The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-10-07
Democratic AnimOsity to Free Schools.
AUTHENTIC RECORD OF OUTRAGEs IN mis-.
SIPPI.

AUTHENTIC RECORD OF OUTRAGES IN MIS-
sIPPI.
The following statements are from offlcia
records in the Secretary of States Office
jackson, Miss, and shows the aminus mos,
strikingly of the Ku-Klux conspiracy there
). Gilbert, principal of the Aberdeen
Academy, Monroe county writes: "You
are, no doubt, aware of the outrage CON-
mitted upon Mr.. A. P. Higgins, our coun.
ty Superintendent of Education. l am
constrained to make this communication
IN view of the sad condition of our schools,
MIR. higgins has left and we do not know
whether he will return or not. The Board
OF School Directors is disorganized; large
number of schools have been broken up,
and others have received orders from the
hu-klux to discontinue. Everything is in
a demoralized condition, our school system
is bound to be broken up. Cannot some
thing be done Immediately to avert this
calamity?"
Col. A. P. Higgins, the Supt., of Edu-
cation referred to was taken ont of his he'd
by a band of Ku-Klux assassins and whip
ped in most unmerciful manner and
ordered to leave the county on pain Of
death, at the hands of the Khan.
j. S. Jones, of Union county. writes.-
MIR Fewsom, teacher of colored school,
reports to me that band of disguised men
numbering fifteen, called upon him at mid
night and ordered him to discontinue his
school, Or suffer II fearful penalty. Mr.
Newsom closed the SCHOOL,
From Chickasaw county, A. J. Jamison,
Co. Snpt., obtain the following faots:-
"F. b. Emmens, and Cornelius w. Brvde.
both teachers of colored schools, have been
badly abused; The latter terribly whipped
by disguised party; also that three school
houses have been burned, one of three was
church rendered for tho use of the color
ed people as school house, the other two
houses were built by the colored people
expressly for school purposes" Mr.. Jami-
son, further adds: cam unable to account
for these outrages unless it DO opposition
to colored schools, all the damage being to
that class of schools. In several neighbor-
hoods l have found it impossible to obtain
teachers for the colored schools, so great is
the fear of these disguised men,
j. W. Bishop, of Loundes county, writes:
ITO give you each and every case of un-
lawful disturbance against free schools in
this county, would swell my communica-
ton to an unexpected length. can only
say briefly, that several of my teachers
have been visited by body of disgu ised
men known as Ku Klux. All the teachers
were white and all of Southern birth except
MIR. Farmer, who was obliged to leave the
county. Three teachers of colored schools
were obliged to close their schools,
just after the demepd Of the Ku-Klux
that no more free schools should be taught,
visited white school taught by lady,
and found only four pupils present. The
! children and their parents were SO badly
frightened that the school was all but brok-
en- up. l requested the lady to continue,
which she did. The circumstances have
been such that in nearly every case the
teachers could do nothing but obey the
demand of the Ku-Klux and close school.
One teacher is Southern gentleman and
Congregational minister. t,n one occa-
sion he went from home several miles and
preached to the colored people. The XXX.
called on him at midnight and ordered him
to close his school, taught on his own farm
and in his own house; they also told him
he would not be allowed to preach any
more. He disobeyed the order and con-
tnued to do what he thought rigAs they
visited him again, eaIlad him out and said
they did not propose to hurt him but want
ed to notify him that he could not preach
any more, but added perhaps he might ~hen
tile election acas ooer. They wanted him to
promise them not to preach or teach any
more. He answered them by saying,
whether shall obey God Or man, Judge
ye.' 1have not heard ffaattRa, particulars.
Several papiils in the country not teach
ers, have beer violently treated by the Ku-
Klux, and their intimidations in this county
could be given but at present refrain from
doing 500
From Holmes county. "Ihu same spir-
it elsewher. breaks out in the bloody acts
of the mask, d assassins and the dark deeds
of the midnis lit riders, has only found vent
here in decorating the colored school houses
with a composition OF tar, paint. or lamp
black, insul ing the lady teachers in the
street and through the Post Office, aud in
inditing letters of advice or warning to the
county Surt,. subscribing always the ca
balestic X. X. X"
In Oktibbcha county. lone teacher was
stoned and one school house burned by
incendiaries, colored school was being
taught in it at the time.
In Warren county, one teacher was threat
ened by letters from the X. X. X. and
closed his school.
Supt. Wooley, of Choctaw county, states
that late in the fall of 1870, two churches
were burned in that county; also, school
house in April and another in May, were
both burned by unknown parties, and the
schools broken up.
The county Supt. of Winston county,
Mr.. T. Bays reports terrible state of af-
fairs in that county. He reports the burn
ing of two churches used for schools, and
four school houses, also, that band of
disguised men visited the house of Mr.. Fox
and compelled him to stop teaching free
school. They then went on to the house of
colored teacher, and failing to find him
amused themselves by burning his trunk
and other property and carried away be-
tween five and thirty dollars in money
VIM. Kennedy and ]. S. johnson, men of
integrity and unimpeachable character were
warned by letter that unless they closed
their schools they would be killed. Also
the Rev. John Avery warned in the same
way, but continued to teach; his school
house was burned and he again warned,
but being man of considerable nerve he
obtained another house and commenced his
school. That house was burned two days