Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-29
LAPSING INTO BARBARISM.
The Grimes of Negro sQuatters-A
Fearful Condition of Affairs In the
Suburbs of Noble. -f
From the Mobile Times. Oct. Is.

I VI AGSEO 64uhAteTS-A
Fearful Condition of Affairs In the
Suburbs of Mobile. Isf
/ From the Mobile Times. Oct IS.
| The following letter of Coroner Del
champs, which was yesterday forwarded to
Gov. Smith, now in this city, gives truth
full account of the laWlessuess of the negroes
on the outskirts of the city. Life and
! property on the outskirts are insecure, and
unless active and speedy means are taken
! By the proper authorities to check the evil.
trouble will undoubtedly ensue. There is
a time when patience and forbearance
cease to be virtues, and that time has at
length nearly arrived. Depredations upon
the property of whites, murders, rapes and
every conceivable species of crime on the
! part of the negroes, cannot be longer toler-
ated. Let the Governor look to it, and
| look well if he wishes to preserve peace in
this community, who, though law abiding
and ardently desiring peace, are firmly de-
termIned not to be oVeTrun by barbarous
negroes, urged on by carpet-baggers, scala
wags and renegades:
MOBILE, October %, IS6S.-To His Ex-
cellency, r. H. Smith, Governor of Ala
bama: herewith forward to your Excel
lency a copy Of the testimony adduced at
the inquest held yesterday afternoon on the
body Of Archie Mclaughlin. Other testi-
mony was offered, but being merely cumu-
lative, was not reduced to writing.
In bringing this murder most foul to
your official Knowledge, / eaanot refrain
from representing 10 your Excellency the
| terrible state Of Insecurity, both As 70 per-
son and property; existing at preseat in
this county, but more particularly 10 and
near the surburbs Of this city. A few
facts plainly stated will enable your Excel
lency to appreciate, to some extent the con-
ditiOn of our people. ~ ...
Crowds of negroes, armed with guns or
pistols OF all sizes, classes and character,
pour out daily from the city and spread
themselves over the suburban districts,
game being their avoWed object. l respect
fully represent 10 your Excelleney that the
only game which is to be found in the OPEN
fields and thickly settled districts hunted
over by these game-stalkers, consists solely
of cattle, pigs and poultry, and even these
have now become scarce.
The farms and gardens of our markets
men and others are daily rayaged, and
it is almost impossible for them 10 carry
on their business. A few days ago negro
trundled wheelbarrow to the vicinity of
the city cemetery, killed COW, skinned
and cut off a hind quarter, and with this
load, truudled back to town, leaving the
balance as prey for vultures. So much fer
property. ~
On the Dist inst, poor widow, return
ing home with small quantity Of meal
and bacon, purchased with money OBJ
tanned from the sale of shingles she had
made, in open daylight. yea, at midday, on
the highway and in full view and in close
proximity to houses inhabited By negroes,
was robbed and brutally ravished by
gang of several colored men, in the presence
Of her little son, whom one held. This
most shameful outrage took place just out
eide the city limits, and about mile east
of Eslava's bridge, the scene of the muir
der of young Mclaughlin on the next day.
These and frequent similar Outrages have
excited the people residing in the vicinity
Of the place where they were committed 10
an intense degree. And as a great part OF
the people living 10 the southern and
southwestern portions of Mobile county
are compelled TO pass by or near Eslavas
bridge on their way to and fSom Mobile,
the dread which these deeds have caused is
widespread.
1t is true that the greater number of the
colored people in this county are orderly
and we'll disposed. But there remain hun
dreds, if not thousands, who refusing to
work, depend for a living solely on what
thew can beg, find or steal. OF these, 1t is
patent that a large number are banded to-
gether, and seize every opportunity to per-
/ l., I.,.,o-nfo or,l lou not
| Nor are there are any means by which the
citizens of Mobile county can throw the
shield Of safety around their persons or
property. Any attempt to DO so, would
be held as an outrage against the manhood
rights Of the blacks and be proof positive
| of the characterization of the white race.
| Yet I may be permitted respectfully to
represent, that so anomalous and unnatural
| a state of things cannot long exist. The
| normal condition of man, and the only one
| long endurable by him, is one of peace and
security. War and pillage is the excep-
ton, not the rule, and can be endured no
longer than the passions can be kept
| aroused. A state Of passive submission
opposed by one and the larger class, to
| active and outrageous aggression from an
! other and an inferior class, is an anomaly
| that can result only from a condition of
| utter despair that can be but temporary,
and sooner or later must give place TO sud
den and terrible bursts of violence, the natu-
raj result Of long concentrated and unnatu-
rally repressed passion.
In conclusion, permit me to appeal mos
earnestly yet respectfully TO your Excel
lency, as the guardian OF the peace and
prosperity of the people of Alabama, 10 III
ouire into the condition Of Affairs in this
county, and to take such active steps a.
YOU NAV deem best calculated to bring the
vile perpetrators of the oulrages above set
forth to the bar of justice, and by Vindica
ting the majesty of law, rePress the reign
of laWlessDe5s and terror.
As an officer Of the State, | have deemed
it my duty to appeal to you officially IN
this matter, in the firm hope ard belief
that by so doing, the safety aud welfare Of
our poor citizens residing beyond the hear
of the city of Mobile would be promoted.
At the suggestion of persons having the
peace of the country at heart, have con-
sented TO allow the immediate publication
of this appeal, believing that all classe:
should know that deeds as such as are
herein detailed would be brought TO the
immediate attention Of the highest author
ily. This knowledge, it is believed, may
have some influence in lettering others
from commission of like outrages.
| have the honor to remain, very re
specially, your obedient servant,
JNO. J. DELCHAMPs,
Coroner Mobile county.