Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 11

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030

USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I > Part 11

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The election approached, with final urgent appeals from the managers of each party, each side trying to preserve order, Agent Chase watching the situation with secret service men and privately calling the leaders to account for any threatened breach of the peace, and the few companies of United States troops serving as a reminder of what would follow the renewal of violence.

General George was faithful to his agreement and did his best to secure a fair and peaceful election. Intimidation and coercion continued, however, and there were isolated cases of violence. It was afterward testified that three hundred Republicans were killed during the campaign, which, on the other hand, is said to be an exaggeration. On election day, in Aberdeen, a cannon was trained on the voting place and an Alabama cavalry company paraded the streets. Amite county was invaded by Louisianians, and the officials driven out. In Columbus, fires being started in the previous night by persons unknown, the town was put under volunteer martial law, and four negroes killed and three wounded. (Garner's Reconstruction.) In Kemper county a squadron of cav- alry, commanded by Captain Winston, of Alabama, rode through the country, densely inhabited by negroes, during the night before election day, every fourth man carrying a torch, bugles blowing, drums beating, now and then charging an imaginary enemy and firing revolvers, until daybreak, when they separated and went home in groups of two or three. "The ruse was effectual. Not

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a negro in that community appeared at the polls next day to vote, and not a single one had been harmed or personally injured." (W. H. Hardy, Reconstruction in Miss.) Buchanan carried the following counties: Adams, Bolivar, Issaquena, Jefferson, Le- flore, Madison, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Sunflower, Tunica, Wilkin- son. The most one-sided returns were Itawamba-Hemingway 980, Buchanan 30; Jones-Hemingway 414, Buchanan 4; Tisho- mingo-Hemingway, 1352, Buchanan 12; and Yazoo, Hemingway 4044, Buchanan 7. Alcorn's county, Coahoma, gave a large Demo- cratic majority.

The total vote for treasurer, as counted by the legislature, was, Hemingway, 98,715; Buchanan, 67,171; Hemingway's majority, 31,544. The Democrats also elected a large majority of the legis- lature, and all the congressmen but two. "In Mississippi, from border to border, the general rejoicing was manifested by the ring- ing of bells, the firing of cannon and anvils, the marshaling of happy voters in torchlight processions, fireworks, and the illumin- ation of the towns." (Mayes' Lamar, 262)

The legislature which met in January, 1876, had a large Demo- cratic majority. In his message the governor, sore over defeat, discussed the recent election, charging intimidation of voters and declaring "the conviction that frauds were perpetrated at the late election gathers strength by comparison of the returns with those of the preceding election." The governor had already been advised that it was the intention of the victorious party to at once take control of the State government by removing the executive officers. January 6 a committee of the house was appointed to investigate the official conduct of the gov- ernor. After a session of 38 days, the majority (Featherston, Jarnagin and Tison) reported that he should be impeached on various charges. The minority reported an explanation of each charge, and generally contended that there was no evidence in any case of corrupt motive or action that could be properly called high crime or misdemeanor. (House Journal, 1876, 309-26) Res- olutions of impeachment were adopted by a vote of 86 to 14, Feb- ruary 25. On the same day the trial of Lieutenant-Governor Davis began before the senate. Articles of impeachment in his case, were adopted by the house February 17. The offense charged was the pardoning of Thomas H. Barrentine (held for murder), being bribed thereto by the payment of $600. Cardozo was also im- peached, and he resigned March 22, before trial. Governor Ames had desired to resign his office before and after election, but had

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been persuaded not to yield the office to Davis. The latter was found guilty by the senate March 23d and expelled from office. March 25 additional articles of impeachment were presented against the governor based on the pardon of a man accused of criminal assault. During the taking of evidence, there had been preparation for review of the subject in Congress. Gen. Ben. F. Butler, father-in-law of Ames, particularly interested himself in the case, and informed a Democratic colleague, Beck, who immedi- ately saw Lamar, who wrote to Walthall of the defenses Ames could make, said they could not prove any corruption, any theft, any embezzlement, any robbery; but that Davis was guilty and Ames could furnish proof of it; that Ames would be glad to have Davis removed so that he could resign and leave the administra- tion in the hands of Stone. Butler promised (February 22) that he would bring Ames home if this were done. Jere Black advised Lamar that if they could prove any stealing, to go ahead, but if only an illegal act or some sort of usurpation, impeachment would have a damaging political effect. (Mayes' Lamar, 263)

