Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-24
THE REIGN OF TERROR In
ARKANSAS.
The ChtcOt County LawIessness-Ori-
gin of the Diffscultfes-The Terrible
Teacaings of Mob Violence.

The ChicOt County LawIessness-Ori-
gin Of the Difiscultfes-The Terrible
Tesehings OF Mob Violence.
From the Memphis Avalanche, Dec. q.
The negro, James Mason, who, 1t is charg-
ed, has melted lawless mob of his black
brethren to deeds of bloodshed is the same
Individual who last year had controversy
with w. B. Ragland for the position Of
County Judge. Under the cloak Of law he
then raised posse comitatus, composed of
several hundred blacks, to prevent Ragland
from opening court, and, through the in
fuence of this mob, he succeeded in carry
ing his point, finally receiving the Judge
ship appointment in lieu of Ragland, who
resigned Mason is the son of white
planter of Chicot, was born and reared in
that county and educated at Oberlin, Ohio,
and the st. Cyr Military School in France.
He is a thrifty, cunning man, of good
education and pleasing address, and wields
a large influence over his black comrades,
who outnumbered the whites in that neigh
borhood more than five to one. The
CAUSE OF THE PRESENT TROUBLE
arises from the fact that since Mason has
been county judge certain railroad men have
sought to cause the County Court to order
dn clCCllOn lOl IuC pOoC VI fOtALk NOhASy
bonds in the sum of S4e0,000 to couple of
projected railways 100000 each that
these parties propose to build across the
northern part of the county. As the pro-
posed roads are Of questionable Importance
to the majority of the people, and viii never
| benefit but few of them at best, while
even their completion Is doubtful, the
voters, mainly composed of blacks and nom
I ko., .1xy bo
project at the polls.
GERRY MANDERING.s
An effort was being made to get up an
other election, and Wynn, the murdered
negro, advocated the railroad project, while
Saunders and others opposed. An alterca-
| ton on the subject at a saloon in Lake
Village led to the death of Wynn, by the
| hand of Saunders, to the raising of black
mob few days later, who murdered Saun-
ders, Garrett and Duggan, and to driving
off numerous other prominent ci liens, un-
der fear Of violence and perhaps death.
THE RIOTERS UNoPPOsED.
Several other persons have arrived here
from Chicot, during the past two days, and
each brings news that the rioters are still in
possession of Lake Village and vicinity,
with no prospects of an early settlement Of
/ the troubles.
Mason was raised near Lunsyside Land
| ing, below Greenville, Mississippi, in Chi
cot county, and it is from the plantations IL
this neighborhood that his forces, to the
number of three or four hundred, were
raised. An additional gang of one hundred
or more have joined them from back on
bayou Bartholomew, and il is this force that
are now in possession of Lake Village.
| They seem to be organized under leaders
Of their own color, and the organization ex-
| tends throughout the greater portion of the
| Chicot country. The turbulent posse, now
nnder Mason's leadership, are the same who,
under pretense Of attending barbecue last
spring, collected at the village and prevent
ed Ragland from acting as County Judge.
So far there has been no blood shed
since the three persons were killed last Fri
day, but persons have been robbed ON the
public roads, and several houses have been
pilaged and fired into. The resources of
the negroes were about exhausted, and fears
were expressed that the country would be
laid waste by their raids and robberies. In
the mean time reign of terror prevails.
! Cotton fields are white with the feecy sta
pie ready to gather, and few or no hands at
work, and while anarchy exists nothing can
be done but to ask that something be done
| to hold the turbulent blacks in subsection.
THE COUNTY.
Chicot county, in 1860, contained popu-
lation of nearly 10000 blacks and 1900
whites. The value of its real and personal
property, chiefly owned by less than 200
persons, was $4,000, 900, while its voting
strength was less than 500 No census has
been taken since then, but the population is
relatively as it was ten years ago. A large
majority of the legal voters are black men,
who are easily manipulated and controlled
by few bad, designing men, and the pJliti-
| cal condition of things in the vicinity is any
thing but cheerful to contemplate. The
county has a negro representative in the
Legislature, negro County Court Judge
and other officials of different color, but all
of the same political complexion.
Several persons now in this city, citizens
of the county, express desire to
CLOSE OUT THEIR BUSINESS
affairs and emigrate elsewhere. To stran-
! gers seeking a new country, and one of the
richest and most beautiful in the world, ad-
vantageous purchases can be made, both Of
| homeSteads and business stands, from those
who have thought it inadyisable to remain.