A complete case history a "Mississippi Plan of 1875" law suit brought against Governor Adelbert Ames to prevent the Governor from organizing and activating two companies of Colored Militia to protect Negroes during the 1875 election

A very important collection of documents that helped put an to Reconstruction and thus, systematic exclusion of Blacks from the politics of South for the next 100 years..... LAWSUIT TO PREVENT THE RAISING OF TWO BLACK MILITIAS. Lawsuit concerning the "The Mississippi Plan." Consisting of 6 handwritten documents on lined foolscap, in several different hands. Includes documents signed by judges E. S. Fisher of the 12th Circuit Court District, E. G. Peyton of the Mississippi Supreme Court, and various petitioners; exhibits of Ames’ letters to President Grant and the United States Attorney General. A total of 40 pp., condition generally very good. A partial transcript of all documents is provided. [Hinds County], 1875 ............ The Mississippi Plan of 1875 was devised by the Democratic Party to overthrow the Republican Party by organized violence in order regain control of the state. Governor Adelbert Ames was a Union Civil War General who won the Medal of Honor after fighting at Gettysburg. As governor, Ames hoped to bring a new order to a state where the Mississippi’s planter elite had long exerted almost total social, political, and economic control. He wanted former slaves to be landowners rather than sharecroppers and tenants. He pushed for the construction of public schools that would give Blacks the skills they needed to achieve political and economic success. Mississippi's planter elite hated Ames and feared that public education would make blacks bad laborers. As the 1875 election approached, insurgents known as "white liners" unleashed a reign of terror in the state. Determined to end Mississippi's five-year experiment with biracial government, white gangs threatened black citizens in cities, small towns and rural communities, letting them know that exercising their right to vote could cost them their lives. Ames attempted to activate two companies of Colored Militia to protect Negro voters during the upcoming election. This lawsuit prevented the Colored Militia from forming and the Election Day violence was the worst in American history. Reconstruction was over in Mississippi and blacks returned to a condition of serfdom.................. Partially Transcribed: Chancery Court Hinds Co 1st Dist Geo W. Ballentine, for self & others vs {- Bill Wm. H Gibbs Auditor & et als Filed Oct. 12 1875 State of Mississippi} in the Chancery Court Hinds County} First District To the Honorable W. R Ware Chancellor of the 11th Chancery Court District of the State of Mississippi and for the First District of Hinds County. Your orator George W. Ballentine, citizen and Tax-Payer of the county of Panola and the State of Mississippi, who sues for himself & on behalf of the other taxpayers of the state of Mississippi, states and charges that on the 25th day of February A.D. 1875, an act was proposed by the legislature of said state of Mississippi, entitled, "An act to amend Chapter XLV1 of the Revised Code of 1871 in relation to the State Militia and for other purposes." That by Section 2 of said Act, Section 2209 of the revised code of 1871, was so amended as to authorize the Commander In Chief to order into active service the Militia of the State or any part thereof, and order them to any part of the State, "when he is advised, or deems it is necessary to prevent, or suppress a riot or insurrection, or to aid the civil officers in the execution of the laws." Your orator further states and charges, on the 6th of March 1875, another Act was proposed by the Legislature of the State, entitled, An Act making appropriations to defray the expenses of the State Government for the year 1875," and by the 3rd section of that Act, the payment of the expenses of the militia was provided for as they might be incurred under the revised code of 1871 as amended by said act of the 25th of February A.D. 1875: but Section contained this provision: "That not more than $60,000 shall be expended under the provisions of this section, and that no more than $5,000 of this amount shall be drawn during the year, unless the militia be called in to actual service." Your Orator states and charges that, as he is informed and believes the Governor of the State of Mississippi has determined to organize in the fifth Congressional District of this State, two Regiments of the Military, or parts of the same, under the authority attempted to be conformed by the third section of the aforesaid Act of the 25th of February 1875, that the major General of the Militia , or the Brigadier General on the adjunct General of the Militia of this state, or one or more of them are now proceeding to organize said force and that three or more companies of State Militia, one composed of white citizens and two composed of colored citizens , have been already formed, official and organized in the county of Hinds in this State, in part execution of said purpose, and that State arms have been already issued to the members of one of said colored companies. Your Orator states and charges, in belief, that the said calling of the Militia into actual service, is not intended for any purpose mentioned in the Constitution or authorized by law. He is the more confirmed in this belief, because as he is informed and believes, that when the Attorney General of the United States, in answer to a requisition made by the Governor of this state on the President for United States Troops, asked for specific information as to the obstruction to the laws and riots and insurrection in this State the Governor, as he is informed and believes, did not reply by stating that these was any such obstruction to the execution of the laws, or that there were riots, or any insurrection in the State, but stated simply that there was violence incident to a political contest preceding a general election that the question of race had assumed magnified importance in certain localities, and that the race feeling was so intense that protection to colored people by white organizations is despaired of. No where in said reply, it is pretended that, there is any obstruction to the execution of the laws, or that there was a riot or insurrection in the state unsuppressed and in said reply of the Governor, it is further stated, and is in confirmation of the charge made as to the purpose of calling forth said militia that the organization of colored militia, it is believed would develop a war of races, and that the organization of whites alone would be equally ineffectual. So your Orator charges that in as much as these are only whites and colored men in the State to be organized in the militia and that as, in the opinion of the Commander in Chief, the organization of either or both would be ineffectual, and would in fact develop a war, he is justified in stating and charging, and does so state and charge that the motive of calling out said militia and it’s arrived purpose is not the attainment of any one of the objects authorized by the Constitution and laws. Exhibit B. to Bill What Gov. Ames said to the Attorney General in reply to a Request for specific information. A lame and impotent conclusion. As the Governor of the State, I made a demand which cannot well be refused. Let the odium, in all its magnitude, descend on me. I cannot escape conscious in the discharge of my duty toward a class of American citizens whose only offense consist in their color, and whom I am powerless to protect. (Signed) Adelbert Ames.