On March 28 the governor's attorneys notified the managers of the impeachment that he had retained the office because of the pendency of the proceedings, that he still desired to "escape bur- dens which are compensated by no possibility of public useful- ness," and if the articles of impeachment were not pending, and the proceedings were dismissed, he would feel at liberty to carry out his purpose of resignation. Another important consideration was the fact that Governor Ames refused to do any executive busi- ness while under impeachment, and this business included a cer- tificate that Mr. Lamar had been elected United States senator. Accordingly the house dismissed the impeachment March 29, and on the same day Governor Ames resigned and John M. Stone, president of the senate, was inaugurated as governor.

Negro suffrage had been given a fair trial, and had resulted in vicious and corrupt government. It was a mistake to clothe an ignorant, servile race with all the rights of citizenship. The whole country suffered. The impartial student of the reconstruction period must regard the infranchisement of the negro as a blow at good gov- ernment, which has served to lower political standards all over the Union.

Ames' Provisional Administration. Adelbert Ames was ap- pointed provisional governor by General McDowell, commanding the military district. June . 1868.

Provisional Governor Sharkey had refused compensation from

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the United States, and levied taxes to support his government ; Provisional Governor Ames was required to perform the duties of the office without other compensation than his army salary.

General Gillem, who had been restored to command of the mili- tary district July 4, announced on the 10th the results of the gen- eral election of June. The vote on approval of the constitution was-56,231 for; 63,860 against. Governor Humphreys was re- elected by a majority of over 8,000; of the 138 members of the legislature the Democrats had elected 66 (about a dozen of the opposition being negroes), and the Democrats elected all of the five congressmen but George C. McKee, of the Vicksburg dis- trict. The rejection of the constitution rendered the other elec- tions nugatory, but Eggleston, the Republican candidate, made a great effort to persuade congress to declare the Republican State ticket elected. (see Reconstruction) In April congress pro- vided for a resubmission and another election. Meanwhile Gov- ernor Ames had been appointed commander of the Fourth military district, to succeed Gillem, which office he assumed under general orders dated March 17, 1869. He removed the district headquarters from Vicksburg to Jackson, and was both military commander and provisional governor until civil government was established under the new constitution. His military support was about 700 soldiers stationed at six points, and about 300 at Ship Island. Under a resolution of congress of February 16, 1869, he was required to remove from office all persons who could not take the "iron-clad" oath of 1862, and he accordingly removed nearly all the State officers and hundreds of county and municipal officers. C. A. Brougher, secretary of state, was replaced by A. Warner (Garner) ; Treasurer Echols was relieved March 6. In his appointments he was restricted to persons who could take the required oath, and therefore mainly to recent immigrants from the North and freedmen. "Some of the Northern men appointed by General Ames were competent and worthy officials. That they were not always cordially received in the communities to which they were sent was due chiefly to the Anglo-Saxon instinct for home rule" (Garner). In many instances he was doubtless de- ceived as to the qualifications of his appointees. He was charged with using the power for partisan purposes, as in the removal of a supreme court justice he had a few months before recommended for appointment to the bench; and dismissing the State printers in behalf of the editor of a Republican newspaper. He was also accused of shielding some unworthy appointees, even to the ex-

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tent of interfering with the courts (Garner, 233). Post com- manders were forbidden to obey the writ of habeas corpus from the Federal court. He suspended the act of the legislature for the relief of maimed Confederate veterans and required them to pay poll tax as others. By an order, April 29, 1869, he declared freedmen to be competent jurors. To this, the State Democratic committee urged that there be no opposition. It was part of his duties to make appropriations from the State treasury for the sup- port of the State institutions, and regulate the collection of taxes. In the case of the Selma & Meridian railroad, he vacated the pro- ceedings of the circuit court that threatened seizure of the road by the sheriff. Injunctions of courts were set aside, when he deemed it advisable. These are illustrations of his functions as a military governor."

