Letter from A. K. Farrar to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; June 27, 1865

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Letter from A. K. Farrar to Mississippi Governor William L. Sharkey; June 27, 1865

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People

Davidson, John W., 1825-1881 Farrar, A. K.Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875 Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 Sharkey, William Lewis, 1798-1873 Taylor, Edmund Richard

Events

Criminal Procedures Criminal Procedures--Amnesty Military Procedures & Events--Capitulations Political Office--Appointment to Office Secession. American Civil War

Places

Mississippi--Adams County. Kingston Mississippi--Adams County. Natchez

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[seal] VICTORY

Kingston—Near Natchez.
June 27^th 1865.

Hon: William. L. Sharkey
Provisional Governor
State of Mississippi

Dear Sir:—I learned from Gen^l. Davidson on yesterday that you had returned home. We are all rejoiced here to learn that you have been appointed Provisional Governor over our state.

It is the first streak of day we have seen for a long time. In your firm integrity, ripe judgment and experience—as well as devotion to your state, we have the assurance of a future as prosperous as your surroundings will permit. You have a great and responsible work before you. While all will unite in acknowledging that you are in all respects fully equal to the task, I conceive it to be the duty of all, to offer you a firm and willing support, and to ask of you, what it is, that can be done, to aid you in your great work.—With you as a leader, and a prompt execution, of a firm determination on the part of the people, to follow and assist you, I feel that poor ~~and~~ misguided and ruined Mississippi, may be in a measure recuperated. I would be much pleased, if you would say something to me,—of the times—If it brings, no hope, it will serve to enlighten, and thereby enable me, to shape my course for the future.

My attachments and endearments for Mississippi, and especially for Adams County are very great.—In it, from early childhood my Grandfather was raised.—In it, my

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father, mother, wife, children and self, were born and raised,—and its earth contains the bones of most of them—several having been placed there previous to the war—Since which, the grave has closed over a dear old mother, and a devoted and affectionate wife.—While many of its citizens are entertaining and discussing ideas of emigration—I am directing my thoughts to the possibility of things being reorganized upon living terms, such as will admit of my remaining here, so that my bones too, shall rest with those I have loved. I have no torturings of conscience for having assisted in the inau-guration of the system, which has led to our present ruin and degradation. My record will show that I offered opposition until secession was consumated—and upon us.—Out of it came a government.—Within its limits, was my home.—I would not leave it.—but resolved to do all in my power to defend it.—I gave assiss=tance in trying to combat with the result of secession, it has been a failure, and we are thereby a ruined and degraded people.—I am now ready, and willing, to give all the assisstance I can to inaugurate a system which will bring us up out of this ruin and degradation, (if you will propose one) and let us thereby live, and be as prosperous as circumstances will allow. When I bring my mind to reflect upon this subject, I am met with many obstacles which present difficulties, appearing not to admit of being obviated. I have not however succumbed, hoping that the good sense of the people, both north and south, will yet prevail, and the South if not rendered as prosperous as formerly, will be made, endurable.

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If there be no remedy against northern fanatical dictation, and ~~the~~ ^one of its^ results ~~of it~~, which is now upon us, and the enforcement of them by the bayonet—then I despair—and conclude that we all will have to seek in other places homes offerring more security, and prosperity. I will esteem it, as a very instructive, and great privilege, to be permitted to receive from you at any time, any thing pertaining to our present and future condition,—and if it can be so shaped as to be endurable—and what is it that should be done to make it so?—Is it important that all should take the amnesty oath? So soon as I learned of the surrender of Gen^l Dick Taylor—I took President Lincolns Oath of Amnesty. The officer who administered it, after the lapse of a few days, applied to me, to let him administer the Citizens Oath, as a substitute for the amnesty, and thereby cancel it—I referred the matter to Gen^l Davidson who permitted me to keep the Amnesty—saying that he understood my position,—and would have my record made up correctly.—Now will my taking that oath in the manner I did—absolve me from all offense—and would I be justifiable in making application to take the present Amnesty Oath—to make affidavit that ^I believed^ none of President Johnsons exceptions were app=licable to me.

I am with much respect,
Your Obedient Servant,

A. K. Farrar

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Kingston Miss
June 27^th 1865

A. K. Farrar

Congratulating and asking that the Gov-ernor write him and wishes to know whether he must ^take^ the amnesty oath of Pres Johnson, having taken Lincolns amnesty oath already—none of the exceptions apply to him