"Dublin Core:Title","Dublin Core:Alternative Title","Dublin Core:Description","Dublin Core:Abstract","Dublin Core:Table Of Contents","Dublin Core:Bibliographic Citation","Dublin Core:Creator","Dublin Core:Contributor","Dublin Core:Date","Dublin Core:Date Created","Dublin Core:Date Available","Dublin Core:Date Accepted","Dublin Core:Date Copyrighted","Dublin Core:Date Submitted","Dublin Core:Date Modified","Dublin Core:Date Valid","Dublin Core:Date Issued","Dublin Core:Subject","Dublin Core:Coverage","Dublin Core:Spatial Coverage","Dublin Core:Temporal Coverage","Dublin Core:Language","Dublin Core:Type","Dublin Core:Format","Dublin Core:Extent","Dublin Core:Medium","Dublin Core:Identifier","Dublin Core:Relation","Dublin Core:Has Part","Dublin Core:Is Part Of","Dublin Core:Has Version","Dublin Core:Is Version Of","Dublin Core:Replaces","Dublin Core:Is Replaced By","Dublin Core:References","Dublin Core:Is Referenced By","Dublin Core:Has Format","Dublin Core:Is Format Of","Dublin Core:Requires","Dublin Core:Is Required By","Dublin Core:Conforms To","Dublin Core:Source","Dublin Core:Provenance","Dublin Core:Rights","Dublin Core:Rights Holder","Dublin Core:Access Rights","Dublin Core:License","Dublin Core:Publisher","Dublin Core:Accrual Method","Dublin Core:Accrual Periodicity","Dublin Core:Accrual Policy","Dublin Core:Audience","Dublin Core:Audience Education Level","Dublin Core:Mediator","Dublin Core:Instructional Method","Item Type Metadata:Text","Item Type Metadata:Interviewer","Item Type Metadata:Interviewee","Item Type Metadata:Location","Item Type Metadata:Transcription","Item Type Metadata:Local URL","Item Type Metadata:Original Format","Item Type Metadata:Physical Dimensions","Item Type Metadata:Duration","Item Type Metadata:Compression","Item Type Metadata:Producer","Item Type Metadata:Director","Item Type Metadata:Bit Rate/Frequency","Item Type Metadata:Time Summary","Item Type Metadata:Email Body","Item Type Metadata:Subject Line","Item Type Metadata:From","Item Type Metadata:To","Item Type Metadata:CC","Item Type Metadata:BCC","Item Type Metadata:Number of Attachments","Item Type Metadata:Standards","Item Type Metadata:Objectives","Item Type Metadata:Materials","Item Type Metadata:Lesson Plan Text","Item Type Metadata:URL","Item Type Metadata:Event Type","Item Type Metadata:Participants","Item Type Metadata:Birth Date","Item Type Metadata:Birthplace","Item Type Metadata:Death Date","Item Type Metadata:Occupation","Item Type Metadata:Biographical Text","Item Type Metadata:Bibliography","Item Type Metadata:Episode","Item Type Metadata:Season","Item Type Metadata:Episode Type","Item Type Metadata:Explicit","Item Type Metadata:Block","PDF Text:Text",Scripto:Transcription,tags,file,itemType,collection,public,featured "Letter from Robert Gleed to Lieut Gov Davis",,"Letter from Robert Gleed to Lieutenant Governor A. K. Davis, resigning his position on the state's Centennial Board.",,,,"Gleed, Robert, 1836-1916",,1875-11-18,,,,,,,,,"Gleed, Robert, 1836-1916",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Document at the Civil War & Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi Project. Original held at the Mississippi Department of Archives & History.",,,,,,,,,,,,,,"
Columbus Miss
Nov 18″ 1875
To his Excellency
A. K. Davis
Jackson
Dr Sir:
Allow me to tender to you my resignation as a member of the Centennial Board.
I return you thanks for the favor shown, and shall ever remember the honor confered upon me. Circumstances require me to tender this, my resignation. Hoping I may have your favorable action in this matter.
I am
Yours etc
R. Gleed
Radical Meeting at Macon.
There was an old fashioned gathering of the Radical clans at Macon on the 17th. Twenty-five hundred negroes were present. Reverend ex-Lt. Governor A. K. Davis, was chairman. Algood and Cavett, white Republicans, engineered the affair. Grant resolutions were adopted, and incendiary speeches delivered.
