seduction, accommodation, or realism? tabbs gross and the "arkansas freeman"

Seduction, Accommodation, or Realism? Tabbs Gross and the "Arkansas Freeman"Author(s): Diane NealSource: The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 48, No. 1 (Spring, 1989), pp. 57-64Published by: Arkansas Historical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40027806 .

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Seduction, Accommodation, or

Realism? Tabbs Gross and the

Arkansas Freeman

By DIANE NEAL*

Department of History, Central State University Edmond, Oklahoma 73034

vJn August 21, 1869, the Arkansas Freeman, the first black owned and edited newspaper in Arkansas, made its initial appearance on the streets of Little Rock. Ostensibly Republican in sentiment, the Freeman held out an olive branch to the Democratic party of Arkansas by demanding restoration of political rights for disfranchised former Confederates. Even prior to its first issue, the Freeman and its editor, Tabbs Gross, became the objects of intense controversy which mirrored the conflict over the role of blacks in Arkansas politics.1

For months preceding the establishment of the Freeman, there were indications that some Arkansas blacks were dissatisfied with the political rewards which the state Republican party allotted them. Always on the lookout for opportunities to capitalize on Republican misfortunes, the Democrats toned down their opposition to black suffrage and eagerly began courting the Arkansas black vote. In the midst of this rivalry strode the Reverend Tabbs Gross.2

#The author is associate professor of history at Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma. She received her Ph.D. from Kent State University.

1 Little Rock Daily Gazette, August 22, 1869. 2 Ibid., August 25, 27, 30, September 2, 3, 9, 19, 22, 24, 27, 1868, February 11, 18, May

1, 15, June 19, 24, 1869; Hamburg (Ark.) Times, September 21, 1868, as quoted in the Little Rock Daily Gazette, October 1, 1868; Camden (Ark.) Herald, n. d., as quoted in the Little Rock Daily Gazette, September 22, 1868; Little Rock Daily Republican, August 17, October 13, 1868, June 26, July 9, 10, 1869; Helena (Ark.) Clarion, August 13, 1868, as quoted in the Little Rock Daily Republican, August 20, 1868; Searcy (Ark.) Record, September 5, 1868, as quoted in the Little Rock Daily Republican, September 10, 1868.



58 ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

Born a slave in Kentucky, Gross bought his freedom before the Civil War, and when the conflict ended, he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he headed a "Committee to Get Homes for Refugees." In 1867 he

migrated to Arkansas hoping to aid in reconstructing the state. He attracted little attention until the late spring of 1869 when he became associated with a group of Little Rock blacks seeking to establish a black- owned and -controlled newspaper in the city.3

Initially, the Little Rock Daily Republican, the party's official state

organ, sanctioned the plan and predicted that it would "undoubtedly meet with success." The Democratic voice, the Daily Gazette, also endorsed the idea, noting that such a paper would demonstrate the political independence of black Arkansans. Moreover, because Arkansas blacks were behind the endeavor, the Gazette predicted that they would start

exercising powers equivalent to their numbers and could be relied upon to act in their "true interests" rather than supporting Republican candidates en masse.*

After Gross began criticizing the Republican party for its failure to

provide more patronage and leadership opportunities for blacks, the

Daily Republican withdrew its support and condemned Gross and his backers for being tools of the Democrats. Reflecting this sentiment, Little Rock black Republicans loyal to the party leadership met and denounced the effort to establish a black newspaper as an attempt "to' make a divi- sion among us" and branded Gross "an imposter and an enemy to his race."5

The advent of the move to found a black newspaper touched off a full-scale battle between the editors of the rival party organs. John G, Price, editor of the Daily Republican, assailed the Democrats, claiming that they had failed at using bribery and cajolery to win black support and had finally resorted to "seduction." The Gazette retaliated by giving the proposed Freeman a rousing endorsement. In addition to the Gazette,

3 Manuscript Census Returns, Ninth Census of the United States, 1870, Pulaski County, Arkansas, National Archives Microfilm Series M-593, roll 62; Maysville (Ky.) Bulletin, September 16, 1869.

