Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-07-25


Anderson township, Warriek county, in
reply to Communication which appear
ed in the Journal few days ago, sign
ed BY William J. Keith. 1t is mot our
intention to take up cudgeIs in defense
Of Mr.. Keith. he is Abundantly able,
we dare say, to take care of himself In
ssmuch, however, as the apologstic tone
Of the communication signed Justice"
which appears this morning, indicates
that its author feels dissatisfied with
himself for signing the document that
Mr.. Keith so vigorously and sarcastical-
ly denounced, we feel disposed to say
word or two on the subject. 60
We doubt not many Of the citizens ot
Anderson township signed the paper for
the expulsion of ghe negroes from the
township from the best Of motives. They
may have imagined that some such
course wac necessary to protect white
labor. "Justice" declares 1t was the
understanding that no illegal means
should be resorted to for the execution
Of their purpose; but, unfortunately, this
understanding was not clearly set forth
in the document which he and the rest
Of his neiRhbors signed.
We desire to ask "Justice," il all the
citizens of Anderson township but three
were opposed to employing negroes and
in favor Of excluding them from the
township-and all, be says, signed the
agreement-what necessity was there
for circulating and signing paper to dc
what all were already in favor of doing
If all the citizens of the township were
opposed to giving negroes employment,
how could they obtain employment there;
and without employment, how could they
liver The fact that all the citizens Of
Anderson township were opposed to en-
ploying negroes, on principle, proves
that something else was intended by the
published agreement, than merely theii
4
The truth is some Of the Union mer
of that township were duped by theil
willy Copperhead nAighbors, and wer,
induced to put their names to docu
ment that intended and meant mobs, op
preston and murder. The articles il
the Boonville Enquirer and the infam
masory appeals to the soldiers who wer,
returning home, to drire the negroeI
from their county, evidently meant moth
ing but illegal proceedings to secure I
desired end. The true motive, behint
all, was o desire to make little politica
capital BY arousing prejudices which ha'
become dormant during the war, an,
were gradually melting away before th
heat of the great contest in which tn,
nation has been engaged for the pas
four years.
We are sure the sober second though
of "Justice must convince him tha
We are right in our surmises. He mus
know that If all the citizens Of his towr
ship are opposed to employing negroes
, as they declare in their pronunciamentt
they will never be troubled with any {
that unfortunate race. ~--
We trust that not only the citizens
Anderson Township, but in other po
tions of Warrick County as well, vi
stop in their unjust aud oppressive pr
ceedings against an unfortunate rae
who have already been sufficiently o
pressed. As no good has resulted
the United States from the long years
! oppression which have ground the
down, in large part of the Union, so W
" similar policy result in no advautaI
p :. to our sister county.
8, We do not believe negro will shro
" . single industrious white laborer out
=. employment nor prevent him gettil
G fair wages for . fair days work. Co
binations to extort what cannot 9th,
wise be obtained, are edged tools Il
;. generally cut the fingers of those w
use them. They are productive of
good. They are the prolific source
!. trouble, vexation and downright d
tress. They discard reason and CO
mon sense, and invariably lead ths
who form them into sxcesses that bri
r terrible reaction. II the citizens
Warrick County do not want negro
Dor they need not employ it They c
y tainly can refuse to employ il with'
Of signing illegal documentc, pledgi
e. themselves to violate law and tram
NE justice under their feet.
rt5