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"ak davis",https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/7/2172/meeting.PNG,Text,"Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi ",1,0 "Clarion-Ledger clipping",,,,,,Clarion-Ledger,,1880-01-28,,,,,,,,,"Davis, Alexander Kelso",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Corinth Herald.]Ex-Lieut. Governor A. K. Davis, died at his home in Canton on Thursday night last of heart disease. His was an eventful life. Born a slave, he had acquired, even before the blessing of freedom was conferred on him, a fair education. He was fond of music, sang well and played on several instruments, besides having some aptitude for drawing and painting. It is said that he acted as spy for Van Dorn and Forrest during the war, making frequent visits inside the Federal lines, and furnishing valuable information on his return, often bringing with him quinine and other drugs. During the “reconstruction” era he was a prominent Republican politician, and having been elected to several minor positions, was finally elected Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket headed by Ames in 1873. He was impeached by a Democratic Legislature in 1876, the charge being that he had accepted a bribe for the pardon of a convict. While this charge was abundantly sustained by proof, it was developed on the trial that Davis was subjected to influences other than the pecuniary reward which he received which it would have been difficult for him to withstand. It is more than probable that he desired to grant the pardon, and that the bribe was not the moving consideration. After his impeachment he retired from politics and entered the ministry of the M. E. Church, since which time he has conducted himself most worthily. He was conservative by nature and had a kind heart, and under other influences than those which surrounded him during his public life, he would have been a useful citizen and an ornament to his race. Those who are familiar with the days of “reconstruction” in this State will ever remember Davis as a man who was anxious to do what was for the good of the people, but who was scarcely strong enough to withstand the mad tide of Radicalism which swept over the State and finally destroyed the Republican party. -Clarion.
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"ak davis,obits",https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/7/2170/davisobit.PNG,Text,"Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi ",1,0 "Vicksburg Herald clipping",,,,,,"Vicksburg Herald",,1874-03-10,,,,,,,,,"Davis, Alexander Kelso",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"More Thieves Turned Loose – Gov. Davis as the Champion Pardoner.
We learn from a gentleman from Jackson, who received his information direct from Mr. Noonan, the Superintendent of the Penitentiary, that Lieut.-Gov. Davis is proving himself the champion pardoner of the age. Within a week that functionary has pardoned fourteen virtuous gentlemen in striped breeches, and if Ames will only keep away from the State for three or four months longer, there is a good prospect that Mississippi will be able to boast of a Penitentiary without a solitary inmate! This will be a decidedly economic arrangement, for, if there are no prisoners kept in the Penitentiary, there will, of course, be no occasion for Superintendents, officers, and guards! Then there will be no outlay for food and clothing, nothing to pay for doctor’s bills; in short, the Penitentiary will be entirely self-supporting, for, as nothing from nothing leaves the same gigantic product, it follows as the night the day, that Gov. Davis being generous in turning the thieves out as fast as the courts can turn them in, he cannot be false to any man for the “keep” of thieves and murderers! Some benighted individual may be stupid enough to suggest that it is hardly worthwhile for the people to pay taxes to support the courts of the country, if the criminals whose cases are adjudicated are not punished in accordance with law, but this is taking a very narrow view of the subject. The way to avoid all difficulty in the premises is to empty the Penitentiary at one fell swoop, by a single dash of the pen, and convert the building into a grand joss house, or voodoo temple for the negroes. This being done, let all courts be abolished and the Courthouses of the several counties be transformed into dance houses – the most of them are used for that purpose now – and this will be a great saving of money in the shape of compensation to Judges and Chancellors, with a great retinue of clerks and bailiffs. This accomplished, we can abolish all law and refuse to make any more; everybody will be the equal of everybody else; everyone will enjoy the largest liberty, and take what he pleases, without money and without price, and thus, we shall reach and realize the dream of the philanthropist, and have perfect social equality! Can anything be more delightful?
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"ak davis",https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/7/2169/pardons.PNG,Text,"Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi ",1,0 "Clarion-Ledger clipping",,,,,,Clarion-Ledger,,1875-06-23,,,,,,,,,"Davis, Alexander Kelso",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"THE ALLEGED BRIBERY CASE.
Col. Matthews, of Counsel for Barrentine, explains, but says nothings.
The Charge not Cleared up.
The Columbus Index has stated specially the grounds on which it has charged Lt.-Gov. Davis with having received money for granting pardon to Thomas Barrentine, charged with the murder of the widow in Lowndes county. Since our last issue, in which we commented on the absence of explicitness in the original article, the Index has made this following distinct statement, giving names, dates and particulars:
Columbus Index.]
“The attacks of Lieutenant-Governor Davis and the Radical press of the State have forced us to a publication of the facts connected with the rumor relating to the bribery of Lieutenant-Governor Davis. The Index now defies those whose characters are at stake to bring suit for libel, and we proceed to state the following facts and dare any one to controvert them:
Between the 14th and 24th days of May, Gov. Davis (negro) was in Jackson, begging Gov. Ames to sign a pardon in blank. Gov. Ames refused and then Davis told him the pardon was for Thomas Barrentine, the murderer of Mrs. Thomas. Still Gov. Ames refused to issue the pardon, but shortly left for the seacoast. He went by Osyka, near the Louisiana line, and soon after he passed that place, Gov. Davis sealed the pardon of Thomas Barrentine.
