The enemy's rejoicings over this result were as extrava gant as their jubilations over the result of the election in Massachusetts the year previous, or, as their violent efforts to win it. The hornet was elevated into a sort of demigod, and all sounded his praises. A movement was set on foot to raise a fund with which to purchase a suitable testimonial of their appreciation of his services. In order that all might share in that pleasure, it was arranged that no one should be allowed to contribute more than ten cents-except the head of a family, who might contribute ten cents for each of his or her children. This fund was quickly raised, and upon the testimonial-a massive silver pitcher-was engraved the following:

"Presented to him by his Democratic fellow-citizens of Yazoo County, as an humble testimonial of their high appreciation of his brilliant services in the redemption of the county from radical rule in 1875."

The Banner said:

"Let no man dare say that a nobler man ever lived."

Then a great county gathering was held, at which were present Ethel Barksdale and Otho R. Singleton, both now in the House of Representatives at Washington, and L. Q. C. Lamar and J. Z. George, present United States Senators from that State. Before these distinguished persons, the hornet and his company were paraded, dressed and armed as when on their hanging expeditions, and there in the presence of the vast throng, over whom waved our grand old flag, received, fresh from the lips of these, their true and tried captains and leaders, Barksdale, Singleton, George, Lamar, the thanks of "the people" of the county, "the people" of the State, and, of "our people" everywhere, for their "glorious services" in behalf of "our sacred cause."*

So far as I have been able to learn no trace has ever been

It was here and by those distinguished statesmen (?) that Yazoo was christened the Banner county of the State.

found by the hornet, by Taylor, nor by any of the armed organizations, of those "sixteen hundred army guns" of Benjamin Franklin Eddin and James Red Sands, or of either of those characters. Their names are not among the dead of that canvass. Indeed, after the campaign had opened in right good earnest on the part of the enemy, nothing was said or done about that matter. It appears to have been lost sight of.

Throughout that period the Republicans were as helpless as babes. There was never any resistance at all by them to the violence of the enemy.

That campaign in Yazoo has been called "the coronation of the Mississippi plan." So it was; for in twenty-six other counties of the State that year the enemy were less humane. In some of that number Republicans resisted by violence the aggressions of the enemy, and were massacred in crowds of ten, twenty, fifty, and, in one county, it was said quite one hundred were killed. But in Yazoo, instead of summoning the unarmed colored men against the disciplined and fully equipped ranks of the white league, the Republican leaders made their fight upon the picket-line, trusting to the reserves at the North to fill their places when they should be all killed, captured, or in retreat. Therefore, only leaders were killed in Yazoo, and only so many of them as was necessary to convince Republicans that their opponents would kill if necessary, that they had the power to kill, and that there were none to forbid it, or to punish them for it afterward. Therefore the mass of the Republicans remained silent and passive. Ohio and Massachusetts had gone Democratic. Had I summoned a posse of colored men and resisted, of course there would have been a general massacre in Yazoo, too. That I would not do. Therefore the hornet and all his aids were entitled to the thanks of mankind! The hornet received the thanks of "our people" on the occasion mentioned. His reward came later.

By such means as I have here but faintly detailed Yazoo and Mississippi were "redeemed."

By such means Major W. D. Gibbs, my opponent in 1869, recovered his own without the aid of Reuben, and took his place in the State Senate; the attorney for Mars' Si, who was also for the State against Charles, and for Mr. Hilliard against me, was elected to the House, and Captain Taylor of the cavalry company, was elected to be sheriff and tax-collector,

Within twenty-four hours after their new government was installed in the places of "we all " Republicans, the county treasury was entered and every dollar of the school fund carried off. To this day, it is said that the robbery was by "persons unknown.”

Then their grand jury, selected by the same meanз as were Gibbs, Taylor, and Mars' Si's attorney, on their solemn oaths, presented to the court "a true bill" for murder against

me.

*About twenty-eight thousand dollars.

CHAPTER LXX.

VIEWS OF SOUTHERN STATESMEN UPON "OUR PEOPLE AND
SACRED CAUSE"-DEATH OF THE HORNET.

"OUR

"Conscious that they themselves* were animated by devotion to constitutional liberty, and that the brightest pages of history are replete with evidences of the depth and sincerity of that devotion, they can but cherish the recollections of sacrifices endured, the battles fought and the victories won in defense of their hapless cause." -From L. Q. C. Lamar's Eulogium on Mr. Sumner, in the National House of Representatives, April 27, 1874.

THE

HE events mentioned in the last chapter occurred eight years ago. All the chief conspirators are still living; Barksdale, George and Lamar. They are all in the Congress of the United States.

Their dupes, Captain Telsub, the hornet, and Halder are dead; all died by violence. The death of each was most pitiful, tragic. The former was killed in Texas; a private quarrel, it was said. It was also said that upon his body were found some of the missing school funds of Yazoo County. The hornet died a martyr to free speech, and while defending the negro's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

For four years there had been but one political party in the county. The irreconcilables dominated that party absolutely, and they called it the Democratic party. By their admirers throughout the State they were called the " Banner Democracy of the Banner County." That year, 1879, the hornet became the leader of the "disaffected," and champion

*The slave-holding rebels

of a movement designed to build up an opposition party. He had the encouragement and support of many of Yazoo's "best citizens." "Our nigros" were quick to seize upon that movement as opening a way out of the political slavery in which they were groaning, and rallied to that standard almost

en masse.

The banner Democracy found in that fact proof, "strong as holy writ," that the colored people were again “ about to rise," and promptly set on foot precisely the same means as had been employed for the overthrow of our free State government. Rumors of "nigro risings" became once more frequent. The result was a large gathering of the armed "independent companies" at Yazoo City, July 25, 1879, when a formal demand was made upon the hornet that he should withdraw from his candidacy for the sheriff's office. To this demand he made the following response, which was published in the Yazoo City Herald (extra):

"To the Public:

"For the sake of the peace and harmony of the country, and the affection I bear for my family and friends, I agree to withdraw from the political canvass or race issue in the future, provided I will be protected in my rights as any other citizen; and my friend, R. A. Flannagan, is to be unmolested in his rights, etc.

"YAZOO CITY, July 25, 1879.”

"H. M. DIXON.

Commenting on this the Herald's editor said that the reason assigned for the withdrawal, the "race issue," was not "satisfactory to the great assembly of earnest, determined men. He finally, however, consented to quit the canvass now and forever, * * so the political canvass in this county may be considered at an end. The Democratic flag now waves over the glorious old county, uncontaminated and unchallenged, and long may it wave."

A challenge was to come, however. For immediately after "the great assembly of earnest, determined men" had dispersed, Mr. Dixon announced that his withdrawal had been procured by force, and while he was in duress, therefore it was null and void.