The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-01-09
THE CoPIAH ELECTION.
The Facts about the Election Of the
Independents, Mcneil and Buff
kin.
LETTER FROM DR.. A. nuxrER.

CRYSTAL SPgL'Gs, Mss,
December 20, 1879.
EDIToRs CLARION: A. tie question Of
admitting the Representatives Of Copiah
county, Messrs. Mcneil and Budkin, into
the councils Of the Democratic party may
arise during the sitting Of the Legislature,
it may not be amiss in me to statc some
facts in reference 10 the course pursued to
secure their election, especially that Of Mr..
j. W. Mcneil.
In order 70 make the situation clear,
will state that parties are pretty evenly
balanced in the county that is 10 say the
registry shows about as many black a. white
voters registered Perfect unity therefore,
in the Democratic party j, essential to sue
cess In order 70 secure this unity the Ex-
ecutiye Committee thought it advisable to
hold first a primary election and then con-
firm the choice Of the people by ratilying it
in Convention. The primary election and
Convention were both held, aud both re-
suited in the nomination Of ID. w. McRae
and myself for the Legislature The Con-
ycntion required pledge from each can
didate that he would support the nominees
o! the Convention and abide by its dccis-
ion. This pteige mas Uery soiemHB girm By
Mr.. McNed, bm oHy gtCca IN be brokca, for
~ soon rs he found no was defeated he en-
tered into negotiations with the Radical
leaders with view to defeat the regular
nominees. The negotiations resulted IN a
compact by which, on the one hand, the
Democratic party was TO be disorganized /;
aud on the other, the sOim Radic1i negrO
rate was to be given 10 the dlsOrganizers.
This unrightcOus compact was successful,
and the Democratic nominees were defeated.
The victory is rs essentially victory of
Radicaism as it could be, and it is 50 de-
cared by the Leading Radicals in the
county. How could it be otherwise? The
| Loyal Leagues were revived and the negro
voters were marshaled and marched up to
| the polls solid for the DsOrganizers The
ticket they voted was a mongrel ticket, com
posed of Independents (so-called) and Rad
icals In fact, Mcneil and BuHkin were
TO all intcnts and purposes, candidates run.
was the Radical candidate for the office OF
Sheriff, and who AS II reward for his ser
vices in this matter, has since been APP
pointed United States Deputy Collector, in
place of Mr., Edgar West Democrat. There
would have been no contest in the county
but for this league between Mcneil and
Matthews.
And now, let me add, if these men, elected
under such circumstances, especially Nc.
Neil, who violated his pledges, should be
admitted into the CauCuseS of the Demo
cratic party in the Legislature, it will
have such a blghtng influence on the party
in this county Us to seriously impair If not
actually destroy its organization. We re
gard them rs having not only withdrawn
from the party, but withdrawn in disgrace
with broken VOWS on their lips, (those whC
pledged themsclves) and to 90 again into
caucus or convention with them would bt
but giving them another opportunity t.
betray. 1t would place the true men Of the
party at II disadvantage and give all the
opportunity to those who would not be
bound by their plighted faith. The policy
of taking dsorganizers into the confidence
of the party is so obviously unjust to those
who have fought the good fight of faith
that no organization can, in the future be
effected if it is done.
Respectfully,
| HINTrp