ment, and for the full and ample protection of all classes of inhabitants of the State, both white and black, in all of their rights of person, property, liberty, and religion. General Ord, immediately after assuming command, proceeded to organize boards for the registration of voters. Each board had charge of the registration in one or more counties. Upon appointment, each member was required to take an oath of office declaring that he had never voluntarily borne arms against the United States nor voluntarily given aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that he had neither sought, nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority, or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States, nor yielded a voluntary support to any pretended governinent, territory, power, or constitution within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto, etc. Each county was divided into such number of precincts as might be most suitable for complete registration and the convenience of the voters at the subsequent elections. Each registered voter was furnished with a numbered certificate of registry stating that he had been found qualified and was registered as required by the supplementary act of Congress. The instructions to the boards further declared as follows: Every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years of age or over, of whatever race, color, or previous condition, who has been a resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to the date at which he presents himself for registration, and who has not been disfranchised by act of Congress, or for felony at common law, shall, after having taken and subscribed the oath prescribed in the first section of the act herein referred to, be entitled to be, and shall be, registered as a legal voter. Pending the decision of the Attorney-General of the United States upon the question as to who are disfranchised by law, registers will give the strictest interpretation to the law, and exclude from registration every person about whose qualification to vote there may be a doubt. Any person so excluded who may, under the decision of the Attorney-General, be entitled to vote, will be duly informed of such decision by the registers and be permitted to register at any time prior to the first day of September, at which time the registration of the State will be completed. The following resolutions, adopted at a meeting of whites and blacks, at Gallatin, in Copiah County, on May 4th, express the general sentiment prevailing at this time among the more prudent and judicious citizens: Resolved, That it is especially the duty of the white population of the South to respect fully, and protect faithfully, the freedmen in the rights and liberties they have under the law. 2. That it is the duty of all good citizens to aid and assist the freedmen in obtaining correct notions of the elective franchise with which they are now invested. 3. That it is the judgment of this meeting, that intelligent laborers are better than ignorant ones, and that therefore it is the duty of the Legislature and the people to encourage the freedmen in their efforts to educate their children. 4. That we pledge ourselves to use all diligence in promoting peace and good-will among the races. greatly enhanced and permanently secured by industry, sobriety, and economy-and that we will mutually strive to develop all the resources of the country. 5. That the true interests of both races are to be On the 11th of May an order was issued by General Ord designed to break up the crime of horse-stealing in certain sections of the State by adding a military cooperation to the efforts of the civil authorities. Another order, designed to secure to labor its just share of the crops, and to protect alike debtor and creditor from sacrifices by forced sales in the impoverished condition of the country, was issued on June 12th. This order suspended all sales in pursuance of any execution until after December 30, 1867, where the debt was contracted prior to January 1, 1866. All interferences, under color of a legal process, with the lawful tenant in cultivating or gathering the growing crops were prohibited, except in cases where the crops had been hypothecated for money, tools, etc., supplied in the cultivation of the land. Wherever distilleries were in operation the sub-district and post commanders were ordered to ascertain if the taxes had been duly paid. Post commanders were also instructed to entertain and investigate all complaints made by citizens of persecution by the civil authorities, and to report to headquarters. nicipal officers, of whatever degree or kind, By a circular of July 29th all State and muwere notified of the special laws of Congress for the organization of the State governments on the basis of suffrage without regard to color, and that any attempts to render nugatory these laws by speeches or demonstrations in opposition thereto, would be regarded as a sufficient cause for summary removal from office. the registration of voters and the subsequent On August 8th a further circular, relative to proceedings, was issued by General Ord. (See ARKANSAS, page 52.) all subordinates of the Freedmen's Bureau to inOn the 13th an order of General Ord required Vestigate all charges against land-holders of driving off laborers, with a view to withhold from them their arrears of wages. The removal of all crops was forbidden until the shares of the laborers had been ascertained and assigned to them. An order of the 19th required supervisors, inspectors, and boards of registration, to obtain the names of suitable persons, white or colored, to act as clerks and judges of elections for delegates to a convention, etc. Only such persons as could take the oath required of regis ters above mentioned were to be recommended. This order was regarded by some of the people of the State as a deviation by General Ord from the conservative course he had hitherto pursued. This view was thus presented by the Daily Herald of Vicksburg: He authorizes the appointment of negroes as judges and clerks of election