4 Little Rock Daily Republican, June 19, 1869; Little Rock Daily Gazette, June 19, 24, 1869.

5 Little Rock Daily Republican, July 10, 1869.



TABBS GROSS AND THE ARKANSAS FREEMAN 59

other Democratic newspapers, including the Van Buren Press, Arka-

delphia Southern Standard, and the Batesville North Arkansas Times, praised Gross. The battle also gave Republican editors opposed to Price's

hegemony in party matters a chance to express their feelings. For ex-

ample, Valentine Dell of the Fort Smith New Era pronounced Gross's

plan a "good one . . . deserving of success."6 While white-owned newspapers waged an editorial war over his

journalistic endeavors, Gross disseminated copies of his prospectus throughout the state. Emphasizing the need for "peace and harmony" between the races, it called for the removal of political disabilities from former Confederates and other actions advocated by the Arkansas Demo- cratic party. Gross bemoaned the fact that blacks had fallen victims to false promises of friendship and pledged to use his politicial influence to secure passage of laws to reduce taxes and enforce labor contracts in favor of black workers. Along the same line, the first issue of the Free- man urged Afro-Americans to buy land so that they could become

"independent and make their power and influence felt." In addition, Gross admonished his readers to be honest and industrious and to edu- cate their children.7

In subsequent issues, Gross accused state Republican leaders of work-

ing against the interests of blacks. He was especially critical of Governor Powell Clayton for advocating the importation of Chinese workers from California to serve as a source of cheap labor. If successful, this idea would undermine efforts to secure higher wages for black agricultural laborers and damage hopes of securing economic independence. For similar reasons, he castigated Asa Hodges, superintendent of prisons, for

hiring out convict laborers to work on public and private projects, there-

by depriving ex-slaves of needed employment.8

«Ibid., June 28, 1869; Little Rock Daily Gazette, July 13, 23, 1869; Van Buren (Ark.) Press, August 3, 21, 1869; Arkadelphia (Ark.) Southern Standard, September 4, 1869; Batesville (Ark.) North Arkansas Times, September 25, 1869; Fort Smith (Ark.) New Era, n. d., as quoted in the Little Rock Daily Gazette, July 23, 1869.

7 Little Rock Daily Gazette, July 8, August 22, 1869; Little Rock Arkansas Freeman, August 21, 1869, as reprinted in the Little Rock Daily Gazette, August 22, 1869; Arka-

delphia Southern Standard, September 4, 1869. 8 Little Rock Arkansas Freeman, October 5, 1869.




In spite of his attacks on the Republican leadership and his pro- nouncements about economic matters, Gross's editorials and public state- ments were filled with contradictions and inconsistencies. On the one

hand, he warned his readers not to run after politics and to avoid being "led into doubtful and dangerous ways by designing politicians, who are at best but selfish and corrupt demagogues." On the other hand, he stressed the necessity of blacks involving themselves in politics and secur-

ing appropriate political rewards. Repeatedly, he railed against the

Republican leadership in Arkansas and exhorted blacks to think and act

independently and not to be led around by what he believed to be

carpetbaggers and scalawags. He angrily charged that white Republi- cans wanted blacks to vote, but not to aspire to high ranking political positions. Bluntly, he told his readers that Afro-Americans had been

"pack horses for a few greedy Radical leaders long enough." To show their opposition to this unfair allocation of offices, he suggested that Little Rock blacks put forth their own ticket in the 1869 city election.9

Alarmed by Gross's apostasy and cognizant of their dependence on black votes in the city, the local Republican leadership secured the nomi- nation of an integrated ticket for the October 1869 election. Black candidates were nominated for marshal, street commissioner, and aldermen, all of whom were endorsed by Gross. When the ballots were counted, black political power in the city was evident - they won the marshal and street commissioner positions and five of eight city council seats.10

Gross was also active in state-wide politics, serving as delegate to and vice president of the Liberal Republican State Convention in 1869. The

assembly adopted resolutions favoring "universal suffrage and universal

amnesty, and economical reforms in government," ideas basically accept- able to white Democrats. Gross enthusiastically championed the Liberal

Republicans since they supported tenets which he had previously advocated.11 Turmoil continued to surround Gross throughout the fall and winter of 1869-1870. In October 1869, the same month as the Liberal

Republican State Convention, he embarked upon a tour of several

»lbid. 10 Little Rock Daily Gazette, October 12, November 4, 1869. 11 Little Rock Daily Gazette, October 15, 1869; Thomas S. Staples, Reconstruction in

Arkansas, 1862-1874 (New York, 1923), 378.




