Watch…Two Days Before He Finds Jesus
Alexander K. Davis was born in 1845 in Mississippi. Born a slave, Davis claimed to be the son of Col. A.C. McClurg, a Mississippi rifleman injured in battle down in Mexico in the Mexican American War. No one knows for sure as the account was not credited. We do know Davis was raised in Shelby County, Tennessee where he acquired “fair education…before the blessing of freedom was conferred on him.” By his own congressional testimony, Davis testified he was qualified for the bar before moving to his native Mississippi in 1869.
We take Davis at his word.
In June 1869, Davis settled in Noxubee County, Mississippi and began his ascent into Black History. Davis served as a grand juror of the U.S. Court for the District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. As a grand juror, Davis heard gut wrenching accounts of racial terror throughout Macon, Mississippi and surrounding areas. The Ku Klux Klan was on the rampage in Davis’s corner of the world.
Consider witness testimony from just one night in Macon.
Around March 1870, Betsey Lucas was at her home. Twelve disguised men, including one black man, came to her place. They took Betsey outside, “put a rope around her neck, a bridle rein, and whipped her, and gave her a certain number of days to get away.” The black man under duress held the horses. What was Betsey’s crime? She was “whipped for messing with a man, Jackson.” Betsey was Jackson’s mistress.
That same night, this same gang of disguised men ran five families off their land at a neighborhood called the bottom.
Good enough for a night’s work of terror? Think again.
Then, these men on horseback galloped to a plantation in search of a few men to finish off. The men were absent but Sam Coger happened to be present. My friend, Dan, sent me an e-mail this morning about random luck. Well, Sam was unlucky this night. The men killed Sam “because he talked to them a little plain.”
Not done with their killing and savagery, the party then rode over to Dick Malone’s place. Malone was on their list. What was Malone’s offense? “There were various offenses. He was said to have been obnoxious, on account of his being a prominent man over there in that neighborhood.” The men in disguise killed Malone.
And this was one night in Macon. March of 1870.
Most of us would have removed ourselves, if we could, from Macon, if not the state of Mississippi. Not our pioneer black lawyer. Not Alexander K. Davis. He ran into the fire of prejudice, bigotry and racism. He ran into the fire.
Davis placed himself in the middle of black leadership for a better tomorrow in Mississippi. Davis ran for political office and won.
David represented Noxubee County in the State House of Representatives from 1870 to 1873. As a State Representative, Davis authored and introduced 25 bills. He sought to reduce taxes by working across the aisle with the Democrats. He had a good nature and was conservative in temperament. Most importantly, he was not afraid to place himself out there in a sea of racial hostility. The voters were impressed. Black leadership were impressed. A consensus developed that Davis should seek higher office.
And so it was that Davis was elected Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi in 1873. Davis was a heart beat away from the Governor’s desk. Maybe too close for comfort…
The Governor Adelbert Ames was a Republican, like his Lieutenant Governor Davis. The two also did not get along. They had a long standing political beef. Nonetheless, Governor Ames would leave the state for days at a stretch to hang out in New Orleans and Louisiana. I don’t get it but, to his credit, Ames was not prejudiced. He seemed quite ok with Davis running the Magnolia State on occasion. On six occasions from 1874 to 1876, Governor Ames checked out of the Governor’s office. On one occasion, Davis stood in as Acting Governor for a day. On another occasion, Davis pinch hit as Governor for an entire month.
On August 25, 1874, one Thomas Barrentine committed a horrible murder of Ann Thomas in Lowndes County. People were shocked and the murderer was rightly convicted for his heinous crimes and imprisoned. Due to procedural luck as my friend, Dan, might say, Davis issued the proclamation for the arrest of Barrentine. Governor Ames was out for the day, presumably.
Now, the father of Thomas Barrentine was dismayed. Barrentine’s father did not want his son to spend one more day in prison. But what could be done about the situation? What could be done?
A local wheeler dealer by the name of Col. Beverly Matthews caught wind of the situation. Matthew approached Barrentine’s father and offered to secure a pardon for the son in exchange for $2,500 for services rendered. The father did not care about scruples or ethics. He wanted his poor suffering son out of prison. And so money changed hands. The father paid Matthews $2,500 and the money was deposited into Matthew’s wife’s bank account.
So far, so good.
Col. Matthews paid a visit to Lieutenant Governor Davis to inquire about the possibility of a pardon for the deserving Barrentine locked up in prison. Can you help me out with a pardon from the Governor? The good Davis said essentially, no can do. I issued the proclamation for the arrest. The optics don’t look good on this one. And then the bad Davis took control….
The bad Davis had a better idea. Pay the money to the Governor’s private secretary Packer. Packer in turn will influence Governor Ames. (As you recall, readers, Ames and Davis had an ongoing beef.)
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On May 20, 1875 and to no one’s surprise at the Governor’s office, Governor Ames decided it was a good day to leave the state for some rest and relaxation. This was the moment Davis had been waiting for!
On May 21, 1875, Davis assumed possession of the Governor’s office — Q: How did he take possession of the Governor’s office? A: He came in, took off his hat, and announced that he was Governor, whilst Governor Ames was out of the state.” Testimony of Acting Private Secretary for the Governor Packer before the Mississippi State Senate, Trial and Impeachment Proceedings
The first, and only, official act Davis took that day as Governor was to issue a pardon of Thomas Barrentine.
They say the ink was “scarely dry on the pardon” as (Acting) Governor Davis went into the night (nothing good ever happens at night). Davis met Matthews at a hotel and offered the pardon for sale. Did Matthews find Jesus? Matthews felt the situation was sketchy. He said, no, he was not buying it (the pardon I mean).
Davis countered. He would write up a new pardon as Governor. (When the cat’s away, the mice will play). By this point, Davis was drunk with liquid courage. He vowed to make a big stink about the whole affair if he didn’t get paid. Enter the father of Barrentine stage left. Barrentine was skeptical about the whole sordid affair. Who’s on first, to use modern parlance? Who’s the Governor of Mississippi right now?
Friends reassured the father that the pardon was legitimate. Ames was safely out of the state. The father rolled the dice. He decided “to risk it” and “trust the Negro.” $500 found its way into Davis’ pocket.
The whole deal was sad and slimy.
When the Democrats came to power, they had no trouble calling for impeachment proceedings against Davis. There were days of witness testimony. I have read the testimony and, well, Davis…what were you thinking? Was it worth $500 in your pocket?
The State Senate convicted Davis based on the evidence of bribery. Next up would be Governor Ames who faced similar proceedings. Both men resigned before removal from office.
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Davis left the world of politics after his resignation. A man who loved music, singing, playing instruments, drawing and painting was not destined for the foibles of corrupt politics. I would like to think that, as one door closed, another door opened. Davis studied for the ministry in Nashville. He grew to believe “educated talent in the ministry is one of the most hopeful means of effectiveness.” Davis became pastor of the Colored Methodist Church at Canton, Mississippi. “His face well harmonize(d) with a pious profession.”
And so before Davis passed away on November 21, 1884, I think he found Jesus.
Davis may have believed he was not meant for the foibles of politics, but he outmaneuvered a few and didn't hurt anyone with his actions.
So, not all of your subjects are “heroes.” Maybe they’re survivors who have figured out how to work the system. It’s hard not to admire the hutzpah! I like the surprises, and how different each of your subjects are.