Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-07-28

A careful investigation into the facts
connected with complaint recently
made to these headquarters, by William
Andrews, Mayor of the city Of Columbia,
Tennessee, and Justice Of the Peace in
behalf of the Board of Mayor and Alder
men Of the city of Columbia, and the
Court of daury county, in which the
military authorities OF the United States
are accused of understandable and IN.
justi6able interference with the civil au-
thorities, has developed the following:
On or about the 24th day of June, two
coloted girls, pupils in the colored
school in Columbia, were arrested upon
9 charge Of trespass and assault and
battery, and in default of bail, in the
sum of Eve hundred dollars each, were
com mitted TO the County Jail, and locked
up IN cells, In solitary confinement, to
await trial before the Circuit Court Of
Maury county, which, it is understood,
is not to sit for several months
1t appears that the irespass consisted
in getting some plums from tree grow
ing on common belonging to a citizeu
of Columbia, but not inelosed. Theias-
sault and battery was rather the repel-
ling of an assault made upon the girls
BY a white woman, who threw rocks at
them, and they replied With one bowlder,
which, however, did not take effect upon
the attacking party.
The bail exacfed was exorbitant and
illegal, as only $3.50 could By Law be ex-
acted, and the Justice of the Peace who
committed the girls to Jail, afierward,
upon being advised by the Attorney
General that his action was wholly with
out warrant of law, released one of the
girls Internationally, and reduced the
bail of the other to $3.50.
Upon the investigation, the aforesaid
Justice, F. a. WeIch, utterly failed to
Justify bis own action in the premises,
but alleged that be had acted upon the
advice Of Mayor Andrews
It further appears that there has been
q systematic course of persecution prac-
ticed by the civil authorities and dis.
loyal people Of Columbia, toward the
freedmen, and especially toward the
tabiished there, and this to the disgust
and Dissatisfaction of the truly loyal
citizens of the place. who would prefer
3 strictly military rule. TO leaving all au-
thority in the hands of their present
civil officers
This taken in consideration With the
fact, that in 1864, it became necessary
for the Major General commanding to
order the arrest of Mr.. Andrews afore-
said, for causing black man TO be
scourged with twenty-five lashes on his
back. IN the city Of Columhia, for the
crime of teaching q class of colored
children to read, induces the belief that
ihe crusa1e against the school girls, was
inaugurated blythe chiYaIrons Mayor, for
the purpose of breaking up the school
Il further appears that, in April last,
. duly authorized agent of the United
States Treasury Department took pos
session Of, as eon6scable property, a
store-house In Columbia, Tennessee, the
property of one VIM Galloway, an ac-
tive rebel, and who at that time Was q
prisoner at The North, and that said pro-
perry was leased 70 Felix G. Young, 9
Union man, at monthly rent OF twenty
i've dollars per month, which rent was
| duly paid monthly IN advance for the
months of April, May and June
| On or about the first day Of June, the
Treasury Agent was called upon BY Mr.
Galloway, who had returned, TO release
his property 10 him. he was informed
of the condition under which it was held,
and if he wished the property released
hs should make application st Washing
ton. Not satisfied, apparently, to at
tempt the recovery Of bis property in
this the proper manner, in the absence
of the Treasury Agent, Galloway, By