[VOTING RIGHTS]. GARTH, William W. Autograph letter signed ("Wm W Garth"). Tibbee Station, MS, 24 June 1868. Letter about elections involving emancipated African Americans.

2 pages, 4to, 7 7/8 x 10 in., with original yellow envelope with red 3-cent stamp and "TIBBEE STATION / MISS / June 21 68" postmark, short marginal tears along old folds, minor brown spotting.

A Mississippi man writes with complaints about the newly emancipated formerly enslaved people and Radical Republicans participating in elections and the prospect of a democratic victory: "I write to inform you that these people are now in the midst of their Constitutional Nigger elections. They are confidant [sic] that they will defeat the Constitution, and say, that if Congress puts them in the Union any way, as they did [in] Ala, that they can carry the state at the Presidential election for the democratic nominee."

He continues with a description of political intimidation: "Every man is at his post, armed to the teeth, with shotgun and revolver and his ballot. Many of the Negroes are bitter and hostile towards Negroes who vote the democratic ticket, and threaten them. The democratic darkey turns to the white man for pretection, who in return boldly notify radical darkey if he touches democratic nig they will kill burn and slay." He concludes: "Whatever may be the result of this election, Mississippi will vote for the nominee of the democratic party next November." In the 1868 presidential election, Mississippi had not yet been restored to the Union and did not participate. The republicans, however, won by a wide margin and carried the majority of southern states.

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents

This lot is located in Cincinnati.