The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-08-05
TUNIs G.CAMPBELI.
STORY of One of the Greatest Ra>"als
OF Reconstruction Times.

Story OF One of the Greatest Ra>s ais
OF Reconstruction Times.
Tunis &. Campbell, the negro politician
of reconstruction period fame, who, by
dint of brazen edrontery, combined with
an extraordinary degree of cunning AMI
affected aifabIlity of disposition. for a
long time recognized as supreme NUM-
cipal and political dictator in Mclntosh
county, Is, il is said, ending his unenvia-
Bile career in some obscure corner of
Rhode Island.
Although now subjects of mTtl, the
actions of this Overbearing isnoramus
were Ut the time extremely Illuminating,
particularly tn the whites " hO had differ
ences To submit To him, rs before those
he was especially ANXIOUS TO display his
erudltion, his authority ami his illimita-
BILE power.
When white man appeared before
HIM, either as witness, plaintiff or de-
PENDANT. Justice Campbell would mould
his features into a heinous sc0wl and
turn his dusky and distorted counte.
nance in the direction Of such person 81
as To thoroughly impress him with the
majesty OF the law. Then he would
pick up huge antiguated volume and
appear to be deeply absorbed in some in.
trlcate legal question. After awhile his
face would brighten up somewhat as
with an irresistible blandness he would
nod, in token Of encouragement, to some
rascally falsehOo.i- mumbling negro.
lie wore a pair of heavily gold-rimmed
spectacles. and il is probable that these,
in conjunction with the arts of the dem
agogue which he had SO thoroughly
mastered, were the talismanic powers by
the aid Of which he so completely
swaye,i his adherents.
Under his fostering care tho desire for
petty litigation became infectious. IL
the contestants were short Of cash,
Campbell would permit the costs of
court. etc, to be paid with chickens,
corn, p"tat@s, or other farm products,
AMI. strange tn say, the negroes would
sooner deprive themselves Of the neces.
saries II life than To- neglect To satisfy
the demands of their Fraudulent, chief.
When II suited hls purpose Campbell
would call political mass meetings, and
while, as matter of course, he would
be chairman, he always took care to
have his scottish son appointed NJ, rotary.
After discussing local and matte nal pol.
tiles the demigod would touch upon bus.
mess questions.
"lo u are being imposed upon" he
would say. bring Your cotton to me
AMI will see that no ady antage is taken
Of you.'
were put in tampbell', charge. lie
went to Savannah. sold the cotton. and
returned, hut the owners If The cotton
rarely saw any IT the proceeds.
Despite repeated impositions Of this
nature M complaints were made of
CampHll by those of his own race. To
utter ono disrespectful word 1T him
meant certain political ostraclsin. and
participation in politics WAS then. To the
average negro. what n fairy tale is to the
average child.
To Judge Henry y. Tompkins belongs
tho honor Of putting an end to thu abor-
tive career II this monstrosity. and to
him does Mcintosh feel indebted for it.
The personal courage Of Judge Temp.
kins was never more brightly tXempli.
fled than when he. in tho faces of thous.
an,ls Of Infatuated and vengeance
threatening negroes. sentenced their idol
to "a term in the p~nitentiary, AMI il was
by the nerest chance that tho gallant
Judge escape h~llly hurt ON that occa.
sion.
After having served his term in the
penitentiary Campbell was brought back
To Darlen to further. by his influence,
the political interests If one or two white
men; but he found that he had M longer
any grip. The snIsrstitions vsneration
of hls followers had vanished, and he
wisely left the field where le had So of
ten conquered, hut where he could no
longer rely IN anything save the con-
tempt Of those he had 81 mercilessly
duprd. Atlanta Constitution.