in Mississippi and Arkansas. We hoped that this shameful humiliation would have been spared our people, at least until the freemen of Mississippi decide whether they will submit to negro equality at the ballot-box or elsewhere. We regard this order as very unfortunate and ill-timed, as we fear it will lead to collisions between the whites and blacks, when it might have been avoided. General Ord heretofore has exhibited a wisdom in his administration which has been highly approved by the people, but we doubt not the lovers of peace throughout the country will condemn the order as injudicious, if not insulting to that race whom God has created the superior to the black man, and whom no monarch can make his equal. The general commanding cannot surely have forgotten that the negro has no political rights conferred on him by the State of Mississippi, although he has the privilege by force of arms, under an edict from a corrupt and fragmentary Congress, of casting a ballot in the coming farce, which will be dignified by the name of "election!"" Another order of August 22d required commanding officers of posts to cause all bar-rooms, saloons, and other places where liquor was sold, to be strictly closed for the day, on occasions of political meetings in garrisoned towns. Under the act of Congress passed with the other reconstruction measures, which required the Clerk of the Lower House of Congress to designate certain newspapers in each sub-district to publish the laws, etc., the Vicksburg Republican, Meridian Chronicle, and Corinth Republican, were so selected. On August 24th general court-martial orders were issued which recited the results of the trial of eight persons during the months of July and August before a military commission at Vicksburg. Seven of the parties were brought to trial on the charge of horse-stealing, and the other for "disorderly conduct," in at tempting, as alleged, to deter registers from the performance of their duties under the reconstruction laws, and to induce negroes not to register, by telling them it was the design of the Government to enroll them for service in a foreign war. The thieves were sentenced to the Arkansas penitentiary, for a term of years, and the other, charged with disorderly conduct, was sentenced to the military prison at the Dry Tortugas for ninety days. There was no presentment or indictment by a grand jury, or trial by a petit jury of the county where the offence was committed. On September 3d General Ord issued an order, removing the city marshal, three justices of the peace, and four members of the city council of Vicksburg. The reason for these removals is thus stated in the order: "For the purpose of insuring an equal and just administration and execution of the laws upon all alike in the city of Vicksburg, and to secure the best interests of the citizens thereof," etc. Other persons were appointed to these and other vacancies, who were required, before entering upon their duties, to take the oath of office required by the act of Congress of July 2, 1862. The progress of registration aroused the minds of the people to determine their course of action in the approaching election. A convention of the Republicans of the State was held at Jackson on September 10th and 11th. It was composed of both whites and colored persons. During the early proceedings it was moved by Captain Pease that the word "colored" be added to the name of each colored delegate. James Lynch, colored, moved an amendment, "that the color of each delegate's hair" be also added. On motion of Mr. Newsom the original motion and the amendment were laid on the table. The following platform was adopted: 1. Resolved, That we do cordially approve all the principles of the National Republican party. 2. Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to keep step with the National Republican party in all the progressive political reforms of the age. 3. Resolved, That we heartily adopt as our own the plan laid down by Congress for the reconstruction of Mississippi, 4. Resolved, That we will spare no pains or influeree in our power to give free education to every child in Mississippi, and the ballot to every man not disfranchised for crimes, including treason. 5. Resolved, That in neither education, the ballot, or other civil or political right will we ever recognize any distinction of race or color. 6. Resolved, That honest industry is in all respects honorable, and shall always be protected and encour aged. That portion of the people who were not Republicans, but recognized the authority of the Federal Government and its power to enforce terms of reconstruction, decided to accept the plan of Congress, and vote with a view to an exact conformity to its requirements. This was expressed as "a choice of unavoidable evils." A small convention also assembled at Jackson, of person's who disclaimed any alliance with the Republicans, but sought to pursue a middle course. Resolutions were adopted which dif fered from the Republican platform only in not pledging their support to the party in all their acts. his On September 9th an order was issued which forbade the assembling of armed organizations or bodies of citizens under any pretence whatever. Another order directed that whenever any person, indicted for a criminal offence, wh should make affidavit, that during the war he was in the Federal service, and procure other evidence of the same, and should express apprehension of an unfair trial in consequence, then the papers in the case should be transmit ted to headquarters, with the names of wit nesses, etc., for trial by military commission. Overseers of the poor were also notified that every neglect to provide for colored paupers would be regarded as a dereliction of duty, On September 10th General Ord issued an order requiring all persons within the military district who had voluntarily exiled themselves since April, 1865, and returned, to report in person or writing at his headquarters within thirty days. The registration of voters was completed early in the month of September. The follow ing was the result in all the