As printed in the Memphis Daily Appeal of January 14, 1876
CARTER‘S LETTER.
JACKSON, MISS., November 15, 1875.
To His Excellency, U. S. Grant, President of the United States:
SIR – I have felt compelled, from a sense of duty as a citizen of the State and a member of the Republican party, to write to you in relation to the condition of affairs in Mississippi, and present a few leading facts as to the causes which have led to the recent defeat of the Republican party in this State. You will please pardon any seeming egotism when I say that I am prepared to form a correct judgment upon the condition of our political affairs and the causes which led to our defeat at the late election, having been actively engaged in organizing and building up the party from the beginning of its existence in the State. I have been a member of the legislative branch of the government, and have contributed, in my humble way, something toward incorporating Republican principles in the legislation of the State. I have the honor of having drawn, introduced and secured the passage of a bill protecting colored men in their civil rights. I am identified by ties of race with the colored people of the country, and am therefore prepared to appreciate the principles of Republicanism and the necessity for their maintenance. I was also one of the Presidential electors in 1872 and voted for you. I do not propose to go into a detailed statement of the condition of things in our State, for it would be trespassing upon your valuable time. Unfortunate as the defeat of our party may seem to be to those unacquainted with the true state of affairs, I am happy to be able to say that it is by no means a hopeless case – very far from it. It might most properly be denominated a signal repulse and not a defeat, and this repulse is not without value to the party in the future. It has taught us the importance of unity of action, and the necessity of wise counsel and judicious management of the State administration and the exercise of caution in the conduct of our party affairs. And last, but not least, it has enabled us to get rid of many bad men – political adventurers – who have contributed largely to demoralize the party by their disgraceful conduct. The main cause of our defeat was the want of proper leadership. Governor Ames, to whom we very properly looked for leadership, most signally failed, as the sequel most clearly shows. The whole matter may be summed up in a few words: It was the inordinate ambition of the governor to be re-elected to the United States senate. Had he gone forward and administered faithfully the duties of his office, looking to the highest interests of the State, inaugurating reforms, seeking the material and social welfare of the people, sought the counsel of good, patriotic men, instead of surrounding himself, as he has, with a class of men notoriously corrupt – demagogues of the worst type, and through whose advice and counsel he has prostituted the high office of the chief magistracy of the State to promote their personal schemes – had he been content to let the office of United States senator seek him instead of seeking it, the condition of the party would have been far different to-day; its supremacy would have been maintained with an increased popular sympathy and support. The truth is, Mr. President, Governor Ames has, during his entire administration, bent all his energies, used all the power and patronage of his office, in an attempt to build up a personal party, and, like his predecessor, Governor Alcorn, who made a similar attempt, has utterly failed and forfeited the confidence of many who have heretofore been his personal friends as well as the confidence of the party in his ability as a leader. A great misapprehension exists as to the real sentiments of the colored people in relation to the future. They are represented as being utterly demoralized and discouraged, while the contrary is true; they are quiet and hopeful, full of confidence in the ultimate triumph of republican principles. Especially are they encouraged by the indications that the general government will be controlled under the auspices of the Republican party for another Presidential term. It is also represented that the Republicans of Mississippi have lost confidence in you and your administration because of your refusal to declare martial law at the request of Governor Ames. Several of our most distinguished men, whose fealty to the party cannot be questioned, have been severely censured by Governor Ames and his few friends for sustaining your policy of non-intervention. Such men as Ex-Senators Pease and Reeves, Ex-Governor Powers, Congressmen McKee, Niles, Wells, and many others. They have been charged with having sold out the party to the opposition, and I am informed that a committee, pretending to represent the sentiments of the Republican party of the State, have complained to you that Senator Pease and others had betrayed the party, and demanded his removal from office. Permit me to say, from my knowledge of the position taken and the sentiments entertained by Pease and others complained of, that such representations, if made to you, are unqualifiedly false. The truth is, Mr. President, that a large majority of the Republican party fully indorse your action in relation to Federal intervention, and clearly comprehend the wisdom of the course pursued by the gentlemen above referred to in sustaining your policy. Any other policy would have resulted in revolution, forced the general government to have interfered, and the Democratic party would have then raised a clamor against your administration, charging the Republican party with using the Federal bayonet for partisan purposes, and inevitably resulted in the defeat of the party in the recent elections in the northern States, and the final overthrow of the party in 1876. There is no question but that the party in this State can be rallied again next year, and reorganized on a higher and better basis and cast her electoral vote in 1876, as she did in 1872, for U. S. Grant for President. Of course much depends upon the policy pursued from this time onward. In conclusion, allow me to say that any intervention in the use of Federal patronage in the interests of Governor Ames and his few friends who have proven themselves wholly incompetent to lead the party or manage its affairs, or, indeed, to be used in the interest of any particular faction or clique, will, in my judgment, prove disastrous in the extreme – destroy all hope of a harmonious reorganization of the party for victory in 1876. In this connection permit me to express my settled conviction that the removal of Ex-Senator Pease and Judge Stearns, who are known to be strong advocates of your re-election, will be construed as an indorsement of Governor Ames and his reckless follies; an indorsement of a policy that has well-nigh ruined the party and the State government; an indorsement of those who are utterly powerless to do anything toward re-establishing the party, and who are known to be opposed to you personally and the policy of your administration toward the south. It can result in no good, but, in my judgment, will prove a most disastrous blow upon the party. The worse feature of the case, however, is the appointment of John B. Raymond to succeed Ex-Senator Pease. It is unquestionably the most unfortunate appointment that could have been made. He is notoriously unscrupulous and corrupt. He is known to have corruptly procured legislation in his own interest for State printer for several years past. The indorsement by the national administration of such men as Raymond will wipe out the last ray of hope entertained by the honest and true men of the party. I undertake to say that his appointment alone, establishing, as it will be held, the future policy of the party in this State, will utterly defeat all attempts to harmonize the party and restore that confidence which is needed to bring back the fifteen thousand white men who have heretofore and until the last election voted the Republican ticket; for without their support the party is irretrievably lost. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. C. CARTER.