Letter from Mark Joseph to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 6, 1876

Documents
Letter from Mark Joseph to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 6, 1876

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 Fairfax, Bailers Joseph, Mark Packer, A. G.Pratt, F. B.Rhodes, T.Ross, R. J.Warner, A.

Events

Crime Crime--Riots Crime--Shooting Crime--Witness intimidation Disenfranchisement Political elections

Organizations and Businesses

Democratic Club (Vernon, Miss.)Mississippi. Executive Department Plantations Plantations--Finch Kearney Plantation (Miss.)Political Parties--Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )

Occupations

Judges Justices of the peace Secretaries

Places

Jackson (Miss.)Madison County (Miss.)Vernon (Madison County, Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans Refugees

Page 1

Vernon Madison Co Miss.
January 6^th_" 1876.

Hon Adelbert Ames.
Governor of the State of Mississippi
Jackson, Miss

Governor.

On the night of January 4^th, 1876, between the hours of 10 ^and^ 12 oclock P.M. a party of men shot into the house of Bailers Fairfax a colored man and ran the same Bailers Fairfax away from his premises, so that he is a refugee, the same was done on account of his Political Views he being a leading Republican threats have been made that leading Republicans can not live in this district, it Seems on the night of the shooting that several parties, (colored) saw the parties who done the shooting but are afraid to make an affidavit to that affect, I am a magistrate and was Elected on the compromis ticket. I am a Republic and have always voted the Republican ticket was one of the Executive committee that made the compromise with the understand-ing that all the colored voters should have a right to vote any ticket with out interfer~~ing~~ence or intimidation, their are a certain class of cittizens in this district who are determined to run

Page 2

off the leading Republicans, and since the Election have kept up such intimidation that if not checked in time, may lead to something serious the colored people living in this district are peaceable and law abiding Citizens and I think their rights aught to be protected, I am an officer of the Law and will do all in ~~[?]~~ my Power, to but I cannot see in what man-ner to proceed. their are but one or two more White Republicans in this district beside myself and I think it would be a hard matter for me to summons a forse to execute any legal precept, for myself I have no fears of Molestation but the colored men are intimidated to such an extent that something must be done, and I write this to you asking for ~~[?]~~ advice, I know that the duties of my office and am able to perform the same, but when citizens are persecuted and their lives threatened on accout of political views, I think it needs protection from a higher power than a Justice^'s court, The party who done the shooting, are a class of people who will create a riot of something is not done, they fired some 30 shots into the house and copmpletely riddled the House with their Bullets. Bailers Fairfax escaped through the flooring and have gone I know not, He and several other colored men had rented the Finch Kearney Plantation for this year. he had a crop of cotton and have not gathered the same several colored men have been threatened that they would be

Page 3

run out of the county by parties calling them self the Vernon Democratic Club. Tell me what steps to take in this matter as I am very anxious and wish to establish peace and Harmony in this Vicinity

I am Governor Very Respt—
Your app Sevt
Mouk Joseph
Justice of the Peace
Dist. No 2
Madison Co.

P. S.
I refer you to
A. G Packer,
F. B. Pratt,
A Warner,
R. J. Ross & others as to my Politicale views and truthfull statement in a case of this kind,
M. Joseph,

Page 4

Copy 119
Executive Office.
State of Miss
Court of Madison
From Mark Joseph J R
[?] Vernon
dated Jany 6, 76
Rec'd " 7, " "

Subject

Shooting into the house of a pronounced republican on a/c of his political opinions by a party of men known by several but afraid to tell who they are

Adelbert Ames
Gov

T Rhodes
Pri Secy