiSsis-
sippi at ALL He certainly does not live in Friars
! Point nor in Coahoma County While in the state
h Senate he Gerrymandercd new county-Quitman
. plantation owned by him, situated on coldwateT
); River, and called "Belen." Some think that
> "Belen' is the place of his residence, but he has
never had his family there, and TO the best of my
- knowledge, his family has never yet been in
Friar's Point. The family lives permanently with
= Mrs. Chalmers father in Memphis.
It Bourbonism Is very sensitive on these points and
p nothing but bull-dozng can he obtained in the
way of answers TO any question as TO his residence
- This letter seems to be directand conclusive
as TO residence and if it is fact as stated that
- Mr. Chalmers does not now and did not reside
: in Mississippi at the time of his election he
need not have gone far from home at the out
set in hunting material with which to begin Il
, successful career ms a Iclormer.
u Mainly through the efficiency of u system
y known to the world as the "Mississippi Plan,
- the existence and real character of which /;
nowhere denied, Mr.. Chalmers Overcame the
. vast majority in the sixth district registered
. against him, and upon sea OF blood ele-
Z waited himself to the position he now usurps
L BY this system the colored man in Mr. Cham-
ers' district is deprived not only the right
n of the elective franchise. but that of liberty
n and the pursuit of happiness. The privilege
- of public schools which were established in
Mississippi after reconstruction by a party
5 friendly to the colored man, are systematically
y restricted. Thus the negro is made the victim
v of every selfish ambition, base passion, and
prejudice of the white man. At the close o.
each year his hard earnings arc licked up IN
long columns of figures deXterously manipu
ie lated by the merchant or landlord, An appca
J. to the state courts is as hopeless to him as ~
.. appeal to arms would be. Packed iurics, sub
! orned witnesses and judges whose decisions
" are rendered in accordance with the prejudice
: of the white people and not according t
8 law and evidence, arc the odds will
i which the cOlored man who submits his case I,
n u judicial tribunal in the sixth district of Mis-
! his rights Mt the ballotboX- where, indeed his
g only hope lies-that prerogatiyc is cut short by
processes of reform already familiar to thu
=. country. Chiefest among these is that of un
,s provoked and undisguised murder The mex
in order is the conliscation of property and re
T. fusal to pay the negro his wages who does no
Z first renounce Republicanism aud join Dem
&c ocIatic club. By the Use of duplicate keys il
r the hands of the sworn officers of the elections
II the balot-bOX is STUFFED" al Hbitum. BY lcgis
latOn which often compels the negro TO traYe
T. distance Of forty or ity miles TO register ant
y vote, thousands are yearly DISTINGUISHED. L
t. the journey is made aud the registration com
pleted, ii is done at the imminent risk of tht
voter being shot on the way
j. The will of single white man anywhere IL
- Mississippi is all that is needed to call down
Z, upon the head of II negro swift and terrible
= punishment for any ohense which may b'
: charged against him, whether the charge b,
u false or true.
If Is ii denied by Mr.. Chalmers that thes,
J. things are true2 Then quote here an ex
tract from letter written by Hon. John X
- Lynch, a colOred man, and the peer Of Mr.
n Chalmers in everything that goes TO make NJ
=" the gentleman, and whose integrity and in
y teligence Is well known to the country. Th
II letter bears date Natchez, November 2, 1878
"a and is addressed to the editor Of the Matches
Democrat:
There is not man in the district, white or col