Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-29
Tho Ashburn Assassination


From the Columbus Sun and Times.l
Yesterday morning eight of our citi.
zens--young men-were marched to the
depot under military escort and sent to
Atlanta. These, added to former arrests
of persons already in confinement at
Atlanta, make twenty-four parties now
in prison. The charges against them are
only matters of coDjeciure--a connection
with the killing OF Ashburn. From the
best information we can gather, the par
ties have been arrested upon the testi-
mony of negroes, much of it forced,
whilst with others bribery has been the
instrument Immediately after the MUIR
der was perpetrated, the Military Gov
ernor of Georgia issued a proclamation
in which he offered a reward of two
thousand dollars for the first, and one
thousand dollars for each additional
party connected with the assassination,
with proof to convict. This is a big sum
of money to place before the eyes of a
bad negro as an inducementto bear false
witness. 1t has doubtless had its effect.
With such inducements, no citizen of
Columbus, however exemplary his walk
in life, is exempt from arrest. When
these arrests will end, and what number
of our citizens are to be incarceratcd
under the influence of such testimony,
no one can even conjecture.
That there are bad men in our COM
munity, as in others, we have not the
least doubt. Mr. Ashburn was killed at
the dead hour of night, and doubtless by
dastardly cowards-men who did not
dare meet him in mortal combat in open
day. We have good reason for believing
too that the assassins were Radicals
black and white-to whom he was
stumbling block in the road to Office.
Iu proof of the correctness of our sus-
picions, we will mention few facts. II
will be recollected by many of our citi-
zens that previous to the election of del
egates to the Constitutional Convention,
and in the temporary absence of Ash
burn from Columbus, a handbill was
issued, signed by fifteen or twenty Radi-
cals--the entire white element of the
party in the city-calling q meeting to
appoint delegates to nominating con-
vention at Cusseta. The leader in the
movement avowed to US suncompromising
hostility to Ashburn, and expressed de-
termination that Ashburn should no
longer control the party. Ashburn re-
turned before the day for the meeting,
went in and took possession of it, and
appointed delegates to his iking-him-
self among the number. Indeed, so
hostile had the feeling become between
Ashburn and two leading Federal off ce-
holders in this city, that he threatened in
our presence to have them removed.
Time sped on the nominating con-
vention assembled at Cusseta and put
candidates for the Senatorial district
suited to the taste of Ashburn-himself
among the number from this county.
Ashburn, having the ear and confidence
of the negroes and full control of the
loyal leagues whipped in the fight and
proved himself master of the situation.
His ticket was elected. Whether his
Radical opponents voted for him we can
not say.
The convention met, did its work and
adjourned Ashburn returned to Colum.
bus, avowed his intention to be elected
by the Legislature to the Senate of the
United States, and set to work to organ
ize his colored friends and secure the
election of such members from this Sem
atorial district as would support his sem
atorial pretensious. On Saturday before
he was killed, through his influence, a
large number of negroes assembled in
the courthouse square aud were ha-
rangued by him, aud ticket was NOM
mated for the House and Senate, com
posed, for the House, of one of the dele
gates TO the convention and a negro, and
the head of the Freedmen's Bureau, a
known friend Of Ashburns, for the SEN
ate. What part, If any, his former Rad
ical opponents took in this meeting, or
whether they were present at all, we
cannot say.
On the Monday night succeeding the
meeting referred to the career of Ashburn
was brought to a close After he was
dead, aud had come to his death, too, at
the hands Of assassius, what was the
conduct of the Columbus Radicals ? IL
they had felt any pangs Of grief or indig-
nation al this outrageous act, is Il not
reasonable TO suppose they would have
interested themselves so much, at least,
as TO have called to see bis corpse, and |
given some assistance toward the hnal
disposition Of bis remains. Not one, as
we are informed, did bis remains even
the honor Of q call Being pauper, the
expenses Of bis funeral we're borne BY
the city. His remains were attended to
the depot for shipment TO Macon hy only
two white men-his san and Radical
Jew named Coleman.
We have written down the above facts
and send them forth 10 the world for
what they are worth. We could tell
many other things to show The hostility