Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-03

The town Of Dallas, Texas, was pretty
much burned up at one fire on the 7th of
last month, and about the same time several
serious fires among farm houses, mills, Sc,
occurred, principally in the Northern part of
the State, the accounts of which were given
at the time by telegraph. The fires were SO
numerous as to excite suspicion that an or
ganized gang existed for the purpose of
scourging by fire that portion of the State.
A special correspondent Of the Houston
Telegraph, writing from Dallas, July 2lst
announces the discovery Of what he calls "a
most diabolical plot to devastate the whole Of
Northern Texas" The writer-who appears
to have caught the genuine Virginia panic
states that a fire few days after the destruc-
ton of Dallas, led to the arrest of some white
men, whose innocence, however, was proved be-
yond a doubt Several negroes were then ta-
ken up and examined and under the whip
probably, and perhaps faggots at the stake,
he writes, that developments of the most
startling character were elected. A plot to
destroy the whole country was revealed, and
every circumstance of the plot detailed
His account is no doubt principally exagger-
tiou, as may well be supposed by all who re-
member the monstrous canards Gov. Wise
and associates sent out during the John
Brown panic. We quote:
Nearly or quite a hundred negroes have
been arrested, and upon close examination
separate and apart from each other, they
drposed to the existence of a plot or conspir-
acy 10 lay waste the country by fire and assas-
Sination--t9 impOverish the land by the de-
siruction Of the provisions, arms and ammu-
milton, and Than when in a state of helpless
ness, general revolt of the negroes was to
5lgln on the lst Monday in August, the day
Of election ior State officers. This conspira-
cy is aided and abetted by abolition emissa-
ries from the North and those in our midst
The details Of the plot, and its modus oper-
andi, are these: Each county in Northern
Texas, has a supervisor in the person of n
white man, whose name is not given; each
county is laid off into districts under the
sub-agents of this villain, who controls the
action Of the negroes in said districts, by
whom the firing was to be done. Many our
most prominent citizens were singled out for
assassination whenever they made their es-
cape from their burning homes. Negroes
never before suspected, are implicated, and
the insuTrectionary movement Is wide
spread to an extent truly alarming. in some
places the plan was conceived in every form
shocking to the mind, and frightful in its re-
suits. Poisoning was TO be added, and the
old females to be slaughtered along with the
men, and the young and handsome women to
be parceled out amongst these infamous
scoundIels. They had even gone so far as to
designate their choice, and certain ladies had
already been selected as the victims of
these misguided monsters. Fortunately, the
country has been saved from the accom-
plishment of these horrors; but then, a
fearful duty remains for us. The negroes
have been melted to these internal proceed
ings by abolitionists, and the emissaries of
certain preachers who were expelled from
this country last year. Their agents have
been busy amongst US, and many Of them
have been in our midst. Some Of them have
been identified, but have fed from the cOun-
Try, others still remain, to receive fearful ac-
countability from an outraged and infuriated
people. Nearly a hundred negroes have testi-
fed thai large reinforcement of aboliuOnists
are expected on the first of August and these
to be aided by recruits from the Indian tribes,
while the Rangers are several hundred miles
to the north of US. II was desired to de-
stroy Dallas, in order that the arms and am
munition Of the artillery company might
share the same fate. Our jail is filled with
the Williams many of whom will be hung,
and that very soon. A man was found hung
at our neighboring city of Fort Worth, two
days ago, believed to be one of those scoun-
drels who are engaged in this work. We
learn that he had stored away number OF
rifles, and the day after be was hung load
of six-shooters passed on to him, but were
intercepted. He was betrayed by one of the
gang, and hence his plans were thwarted.
Many others will share his fate. have new
er witnessed such times. We are most pro-
foundly excited. We go armed day and
night and know not what we shall be called
upon to do. The circumstances are fright
full, and fear that the trouble is not confn-
ed to this State.
The investigation Of this unholy conspiracy
is now going on in our town and surround
ing counties. will keep you posted as new
developments are made. John Brown and
his few followers were fools, compared with
the men engaged in this affair. Develop
ments of the most alarming character, and
calculated to shake our government to its
very center, are looked for. In haste, P.
The telegraph a few days ago briefly an
nounced The hanging Of 'two abolitionists'
in Texas.
The pro-slavery mobs in Texas last win
ter committed the most terrible outrages on
citizens of the State suspected of holding
Anti-Slavery sentiments. The Conference Of
the Methodist Church was asailed and broken
up, and none can have forgotten the awful
scourgings and abuse of the Campbellite
preachers, Blount and Mckinney, who barely
escaped with their lives 10 the North. IT. as
the above panic-stricken account indicates,
the match is really burning down to the
powder in Texas, the pro-slavery mObites
prepared it for retribution to set fire to.