"The appointment of General Ames, who was an alien to the State, without part or lot in its fortunes or sympathy with its people, was regarded as no worse than the removal of Humphreys. But the indignity of his appointment soon shrank into insignifi- cance before the wrath kindled by his administration. No temper- ate terms will describe the humor with which the people of the State regarded him. His rule was deemed to be stupid and blun- dering, oppressive, lawless, and self-seeking." (Edward Mayes, Life of Lamar.)

The resubmission of the constitution was made by virtue of an act of congress and proclamation of President Grant, July 13, 1869, the election being set for Tuesday, November 30th. The voter had the privilege of voting for or against the proscriptive clauses, and the clause forbidding the loaning of the credit of the State, and the vote "for" the constitution meant the rejection of those clauses. At the same time there was to be a general election of State officers, legislature and congressmen, but no local officers were to be chosen, the appointees of General Ames holding over until 1871.

The conservative wing of the Republican party organized the National Union Republican party, with the platform of "toleration, liberality and forbearance," holding a State convention at Jackson June 23, presided over by J. L. Wofford, late a Confederate soldier, then editor of a Republican paper at Corinth. The Eggleston wing of the Republicans met in State convention July 2, and adopted a declaration of principles. The Democratic party de- layed action. A. G. Brown, in a public letter in April, had proposed the policy of adoption of the Fifteenth amendment, guarantee of

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the civil and political rights of the freedmen, no partisan oppo- sition to the administration of General Grant, "hostility to men who had come to the State for making mischief, and hearty good will to all who will come in good faith to share the fortunes of the Southern people." This policy was so near that of the native Re- publicans, former Whigs, that union was proposed. The con- .servative newspapers proposed Judge Louis Dent, (q. v.), brother- in-law of President Grant, for governor. He had aided effectively in bringing about the rejection of the Eggleston program. With the understanding that he should be the nominee 33 newspapers favored the conservative movement, and the Jackson Clarion pub- lished an address in favor of the National Union party, signed by over one hundred prominent Democrats. September 8 the Nation- al Union party met in convention at Jackson, to nominate a State ticket. President Grant had notified Judge Dent, August 1, that he was satisfied that the success of this movement would result in the defeat of what he believed to be the best interests of the State and country, and "I must throw the weight of my influence in favor of the party opposed to you." But Dent persisted and declared that the president was reversing his policy, and support- ing the class of men he had "foiled in their attempt to force upon the people of Mississippi the odious constitution rejected at the ballot box." The Dent convention organized "the National Union Republican party of the State of Mississippi," declared in favor of "the early restoration of our government in strict accordance with the reconstruction laws," the adoption of the Fourteenth amendment, universal suffrage and universal amnesty. Dent was nominated by this convention, and the rest of the ticket was di- vided between the ex-Union soldiers, the native Democrats and conservative negroes, Thomas Sinclair, of Copiah county, named on this ticket for secretary of state, being the first negro nomi- nated for State office in Mississippi. The Democratic organization announced that there would be no convention of that party, which was urged to support Dent. The radical Republicans, meeting in convention September 30, shelved Eggleston on account of his attempt to have himself counted-in as governor in 1868, and named Gen. J. L. Alcorn for governor, the rest of the ticket being Union soldiers, native Republicans and one negro.

Alcorn and Dent canvassed the State, beginning a joint debate at Grenada in October. General Ames made careful provisions for a fair election, with both parties represented on the boards, and inspectors to represent the general commanding, in each county.

