On this issue the two parties went before the people for a decision.  The Republicans were successful, but not by such a decisive majority as in the Congressional election of 1866.  In fact, if all the Southern States that took part in that election had gone Democratic, the hero of Appomattox would have been defeated.  It was the Southern States, giving Republican majorities through the votes of their colored men, that saved that important national election to the Republican party.  To the very great surprise of the Republican leaders the party lost the important and pivotal State of New York.  It had been confidently believed that the immense popularity of General Grant and his prestige as a brilliant and successful Union general would save every doubtful State to the Republicans, New York, of course, included.  But this expectation was not realized.  The result, it is needless to say, was a keen and bitter disappointment, for no effort had been spared to bring to the attention of the voters the strong points in General Grant.  A vote against Grant, it was strongly contended, was virtually a vote against the Union.  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