Letter from Benjamin A. Lee to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 29, 1874

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Letter from Benjamin A. Lee to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; April 29, 1874

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Barrett, Frederick Bowmar, J. H. D.Buck, C. W.Buck, J. W.Dedrick, W. W.Gilman, M.Klein, John A.Lee, Benjamin A.Packer, A. G.Vick, J. W.

Events

Finances Finances--Bankruptcy Political Office--Appointment to office Weather and Natural Events--Floods

Organizations

Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Legislature United States--Congress

Occupations

City Council Members Laborers Mayors Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians Secretaries

Places

Bodies of Water--Mississippi. Deer Creek Bodies of Water--Mississippi. Sunflower River Bodies of Water--Mississippi. Yazoo River Louisiana Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Newton County. Newton Mississippi--Warren County. Vicksburg Washington (D.C.)

Social Identifiers

Impoverished People

Page 1

IMPORTANT MEETING.

Asking Aid for Mississippi's Destitute.

At a meeting of the citizens of Vicksburg, to take under consideration the best means of relieving the destitute people who have been driven from their homes by the high water, held yesterday in the office of Mr. C. W Buck, on motion, J. W. Vick was made chairman, and W. W. Dedrick, secretary.

Benjamin A. Lee, Mayor of Vicksburg, presented to the meeting the facts brought to the attention of the Board of Mayor and Al-dermen, and the action the Board had relative thereto. The Mayor also detailed to the meeting the districts in Warren county where the greatest amount of suffering ex-isted, mentioning particularly Newtown, and the entire district lying between Vicksburg and the Yazoo river, above the city.

Mr. J. W. Buck detailed the condition of the people on Deer Creek and Sunflower rivers, and the overflowed districts north of Warren county, showing the deplorable condition of the laboring classes.

Mr. C. W. Buck stated that any measures looking to relief ought to embrace the desti-tute in all districts tributary to Vicksburg, and not confine ourselves to Warren county only.

Mr. J. H. D. Bowmar thought that the Governor should be appealed to, to request aid from the General Government to be de-voted to the destitute throughout the whole State.

Dr. M. Gilman moved that the action of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen be approved and adopted by this meeting, which was unan-imously carried.

Dr. J. H. D. Bowmar offered the following resolution, which was adopted as the sense of the meeting:

Resolved, That the Government of the State of Mississippi be requested to apply to the Government of the United States to ex-tend the same aid to Mississippi sufferers from overflow that has been extended to the suffer-ers in the State of Louisiana from the same cause, and that the Government be requested to ask for aid from the large commercial cities who have already extended such liberal assistance to Louisiana.

Dr. M. Gilman moved that a committee of five be appointed by the chair, to prepare an appeal for publication, and that the same be forwarded through the Governor, to the Presi-dent, and through His Honor, B. A. Lee, to the Mayors of sister cities.

The following committe was named by the chair:

Dr. M. Gilman, John A. Klein, W. W. Dedrick, John W. Buck, Dr. J. H. D. Bowmar.

On motion, the meeting adjourned, after forwarding by Mayor Lee, the subjoined me-morial, which will be presented to Gov. Ames to-day.

MEMORIAL.

To his Excellency, the Governor of the State of Mississippi:

DEAR SIR—We, the undersigned Commit-tee, appointed by the citizens of Vicksburg, would most respectfully represent to your Excellency that along the river counties of this State there exists a state of destitution fearful to contemplate, caused by the over-flowing waters of the Mississippi river. The deplorable condition of the inhabitants of the overflowed lands, is becoming daily more alarming. The waters are increasing, and provisions becoming scarce. Already hun-dreds are flocking to this city for relief, and thousands of others have not the means to ex-tricate themselves from their perilous situa-tions, being huddled together on the highest eminences, with their stock drowned and pro-visions exhausted. Immediate starvation is inevitable if speedy help is not rendered. Our own people are bankrupt, and utterly unable to render the assistance the emergency demands. We, therefore, as citizens of the city of Vicksburg, and this Commonwealth, most earnestly appeal to your Excellency in the name of suffering humanity, and in the name of starving women and children, to use your kind offices as Governor of the State, to invoke the aid of the Government, at Wash-ington, and to solicit contributions from Northern cities, which have been so generous to our sister State Louisiana, to save this dis-tressed people from perishing with hunger.

A quick response to this appeal will be received with delight and gratitude, by a mul-titude of sufferers.

M. GILMAN,
J. A. KLEIN,
W. W. DEDRICK,
J. W. BUCK,
J. H. D. BOWMAR.

Page 2

[fold] Office
Vicksburg, Miss., Apl 29 1874.

His Excellency
Gov Adelbert Ames
Jackson

Dear sir

On my arrival home this moring I found the the committee appointed at the Citizens Meeting yesterday had printed their report and memorial. I herewith enclose you a copy of same.

Our citizens are satisfied that you will do all that his in your power to render us relief. Let us hope for the best.

I am sir,
Your Obed'nt servt

Benj A Lee

Page 3

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

From Mayor B. A. Lee
Address Vicksburg Miss
Dated April 29^th 1874
Received May 1^st,, 1874
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Citizens meeting about overflow.

"Report & Memorial Enclosed—"
[gap]

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

~~FRED. BARRETT,~~^A G Packer^
Actg Private Secretary.