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Forty-nine army officers were detailed as inspectors. On election day there was some disturbance in Sunflower, Newton and Hinds county, but in general there was quiet. The constitution was rat- ified, with the proscriptive clauses stricken out, by a vote of 113,- 735 to 955. The proscriptive clauses were rejected by a vote of about 88,000 to 2,300, and the State credit clause was adopted. (Ames' official report). Alcorn was elected by a vote of 76,143, to 39,133 for Dent, Alcorn carried 28 counties that had negro ma- jorities, and 15 of those that had white majorities. The Repub- lican congressional ticket was also elected, and a very large major- ity of its legislative ticket. It was evident that the Democrats had not generally been satisfied with Dent as a candidate. In an- nouncing the result General Ames called the legislature to meet January 11, 1870, and on December 23, to make the election im- mediately effective, he issued an order appointing Alcorn governor, and the men elected secretary of state, auditor and attorney-gen- eral to those offices. But General Alcorn refused to obey the order, preferring to await the due time for receiving the office by virtue of election. Lieutenant-Governor Powers was of the same mind, but he yielded to the request of the senate to preside over its provisional session in January, when the legislature (q. v.) ratified the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments (see Recon- struction), elected United States senators (See Senators) and took "a recess until the second Tuesday after the admission of the State into the Federal Union."

The Mississippi bill, readmitting the State to the Union, was approved by the president February 23, 1870. General Ames had been compelled to certify his own election to the senate. He proclaimed the termination of his military command February 26, and repaired to Washington, and it may be taken that there was an interim until the inauguration of Governor Alcorn, March 10th, during which Lieutenant-Governor Powers was the execu- tive.

According to the supreme court (opinion of Judge Simrall, 45 Miss. 536), "The military government, and the provisional govern- ment, as an adjunct to it, expired on the 23d of February, 1870. It would follow that the title of every appointee of the military commandant to office, would expire, unless competent authority had made provision for their continuance until the complete in- stallment of the new officers."

Amite, Battle of 1808. Early in August, 1808, "the inhabitants on the frontier of Wilkinson county on the river Amite, were

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alarmed by a band of Choctaw Indians, who did some mischief on the first day they were seen in the neighborhood. The day after, a much greater number, about thirty, appeared, painted and making a warlike appearance, destroyed a man's plantation, [Montgomery] burnt all his houses and property, except what they could take off. A party of whites assembled to resist them, and a skirmish took place between nineteen whites and thirty Indians; the former had to retreat, and the latter pursued, until three or four men who were carrying off a wounded man and likely to be overtaken, fired among the Indians, and, it is said, killed two, on which the rest gave up the pursuit." (Letter of Governor Williams to Sec- retary of War.) The governor asked Colonel Sparks, at Fort Adams, to send out two companies to take position on the Tom- bigbee trace and Tunica trace, and ordered out two detachments from the militia regiments of Maj. John J. Jones and Col. Hugh Davis; but quiet was restored upon the posting of the troops as requested. In September the troops were withdrawn.

Amite County was organized February 24, 1809, while Missis- sippi was still a Territory during the administration of Gov. Robert Williams. 'The county has a land surface of 704 square miles. The original act recites that the county of Wilkinson shall be divided as follows: "Beginning at the thirty-mile post, east of the Mississippi river, on the line of demarcation, and running with the township line due north until it intersects the line of Adams county, thence with the said line east to the line of Washington county; thence along said line to the aforesaid line of demarcation, thence west along the said line to the place of beginning." From its eastern area were subsequently formed the counties of Pike, Marion, Perry, Green and Lamar. Its present eastern boundary is a line drawn due north from the sixty-mile post, east of the Mississippi, on the 31st parallel of latitude, to the southern limits of Lincoln county. The old boundary line, as established by the treaty of Fort Adams, in 1801, with the Choctaws, runs a few miles west of this eastern boundary line. It contained a population of about 1,500 souls at the time of its establishment. Its name is derived from the Amite river, whose two branches water its soil, the name Amite having been given the river by the French in commemoration of their friendly treatment by the Indians. It is located in the southwestern part of the State next to the Louisiana border in what is known as the Long Leaf Pine Region, and is now bounded on the north by Franklin and Lincoln counties, on the east by Pike county, on the south by Louisiana and on the west by Wilkinson county. The