Arkansas counties to solicit subscriptions for his newspaper, stating his intention to preach the "true principles and glad tidings of Repub- lican freedom and liberty." Furthermore, he promised to expose the

alleged corruption of J. H. Barton, co-editor of the Daily Republican and his "Radical ring" which he denounced as "deadly enemies of the

Republican Party" and of blacks.12 In addition to canvassing Arkansas, Gross traveled to Memphis,

Tennessee, where he met and formed a partnership with J. C. Akers, former correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial and Chronicle.

Superficially, the relationship initially seemed harmonious - on January 27, 1870, the Pine Bluff Press reported that Gross and Akers had visited its office and had left a business notice regarding their joint ownership of the Freeman. According to the announcement, Gross was to serve as editor and Akers was to be in charge of soliciting subscriptions and contributions.13

However, even prior to the Pine Bluff visit, the Gross- Akers partnership had begun to sour. Angrily, Akers complained to the Daily Republi- can that Gross had sold him the Freeman for $180 in cash and several hundred dollars in promissory notes. According to Akers, when he arrived in Little Rock to take possession of his property, he discovered that Gross had no office and that the Freeman was being printed by James Butler, former editor of the Little Rock Daily Pantograph. More-

over, the paltry number of subscriptions had netted no profits. Akers

evidently terminated the partnership and charged that Gross had deceived him by presenting fraudulent letters of endorsement from prominent Republicans, including Governor Clayton. Outraged, Gross resur- rected the Freeman with himself as both proprietor and editor. In his

opening salvo, he denied that the letters were forgeries and that he had deceived his former partner. Subsequently, he filed a libel suit against Akers that apparently never went to trial.14

Despite Gross's attempt to revive the Freeman, he was unable to

12 Little Rock Arkansas Freeman, October 5, 1869. 13 Pine Bluff (Ark.) Weekly Press, January 27, 1870. 14 Little Rock Daily Republican, January 21, 1870; Little Rock Daily Gazette, January

27, February 16, 1870; Little Rock Arkansas Freeman, March 19, 1870, as reprinted in the Little RockZW/y Gazette, March 20, 1870.




secure enough financial backing to publish the paper on a regular sched- ule. His war against Republican leadership in Arkansas guaranteed that he would not receive government printing contracts which were neces-

sary for survival of his business. Most Little Rock blacks, though desirous of a larger share of political rewards, felt gratitude to the Republican party for its role in ending slavery and saw nothing to be gained by abandoning the Republicans in favor of the Democrats. Consequently, Gross was not able to build a base of support among city blacks and had to content himself with publishing the paper on a very irregular basis.

In spite of his estrangement from the party's upper echelon, Gross continued to press for a larger political role for Afro-Americans. For

example, at a Republican rally in Little Rock on August 18, 1870, he delivered a lengthy address in which he reiterated many previously expressed themes. He insisted that blacks must "work for their own interest" and not be "led around by the nose as so many dumb animals." With regard to dissension within Republican ranks over Governor Clay- ton's use of the militia and other issues, Gross urged blacks to be neutral and to consider allying with the Democrats if necessary. Claiming that blacks were tired of being exploited by those who wanted their votes but offered nothing in return, Gross suggested that blacks wait to see which was the "sound party" and go with it. As in the past, he counseled his followers to be honest and to elect officeholders of integrity, to save their

money, and to purchase land.15 In addition to political efforts, Gross continued to push for economic

policies beneficial to black workers. On September 28, 1870, he was

among the speakers at a special meeting of mechanics and laborers called to protest competition from convict laborers. The meeting concluded with the recommendation that workers support only political candidates committed to confining inmates behind prison walls.16

Having failed to strike a responsive chord with black and white

Republicans, Gross temporarily faded from public view in 1870 when the Freeman finally ceased publication. His activities did not receive mention again until the spring of 1871 when the Little Rock Daily