On May 14th, Henry Barrentine, father of Thomas Barrentine, gave Col. Beverly Matthews, attorney for the Barrentines, a check for $1250 to be used in procuring the pardon of Thos. Barrentine. – Soon after, there was some misunderstanding between Henry Barrentine and Col. Matthews, which resulted in the former’s withdrawing the check and giving, on May 22d, a check for $1250 payable to cash or bearer. This check was in possession of Col. W. E. Gibbs, who obtained the money on it Sunday, May 23d, and on that day, he, Col. Matthews and Gov. Davis were seen in such earnest conversation together that the observers thought that there was some serious difficulty on hand. On that night Col. Gibbs and Davis had an appointment to meet at Wiley Johnston’s (colored) house. Davis waited at the house until late at night but the Col. failed to “come to time” whereat Davis was greatly enraged. The next morning (24th) Davis was at the train before day waiting for Gibbs and went to Artesia with him. What transpired during that interview is not known, but Davis returned with a smiling countenance and said that he had got his part of the money.
The actual amount of money received by Davis for issuing the pardon was only $450.00. The balance – $800.00 was divided between Cols. Matthews and Gibbs for professional services in securing the pardon.”
This article presents the issue in a tangible shape. Was there a $1200 check in the transaction? Did Davis receive any portion of it? If not how was it used? The case had not been tried, and no lawyer’s fees could have legitimately accrued. A subsequent number of the Index contains the following explanation for Col. Beverly Matthews:
“Several articles having appeared in our columns connecting the name of the Hon. Beverly Matthews with the bribery of the negro Lieut. Governor, we deem it an act of justice to state, that having had an interview with Col. Matthews, from his statement upon this subject we are satisfied that his action in the premises was professional and honorable.
We regret that our article of Thursday should have been misconstrued by intelligent gentlemen, and will say that Col. Matthews’ explanation was entirely satisfactory, and our intent was to give him an opportunity of offering it to the public.”
Now, we submit that this explanation is jejune and unsatisfactory to an impartial public, notwithstanding it may be “satisfactory” to the Index. The public desires to know not what the editor of that journal thinks is “professional and honorable,” but precisely what the said “action” was. The explanation implies that Col. Matthews was concerned in the case; and the inquiry is made, to what extent? Does he possess knowledge of how the $1200 was expended? And if so, what is his information? The explanation ends where public curiosity begins.
Nothing is heard from Col. Gibbs who, is alleged to have been the associate counsel with Col. Matthews in the management of the case. It is alleged that he disbursed the proceeds of the check, and circumstances related which have created the presumption that a part of it was paid to the acting Governor.
On the whole, the affair wears an ugly aspect official. Barrentine was charged with participating in an atrocious murder of a defenceless woman in the presence of her children, and without a trial, is pardoned. The inference is unavoidable that a powerful influence was brought to bear on the acting Executive to induce him to interfere in such behalf in advance of a trial in which the facts would have been elicited establishing the guilt or innocence of the accused.
Col. Matthews has spoken but not to the point, not satisfactorily. Col. Gibbs is yet to be heard from. Meantime, the inquiry shall be pressed not for the professional nor personal injury of these lawyers whom the public acquit of any moral crime in striving to secure the release of their client, but to ascertain whether the grave charge that Executive interference in behalf of a supposed criminal was secured by a pecuniary consideration. The dealing of the public is with its agent charged with the highest obligations known to the law, and it will not be content until the matter is probed to the core.
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"ak davis,ames,crime",https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/7/2168/bribery2.PNG,Text,"Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi ",1,0 "Clarion-Ledger clipping",,,,,,Clarion-Ledger.,,1875-07-14,,,,,,,,,"Davis, Alexander Kelso",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"The Charge of Bribery Against the Lt.-Governor.
The Columbus Press, a leading Republican paper published where Lt.-Gov. Davis resides, contained an editorial on the charge of bribery which has been made against that officer, so pointed and frank, that we have copied it into our columns. The Press is a political supporter of the Lt.-Governor, and its observations and deductions cannot be presumed to have been made from an unfriendly stand-point.
First, the Press characterizes his action in pardoning a man charged with the brutal and horrible murder of a helpless woman in the presence of her five fatherless children, “as a monstrous and hideous spectacle of violated trust and abuse of power.”
Second, it reiterates the statement that he himself had offered a reward of $500 for this same murderer, and that he granted the pardon even before the criminal was brought into the State and put upon trial.
Third, that he “took advantage of a few hours absence of Gov. Ames from the State at dead of night” in which to interpose Executive clemency between the murderer and the penalties of the law.
