The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-11-11

addressed to a gentleman of this
city. The writer is q gentleman
of the highest character. His
letter will give some idea of the
scenes enacting in York. Nor will
our readers fail to appreciate the
indignant emotions evinced by
the writer, whom we know to be
a quiet law-abiding man, sf (,
YORKvILLE, s. O.,
Oct. 81, 1871. 5
Although 1 feel secure in my
own innocence of any completely
in the causes which have been
made the pretext for the infamous
proceedings inaugurated here by
the party in power, yet cannot
but be shocked and feel uneasi-
ness at the total overthrow of. all
my preconceptions of Republi-
canism, freedom and law. Indeed
no stranger to our community
could remain here unaffected by
tho prevailing gloom and sense
of insecurity. Every bulwark of
civil protection seems leveled, and
personal liberty appears now to
depend entirely upon the absence
of malice on the part of the ig-
norant and depraved. No war
rants are issued, no charges spec
fled, no authority exhibited ;, q
soldier under arms, sometimes q
ed officer, sometimes merely q
private, presents himself and or
ders u march to Jail. Arrived
there, the prisoner is searched,
and then locked up in a cell and
told that he can have no source
of amusement to while away the
time as he is placed there for
punishment and not for pleasure.
In some cases q little cOnsidera-
ton has been shown, such as time
to take leave of wife and children
when convenient !; in many others,
the summary process" is most
scrupulously adhered to. "A case
of this kind took place in town
to-day, which illustrated we'll
s'the changes and variety as an un-
tried being we must pass" A
Mr.. Mitchell, highly esteemed as
n straightforward, upright man,
by all who know him, came to
town last night to attend a Ma
sonic meeting. This morning,
while standing in store, he was
arrested by common soldier,
who, after cooking his musket,
and putting on Il fresh cap, order
ed him to hold up his hands, and
told a negro to search his pockets
and disarm him. This being done,
the doughty soldier, with his sa-
ble assistant, carried the prisoner
to Jail. What adds poignancy to
this shameful indignity, is the
fact that the black rascal who
took part in it has been strongly
suspected of having been one of
Roses gang of barn-burners. There
are now some thirty-two in Jail
but this number will, doubtless,
be largely increased by morning,
us nearly all of the cavalry COM
panies arc ranging over the coun-
try, and night arrests seem to be
in special favor. ...
All this is bad enough, God
knows, but there are consequent
evils to be apprehended, which
dwarfs it into petty annoyance.
The county is being depopulated.
Numbers of farmers, and other
citizens, innocent as we'll as gull
ty, appalled, at the prospects of a
long incarceration, n packed jury,
an unscrupulous Judge, and q
ready host of accusing witnesses,
eager to swear according to instuc-
tions, for "$2 q day and expenses
paid" have left homes and fami-
lies just as the threatened danger
found them. The matured crops
are but half gathered, and the
unprotected farms stand as temp
ting bats for the idle negro. 1t
will not be long before larceny,
arson and outrage of every sort
will be committed throughout this
helpless section. Already the
signs of exultation are shown on
the faces Of the negro. The town
is daily filled with them-many
coming to sell their concocted
tales Of Ku-Klux injuries, or to
seize the change of easy venge-
ance upon those whom they dis
like. This very afternoon, my
friend - was subjected to an
noyance Of this kind. About II
month ago he informed a worth
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