New-York tribune., 1868-08-12

Killed lSG6.............. 70 ~ lis
Kis$ Kiiis5 i@ @ i:s5 :: Iii Iii 15i 15i 81 81
Year RnkOwn............ q 40
or unknown raCe.--..---.~
making grand total of $50 homcidcs committed in
Texas the conclusion OF the war-June 1850 10 June
1865 including few eases casually reported III e pres
these hOmcides there were by whites 4Gi whites ana
1873 freedmen by freedmen ce ~ nnp TnS aus az Now neom
pete they are thee figures tel fghtul story Oi
blood They represent stubborn facts which cannot be
suppressed by denials by denOuncng them fabr-
cated for political effect Many of these hOmcdes nave
doubtless been committed Ior purposes Of plunder and
robbery. The facts and the testimony show that
many OF our highways are infested by bahdlls
Who will take life for horse pistol, a purse
These despeTadOcs. with few exceptions were either
Confederate officers soldiers, or bushwhackcr during
the late and now constitute one OF the legitimate en-
tamcns of Secession and Rebellion. IL Is also true that
many these homcdes have resulted from private guar
rels. There i much bad blood III thG lanI b1t lls
wholesale killing cannot be accounted for by either or
both of the causes named The figures themselves shed
according to the reports consulted 1913 freedmen have
been killed by whites, " nle only 10 whites nave Otc ht
by freedmen Now u cannot be mat an ultse cor
oIed people, any considerable number OF then were
murdered for ther money their extreme poverty ior
bids the supposton Neither can II be that many oI
them were slam in personal alterations win Mmte
killed by freedmen as freedmen by whteS-tht lreclth
being IL is said, generally as well armed as IN" whites
This great disparity Dcl"ceh tne hlDcI9 Vi Nv W.
races killed, the one Oy lhe olhei SHOWS SoeIusnt
that the war OF races" Is al on the part OF the WeS
against the blacks The evidence IN our possession as9
were Union men, and that the criminals with relnarkl
bly, few exceptions and are dsoya to the Govern
There is absolute freedom Of speech in very few oca
ties in Texas Union men dare not generally avow their
political convictions. In many places they hold
public meetings only when supported by troops or armed
iuen aud in many others they dare not hold them at all
In several instances their assemblies have been broken
up and fred upon, and their speakers ordered 10 deSt
cusion. We have been challenged TO produce OF
Union and freedmen being prosecuted for their 10y
atty. We now do So Judge Black was Repubhcan-he
was murdered in 1867 in Uyalde County, by a Rebel.
Milton Biggs Union man, and had been appointed
1867, while plOwng his field before he could qualify.
Judge Christian loyal man OF Bel County, was Pqr-
sued Missouri and murdered by party Of rebels. Mr.
Wade and seven other gentlemen were killed in Lamar
County last year for their UniOnism -Four men
Gently murdered in the county OF Hunt and six in Bell
County, for their loyalty Within the present month the
have been driven their homes and compelled ny
their lives because Of their unyiedng attachment TO
the Government Hundreds OF loyal men, TO our kn9wl
edge at this time fOrsakng their homes n Texas, flee
ing from the assassin forced away by rebel intolerance
And we here put to record that honorable members o
this Convention today exes from their esides and
dare not return TO their families for the only reason that
they Will not forswear Their principles Now whle II re-
mains true that the Union men Of Texas constitute very
small proportion Of the white population and while II Is
true that they are being killed by rebels Is impossible
TO escape the conclusion that they are Killed for their
would not be killed.
