The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-01
AN AysW Err
To a Plain Statement to the vot-
ers of Claiborne County, and Of
the It'll Congressional District Of
Mississippi

the 18th Congressional District OF
Mississippi"
Some OF Col. Hooker's Claiborne county |
friends have published circular entitled as
follows: a Plain Statement to the Voters |
Of Claiborne county. and of the 18th |
District of Mississippi"
The Object OF this circular vas 10 explain, |
from the standpoint OF Col. Hooker's
friends in Claiborne county, the difficulties
that grew out OF failure 10 agree be-
tween the Hooker men and the BsrksdaIe
men in the recent County Convention held
for The purpose of electing delegates TO
the Congressional District Convention.
As a general rule, one side OF story
sounds we'll enough until the other
is heard, snd IN order that the vot-
era Of this Congressional District may
al least hear both sides of this controversy,
before passing in judgment upon it, We, the
undersigned, make the foiloSing state
ment:
"A Plain Statement. etc above refer
red to, embraces letter from Mr.. f. P.
Briscoe, pnrporiing to give an exact history
If the Claiborne County Convention.
Without admitting or denying at present
the exactness of Mr.. Bri-coe's statement,
he following comments upon il seem per
tin-nI:
In The outset of his article Mr. Bris-
eoe found il necessary, perhaps intend
ing to give force TO what he purposed writ
ing, to d, clare that he was not "parti-
san = as the Temsinder Of his article shows
that he was an earnest and Jealous sup
porter OF Col. Hooker, We make no further
comment upon his craftsmanship" but
leave this to the judgment of the reader.
Again, Mr.. BriScoe says, in referring TO
his own conduct at the meeting OF the Port
Gibson Democratic Club, I" protested
againstn The Hooker chairman appointing
all Hooker men, To the County CoByen
ton, Insisting that the minority Barks
/ dale's friends-"hsd right TO places on
the delegation" This assertion is perhaps
| inserted to foriify his above quoted stale
ment, that he WAS not partisan-from a
non partisan source rather conciliatory and
| conservative statements are TO be expected
but, Mr.. Briscoe, in the very next par
| agrsph 20 the last above quoted, concerning
| his protest" in the Port Gibson Club ast
| The rights of the minority, says, "Subse-
| quent events proved that was mistaken in
my estimate of the integrity OF the average
! American citizen, when politics are in
question" Now let it be remembered it is
of politics that Mr.. Briscoe is writing, when
in the same article he prefaces his state
ments by declaration that he Is not par
tisan. A little further on, his zeal 10 con-
denim his neighbors and friends (who, Tor
the lime being differ with him on politi-
cal matter) and TO influence the voters OF
the 9Th Congressional District, beguiles
him into denouncing these same neig hbor,
and friends as waiting in integrity. A man
may question his neighbors integrity, but
AZ impartial public will ask his reason for
so doing, before taking the charge as true
and if ii appear that the accuser has J
quarrel with his neighbors over some mat
ter personal 10 them, Tor a matter of local
politie-) The pubic will further demand
before judgment, the neighbors side of the
story. Now, while not allowing that Mr.
Briscoe has any better character for integ
rIiy than ourselves and at the same time
claiming no superiority for ourselves il
this regard, We deny that his account of the
County Convention is correct. We say
, that his own article condemns him as par
tisan in his statement of the case, and W.
ask an impartial consideration Of boil
side 8 of the case at the hands of the pnblic
Again, in his article Mr. Briseoe charges
that +" the supporters OF Maj. Barksd j,
cast about, during the Convention, FOL
some scheme by which they could ceiea
the will OF the people )" these are strong
words; where is the proof to convince III,
public that they are true? And lastly, ar
they such words az emanate from a thor
oughly non-partisan source?
Again, Mr.. Bri-eoe SAYS that Barksdale'
friends in the Convention, acting under
tbs advice OF two sHREwD POLITICAL WIRE
PULLERs, SECURED the ASSISTANCE of th,
Barksdsle supporters on the Brandywin,
and Grand Gulf delegations, and in lheii
caucus determined to capture The organiza
ton OF the Convention, have a Commute,
on credentials appointed who would de
; clare the Grand Gulf and Brandywin,
delegates not entitled to seats aud throw
out their ten votes aud give the vote OF III,
county 10 Hark~dale, which program
, was, however, only partially c ,rri. d OUT
This paragraph charges, LIST, that tn
Barksdale men were led by the advice O
: two wire puIlers )" ID, that the Brandy
wine and Grand Gulf delegates lent thei
assistance" to The Barksdale men at In
advice" of two ''wire-puller-;" 81, that tn
t Barksdale men determined in caucus t.
give the vote of the county 10 Barkzdsle
These are strong expressions grav
/ charges 10 be made and again we AL
E where is the proof to f,rlify them? VIII
were the two wire puller-? and did the
get such a character otherwise than in NJ
, Briscoe's non. partisan opinion How di,
Mr.. Briscoe know what was determined il
, caucus OF the Barksdale men Were tn
. Brahdywine and Grand Gulf delegates g.
mbeciie that two wire-pullers could con
, troll their honesty and their votes? An,
lastly, how did Mr.. Briscoe know thai lh
Barksdale men had determined to give tn
county to Maj,r Barksdale? The non
partisan character OF Mr.. Briscoe's articl
and he said he was not a partisan) wa
We suppose, intended as all sufficien
evidence of his yario1s charges, and a
sufficient answer 10 every question that hi
article might suggest-but ID not an i'm
partial public still disposed to ark, ar
such accusations, without other proof thai
3 Mr.. BriscOe's statement, to be received a
, conservative, as exact, as non partisan
: ueed DIS no denial from any source nor
t any proof other than the face of M
: Briscoe's article necessary, to coutradic
+ the spirit, if not the very letter, of hi
r article which undertakes To impeach III
: integrity of Major Barksdale's friends i
the Convention. The facts as Dir. Briseo
: states them are as follows:
Il BarksdaIe had tweniy-sIx votes in tn
: Convention, and Ho ,ker iwenty-eigh
!. The ten votes from Grand Gulf embrace
, in the twenty .eight for Hooker, were i
/ dispute. The Grand Gulf vote, after du
/ consideration, was not allowed seat i
the Convention. Then ignoring aliogeIh
the question OF the Braudywine vote, whic
I was also rejected by the Convention, tn
, Convection as it stood organized III
, Hooker men coneurred in this organizes
|, ion as Mr. Briscoe's ar icle abundant
shows-stood, as per Briscoe's figures. a
, follows.
FOR BARKsDALE-
Rocky Springs.
rattena. .....-..
Dtthet ......., '.-....-. .s..-.-
Flower bIll....-. ...,...........
Total ...-...-. ........ -
: FOR HOOKER.
Brsndywine. ....-.....
rort gibson ....-..
Marhn.-.-.- ....--..-.--...
lotai..... - I