Joshua S. Morris

Joshua S. Morris (1835 - February 13, 1890) was an American lawyer who served as the first Republican Attorney General of Mississippi from 1870 to 1874.[1][2]

Presidential campaign of 1872

A letter Morris wrote regarding the 1872 presidential campaign, Letter from J.S. Morris, Esq., Attorney-general of Mississippi, on the Presidential Campaign of 1872, reveals the political divide, not just among the Reconstructionists and military occupation of the former Confederate States, but also within the Republican party during the campaign of Ulysses S. Grant.[3][4] In this letter, Morris speaks for the continued protection of African Americans in the U.S. south, as well as against excessive taxation of white merchants and labourers.[4] Letters to him from other officials are extant.[5]

Referring to Grant, who was generally despised by whites in Mississippi, as the former Union Army General who defeated the Confederate forces, and due to the U.S. military continued to occupation of the state, Morris addressed Grant's presidential rival Horace Greeley's campaign, Anything to beat Grant.[6][7] Morris writes:

"Suffice it to say that the motto, 'Anything to beat Grant,' does not meet my approbation. Let it rather be, “Anything to help Mississippi!” We are not in a condition to beat “anybody or anything.” Let us get into the prevailing sentiment of this great nation, make ourselves a part of it, secure its confidence and friendship, obtain a voice in its councils, and assist in guiding it. Then, and not till then, we may talk about “beating” somebody for President."[4]

Grant took the state, winning by 27% of the vote.

Other writings

He wrote an editorial about the role of militia officers and Mississippi governor Adelbert Ames in the "invasion of Vicksburg"[8] (Vicksburg riots of 1874).[9]

Death

Morris died February 13, 1890,[10] aged 55,[11] at his home in Natchez and was survived by his wife and several children.[12]

References

  1. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-mississippi-pilot-republican/133436271
  2. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/895103366/?match=1&terms=election%20results%20joshua%20morris%20attorney%20general
  3. ^ Morris, Joshua S. (December 12, 1872). "Letter from J.S. Morris, Esq., Attorney-general of Mississippi, on the Presidential Campaign of 1872" – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c "Hail to the Chief: 1872". University of Mississippi. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  5. ^ "Morris, J. S. (Joshua S.) · Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi · Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi". cwrgm.org.
  6. ^ "Cartoonist Thomas Nast vs. Candidate Horace Greeley: The election of 1872 in Harper's Weekly - Slogans & Symbols: Anything to Beat Grant". harpweek. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  7. ^ Summers, M. W. (2008). "The Doom of Reconstruction: The Liberal Republicans in the Civil War Era". Civil War History. 54 (3): 328.
  8. ^ Morris, Joshua S. (1874). "From the Vicksburg Herald.): The Following Letter Appeared in the Columns of the Herald of this Morning, Dec. 19th, 1874. The Writer, Judge Morris, is Not Only what He Declares Himself, "a Veteran Republican," but He was for Four Years the Republican Attorney General of Mississippi! : Our Militia Officers. The Responsibility of Governor Ames, for the Murderous Invasion of Vicksburg Clearly Established".
  9. ^ Rowland, Dunbar (December 12, 1907). "Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form". Southern Historical Publishing Association – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Judge Joshua S. Morris (death)". Louisiana Review. 19 February 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2024. Open access icon
  11. ^ "Judge J.S. Morris Dying - The Daily Commercial Herald (Vicksburg) - 13 FEB 1890, p.4". The Daily Commercial Herald. 13 February 1890. p. 4. Retrieved 26 January 2024. Open access icon
  12. ^ "The Death of Judge Morris". Natchez Democrat. 13 February 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 26 January 2024. Open access icon