And when We come to examine the prosecutions suf-
feTed by the freed people the mass OF testimony is 90
overwhelming that no man Of candOr can for moment
question the statement that they in very many parts
they free and claim 10 exercise the rights OF
freemen Some months ago, in Pamela County. party
were dancing and deliberately fired upon them killing
four, woman. and seriously wounding several
black man riding and asked him what he was going to
do with the whip he held in his hand and on being an
White man was riding through town and on see.
ing negro standing the steps of the office OF the
Freedmen's Bureau lie drew his revolver and shot him
dead The criminal had never seen or spoken TO the
freedman before. In Newton county, 1867. white
met a cOOred man driving team the former made the
freedman get out of the wagon and then shot him seven
tunes in cold blood In Fort Bend county, year the
freed people holding fair 10 procure funds TO
finish their church. and while they singing hymn
white rode by and fired their pistols INTO the
church In oct, 1867, white man was travelling N
Grayson county and met freedman; after passing him
few yards. he turned and fired upon him. hitting him in
the back The freedman died IN few hours he had not
slOEen lword TO the murderer-had never seen him
before But few days ago a party Of white
assaulted the family Of an uuo1ending freed
in Falls County killing and dangerously wounding
another freedman In the same county few weeks ago.
armed white men, in open day. went TO the house Of
him. Soon after this white man, in the same ncigbOr
hood, rode up TO two freedmen and without any known
cause ShOt one OF then uead ana hIed at te Otr Last
week the cOOred registrar in Bureson County was found
murdered and IN January last the colorcd registrar OF
Milan County called TO his door at night and shot
And so the bloody story runs.
The report contains the details Of many other ourage
and massacres and concludes as follows:
But it is difficult TO the responsibility OF this In
cock the command Of the Fifth Military District there
some degree Of respect for life III Texas The numer
GUS arrests OF criminals by the military authorities ana
the prospect OF trial by Military Commissions, inspired
General Orders No 40 from Headquarters Fifth Military
District dated Nov. %, 1861 very different and very
turbulent spirit manifested itself throughout the state
That order was understood 10 proclaim the supremacy or
civil law and the suspension OF the military power in the
treatment Of crime and hence criminals who, has
been demonstrated entertain very Little fear OF the clv
courts interpreted said order license for the perpe
taton OF all manner Of yilaines. This evidenced
the time by words and by the tone OF the Rebel press
and fOrciby since by unrestained violence.
During the three months OF Gov. Peases adminstra-
ton aided and sustained by Gems Sheridan and Mower
and previous to the advent OF Gen. Hancock the muir
The number during the other months Of the
same year averaged 10 per month. And continuing
Freedmen's Bureau, the number since the lst OF
December 1867 has averaged 81 per month During the
there 30 murders reported by the Bureau In other
words, according to the lowest calculation the Peace
administration Of Gems Hancock and Buchanan has to
account for twice the number of murders committed
under the Sheridan nThroekmorton administration. aud
three times the number committed under the Sheridan
Pease administration.
Moreover fuller reports show that since the policy of
Gen Hancock was inaugurated. sustained as 1t is by
President Johnson the h0mcdes IN Texas have averaged
So per month; and for the last hye months they have
the Fifth Military District TO answer to the public for at
least two thirds Of the $50 more homicides committed
In Texas since the lst OF December 1861 Charged by law
to keep the peace and afford protection 70 NE ana prop
erty and having the Of the United states TO assist
him IN SO doing he has failed. He has persistenty
refused TO try criminals, rejected the prayers
Of the Executive Of the State and the Com
mandng General Of the District OF Texas for adequate
tribunals and turned deaf to the cry Of tried and
prosecuted oyaiss. And, knowing whereof We affirm
10 his charge the death Of hundreds Of the loyal citizens
Of Texasa responsibility that should load his name with
lnfalny and hand his very memory 70 coming years as
curse and eXecraton. Let the responsibility rest
where IL may, say IL deliberately, thai protection has
not been granted u.s.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE MILLICAN RIOT.
OFFICE SUB. ASST. CoM'R. TWENTIETH SUB. DIsT,l
MILICAN, Texas, July %, 1868.
CHARLES A. VERNON, Lieut. Fourth Cap. A. A. A. g.,
Austin:
SIR: ! have the honor to submit the follow
ing special report Of riot which occurred at Mican,
Brazos County. Texas:
Orlt tlo In at