on.
Frederick Douglass, who electrified many audiences in that campaign,
made the notable declaration that "While Washington had given us a
country, it was Grant who had saved us a country." And yet the savior of
our country failed in that election to save to the Republican party the
most important State in the Union. But, notwithstanding the loss of New
York, the Republicans not only elected the President and Vice-President,
but also had a safe majority in both branches of Congress.

One of the first acts of Congress after the Presidential election of
1868 was one authorizing the President to submit Mississippi's rejected
Constitution once again to a popular vote. The same act authorized the
President to submit to a separate vote such clause or clauses of said
Constitution as in his judgment might be particularly obnoxious to any
considerable number of the people of the State. It was not and could not
be denied that the Constitution as a whole was a most admirable
document. The Democrats had no serious objection to its ratification if
the clause disfranchising most of their leaders were eliminated. When it
became known that this clause would be submitted to a separate vote, and
that the Republican organization would not insist upon its retention, no
serious opposition to the ratification of the Constitution was
anticipated. And, indeed, none was made.

The time fixed for holding the election was November, 1869. In the mean
time the State was to be under military control. General Adelbert Ames
was made Military Governor, with power to fill by appointment every
civil office in the State. Shortly after General Ames took charge as
Military Governor the Republican club at Natchez agreed upon a slate to
be submitted to the Military Governor for his favorable consideration,
the names upon said slate being the choice of the Republican
organization of the county for county and city officials. Among the
names thus agreed upon was that of the Rev. H.P. Jacobs for Justice of
the Peace. It was then decided to send a member of the club to Jackson,
the State capital, to present the slate to the Governor in person in
order to answer questions that might be asked or to give any information
that might be desired about any of the persons whose names appeared on
the slate. It fell to my lot to be chosen for that purpose; the
necessary funds being raised by the club to pay my expenses. I accepted
the mission, contingent upon my employer's