Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-06-08

The following letter has been re-
rceived from Mr.. z. nj. Stephens,
which the people will read with in
terest:
New Albany, Miss, May %, 1922.
Hon. Jas. X. Vardaman,
Jackson, Miss.
Dear Sir:
In your paper of January II, 1922,
you had am editorial in which refer
.ence was made to the election of b.
X. Bruce, negro, TO the U. S. SEN
ate in 1874, and my record in that
matter. Again, in your paper of
April 81, 1922, you had an editorial
on the same subject.
While you say, Whatever Steph-
ems father may have done in no way
affects Stephens fitness for the po-
sition of United States Senator"
yet your reference to it not only
once, but the second time, shows con-
clusively that you are attempting to
use it as political capital against
my son, Hubert d. Stephens. For
that reason, in justice to my son and
myself, | feel it my duty to take cog
nizance of the matter.
At the time of the election to which
you refer "The Weekly Clarion"
published at jackson, was the leading
Democratic paper in the state. Its
publishres were Major E. Barksdale,
and Col. j. l.. Power, both of whom
were strong Democrats and Confed-
crate soldiers. In an EDITORIAL in that
paper, dated Jan. 20, 1874, you will
find that it was stated that there was
no chance for Democrat to be cleo
ted to the Senate, and that "The con-
test is between carpetbaggers and
colored republicans. For our
selves, we had rather trust the for
tunes of the state to colored men who
are permanently here, and 'racy of
the soil' than to the adventures"
In just week the election was
held and the result was announced
in that Democratic paper, but those
Democratic editors and Confederate
veterans did not utter one single
word of criticism of those who voted
for Bruce. They understood the
situation; they knew that many good
white men, some of whom were gal
liant Confederate soldiers. facing an
unpleasant political situation, voted
for Bruce, because they believed it
was the best thing to do under the
Capt j. S. McNeily, of Vicksburg,
in an article on Reconstruction in
discussing the election
of negroes over carpetbaggers, said,
"The far-seeing perceived in the1
gradual crowding out of the carpet
baggers a process that was sure to
hasten the end of republican rule In
the state.
Several of the white men who vot-
ed for negroes for the Senate at that
time were afterwards honored fire.
quently by being given high posi-
tions in the Democratic party; and
one gof them twenty years after
wards lacked only few votes of be-
ing elected to the u. S. Senate.
In 1873 one wing of the republican
marty endorsed Ames for governor;
fhe other wing endorsed Alcorn for
that Office. The democrats did not
have a ticket, but endorsed Alcorn
and his ticket. There were negroes
on both the Ames and Acorn tick-
cts, so that every white man who vot-
ed in that election voted for negT,.
Being a democrat, l voted for Acorn
and his ticket.
That those familiar Wit my record
and the conditions that prompted my
action did not censure me for it, is
shown by my later political history.
In 1882 I was a candidate for float
zer representative for the counties OF
Pontotoc and Union, and was elect
ed by an overwhelming vote. There
were only 13 votes out of several
hundred cast against me at my home
precinct. This was only nine years
after the election of Bruce, when that
matter was fresh in the minds OF the
people and every one of them was
thoroughly familiar with my record.
In 1884 / was the Democratic
Presidential Elector from my con-
gressinoal district, and campaigned
with Senator Lamar.
In 1883 / was a candidate for con-
gTess and carried the four counties
of Benton, Marshall, Tippah and
Union. You refer to Judge j. w. q.
Watson as being one of the men that
was voted for for the Senate IN 1914.
Judge Watson was one of the lead
ing men and democrats of the state.
He knew my record, but was my
friend and supporter in that cam
paign.
In 1891 l was elected to the State
Senate to represent the counties OF
Tippah and Union. ;.
In 1896 / was appointed circuit
Judge by Governor McLaurin, and
my appointment was confirmed with
out being referred to a committee.
I have been delegate to the Ma
fional Democratic Convention, and
there was not a single Democratic
Convention from 1874 until the state
changed to the primary system that
4 did not attend as delegate.
Since the vote to which you re-
Ter was cast, have been a candidate
for office four times, and | never
lost a single precinct in my home
-.-% Trn;nr oycpnt aft one election