Letter from H. Cassidy to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 29, 1875

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Letter from H. Cassidy to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; September 29, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Cassedy, H.Cassedy, H., Jr.Hurst, H. P.Johns, B. F.Nixon, C. P.Rhodes, Travis

Events

Crime Crime--Riots Political Office--Appointment to office Political elections Political elections--Mississippi

Military Units

Mississippi. Militia United States. Army

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Courts and Judicial Systems--Circuit Courts Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Military Districts Political Parties Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )

Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Police Law Enforcement--Sheriffs Lawyers

Places

Illinois--Cook County. Chicago Louisiana Mississippi--Amite County. Liberty Mississippi--Pike County. Summit

Social Identifiers

African Americans

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[seal]
CHICAGO.

Liberty Miss Sept 29—1875

Govn'r A Ames

Dear Sir

I have been requested to make a statement to your excellency on the subject of the condition of affairs in this county and as to the propriety of appointing H P Hurst Brigadier General of this militiar District as to the 1^st Point I can state that my sources of information are only such as is accessible to any man well aquainted withe the people of the county I have been in attendance on the circuit court for the last ten days and have practiced law in this county and have been connected with the Court ever since about 1843 and am well aquanted withe the people of the county from con-versations with many persons of every shade of opinon I have no hesitation in stating that in the South western part of the County and along La line there prevails a high state of excitement mainly arising from political causes and directed against the county officers who are active republicans and having the effect of creating Great alarm among the colored people of the county That one of the sources of this alarm is the fear of armed ~~men~~ incursions from the state of La

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that an outbreak of force in that part of the county is iminent and that it is beyond the power of the civil author-ities to preserve the peace and execute the law in ^that^ direction owing to this excitemt being aimed at the Sheriff and and some other officers of the law If the existing state of things continue to the election such a fear of conflict between the races will render a fair election extremely improbable and it is my conviction that legally organized as the militiar is no composed of both races that they would be an aggravation of the disturbances a [beegain?] of evil to [fist?] rather than a means of producing order or attaning an execution of the law or securing a fair election A Clear headed coold determined man of character for unflinching courage could select from the whole body of militiar of the district a force of similar character I believe it would be effective in restoring order and preventing any outbreak of force and securing a peacefull election and its moral force would control any sporadic lawlessness in othe parts of the county between this and election, when I feel satisfied the trouble would cease I have furthermore no hesitation in saying from a long and intimate aquantance with H P Hurst of Summitt

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who is well known in this county for the possession of the quaelities herto-fore mentioned for commander of such for such force. He is the suitable man to appoint for the selection and command of such force Yet I have no hesitation in adding that a force of the Regular Army of U S is the most efficient and reliable means for preserving order in these party race anttagonisms and the conflicts which may grow out of such antagonisms

Yours Respectfully

H Cassedy

I endorse so muclh of above as refers to H P Hurst—C P Nixon

I endorse so much of the above as refers to H P Hurst

B F Johns

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Copy 60

Executive Office
State of Miss
County of Amite

From H Cassedy Jr C P Nixon
ddress Liberty Miss
Dated Sept 29—1875
Rec'd Oct 2 1875

Subject

South western portion of County and along Louisiana line in high state~~ment~~ of excite-ment fearfull of Armed incursions

Gen Ames
Gov—

Travis Rhodes