Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: ... The election of Alcorn was effected by the active interference of the district military commander. General Ames attended in person the convention of negroes and carpet baggers that nominated his friend, and when called upon for a speech, he made the following laconic haraugue: "You have my sympathy, and shall have my support." This, by reason of his uniform and the military power he had already so prominently displayed, exercised very great control over the sentiments and conduct of the negroes. In the interest of Alcorn, he sent United States troops to various parts of the State. He caused leading Democrats to be arrested and thrown into prison, and by this means controlled and determined the election in accordance with his wishes. While he was military Governor of Mississippi he ruled with hatred in his heart, and a rod of iron in his hand. His proscriptions were wholesale, and as systematic and inexorable as those of Marius and Sylla. The best men and the truest patriots seemed to incur his especial dislike, and were expelled from office without cause. If they stood at all in the way of his ambitious schemes, or in the way of office seeking adventurers, it was sufficient to evoke an order for their expulsion. Nor were his persecutions less notorious than his proscriptions. Citizens were frequently arrested for their political opinions, and dragged from their homes by armed soldiers of the United States, without warrant, and often without knowledge of the offence with which they were charged, kept under a military guard, often in chains, carried to places remote from the scenes of the offences alleged against them, and tried before military commissions created for the purpose to convict. In such cases the writ of habeas corpus was the...
