Letter from J. C. Webber to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn's Private Secretary H. F. Hewson; May 29, 1871

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Letter from J. C. Webber to Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn's Private Secretary H. F. Hewson; May 29, 1871

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Each transcribed document contains links that connect it to other documents on the same topic in the collection.

People

Alcorn, J. L. (James Lusk), 1816-1894 Aubin, Albert L.Banks, Dunston Banks, George Banks, Henry Brantly, W. F.Conard, B.Hall, L. M.Hewson, H. F.Labauve, F.Law, David Owens, J. M.Ringer, Henry Ringer, William Smith, Drew Tait, Jason Temple, Robert Unknown, Billy Unknown, Unknown Webber, J. C.West, R. R.

Events

Crime Crime--Assassination Legislation. Mississippi

Organizations

Military Headquarters Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Secret Service Bureau United States--Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands

Businesses

Banks Depots Magnolia Ware House and Compress Company (Miss.)Railroad--Vicksburg and Meridian Railroad

Occupations

Judges Judges. Justices of the Peace Lawyers Mayors Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Provost Marshals Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Adams County. Natchez Mississippi--DeSoto County. Hernando Mississippi--Montgomery County. Winona Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg

Social Identifiers

African Americans African Americans--Enslaved People African Americans--Historically Free and Newly Freed Enslavers German

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Mayor's Office,
Vicksburg, Miss., May 29^th 1871.

H. M. Hewson Esqr
Private Secy
To the Governor.

My Dear sir;

Will you have the Kindness to inform me if the Governor signed the following bills

"An Act to incorporate the Magnolia Ware House and Compress Co."

"An Act to incorporate the Vicksburg & Natchez R. R.

"An Act to incorporate the Germans Bank of Vicksburg,

We should be glad to see you at any time.

Truly Yours

J C Webber

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Received from L. M. Hall. from Secret Service fund the sum of One hundred ^and twenty five^ dollars to defray expenses of self and posse of men to go to Winona—to assist in search for Will & Henry Ringer—assassins of W. F Brantly

David Law

Nov 7, 1870

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Nov 7, 1870
$125⁰⁰
to D Law
Case 26

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[seal]

Hernando Missⁱ Nov 18^th,,/65

Hon F. Labauve,

Dear sir,

This morning a negroe man ^named Henry^ formerly belonging to George Banks came to me at my office and made to me the folloing statement—I would remark that he came in a pleasant manner and in all he said spoke respectfully of Mr Banks and expressed his regret that any misunderstanding or falling out had occurred between them and his desire to have the matter adjusted in a friendly and peaceable way—Now for what passed viz; Henry—"Doctor, me and my best friend has had a falling out and I come to see you to know what to do about it."?

Q^s Whom are you, I know your face but cannot locate you? Answer. "My name is Henry and used to belong to S^t George Banks, I am Billy's son & you ought to know me."

Q by myself again, Yes! I recollect you now, what is the matter with you & (your Master George or) S^t Banks (I am not positive which style I used, both were used in the course of the conversation by both him & myself).

Answer by Henry "Well sir, he has ordered me to leave his place and not ^to come^ on it any more, and he contracted to give me an interest or part in the coop and I want to see what is to be done about it"—Q "Why did he order you off his place"? Answer "I was rather late getting home from my wife'^s house and he told me 'if this was the time of day I come

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to work he wanted no such work about him"

Q. "What did you say then" A. "I told him I got there before the other hands had got to work."

Q. "Where is your wifes house?" Answer "Mr Ja^s. Tait's"

Q, "Well, that is close by why didn't you get to your work earlier?" A. "It was ^a^ dark & cloudy morning, and I did not know it was so late." Q "And you say that Mr Banks told you 'if this was the time of day you come to work he wanted no such work about him? A "Yes! and then told me to leave his place and not to come back again."

Q "Well! What do you want to do about it? do you want to sue Mr Banks on his Contract? A "Oh no Sir! I don't want to sue him but I ^want^ you to advise me what to do.". Q "Then I suppose you want to settle the matter in a friendly way." A. "Yes Sir that is what I want. I don't want to sue him." "Then I would advise you to go back to Mr Banks in a polite & humble manner & ask his pardon for the past & his permission to let you return & carry out your contract" Henry—"But he told me not to come on his place any more and I am afraid to do so unless you give me a note to him." "Very well then I will write a note to him for you." And I then addressed the following note

"Dear George, Henry complains to me that you had ordered him to leave your place and not to return. He comes to you hat in hand willing to ask pardon for the past & promises to do better for the

future if you will let him stay & work out his contract—

Yrs Truly

R. Temple

I kept no copy of the note but this is to the best of my recollection the language of the note which I read to Henry and asked him "if that was right and if he was willing to do that," to which he expressed his willingness—

We whose names are hereunto subscribed do certify that we were present when the foregoing conversation between Rob^t Temple J. P. and a negro man calling himself Henry Banks, occurred and this is a true and correct statement of the same

J M Owens
R. R. West
B Conard
Drew. Smith

In a short time after Henry left my office he came to me on the street near my office—When this farther conversation occured.

"Well Henry what is the matter now"?

A. "I have got another order!" Q "From whom"?

A. "From the Provost Marshall up here at the Depot; He tells me not to carry any such note as that you gave me." Q. Well Henry I thought you told me you wanted ^me^ to settle this matter and that you would do "as I ad=vised you, why did you go to the Provost and why din't you go to him at first?

A. I was going along near the Depot and just thought I would show it to him and see what he would say about it? Well then says I if you are not willing to do

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as I advise you, you can do as you please, I thought you said you wanted me to advise you and when I read you my note to Mr Banks you said you were satisfied with it and would do so, but if you want to sue him I will bring the suit for you, but I should not write any other note." Henry then left me and in a short time returned to ^my^ office and handed me a note of which the following is an exact & literal copy

"Head Quarters Post of Hernando
Hernando Miss Nov^r. 20/65

"Squire Temple

It is surprising to me that a public magistrate, who pledges himself to try cases of freedmen under the provision of the General Orders of the freedmens Department, condescends himself, after having received a complaint to address a note like "Dear George" to the defendant

I have your note in my possession and shall refer it to the Govenor of the State and the General Commanding the Department, to show those gentlemen what faith can be placed in Officials

Yours Resp

Albert L Aubin
Capt Comdg Post"

Mr Dunston Banks was present & heard the second conversation but is not in town or I would get his certificate to it. I should have stated that when I told Henry he must go hat in hand to Mr Banks, ~~that~~ I told him that he had

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PRECIS.
[gap]

No'. [gap]

Executive Office,
State of Mississippi,
County of Warren

From J. C. Webber
Address Vicksburg
Dated May 29 "71
Received —
Answered —

Wants to know if the following Bills have been signed:

An Act to incorporate the Magnolia Warehouse & Compress Co,

An Act to incorporate the Vicksburg & Natchez R. R.

An Act to incorporate the Germanian Bank of Vicksburg

JAMES L. ALCORN,
Governor.

H. F. HEWSON,
Private Secretary.