The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-10-12
Republioau speakins Monday.


tho color line that he would not sup-d
port him, but would vote for Maj.
Barksdalc.
Hill assembled the stand armed
with the platforms Of the Republic
can and Democratic parties, the
jackson Republican and BRooKHA-
VEN LEDGER. He stated that he was
opposed to the color line, and that
he had announced previous to the
couyening of the Convention that
if nominated solely by colored vo-
tcrs he would not run. He risked
nothing in making that declaration,
as he knew that several white post
masters, anxious to secure his influ-
ence, and his white deputy coIlec-
tors, would attend the Convention.
He spoke loud and Justify against
the color line, but pandered to the
prejudices of the negroes by remind
ing them that twenty years ago they
were all slaves. Now one of their
colleagues in misery stood before
them as a candidate for Congress.
He, said he did not rejoice in the
distress caused by the war but was.
very thankful for Its results. and
that he should always be under OBJ
legations to Mr.. Jefferson Davis and
other Confederate agitators for
bringing on the war. 1t had made
him a free man. While protesting
to oppose the color line, he is really
making his campaign upon that is,
sue. We think Judge Mcmillan
will be compelled to vote for Banks
dale. ...
Hill, in a brazen and indecent
manner, spoke of his birth, and said
he was not responsible for it; that
he thought he was the very man to
represent the people of this district
in Congress as he was part white
and part negro. He said that his
father was a pure caucasian, and
one of the leading Democrats Of the
the State; that he did not want the
color line drawn. "If you draw
the line, in the name of God where
in the hell will I be? Still they tell
you am a bad negro with glass
eye" Choice expressions for a
| would-be Congressman! He read an
extract from the Declaration of In
dependence that "all men are crea-
ted equal and said it was from the
Constitution of the United States.
| He ought to have sense enough to
know that the quotation was never
intended to refer to the negro race.
! He denied the charge copied in The
| LEDGER FROM the Comet, that he
| had stuffed a ballot box in Jackson.
His speech was common through
out, interspersed with profane
and disgusting remarks, and was
we'll calculated to arouse the pas
sions and prejudices of the negroes.
There was nothing in it to show
that Hill possessed the slightest
justification for Congress. 1t was
q lame effort, the worst we ever
heard him make. 1t should cause
every white man in the district to
rally and do all in his power to elect
Barksdale. ..
Alcorn's speech was some better
than Hills, though there was little
in it. He is the only man now liv-
ing that can DELIVER a speech, make
sweeping gestures and dance reel
at one and the same time. How he
manages to keep his tongue, hands
and feet going all at once is some
thing that mo fella can find out"
but he dose. AS performer he is a
success. He is also a fine mimic.
His several efforts to initiate the
trotting dog were good, but if the
stand had been larger the effect
would have been better. Alcorn
feels for the youths of the country
and warned them against the advice
of wicked Democratic papers, that
the election must be carried for
Barksdale at all hazards. He shud-
dered to think of the fate of the
young men; the penitentiary is open
for them and the striped clothes are
ready. He warned them to stop and
think before they counted Hill out.
He said the RED Shirts of Madison
arc raising a little hell up there;"
that they ride around Canton when
Republicans speak, shoot.off their
guns aud yell like Comanches. Oh,
they arc Il bad lot and are going to
run the negroes out Of the country.
After speaking some time and tell
ing some amusing anecdotes Alcorn
told the negroes that nobody would
bother them when they went to vote.
He advised them to keep sober on
election day, to quietly deposit their
ballots for the man of their choice,
return home and 60 to work. The
advice given is good, and the best
thing Alcorn said.
At night Morris Marks, who is a
candidate for Congress in New Or
leans, made speech which was
mild and fairly delivered.
The efforts of all the Democratic
orators 10 the State could not have
done as mush to arouse the white
people as did the speeches of Hill,