Letter from Dr. C. H. Thompson to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; November 30, 1875

Documents
Letter from Dr. C. H. Thompson to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; November 30, 1875

Document Network
Document Metadata

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

People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 Garrett, Ben Rhodes, Travis Tarbell, Unknown Thompson, C. H.

Events

Political Office--Appointment to office Political Office--Removal from office Political Office--Resignation Voting

Organizations

Mississippi--Executive Department Mississippi--Legislature Mississippi--Legislature. Senate Political Parties Political Parties--Democratic Party (U.S.)Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )Universities and colleges Universities and colleges--Mississippi. Alcorn State University

Occupations

Judges Merchants Planter Secretaries

Places

Mississippi--Claiborne County. Rodney Mississippi--Hinds County. Jackson Mississippi--Jefferson County. Rodney

Social Identifiers

African Americans College Students Impoverished People

Page 1

[seal]

Alcorn University
Nov. 30^th 1875.

To His Excellency
Governor Ames

My Dar Sir:

The Governor will remember the letter received from me just after the meeting of the Trustees of Alcorn University, (dated Oct. 4") giving an account of the vindictive & unjust proceedings of the Board at its meeting here.

I now write to lay before the Governor the condition of the university at this time.

The Trustees have, thus far, shown themselves to be either incompetent to manage successfully the Institution, or else utterly indifferent to its bests interests.

To give a sample of their acts—The boy Ben. Garrett one of the worst boys we had here, & who was expelled last spring

Page 2

for most outragious conduct, was, by resolution offered by Judge Tarbell, restored to full membership in the school. The Governor will see at a glance, that no disciplin can be maintained in the School, with such conduct on the part of the Trustees. They have also by their recklessness broken ^up^ classes that were successfully pursuing their studies, by causing many of the Students to leave the Institution. Under the old Board, it cost a Student $10. per month for his entire expenses. The present Board, regardless of the poverty of our people, have raised the price to $12.50. per month.

Of the 23 Students in attendance since the opening of the School, 8 have left, on account of the arbitrary & oppressive ruling of these Trustees.

I write you this letter, Governor, at the request of Merchants at Rodney, & prominent citizens in the vicinity of

Page 3

the University. They insist that it is my duty to write to the Governor, & lay these facts befor him. These Gentlemen say that they will sign a petition to the Governor, if need be, asking for the appointment of a mixed Board. They say that if the colored people want this Institution sustained by a Democratic Legislature, they must ask the Governor to appoint a Board composed of both political parties.

They allege that the white people of the State have no confidence in the Board as now composed,. That it is not only a partisan Board, made up wholly of Republicans, but that there are on this Board some of the most obnoxious men in the State; & that if their names are sent into the Senate for confirmation, the will certanly be rejected. The names of several prominent Citizens, Merchants, Planters, & Professional Men, who would serve on a Board composed of an equal number of

Page 4

respectable Republican, have been placed in my hands. These Gentlemen also, ask me not to resign. They affirm that a Board can be appointed that will command the confidence & respect of both white & colored citizens of this community, & of the State at large; a Board that will be in sympathy with the President, & that will assist him to build up the School. They say that as Democrats they want to show to the colored people, that they will do as much for their education as the Republicans; but that the management of the Institution must be put into the hands of men of character, who have the confidence of the people of the State.—

Now Governor, in view of the fact that I have made every effort in my power to adjust matters with this Board, by offering to resign, & they have treated with contempt every proposition I have made, & have even taken the position that I am not President, thus denying the Governor's right to make the

Page 5

appointment, I am now determined to stand my ground as President; & in this I am supported by the best citizens, white & colored. I will, therefore, leave no stone unturned to defe^a^t these men when the Senate meets; & they will be defeated just as sure as their names are sent in.

I am told, that at their last meeting, held at Jackson, Nov. 10^th they voted to petition the Governor again to remove me, & that if the Governor did not comply with their wishes, they would resign.

Thus are they attempting to force the Governor to take such action as will make him a party to their unjust & vindictive schemes.

The soul object of this war upon me, is to get me out of the way that they may secure the appointment of one of their tools, through whom they can pull their political wires. They can not use me, hence I must be got rid of, to make room for one whom they can use.

Page 6

see their talk about calling Fred. Douglass, is a mere sham. They know just as well as they ^know^ any thing, that Douglass will not accept. The place was offered to Douglass before it was offered to me.—

Their plan is, to go through the form of calling Douglass, knowing that he will not accept, & then to press the appointment of their tool.—

Now if the Governor will stand by me, as my friends in the North, have assured me from the first that the Governor would, then I will, with the aid of the best men of the State, of both political parties, & of both races, defeat these men, & lift this Institution out of this political cesspool, in which it has been struggling from its organization; & put its management into the hands of men who will administer its affairs in the interest of education, & not to subserve their own political schemes. And when that is accomplished, I will, at my own expense, travel through the state, & deliver lectures on the

Page 7

subject of Education, & thus stir up an interest among our people on the subject of Education, & build up the School.—

Colored men gather around me as I go into Rodney, & stop me on the road & beg me not to leave the Institution, but to do all in my power to get it out of the hands of these politicians.

Will the Governor sustain me in the effort to save, & build up this school, for the education of the colored youth of the State?—

Will His Excellency favor me with a reply at his earliest convenience & greatly oblige—

Yours very truly

C. H. Thompson
President of Alcorn University.

P S. Dec. 3^d,, two more Students left today. If I could assure them that a proper & an efficient Board of Trustees would be appointed, I might be able to retain them here.—

C. H. T.

Page 8

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
Claiborne——County,

From Dr. C. H. Thompson,
Address Rodney, Miss.
Dated November 30, 1875
Received December 11, ^,,
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Report of condition of Alcorn University; thinks the Board of Trustees incompetent; thinks a mixed Board would suit all classes, and be confirmed by the Senate; wishes to be sus-tained in his endeavor to lift the institution out of the hands of poli-ticians

(Inclosures [gap] )

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

TRAVIS RHODES,
Private Secretary.

Page 9

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
Claiborne—County,

From Dr. C. H. Thompson
Address Rodney, Miss.
Dated November 30, 1875
Received December 11, "
Answered [gap]

SUBJECT:

Report of condition of Alcorn University; thinks the Board of Trustees incompetent; also that a mixed Board would suit all classes, and be con-firmed by the Senate; wishes.

(Inclosures [gap] )

ADELBERT AMES,
Governor.

TRAVIS RHODES,
Private Secretary.