Year: 1875

Wtsfellanfo1s @faa1ng.


Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.


PEACE IN MISSISSIPPI.
A NORTHERN OBSERVERS ACCOUNT OF HOW


THE ELECTION WAS WON.


JACKSON, Tuesday night, November 2.


The feeling all along has been that election
day here would be very quiet or very bloody.
The condition of things was such that, if there
was any disturbance at all, it would be fearful.


Up to this writing there has not been the
least trouble, and as the negroes are leaving
town rapidly, and as the whites are in jolly
good humor, there is diminished chance tor
row.


1t has been as quiet an election as I ever
attended. When every man knew that every
white man was armed, and that single per-.
sonal difficulty might FIRE the mine and lead
to the slaughter of hundred, there was great
circumspection of conduct and exquisite care
to avoid treading upon other peoples toes.


Then every precaution was taken to secure
peace. There was large force of special po'
iicemen and deputy sherifs on the ground, &c.
lected from both parties, and every saloon is
closed from IL last night until tomorrow NOR
ming. The peace officers have orders to ar:
rest every disorderly and drunken man, and
put him in the common Jail until the polls
are closed and the votes counted.


In addition, the worthy citizens of Jackson,
those more interested in the peace and pros
perity of the city than any one else can posi-
bly, be, have been on the ground the entire
day, going from polling place to polling place,
and using all their influence in the preserva-
ton Of peace.


Above all, the Federal soldiers at the bar
racks we're under orders to rush into the city,
the very moment there was an outbreak, and
preserve the peace. They have been prepared,
and, at the signal, would have nothing to do
but "fall in"


Yet with all the precaution, fear and anx-
iety hung over the city like pail last night
From here and from Edwards, Bolton and
Clinton, on the Vicksburg road, many women
and children we're sent into Vicksburg for
safety. Matters had been arranged in that
usually tumultuous city until it was regarded
as one of the places least liable to row.


1 believe that the probabilities of row
here were thought to be greater than at any
other point in the Stote. 1t is sort of head
quarters for the Republicans many are here
whose lives have been threatened in other parts
of the State, who, of course, are in no genial
humor the colored people have been told to
come into town and vote, regardless of conse-
quences; the whites were armed and deter.
mined, and upon survey of the whole field,
1 thought Jackson in more danger from an
outbreak than any other place in the State.
Therefore, remained here, not to take part
in the expected riot, but to be on hand to give
the world true history of it in my feeble
way. I rejoice exceedingly that have no
bloody chapter to write tonight. So far, the
dispatches have revealed but one fracas in the
State that occurred this morning near Port
Gibson. Only two men were killed, one white
and one black, which is remarkably light
casualty list for that quarter.


AT THE POLLS.


All day long I have been at one or the 9th
er of the three voting places of the city and
suburbs.


Every business house in the city was closed
from early morning until night, giving the
city Sunday appearance. This was done
thatevery white man might give his undivided
attention to securing the election Of the Dem.
ocratic ticket, upon the success of which they
believe that their very salvation depends.
never before saw such determination to
carry an election, the whole body of the white
people being moved by common impulse.
The wealthy citizens have given literally of
their means to secure votes, without nice
scruples as to now the votes were obtained.
Every white man resolved himself into q COM
mittee to secure the vote of at least one color
ed man.


The result is astonishing. would not have
believed that 80 many colored people could
have been got to vote the Democratic ticket
as have seen do it here to-day.


No force or violence or intimidation was
employed. I watched for this closely, and
had the assistance of another party, but we
jointly and severally failed to discover any.
thing that could loe properly called intimida-
tion.


oCRATIC TICKET.


More voted with the whites here than ever
before-yes, more than twice as many as at any
other election. They were chiefly influenced
in this by the non.interference Of the govern
ment. Because the government did not step
in at the request of Gov. Ames, they have
got the notion that it has "gone back on
them," as they call it, and now, being without
support they must cultivate friendly relations
in politics with the whites. They know that
they cannot maintain q contest with them
without government support, and as they have
been deprived of that support, the next best
thing is to accept the inevitable. This was
the chief influence operating among them
here, and the great cause Of such an unusual
number voting the Democratic ticket.


Another influence was the we'll known fact
that the whites are in arms; that they intend
no longer to live under negro rule if they have
to fight to get out. The negroes do not want
a fight They know what that means. So
many voted with the whites as matter Of
conciliation, preferring to see Democrats cleo.
ted than to have row in which they would
be the chief sufferers.


Half the servants at the hotel where stop
voted the Democratic ticket to the great as
tonishment and qualification of the proprietor,
who counted only upon three. This morning
the proprietor said to one Of the clerks:
"Have you talked to so and so mentioning
FOUR among the dining-room boys?"


"No, sir" replied Mr.. Phillips, "it is not a
bit of use. They will vote the Radical ticket
if you should argue with them week."


Yet these very four, as I happen to know,
voted the straight Democratic ticket. They
did it because they conceive that the Repub.
lican party here is "gone up" and they don't
want to stand out in apparent antagonism to
the whites


CURIOUS INDUCEMENTS.


I witnessed many strange scenes at the
no1)a and around ahont among the oroHd