Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-18
The Attacs ON Hon. Samuel =. Cox
nt Richmond, Ind.

He Ak1chmOnOs Ahu'
As there is much exaggeration connected
with the outrage on Mr.. Cox, at Richmond,
wepropose to relate the facts. Mr.. Cox went
there on private business alone. Having some
business connected with lawsuit, he went
down on the Piqua road, to attend to it. AT
the request of friend-a young Tennes-
sean, from Nashville, who was the agent ola
theatrical troupe-Mr. Cox went on to Rich
mond. This friend had had trouble at
Richmond, on account of unjust suspicious
of having been in the rebel service. Mr..
Cox had met him at Columbus. He had
brought letter from Mr.. Cox's brother
(an officer in our army at Nashville), and
Mr.. Cox, yielding to his call, rendered what
assistance he could render to remove the
suspicion. He intended to have called on
Mr.. JULIAN, member of Congress, for
that purpose; but it became unneces-
sary, as the matter had been satisfactorily
arranged. Mr.. Cox intended to take the
cars the next day for Columbus. He was
not there on political affairs-there was no
meeting and no speaking. Mr.. Cox has no
connection, at all, with the "Sons of Lib
erty," and never had. This suspicion SEEM
ed to be the cause of thetrouble.
While at Richmond he roomed and slept
In the same room with his friend. There
was no room vacant. He did not register
his name, as he took no room of his own,
and did not care to be known. He neither
saw nor talked to any Democrat in the
town. He was late in getting his breakfast,
and having heard that there would be a
demonstration i'm Columbus over his defeat,
Saturday night, concluded to take the after
noon train, which arrives in the night,
after the demonstration would be over.
Having been advised in the afternoon,
that he was known and that some violence
would be used, he left the hotel by side
door, to avoid difficulty. His friend accom-
panied him. He was the only gentleman
there with whom Mr.. Cox was acquainted,
except the landlord, Mr.. SIMPSON, to whom
Mr.. Cox was introduced in the morning.
Mr.. Cox and his friend were followed to the
cars by gang of rowdies. Without
word of provocation, or even alterca-
tion, except some abusive words to Mr..
Cox, to which he replied he was there
on private and not political business, the
outrage began. Several roughs began it by
striking Mr.. Cox with their fists. Mr.. Cox
used no pistol. He had one which had
been handed him by his friend, which was
ni In IN tal
pocket. He had no quarrel with any SOL
dier. Such statements are as groundless as
the scandal which has, by few evil-mind-
ed mongers, been INDUCED in toward Mr..
Cox.
He was driven to take refuge from the
attack in a hotel opposite, where he was
followed and where he defended himself as
well as he could. Some twenty or more
began the mob. 1t grew into several hun
dreds. After some further threats and vi
olence, they proposed to administer the
oath of allegiance. Mr.. Cox said he had
ever been faithful to the Constitution of
his country, aud never more so than then,
when it was the only protection he had TOR
his very life. They did not administer any
oath, but desisted then from further vio-
lence, on the entreaty of gentlemen of the
town. These gentlemen were Republicans,
and said the people of the town did not ap-
prove of such proceedings. They rendered
Mr.. Cox their protection. They saw him
safely placed on the cars for Dayton. Some
of the mob were excited by liquor; some
associated Mr.. Cox with the "Sons of Lib
erty." When he explained that he had no
connection with them, there was q better
feeling manifested.
When at Xenia, conductor on the Day |
ton C Xenia railroad endeavored to excite
violence against Mr.. Cox there; urging
men to go in after him. This was stopped
by some officers on board.
Mr.. Cox received some half dozen severe
blows, though none resulted seriously. He
had no opportunity of defending himself, |
and was overpowered by the crowd.
However much this violence is to be con-
demned, Mr.. Cox has uniformly expressed
his thanks to many of the citizens of Rich |
mond who rescued him from the mob; and |
who seemed to be respectable men, sorry |
for the outrage as stain on their town.
We have no heart for comment on this |
unprovoked outrage. 1t is its own COM
mpntary