Fourth, in consideration of this pardon, the charge is that the Lt.-Governor received a sum of money, said to be four hundred and fifty dollars. In other words that he exercised the powers of the office of Governor which he temporarily filled in virtue of his office of Lt.-Governor and polluted the seal of the State, for a money consideration.
The Press, it will be seen, so far from discrediting this main charge, virtually countenances it, and emphatically disapproves the method by which it has been met, as feeble and insufficient.
Now the Index has come squarely to the point, and specified that Colonels Beverly Matthews and W. E. Gibbs are cognizant of the facts – that the money which was expended to procure the release of the criminal, passed through their hands, that, as lawyers, they received their fees out of it, and that Col. Gibbs disbursed to the Lt.-Governor the sum of money which he is charged with having received. These gentlemen have it in their power to clear up this whole transaction, if they will. They have not spoken. True, Col. Matthews has satisfied the Index that his action in the case was “professional and honorable,” but this does not amount to a pinch of snuff. He is not on trial at the bar of public opinion. Nobody has inquired whether his conduct is “professional and honorable” or not. The inquiry is, what do you know about the charge against the Lt.-Governor, and what were the influences that induced him to pardon the criminal? Any answer which does not meet this question squarely is simply evasive, and is utterly abortive, as an attempt to satisfy the public demand upon the point at issue.
Until the matter becomes a subject of legal inquiry, and of Legislative investigation, these gentlemen who are publicly declared to be cognizant of the facts, have it in their power to keep silent, but their silence, under the circumstances, is ominous.
Here is the article from the Press, the Republican journal above referred to:
Gov. Davis and the Index.
The Columbus Index has charged Lt.-Gov. Davis with the crime of pardoning one Thomas H. Barrentine, a man who stands indicted on the records of this county for one of the most brutal, fiendish and unprovoked murders found in the annals of crime.
Its second charge is, that the Lt.-Governor himself – acting as Governor when the crime was committed – offered a reward of $500 for his apprehension, and when the officers of the law were upon his track and about to bring him back to the State for trial upon this heinous charge, that Lt.-Gov. Davis again took a hand in the case, and taking advantage of a few hours absence from the State of Gov. Ames, at dead of night, interceded his pardon between this criminal and outraged justice.
The third charge is, that this pardon was granted for a money consideration of $500, given into the hands of the Lt.-Governor for that specific purpose.
The first and second of these counts, we presume, Gov. Davis will not deny. The third charge, while a more flagrant violation of the letter of the law, is certainly not a greater outrage upon the morals of the sense of justice of a civilized people than are the first charges. The moral guilt of the act stands as a monstrous and hideous spectacle of violated trust, and abuse of power.
When, therefore, the Lt.-Governor comes forward confessing the first counts – accepting the verdict of condemnation from the mouths of all honest men, which these confessed violations of duty fasten upon him – can he reasonably expect the public to accept his mere denial of the last charge – supported as it is by a thousand suspicious circumstances – as a full acquittal? The Pilot, with all the simplicity of a child-like faith, remarks: “We are assured by Lt.-Gov. Davis that there is no truth in the article published recently in the Columbus Index” – “NO TRUTH” – says Davis, and the Pilot gulps it down and then proceeds to call on the Index to prove the statement!
Whether the Index is able to do so or not, we do not know, but we are of opinion that it will be time enough to call for proofs when the opportunity is extended to them to secure them. This opportunity Mr. Davis can give them by bringing an action of libel, or by taking such other steps as will give the Index a chance to compel the attendance of witnesses and their sworn evidence under the penalty of perjury for false statements.
Until he is disposed to resort to this reasonable and satisfactory way of vindicating his action in this matter, we prefer to be governed in our judgment by the facts that surround the case, rather than by the assertions of innocence of the accused, or the flinging of epithets at his accusers.
",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"ak davis,ames,crime",https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/7/2167/bribery.PNG,Text,"Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi ",1,0 "Signature of Alexander K. Davis",,"Signature of Alexander K. Davis from an 1874 executive pardon of a convict.",,,,"Davis, Alexander Kelso",,1874,,,,,,,,,"Davis, Alexander Kelso",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"ak davis,signatures",https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/files/original/7/2156/davis.png,"Still Image","Against All Odds: The First Black Legislators in Mississippi ",1,0 "Vicksburg Times & Republican clipping",,,,,,"Vicksburg Times & Republican",,1873-09-02,,,,,,,,,"Jacobs, Henry P.; Carter, Hannibal C.; Stewart, Isham; Davis, Alexander Kelso; Caldwell, Charles, -1875; Morgan, A. T. (Albert Talmon); Hill, James, 1846-1903; Cardozo, Thomas W. (Thomas Whitmarsh), 1838-1881; Barrow, Peter Barnabus; Webster, John D., -1887; Spelman, James J.; Political conventions",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"State Convention.