Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-02-03
A Gard from BE. Willis Jones.
C0RNrE. MISS, February !. $50

C0RnrB, MISS, February !. 1870.
EDIToRs LEDGER: An article oyer the
signature Of" Many Citizens" appeared
in your paper Of the Oath ult., which does
me very great injustice. And IS it is
sIanderous attack upon my character BY
an individual of so great proportions that
he subscribes himself Many Citizens"
| claim the privilege of correcting the
false accusations made against me-
And, FIRST, ! would state that | am
Tennesseean Of the manor BORN"
bad ff,y-nine negroes freed by the war
and against my will, and, therefore, have
not imbibed the romantic idea of negro
enusIity, nor would / under any circum-
sfaIccs sustain or uphold negro insolence
and crime. Bpt the negroes are entitled
to certain civil rights, yhich have been
given them without any aid OF nins, bow
ever, and one of them is the privilege Of
keeping GAGE. snd ] can see no reason for
beating, shooting, ard hanging them up
By the way side for exercising this priyi-
Iege, Aud that was the only oGense i'm
puted to the negroes in ny employ by
those masked night providers that came
few nights before the tragic affair to my
cabins, and demanded certain negroes
who had arms. They had been carried
ont on former occasions, and beaten and
whippes and as they we're in my EN-
ploy mens, spd bad purchased the guns
with my permission, and as they we're
peaceable, inofensive, indnstrsoss ne
eroes, felt prompted by feelings Of duty
and humanity to prevent the repetition
of snsh brutal, inhumsn treatment.
Therefore. Chen that disguised, sslf-con-
stituted committee Game 70 py house,
met them, and urged them to 20 away. and
cease to beat and run G my hands. They
replied that they would not permil the
nsgSoes TO keep guns. replied that my
servants SeTe very submissive aud harm
less negroes, and tsat pDless they we're
guilty Of some act worthy OF punishment
| could not consent TO any further abuse
aud crselty to them. They became en-
ragged at my refusal and cursed awhile,
then shot a. one Of the negroes and left,
swearing as they went that they would
return soon and visi, fearful vengeance
on those who dared TO refuse their de-
mands. But the negroes, neither then
nor at any other time before The total
tragedy, ever offered those lawless men
any resistance or iasolence. Nor would
they have done so then but for my pres
euce sId their conscious innocence, al
though snbnission would have been a.
most certain destruction, IS those would
be sssassins rushed in the doors o. the
houses where Fe were aud began firing
without giving tde least Dotice Of their
approach. / and several OF the negroes
soou returned the Ere and wounded sew
eral Of the murderous clan, when the rest
hsd and left their wounded brares 10 be
kindly cared for BY me. The statement
that 'thsas rise regulators Of society
came TO my hosss - 9igsrm dangerous
negro, without themselves bsipg prnej,
is too absurd and ridiculous 70 require q
refsiation. and is wholly untrue. l. is
irps that took the negroes to my house
and p-sSaFsa fer defending myself and
negroes sgAinat 3 rsasEed attack BY our
asSailsDis, and no one bat Pss,T ipter-
es,ed sogl6 cell il q cTiue 10 desena
ones sell, or % pfots1t he innocent from
assassination. ADd wheg Ihs reader is