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first county court, composed of five Justices of the Quorum, and having jurisdiction over general county business, roads, and the trial of slaves, held its first session in the autumn of 1809. Micajah Davis was the Chief Justice, Thomas Batchelor was the first clerk, and David Lea, the first sheriff. The first Circuit Court of the county was held in the county the same year (1809) by Hon. Fran- cis Xavier Martin, afterwards Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. The county was represented in the Constitutional Convention of 1817 by Henry Hanna, Thomas Batchelor, John Bur- ton, Thomas Torrance, Angus Wilkinson and William Lattimore. Among the earliest divines in the county were Ezra Courtney, James Smylie, Zachariah Reeves and Charles Felder. In 1812, Lud- wick Hall published the Republican at Liberty; subsequently, the Liberty Advocate and Piney Woods Planter, both weeklies, were published here. The county seat is Liberty, which was incorpo- rated in 1828 and now contains about 600 people ; it is located almost at the center of the county. The first Confederate monument in the South was erected at Liberty in 1871. Gloster, a new town of 1,661 people, founded in 1883, located on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railway in the western part of the county, is the metropolis of the county and a prosperous growing town. Other towns are Travis, Little Springs and Gillsburg. The county is as yet poorly supplied with railroads and consequently there are no large towns or cities within its borders; it is essentially a farming community, though there are several gins, grist and saw mills within its borders. The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railway runs along its extreme western border, and one short branch known as the Liberty-White R. R. extends from South McComb to Liberty. Extensions of these lines will naturally follow in the near future, and the interior of the county will then have the transportation facilities it has so long lacked.

It is well watered by the east and west branches of the Amite river, by Big Beaver creek in the west and Tickfaw creek in the east together with their numerous branches. The general surface of the county is undulating with some very level and some very hilly sections. The soil is that common to most of the western Long Leaf Pine Region, being a light, easily worked sandy loam with a strong subsoil which makes it quite retentive. Good crops of cotton, corn, oats, hay, sweet and Irish potatoes, jute, field peas, pumpkins, rice, sorghum and sugar cane are grown, and all kinds of vegetables, melons, large and small fruits, are raised in abun- dance. The timber is valuable and consists of oak, pine, poplar,

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beech, ash, hickory, sweet gum, black gum, holly, magnolia, sassa- fras, locust, china, mulberry, walnut and cypress. Good pasturage for stock and abundant springs exist throughout the county.

While agriculture forms the chief source of its wealth, yet manu- factures flourish to some extent and the following statistics, de- rived from the last census returns for 1900 will be found of in- terest. The total number of manufacturing establishments is given at 69, total capital invested $142,919, wages to the amount of $29,- 096 were paid, total amount of materials used was $60,966 and the total value of products was $145,762. Agricultural statistics de- rived from the same source are as follows: Number of farms in the county 3,280, acres in farms 325,269, acres improved 122,868, value of land without buildings $1,327,780, value of buildings $597,- 500, value of live stock $580,110 and value of products $1,405,225. The white population for 1900 was 8,400, colored 12,308, total of 20,708, an increase over 1890 of 2,510. The total assessed valuation of real and personal property in the county in 1905 was $3,478,046, and in 1906, it was $4,647,305, which shows an increase of $1,169,259 during the year. The agricultural interests of the county have increased at least 25 per cent. in the last five years, while the popu- lation is estimated now at fully 25,000.

Amory, an incorporated post-town in the north-central part of Monroe county, on the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham R. R., 14 miles north of Aberdeen. It is surrounded by a fine farming region, filled with a thrifty and prosperous population. It has tele- graph, express and banking facilities, an excellent academy, four churches, and several manufacturing enterprises. The Bank of Amory was organized in 1897 and has a capital of $20,000. The Merchants' & Farmers Bank was recently established, capital $25,- 000. The Argus is a Democratic weekly newspaper, established in 1894, owned and edited by W. A. Bean. It has an electric lighting system, a steam laundry, a large cotton gin and grist mill com- bined, and two brick plants.

The town of Amory sprang up in 1887 when the Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham railroad came through this section, and at once absorbed the business and population of the old neighbor- ing town of Cotton Gin Port (q. v.). The town is growing at a rapid rate and is very prosperous. Population in 1890 was 739, in 1900, 1,211; and in 1906 it was estimated at 2,000.

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Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. I, Part 11

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association Number of Pages: 1030

Author: Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Publishing Association
Number of Pages: 1030