Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-06-08
(From vardamans Weekly, June i, 1929

Confederate soldiers; and that while
i was too young to be in the civil
war, yet | did my part in reconstrnc-
ton days to rid the state OF carpet
baggerS and negro rule IN politics,
and that have always been active in
my efforts to build up the state in
every way.
| am now an old man, but when
the time comes for me to go out into
another world, can do SO with the
full consciousness OF the TACT that
will leave behind me record for hav-
ing always paid my deDts, for having
been faithful to my family ana
friends, and for having been true
and loyal TO my party ana my gov
eminent.
In conclusion, permit me to suggest
that your political future must be
very DARK and gloomy, Inat your poll
teal situation must be very despe-
rate, for you go back more than AS
years to flnd something in my record
TO criticise. Hubert y. stephens
was not born until 18 moths after the
vote was cast. He was elected Ia
trlct attorney and five times elected
to Congress. Although my vote was
a matter known to all, yet it remain
ed for you to be the first and only one
of his many opponents to refer to it,
or try TO make political capital out
of it.
Please publish this letter in your
paper and send me bill for the
charges.
Yours truly.
(Signed) 4. nj. STEPHENS.
1t is true in a former issue of the
Weekly, and in response to many in
quiries, it was stated that z. NJ. Ste
phens, the father of Hubert D. Ste
phens, candidate for United States
Senator, had voted for the negro
B. K. Bruce for United States Sena-
tor. This article further stated that
| did not think the son of Mr.. Steph-
ems should necessarily be held re-
sponsible for the conduct of his faith
er. But since Hubert D. Stephens
headquarters have issued the above
letter over the signature of Mr.. 2.
M. Stephens as campaign docu-
ment, and thereby making Hubert
D. Stephens father and his record
an issue in this campaign, notwith-
standing my disposition to drop the
matter, this letter demands that GER
tain questions be answered. So, for
their accommodation I shall proceed
to answer this letter and to eluci-
date the argument it contains.
In the third paragraph of Mr..
Stephens letter, he says the Weekly
Clarion, published by Major E. Barks
dale and Col. ]. L. Power, under date
of January goth, 1874, stated "there
was no chance for a democrat to be
elected to the United States Senate at
the time that Bruce was elected, for
the reason that the race was between
carpeebaggers and colored republic
cans
Will you please explain, Mr.. Ste
phensy how you distort this into an
approval Of you having voted for the
negro Bruce? Is it any wonder that
Major Barksdale and Colonel Power
should make this statement when
men like you, who were bred and born
in the southland were prostitut-
ing the interests Of the bleeding
southern people by voting for ne
groes and carpetbaggers?
May l ask, what chance the demo-
Gratis had for election when you so
far forgot yourself?
You say in the fourth paragraph
of your letter, 'sthere were many con-
federate soldiers who voted for Bruce
because of some peculiar condition
surrounding his candidacy at this
| time"
Will you please give me the name
of just one confederate soldier who
voted for this negro Bruce on this
particular occasion?
The record as shown by the House
Journal, year 1874, page 121 shows
that there were two nominees before
the legislature at the time that you
voted for the republican negro
Bruce. A negro member by the name
of Randolph placed in nomination B.
|
K. Bruce for the term beginning on
the 4th day of March, 1875, and end
ing the 4th day Of March, 1881. Mr..
Street placed in nomination the
name of Robert Lowry, "a vote, viva
voce being had," etc.
The Record shows that the follow
ing voted for Robert Lowry:
Messrs. Atkins, Akers, Archer,
Byrd of Pearl, Boyd of Attala,
Cook, Champlin, Campbell, Greece