counties except three: 949 3,937 2,387 1,391 3,709 3,179 1,829 425 4,171 1,122 $23 the State was one hundred, who were to be chosen from the number of registered voters. The following facts were asserted with regard to the manner in which the apportionment of delegates had been made: If based on registered voters, and the published list be correct (there being about 110,000 votes), it would give a ratio of about 1,100 voters for one Representative-and yet I find that Tippah, with 901 votes, has 2; Panola, with 1,233, has 2; Holmes, with 877, has 2, and also 1 floater with Madison-the latter, with 2,314 voters, having also 2 (the two counties of Madison and Holmes, having 3,171 votes, and 5 Representatives); Washington, with 2,231, has 3; whilst Tishomingo, with 3,273 voters, nearly all white, has but 2. There are 61 counties in the State-32 having a majority of colored voters (three of them being nearly equally divided), and 29 having a majority of whites, in all about 110,000 voters-leaving the colored voters 873 about 15,000 majority in the State; and yet this ap5,171 portionment gives to 32 counties, having this comparatively small colored majority, about 70 of the Representatives, leaving 30 for the other 29 counties having white majorities. 877 1,417 Total. 1,153 Jackson 777 Jasper... 1,651 Kemper. Lafavette 1,464 Lauderdale.. Lawrence.. 981 Leake... 874 892 442 Lee... Monroe Neshoba 388 Newton.. Noxubee.. Oktibbeha Panola Perry.. Pontotoc.. Pike. Rankin Scott Simpson.. Smith Sunflower Tallahatchie Tippah.. Tishomingo Tunica... Wayne.. Warren.. 1,433 Wilkinson Washington.. Winston Lowndes Madison Marion Marshall Yallobusha.. Yazoo ... Grand total.. 97 5,358 495 3,742 4,298 The division of political sentiment which was 2,457 manifested during the canvass really existed be2,050 tween extreme men called Radicals and those 2,413 designated as Constitutional Union men. The 2,687 latter held a convention in Jackson on October 1,873 1,316 15th, at which delegates were present from only 2,732 six or eight counties. A resolution was adopted declaring it "to be the policy of the party to abstain from any participation whatever in the election under the military bill," etc. An address was also issued to the people urging this 485 inaction. This convention was regarded as 1,613 failing to express the sense of the white people, and as proving conclusively that they recognized "the inevitability of reorganizing their State government under the direction of the present Congress as a result of their defeat in the war, and that it is the wisest plan for all to unite in sending delegates to the convention pledged to reorganize the State in accordance with the congressional plan, and at the same time to defeat the agrarian schemes which corrupt selfseekers are striving to make it the instrument of carrying into effect." 4,280 374 '695 999 1,008 357 812 4,794 6,227 2,821 46,636 60,167 106,803 The election was ordered by General Ord to take place on the first Tuesday of November. The regulations for conducting the election were issued in an order of September 26th, and are similar to those for the Sub-district of Arkansas. (See ARKANSAS, page 53.) The object of the election was to decide apon the holding of a convention to frame a State constitution and to elect delegates to the same. The number of delegates apportioned to The chief justice of the State (A. H. Handy) sent his resignation to Governor Humphreys on October 1st. He said: "It is apparent that its charter (the court) and dignity cannot be maintained, and that its powers must be held and exercised in subordination to the behests of a military commander. And though not as yet positively put into exercise by this officer, yet the extraordinary power is asserted; and that is, in my view, such an invasion of the legitimate powers of the judiciary as to place it in a condition of military duress, in which I cannot seem to acquiesce by acting under it." Further orders were issued filling a vacancy in the city council of Vicksburg; removing a justice of the peace in Holmes County; requiring the name or names of any officer or other person who has made, or may make, inflammatory speeches to freedmen, or endanger the public peace by exciting one class against another; and direct ing sheriff's to exempt from seizure and sale by distress or other warrant for rent all property exempt from execution or attachment by the terms of the Homestead Exemption Act of Mississippi. Boards of arbitration were like wise created to consider and adjust all claims on the year's crop accrued in the production of the laborer, the party furnishing supplies consumed on the plantation, the planter, and the landlord. Their decision was final in all cases, and enforced by all officers, civil and military, having jurisdiction in the cases. The agricultural results of the year were generally disastrous to both planters and laborers. The year commenced under auspices even more unfavorable than the one which preceded it, but the planters-gathering courage from misfortune, and hope from the lessons of the past repeated their effort, this time bringing out all their reserved resources of capital and credit, and staking them upon the issue. In most cases they contracted with the freedmen to cultivate their land on shares-they furnishing the capital in the way of lands, teams, implements, etc., and the freedmen the labor. They also stipulated to purchase supplies and trust to the chances of the freedmen's industry in making crops to indemnify them. As the close of the year approached they found themselves in a far more reduced condition than when they commenced. Land, teams, implements, and supplies, were furnished, but so far from being compensated for their trouble, risk, and investment, in most cases the planters lost money. The crops failed, and prices declined to rates less than half what had been anticipated. Excessive rains, drought, and insects, did a share of the destruction, but idleness completed the work these causes had begun. The result was, that the season closed to the disappointment of the planters, merchants, and