15 Little Rock Daily Gazette, April 15, August 19, 1870; Little Rock Daily Republican, August 19, 1870.

16 Little Rock Daily Republican, September 29, 1870.




Gazette and the Van Buren Press carried announcements that he in- tended to resume publication of the Freeman with the same ideals as set forth in his original prospectus. However, Gross did not resume publication and his brief newspaper career came to an end.17

Although Gross was not able to resume publication of the Freeman, he remained active in Republican party politics. He was a delegate to state Republican conventions in April and July 1876 and was narrowly defeated for a seat in the state legislature the same year. Following his retirement from politics in 1876, Gross and Mifflin Gibbs, another Little Rock black, opened a law partnership. Gross practiced law until he died of tuberculosis (phthisis pulmonalis) on January 10, 1880.18

Tabbs Gross's political activities in Arkansas were short-lived. How-

ever, during the period from 1869 to 1876, he represented the views of black Arkansans who believed that the Republicans should accord blacks a voice and leadership opportunities commensurate with their

voting power. Gross and his supporters came to the conclusion that blacks must balance their involvement in politics with actions conducive to securing economic advancement.

As he sought solutions to the twin problems of continued economic subservience and political inequality, Gross explored various alternatives. Convinced that blind support of the Republican party had failed to pro- tect the political rights of ex-slaves and to reward them with an appropriate share of offices, Gross flirted with the Democrats. Even so, conscious of their past denunciations of black suffrage and political participation, he did not completely believe that their new found cham-

pioning of black rights was sincere since he continued to regard himself as a Republican. However, he was willing to use the Democrats and their courting of the black vote as a lever to compel his own party to accord blacks a larger share of elective offices.

More to Gross's liking was the Liberal Republican wing which had attracted a number of prominent former abolitionists and supporters of

17 Little Rock Daily Gazette, April 5, 1871; Van Buren Press, May 23, 1871. 18 Tom W. Dillard, "Golden Prospects and Fraternal Amenities: Mifflin W. Gibbs's

Arkansas Years," Arkansas Historical Quarterly, XXXV (Winter 1976), 326; Little Rock

Daily Gazette, April 28, July 28, September 14, 1876, January 13, 1880; death record of Tabbs Gross, January 10, 1880, Little Rock Death Records, Pulaski County, Arkansas, 130.




black rights such as Charles Sumner of Massachusetts. Gross was genu- inely concerned about the impact of high taxes on former slaves as they struggled to become financially independent. Moreover, he felt no malice toward whites for their defense of slavery and believed that

representative government must be based on universal manhood suf-

frage. Thus, he supported the Liberal Republicans's advocacy of amnesty for former Confederates. He was also repelled by allegations of corruption in refunding Arkansas's bonded indebtedness and in the awarding of various government contracts.

Gross's association with Democrats and allegiance with Liberal Re-

publicans produced fierce hostility from the stalwart supporters of the

Republican party. The editors of the Daily Republican refused to print most of his speeches and he was excluded from the party's inner circle. However, despite opposition to him, Gross and his like-minded supporters secured a modicum of success by forcing Republicans to nominate more black candidates in Little Rock.

Although he demonstrated no animosity to whites and believed that because of mutual interests both races should live in harmony, Gross was no accommodationist. He never wavered in urging Afro- Americans to think and act for themselves in business, politics, and education. Further-

more, contrary to the comments of opponents, he was not seduced nor deluded by Democratic rhetoric and campaign promises. He was a realist who endeavored to use any tactic which might advance his goals. By championing amnesty for former Confederates, like many other Liberal Republicans in Arkansas, Gross inadvertently played into the hands of the Democrats. The majority of Arkansas Democrats were committed to white supremacy and their early return to power meant both the dismantling of Republican sponsored legislation beneficial to blacks and the death knell for increased political rewards. The continued exercise of meaningful black political rights in Arkansas required the

support of the Republican party bolstered by military force. When the Democrats returned to power in the state, Arkansas blacks found that the road to reunion, as historian Paul Buck pointed out, was paved with the shattered dreams of the f reedmen.19

19Paul H. Buck, The Road to Reunion, 1865-1900 (New York, 1937), 101-102, 282-283, 287-289.



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