New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-09
GENERAL j. r. CHALMERS.
HIS CREED AND COURSE EXPLAINED

ton and future political course. bat 40 I do not
| wish to be held responsible for the langusg, n,
Others prefer to write for myself As your assault,
on me during the late canva,s were quoted against
Inc the stump by my opponent. Colonel Man.
ming 1 trust you will publish this In your widely
circulated paper
In 1872. when prominent Democrats In Mississipni
! had decued the position, l was nominated az AN
elector for Horace Greeley and performed tbs
/ duties assigned me in the canvass. The NV.
! YORK TRIBUNE theu my guide. and We worked
| harmoniously together. /. as a Democrat. SUM-
ported Horace Greeley, because | believed he wa,
! leading in the direction Of honesty and reform.
| When 1 became IN Independent Democrat and
endea yored to lead Mississippi into the path OF
| honesty and reform IN elections you assaed ma
! bitterly for what you supposed had been in the
past forgave Horace Greeley and THE TRIBUNE
for what believed to be their sins of the past In
the hope that they would do better 10 the futile.
but You refused to extend the same charity to me-
You wrote as II you feared was about to become
Republican and that would poute the party by
my touch. think 10 would be time enough 10 raiss
such an issue when ask to be taken into the Re-
publican church. 10 to the present time have
made no such request, and contemplated 40 such
action. In the past have acted independently
whenever thought it right to do so. In letter
IL
federate general who advised the South to accept
the Reconstruction measures promptly. For this |
was Denounced as Republican. In the race bs-
tween General Ames and Governor Alcorn, for
Governor of Mississippi, l declined to follow my
party for reasons then stated by me 10 published
letter, aud for this again my Democracy sus-
pected In speech in the House of Representa-
tIyes on the Texas Pacific railroad bill, gave
notice to Northern Democrats that IL they refused
ID AID us in the material developmDt Of the South.
we wo1ld seek other alliances, and for this was
assailed both by Northern and Southern Democrats.
For four years stood in Congress appealing to Dem
ocrats to protect Mississippi from the devastating
overflows of the Mississippi Riveri but without
cess and whom q Republican President recon-
mended it and Republican Congress appropriated
money to protect u.s. declared that If reelected to
Congress / should in gratitude, vote for Repub-
lican Speaker, if he agreed WI til the President on
this question. For this, I am again called Repub
lican ia localities where 1t is supposed this would
inure me-
For reasons satisfactory to myself, aud published
to the world | determined to become independ-
ent candidate for Congress in the lid Dlstricto
Mississippi In this district by the State census,
there 4. majority OF i've hundred white voters;
but the Republicans and Greenbackers, when
united, have undoubted majority, and yet they
were hopeless of getting far count in any cleo
ton in that district. believed the people of that
district would give me a fair count, and offered
myself independent candidate, stating that
would retire and support their nominee If the
GreenDackeIs and Republicans would unite upon
any other man they preferred to me. These part
les met ia their separate convictions ano Endorsed
my candidacy under my promise that could and
would secure q free ballot and fair count. You
hos TN vet
have denounced the Southern Democrats because
you said they would not permit the negro to vote
unless he voted as they wished him. This fair
election was eudeayOring TO secure, and when 1t
WAS manifest from their action In convention
that the Republicans OF the lid Mississippi District
desired to vote for me. you rallied at them Tor so
doing and gave daily Aid and comfort TO my Dem-
ocratc opponent You urged tue Republicans to
break theil faith plighted to me IN convention Aud
vote for II. c. Carter whom you aud Others like
you, supported nouilnally. but to the benefit OK
Van II. Manning. You charged me with having
been the head bulldozer and ballot-box suffer in
Mississippi Ii this true, had as much right as
1HH NEw-YoRK RIBUHE to change my course
when saw lit. But have routed tneso charges
often, and prove to-day that received tint sup
port of leading white Republicans, and large mum
Der of cOlOred Republicans, when was Dem-
ocratic no nlnee IN the Old "Sboestrlng district,
and largely account of my position on the Miss
ls,lppI lovee question.
You charge ne with being the butcher Of Fort
Pillow: bat you forget that HE NEW. l oRK IRlB-
UNE said tai, charge should not be OrOugns
against me again alter demanded IN inyesIlsa-
ton of the chai ge by Union soldiers. You forget
that General Garfield said On the ioor OF the House
that Bon Wade convinced before he died that
Injustice bad been done To FORESTS coiDmanl 10
tho report on Fort Pillow. You forget also. that
some of the best and truest Republicans vi Missis
sippI like Captain George NJ. Buchanan. OF Mar
shall. Captain 1. W. Turner OF Ialal,atchs,
George Il. Alcoru, of Coanoms l. u. Woodson; OF
Tunca the Hayes aud Wheeler ELECTORS IN 1876
aud many Others | conld mention. were with me 10
the slornile Of Fort Pillow. we have an
claimed that nc man was Kled vt fore ruLow
outside of the rules of war, and you have long
since forgiN Ell thom while you cOmlemn tne Ihey
are Republicans and | am IA lndepeadent Demo
crat who sustaIns "A President in his efforts to pro-
tect the valley of tho Mississippi.
Democrats assailed mo for saving the Soulh had
more to hope for from Republicans than Democrats
in building up and protecting the material interests
of our section, aud you aided them To break NO
down all you could They denounced me rs a Wio
Republican and you as an objectionable DEMOCRACY
but am happy to state that the people OF tue iiu
District of Nj ssissUpl sustain me ~ al nOnest re
former and an independent man worthy Oi tnor
support | was fairly elected, and my election
demonstrates that wien the Greeubackors are
taken FROM the Democrats there Is plurality oI
Republicans IN the district, aud that Buchanan isn
was honestly elected in 1880 to tue seat WHICH
Manning now unlaw fully holds. The pfetence thas
the whites were inundated from voting ~ quo
late election hy the preseuco OF white hsSisspPsS'
as UuIted states Supervisors or Deputy MatSnar
is Islander the courage of Mississippi Deui1
ocrats. The ballot box thieves who form but smsn
portion of our community we're Doubtless 'uIih.-
dated from stealing by the presence Of courage
ous white witnesses and the majority o "9e
people ia Mississippi: VINO are honest anu urea "
the corrupt rule of election bosses. arc rejoceu a.
the RESULT. | counted ont Of my certincs'e,
ami a few blndly PARTISAN Democrats ana sc.
spiteful Republicans rejoice Ut it but the houesss
hearts of honest men. both IN the Denocratic ~"
Republican parties. denouDce IT, -
The efforts to swlndle me out of nv election nav.
III ade stronger III Mississippi than ever va va
haf.p and Lain, tluna n AN
Democrat until free ballot aud falr COUNT COUNT, "
established every county of tue STATE Int,I sno
people are permitted once mUre. as IN Ola Do
ocrato days, To elect Their judges until the olso
Ia runAllY and hOne,tlY appOrtlvnen mo OOugIoo