all concerned. The freedmen, in innumerable cases, were unable to pay the planters, and had not a week's supplies except of corn, were without clothing, and with no certainty of work in the next year. The following is an extract from the report of the Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, General Alvan C. Gillem, dated December 10th: In consequence of the dry weather and worms, the crop of 1867 has not exceeded half of what was regarded as an average crop, and that has commanded but one-half of the price of the previous year, thus reducing the proceeds to one-fourth of what was anticipated by the planter and freedman as the proceeds of the year's labor. The result is the financial ruin of the planter and capitalist, and discontent to the laborer. In cases where laborers worked for stated wages, there is but little complaint or discontent on the part of the freedmen, remuneration having generally been received by the laborer, either in money or supplies, or if not paid, the claim can be easily established or adjudicated; and if the planter has the means, the claim can be collected. Where the laborer has worked for a share of the crop, endless litigation has been the consequence. The laborer being without means, has generally been furnished the necessary supplies by the planter or on his security. On gathering the crop, the share of the laborer does not pay his indebtedit has, in a majority of cases, been ascertained that ness for supplies advanced, and, instead of receiving a dividend, he is in debt. This causes great discontent, and a conviction, perhaps well founded in some instances, of dishonesty and false accounts on the part of planters, but this cannot generally be the case. Instances have occurred where the planters have entirely abandoned the crop to the laborers, losing their time, the use of their animals and imple ments, and the supplies advanced. Cases have been brought to my attention of planting, where not only the entire crop has been turned over to the laborers to satisfy their claims, but also the mules and imple ments used in its production. The result of this condition of affairs is the almost universal determination of planters to abandon the culture of cotton, and even if they wished to prosecute it another year, it would, I apprehend, be impossible for them to procure further advance of the necessary supplies from any merchant, so prevalent is the conviction that cotton cannot be produced at the present prices. The next year the land in cultivation will be almost entirely devoted to corn, which requires but one-fifth of the labor demanded for cotton; therefore fourfifths of the laborers required last year will be thrown out of employment, and of course there will be a corresponding decrease of wages. This the freedmen do not appreciate, considering it the result of a combination to defraud them of what they consider just wages. The consequence is, they almost universally decline entering into contract for the year 1868, on the terms offered by planters. The crop of 1867 having been gathered, the freedmen are now idle, and without, in a great majority of complaints from every section of the State, of depre instances, the means of support. The result is great dations being committed on live-stock, hogs, sheep. and cattle. This is now the condition of affairs in the State of Mississippi. A belief existed at this time, very generally, among the freedmen, that the lands of the State were to be divided and distributed among them; and in some parts of the State they refused, under this conviction, to contract for the ensuing year, or to leave the premises. At length the indications of armed conspiracies among them became so manifest, that the Governor issued the following proclamation: EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, JACKSON, MISs., December 9, 1967, Whereas, Communications have been received at position in different portions of the State, expressing this office, from gentlemen of high official and social serious apprehensions that combinations and conspiracies are being formed among the blacks "to seize the lands and establish farms, expecting and hoping that Congress will arrange a plan of division and distribution," "but unless this is done by January next, they will proceed to help themselves, and are determined to go to war, and are confident that they will be victors in any conflict with the whites," and furnish names of persons and places; and, Whereas, Similar communications have been received at headquarters, Fourth Military District, and referred to me for my action, and the cooperation of the civil authorities of the State with the United States military in suppressing violence and maintaining order and peace: Now, therefore, 1, Benjamin G. Humphreys, Governor of Mississippi, do issue this my proclamation, admonishing the black race, that if any such hopes or expectations are entertained, you have been grossly deceived, and if any such combinations or conspiracies have been formed to carry into effect such purposes by lawless violence, I now warn you that you cannot succeed. What is not known of your plans and conspiracies will be discovered and anticipated, and the first outbreak against the quiet and peace of society that assumes the form of insurrection will signalize the destruction of your cherished hopes and the ruin of your race. That you may not longer be deceived by the restless spirits-white or black-that lure you to your ruin, I publish for your information the following indorsements of General E. O. C. Ord, made on the communications above referred to, viz. : HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MILITARY DISTRICT, * # HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss., November 21, 1867. Respectfully referred to Brevet Major-General Gillem, who will send an officer immediately to * to learn what white men have been advising the freedmen to take arms, seize lands, or any other illegal act. The leading freedmen will be sent for and informed that there is no intention on the part of Congress to take land from masters of it for the