Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-12
Martial Law in Columbia County.
ON the Camden (Ark. } Bulletin ]

From the Camden (Ark.) Bulletin.]
Meeting in Camden toward the close
of last week quite number of the most
substantial quiet and orderly citizens of
the county of Columbia, we learned from
them that they had fed from there to
avoid arrest and to keep their stock from
being taken by Catterson's militia. Being
desirous of learning by actual observation
what the militia were doing in that coun-
ty, we set cut for Magnolia on last Sun
day morning, and reached there about IL
o'clock Monday morning. We found
the militia under the command of Gen.
Cattersou, engaged in taking the horses,
corn, hogs and other property belonging
to the citizens, and found also under ar
rest and confined in room at Parker's
hotel some fifteen or twenty of the best
citizens of Columbia. Why this property
was taken, and men arrested, we could not
clearly learn. The parties arrested were
ell peaceable citizens, had been guilty of
no unlawful act, no violation ef the law,
or resistance to the constitutional
authorities. All that we could CLEAN
from Catterson's own explanation of the
matter, in two interviews with him, was
about this: That the people had been
unwisely and badly advised by their old
leaders, and that they should be taught
to feel the power of the government and
look elsewhere than to their former
leaders for advise and counsel; that
they had not arrested certain despera-
does who had committed some outrages
in the county, and that he had found
the Planters and Mechanics Colored
Club, of Columbia county, to negroes,
which some of the citizens arrested
had signed, as officers of the club.
That this was harmless political or
ganization is evident from the fact that,
while it promises to such negroes as
Joined it, it had committed no outrage
upon anybody. Not single act Of vio-
lence can be traced to IL What neces-
sity there existed for making the indus
trious, quiet and law abiding citizens of
Columbia county feel the power Of the
State government through the instru-
mentality of an armed body of militia
sent down upon them we are unable to
see. What we say in regard to this mat.
ter we do not speak from report, but
from hCAuhl ODScffhttOu. w AuO" tu~t
at time of profound peace, an armed
body of State troops, acting under orders
of the Governor of the State, invaded the
county Of Columbia, arrested a large
number of its unarmed aud unre-
sisting citizens, guilty of no crime
known to the laws, sHd seized the stock,
corn, hogs and fodder upon which large
numbers of others depended to make a
living. The Sheriff had been assisted by
sufficient posse every time he had
called for it, long before any militia had
been anticipated. Last fall q peaceable
and quiet term Of the Circuit Court had
been holden in that county, s1d the
Sheriff and bis deputies, serving process
for the Grand Jury, penetrated every
part Of il without molestation. All viola
tons of the Law were investigated and
bills, doubtless, found against the guilty.
Since then everything has been moving
on quietly and smoothly until the peace
was broken, citizens arrested and their
property taken by the State troops. We
restrain orr feelings and make the above
dispassio11te statement OF naked facts,
and ask that they be Investigated and
prevented in future.