Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1869-06-19
The Murders in Georgia.

A correspondent writing TO the Boston |
Journal in contradiction of statements
that have been extensively published in
the Northern press, concerning the per-
sons recently murdered in Georgia,
speaks of two ofthem- Messrs. Aver and
Adkins-.in the following terms:
81 have been personally acquainted
with Benjamin Aver and Senator Ad
kins, two of the gentlemen alluded to
above-have seen them frequently in
their seats in the Georgia Legislature,
and feel it to be equally unjust to their
characters and that of the Republican
party of the South, with which they act
ed, to leave statements like the above
uncontradicted.
BENJAMIN Aver was not, as Democrat
ic papers assert, of abandoned and prof
ligate character. He was formerly a
leading and wealthy man in the State of
Georgia, one of the few who, at the COM
meneement of the rebellion, openly es-
poused the Union cause and adhered to
it with answering fidelity. One of his
sons was shot for refusing to enlist in
the Rebel service, and another was con-
scripted and killed.
His cattle and horses were driven off
during the war, and his house was burn
ed over his head, he escaping with diff
Guilty. To use his own words, they
''stole. his property and killed his chill
dren."
Left in this helpless condition at the
close OF the war, he applied TO the Freed
mems Bureau for protection and assis-
lance, and, as his life was not safe II ear
his home, he, for some months, messed
with our officers ut Fort Pulaski. When
affairs became more quiet, being unwil-
ling to depend on charity, he volunteer
ed to return to the site of his former
home and open a school for the freed
men. His school house was once burn
ed down and once pulled down by his
white neighbors. Atthe election for the
adoption of the Constitution under the
Re. construction acts, he was the only
white man in lis county that dared offel
himself as a candidate for Representa-
} tive 10 the Legislature, and he was elect.
ed by q large majority of the coloreo
voters. In the Legislature he was the
oldest member, being nearly eighty six
years of age, and he always acted will
: the Republican party. or commanding
, appearance, an Intelligent mind, affab biz
, manners and veneraL le age, he possess
ed the esteem and confidence of all by
: whom he was surrounded. When hi
left home for the Legislature, q com
5 mttee of whites waited on him to thu
a cars and warned him never to return
1 as he could not live in the county. The,
have carried their threat into execution
! If he lived among negroes, it was he
cause his white neighbors destroyed hi
u home, and he was refused admittance +
9 their houses but to attribute TO him a
u q crime that choice of "A domicil whic
e was the result of their own persecution
IS and to excuse the murder of this inoffen
!, sive old man on grounds of an abandon
q ed and profiigate character, is depth {
l. diabolical ingenuity and bloody hatre
Ie only possible among his prosecutors an
their political allies.
Is Senator Adkins was man of goo
+ character aud a minister of the Gospe
N and his enemies never dared hint to I'll
70 contrary until after his murder. / hay
ie seen him rise repeatedly in the Georgi
he Senate, amid the sneers of Democrat
Senators, to defend the Republican pa
ty or the colored race. He was not a
e. educated man, and while his frienC
re- sometimes distrusted his judgement the
l. always had full confidence in his prime
er pies. To suppress him by sneers in q
. Georgia Senate was impossible. Ill
ne manity, justice and the rights of ms
n. was the substance of every speech
st made. Topics so distasteful to the Sout
lp ern Democracy were uncomfortable
NJ their ears, and they invoked the ASA
sin TO their aid.
nt Such is D brief account of these ma
he tyrs in the cause of right and justice
to their only crime, love of their countr
ed their only dishonor, loyalty to the rigl
ed of observation-disclosures American.