Letter from Major Whitfield to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; October 21, 1875

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Letter from Major Whitfield to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; October 21, 1875

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Harrington, John T.Whitfield, Unknown

Events

Crime Crime--Shooting Crime--Threat Evacuations Mass racial violence Political Office--Appointment to office Political elections Political elections--Mississippi Voting Voting--Disenfranchisement Voting--Voter registration

Organizations

Courts and Judicial Systems Political Parties Political Parties--Democratic Party (U.S.)Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )

Businesses

Hotels

Occupations

Law Enforcement Law Enforcement--Police Lawyers Lawyers. Public Prosecutors Medical Profession Medical Profession--Physicians

Places

Mississippi--Clay County. West Point Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Lowndes County. Columbus Mississippi--Lowndes County. Crawford Mississippi--Noxubee County Mississippi--Oktibbeha County

Social Identifiers

African Americans

Page 1

Columbus Miss
Oct 21 1875

Gov A Ames
Jackson Miss

My Dear Sir

I feel it my duty to advise you of the condition of affairs now existing in this section of the state In this lowndes Co. there is much excitement growing out of poliical affairs it is not so intense and bitter as in some of the adjoining counties on account of the division in both political parties but is of such character as to threaten and intimidate Rep-ublican voters that it will be im-^{Folio I} possible uless checked to have even a resemblance of a fair election a few days since the Dem-ocrats received a large cannon which they fire very often as a means to annoy frighten and intimidate these opponents to them They carry it to the country to heir appointment as they did yesterday Crawfordville in the south western

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part of the county fireing it along the route indeed this course coupled with other demonstrations gives a war like appearance to affairs through the county It is idle to suppose that the ^{Folio II} civil officers of the county can preserve the peace in the midst of such excitement and conduct In the past few days I have visited Noxubee Oktibbeha & Colfax Counties In both Noxubee & Oktibbeha there is much excitement more in the former than in the later County but such is the condition an excited state of the People owing to political demonstration and threats of violence that there is a wide spread of apprehension of violence Trouble & Blood shed on election ^{Folio III} day Tuesday Nov 2^nd and even before—It is idle to talk about controlling such condition of things by the ordinary course in the past If the civil Officers particularly as most of them are the political party op-posed to those making these demon-strations. I do not hesitate to say

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that in Colfax County there is almost a reign of terror I have never heard of a worse state of affairs in a civilized country on yesterday ^{Folio IV} I was at West Point and witnessed the parade of a large Democratic procession a noble feature of which was two cannons in charge of regularly uniformed men and boys drawn along at intervals in the crowd two colored men were shot during the day as I was informed one dangerously but I could not get particulars in midst of excitement One Republican was compelled to leave the town instantly another forced to leave his boarding house and a third ^{Folio V} forbidden to appear on the streets the last gentleman alluded to is Dr J T Harrington chairman of the County Republican Ex Committee He had come to the Hotel where I was stopping to consult me officially and to ask my legal opinion as district attorney in reference to the registration of voters

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as I was not prepared as he brough only part of the books I desired at my request he returned to the courthouse to get other law books for me not returning for an hour or more I was in the act of sending for him when two ^{Folio VI} boys his nephews came with the books and a note of which the following is a copy

Maj Whitfield

As I went from Hotel I was accosted by three gents who ~~in defiance of state~~ formed me if I was found on the streets again it would be at my expense please send the books by the boys

(Signed) John T Harrington

There is a general feeling of alarm and utter intimidation on the part of the colored ^{Folio V II} people of this county as to voting at the election next Tuesday It is absurd to suppose that under such circumstances either the peace can be preserved the laws executed or a fair election held it is true that in colfax County offenses have been committed against the laws of the state which have given rise to some excitement but the courts of the county are fully competent to punish the offenders and protect the people The conclusion of the matter