The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-06-07
THE MEMPHIS RIOTS.
nEponr or GEN. srosrM,AS''s cooussIos


1t will be recolected that Immediately after the
riotsss in Memphis, Gen. Stoneman organized
mixed commission Of citizens and military officers,
to investigate and report upon the origin and
Z causes of that unfortunate outbreak. That report
has been forwarded to Washington, and the special
correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer has the
following in reference to its contents
s.The report of the commission appointed by
General Stoneman to investigate the causes of the
Memphis riot, has been received at the headquar-
{ tiers of the army.
stFrom the report, and from another source of
the highest authority can affirm confidently that
tn outrages upon the negroes were the legitimate
progeny Of the Radical reign in Memphis.
X ssThe proofs show that for some time past the
third regiment of United States colored artillery
has been on duty at the post of Memphis, and con-
: sequentlys Government agents, Provost-narshals
and officers of the Freedmen's Bureau have been
supported and their orders executed by the officers
and soldiers of this regiment It is apparent that
the faithful discharge of these duties would bring
them naturally and unavoidaby in contact and
eonictwith the breakers of the worst class of
sthe community, and that mortal hatred against
this regiment was thus generated in the breasts of
: this class of the population The animosity thus
created has been increased by the injudicious ut
terances Of both parties of the controversy, and
: under the bellows applied from either side must
inevitably have been blown into strong fire.
..Memphis is city of $4,000 population, out Of
which 3,00e can vote under the rigorous and un-
; heard of prescription imposed by the Tennessee
franchise law. The rowdy element of the city
elects the Mayor and other city officials, and they
compose entirely the fire and police departments of
The municipal organization. It's useless to at
temptto describe the natural and deadly enmity
Z existing between these rowdies and negroes, and
can be easily seen how this bitterness could be
increased to violent outbreaks by contact with this
colored regiment faithfully executing the orders of
their superiors The riots, so-called, we're simply
an onslaught upon the negroes by the police and
fire companies of Memphis, melted and instgatcd-
to violence by the incendiary harangues of Mayor
of their own choice, and equally worthless city
ing to do with The outbreak.
.'The Mayor elected by these 5000 registered
voters, merits and receives the contempt of the
substantial citizens and property holders of that
if they had voice in the election, would
agree more willingly to take the responsibility of
preserving peace and order in their community
The truth rs simply this, that the d;sfranchisement
: Of the citizens of Memphis has resulted in the
domination of low and worthless class, with
honorable exceptions, who are directly responsible
for these disturbances, and whose chosen Mayor is
an even more guilty partieeps crinlinis. Such is
substantially the information received here in Off
cial form. and it is believed the Congressional
committee lllikewisp find evidence corroborating
s these sentiments, y