Letter from H. J. Elliott to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; June 21, 1865

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Letter from H. J. Elliott to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; June 21, 1865

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People

Clayton, Unknown Ellett, H. T.Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875 Sharkey, Minerva (Hyland) Wren Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Speed, James, 1812-1887

Events

Conventions Crime Crime--Destruction of property Criminal Procedure--Amnesty Criminal Procedure--Pardon Political Office--Appointment to office Political elections

Military Units

United States. Army

Organizations

Courthouses Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Courts and Judicial Systems--Probate courts Mississippi--Legislature United States--Congress United States--Congress. Senate

Occupations

Legal Profession--Attorneys General Legal Profession--Judges United States. President

Places

Mississippi--Adams County. Natchez Mississippi--Claiborne County. Port Gibson North Carolina Washington (D.C.)

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Port Gibson, Miss June 21, 1865

Hon W. L. Sharkey

Dear Sir

I have just read the President's Proclamation announcing your appointment as Provisional Governor of Mississippi, and I cannot withhold the expression of the gratification which it gives me.

At the time when it was thought by some that the Legislature would be permitted to hold its session, and to adopt proper measures for the restoration of the state to its former position as one of the United States, I declared publicly my intention to advocate your election to the U. S. Senate, and I am glad to say that the suggestion commanded general approbation, so far as I could hear. After the North Carolina Procla-mation was issued, I frequently expressed the wish that you might receive the appointment that has now been conferred upon you. I only express the gen-eral voice in this region when I assure you that a more acceptable selection could not have been made. Every body seems rejoiced that you have accepted it, and it goes far to reconcile the most downcast to the bitter disappointment of their most cherished hopes. With you for a leader they feel there can be little degradation in retracing the steps of the last few years.

For myself, I hoped long for a different result,

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but when I saw that the conflict was over, I had no difficulty in submitting myself to the result, accepting it as the will of an allwise Prov-idence, and I would have gone on, if permitted, in good faith to aid in restoring the former order of things. I rejoice now that the direction of af-fairs is placed in able hands like yours, and I shall try to sustain and strengthen you, to the extent of my influence, in your efforts to revive and put in motion the functions of the state Government.

As I understand the proclamation of your appointment, and the amnesty Proclamation, any person can take the amnesty oath, leaving the question whether he is entitled to the benefit of the amnesty to be decided by the courts, and that all persons taking that oath, and otherwise qualified according to our state constitution, are qualified electors of members of the convention, and eligible to that Convention. I beg leave respectfully to suggest, that in your Proclama-tion ordering the election, you clear this ques-tion of any doubt. I observe a Circular issued by Atty Gen^l Speed directing that all persons belonging to the excepted classes, who desire to

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apply to the President for a special pardon, must first take the amnesty oath, which con-firms my impression that all may take it.

If the little Receivership under the seques-tration act which I held by Judge Clayton's fa-vor, excludes me from the benefit of the gene-ral amnesty, I may want to ask the interpo-sition of my friends in my own behalf, with the powers at Washington. If you should have time, I would be very much obliged to you if you would look at the question a little.

With my best wishes for a pleasant and prosperous administration your affairs, & with kindest regards to Mrs Sharkey, I am

Very truly & sincerely
Yours &c

H. T. Ellett

I beg to add by way of Post script that five or six weeks ago all the Record Books of the Probate and Circuit Courts of this County were removed from here to Natchez by order of the military authori-ties. The reason assigned was to provide for their safety. On the way to Natchez one box containing Probate Records was lost, and great anxiety is felt

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by the people as to the security of the residue. They were all perfectly safe here. They had been removed from the Court House to places of safety to protect them against the Federal troops, by whom the re-cords of other Counties had been destroyed, but there has never been the least danger of any of our own people interfering with them. If you could do any thing to procure the release of these records, it would give great relief to our community. I understand that other counties are in the same situation

H. T. E.

H T Ellett stating that the Record books of the Probate & Circuit Courts have been removed from Port Gibson to Natchez