benefit of former slaves; that Congress has plenty of lands now to give freedmen in Mississippi, and they can go there and settle if they choose to do so. They will be informed that it is the duty of the soldiers to put down by arms (that is by killing if necessary) the outlaws engaged in taking by force or violence the property of others. General Gillem has directions to arrest promptly all incendiaries, regardless of party or position; and any information from sheriffs, boards of police, judges, or other officers on this subject, accompanied with the names of persons inciting freedmen to illegal and seditious acts, the dates of such offences, with the names of witnesses, will be promptly acted upon. If Governor Humphreys deems this matter of sufficient importance, will he publish a proclamation to the citizens, and all others concerned, that the military will try to afford all quiet and law-abiding citizens protection, where the civil authorities may be defied or too weak to protect; and that in all cases, these officers of the law should be called on to prevent outbreaks or violence before appealing to arms themselves. The reverses of the past two years, the want of confidence in the future-of money, credits, or food to support a large and probably unoccupied laboring population, threaten, in the coming year, to produce discontent; perhaps outbreaks and violence, among the poor and distressed. All such danger should be anticipated, and the true lover of the country will use his stronger mind to meet and provide for the emergency. If special cooperation of the military to aid in arrest, or to insure the execution of courts and boards -gathering together and employing, in agricultural or other useful employment, the idle and vicious should be needed, it will be cheerfully accorded. If the distress and danger to the public safety threaten to be very great, extraordinary powers and means may have to be assumed to meet them * * * and all partisanship ignored, if we want a community of action for the benefit of the community. E. O. C. ORD, Brigadier and Brevet Major-General Commanding. You will now know that the United States military authorities of this district are not in sympathy with any emissaries-white or black-that urge you to violence and wrong-doing. That while you remain in peaceful pursuit of industry, and strictly observe and respect the rights of others, you will be protected in all your rights, privileges, liberty, and prosperity; but your only security and hope of prosperity is in honest labor and virtuous peace. The price of your liberty-in your poverty and indigence-is toil, or starvation. You cannot reap the rewards of toil, unless you maintain peaceful relations with the white race, and unite your energies and your labors in an earnest and peaceful effort to restore the waste places and exhausted garners of our impoverished land. I further warn the white race, that, as you prize constitutional liberty for yourselves, so you must accord to the black race the full measure of their rights, privileges, and liberties secured to them by the Constitution and laws of the land. You cannot live with them in peace and prosperity as wrong-doers. You must deal justly in all your transactions and contracts with them, and in no case undertake to redress wrongs, except in the mode and manner authorized by law. I advise all-white and black-to make timely, accurate, and truthful report, of all unlawful combinations or conspiracies against the peace and tranquillity of society, to the civil and military authorities, with names of persons and places. All civil officers must faithfully administer the lawe without bias or partiality toward either race; and should resistance be made to legal process too formidable to be suppressed by the ordinary course of law, prompt assistance will be afforded by the United States military authorities. The civil officers of the State must do their duty to the people, and sustain the people-both white and black-must trust the civil officers and the United States military authorities in the maintenance of peace and order. B. G. HUMPHREYS, Governor. C. A. BROUGHER, Secretary of State. [SEAL.] Accompanying this proclamation of Governor Humphreys was an order from headquarters, requesting sheriffs, deputy-sheriffs, and other peace officers, to be prepared with the aid of the posse comitatus to arrest, disarm, and confine offenders against the peace and good order of the community, until such offenders can be tried before the civil authority; and that, as far as practicable, when freed persons were to be arrested, that the posse comitatus should be composed of persons of the same race or color. Agents of the Lands, and commanders of troops, were directBureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned ed to aid and coöperate with the civil authorities in preserving order and enforcing the laws for the suppression of vagrancy and crime. Where they were too weak to perform their duties, the civil authorities were requested to call on Brevet Major-General A. C. Gillem, Vicksburg, commanding Sub-district of Mississippi, for such military force as he could spare to aid them. General Gillem also issued an order directing commanding officers in his district to notify the leading colored men, and take such other measures as might be necessary to give general publication of the fact, that all freedmen who are able will be required to earn their support during the coming year, and to go to work upon the best terms that can be procured, even should it furnish a support only. All freedmen who can, but will not, earn a livelihood when employment can be procured, will lay themselves liable to arrest and punishment as vagrants. The cooperation of sheriff's, constables, and police magistrates is requested in the enforcement of this order, and any just action of theirs under its provisions is to be sustained by the military authorities. At the election, which took place on November 5th, the number of votes cast was 76,016, of which 69,739 were given in favor of a convention, and 6,277 against a convention. The |