New-York tribune., 1871-03-24
THE MERIDIAN MASSACRE.

| sIPPI - THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE KU-
KLUX KLAN-A TALE OF BLooDSHED AND
HORROR.
JACKSON, Miss, March 18-Whatever impress
ons may existed to the contrary It is certain that
since the advent OF j. L. AlcOrn TO the gubcrnatoris
chair the state OF affairs in Mississippi has been gradu
ally growing from bad TO Seeking apparently TO
proptate the Rebel Democracy by giving them the best
offices in the State he has succeeded only In obtaining
their united support in opposing the measures of tho
Republican party, while he has eDgendeIed the dstru
and suspicion OF those to whom he owes his elevation
Succeeding thus in pleasing except thoso who are
pleased TO him Mt almost open war with the Ropub
cans his government has gradually to be trcates
wi tb contempt by ALL No effort TO suppress awessnes-,
occasional proclamation, being APPARENT such
deeds have increased from month 10 month, until the
condition has become appalling. As 1t has become grad
ually evident 20 all that the Governor disposed
to turn his back on tho Radicals, 20 az 20 take
advantage Of an anticipated reaction, .she well
known hatred for Radicals in general has sssumed q
more virulen shape. Taught from the Executive Man
sion that Northern Republicans were "carpetbaggers
and thieves it followed that all must unite to wipe them
out KuKlux societies. that had at least been held in
allegiance under Gen. Ames lave heen again organized
in almost every locality, and with their reorganization
has come outrage after outrage, gradually becoming
moro and more terrible in their nature until in many OF
the counties there is absolutely no safety FOR lie on
property It may safely be said that from this terrible
condition OF affairs has come the violent death OF nearly
quite 100 persons within the last ak months Very
many OF these have been asasinatcd in cold blood BY
masked and hooded Democrats.
THE NEGRO THE VICTIM BECAUSE pEPUBTIcAs.
While there comparatively few sections of the
state in which ore of lawlesuess does not exist
Il Is In the counties bordering Alabama that The Ku
Klux organizations hold an almost absolute sway In
many OF these districts murder Of State officials and
prominent Republicans white and black and other out
RACES have inaugated perfect reign Of terror These
|
bama but they have thoroughly organized departments
in the bordering counties OF Mississippi Into these
counties they make their raids, commit ourages and
| come and 10 with perfect impunity Their pnr
| pose seems TO he, by murders and outTages
upon leading Republicans anu State officials.
and intimidation Of the blacks, to obtain political
ascendency and reduce the negro "O his proper level
They calculate much upon the growing bitterness be
tween Gov. AcorH and the Radicals in obtaining anii-
Radical appOintees in place Of those they have com
PEELED retire. The better class Of citizens AZ least give
their encouragement TO this state OF affairs through want
Of the moral courage TO unite in frOwniug 1t down. 10
cannot be denied too, that to great extent 10 appeals
to their sympathies through their pejudces against The
! Radicals and particularly 10 their hatred
Of the. political equality Of the blacks. Here,
called riots, in which however the led are generally
the TO the Republican party makes blm an object
OF bitter political haired. This feeling ,eduouSy worked
| peradoes that more or less abound most Southern
towns, and who, incomprehensibe az may SEEM make
public opinion, cuinnatcs at times IN those Is a. frcn
zied violence and boodshed that sare and hOFrJ the
It has frequently been said that Mayor astree.
made himself obnoxious TO the people wmle nt Tas at
There seems In fact 10 have earthly Cor
his having been terribly obnoxious TO the people, ve
position as far as possible, 70 guard and IrGt9et ile
| blacks in obtaining eyenbanded justice, Nor IN this
does there to be the slightest reason Tor accusing
him OF partially in their behalf lie is represented a.
quiet and gentlemanly but very determined n cn@rac
| Ha Ko1Il1 int 20
whom his policemen stood in dread. About three years
| ago he from Connecticut aud settled IN Meridian,
where he has two brothers living. held his position
Mayor under Gen Ames, which IL probably one on ho
causes Of his being ole OF his brothers.
believe, officer Of some prominence IN the ton-
federate army. All three were partners m what wai
known the Sturges store, kept ny the Mayor From
his determined character in enforcing arrests ana pro
tectng the negroes he incurred IGs 0tei 'nnp
THE DEsPERADoEs FROM ALABAYA.
The Mayor seems however 10 have got alougitocraby
we'll In the community until within the Last two months
The that led to the late terrible massacre may b.
said TO have their immediate origin about that time II
was then that the Alabama Ku-Klux began TO make
their forays into Meridian and commit 0uTaes upon the
blacks that became finally beyond endurance. About
this time there appeared in Meridian coored man IRON
Livingston, Alabama. lie seems to have been but a
| of Ku-KluN. lie came 70 Meridian, claiming to be
Deputy Sheriff from Livingston In search of eoored
| fugitive from justice. Following in his train were
| couple OF white desperadOes. lt was Claimed li'
colOred man sought for was runaway murderer
This may may not have been the He Is repre-
sened by the blacks however, Ia have been simply ore
OF the hundreds OF their color that under the new oder
of things in Alabama had fed over te bordef rs lhey
arc fleeing in turn from Meridian. it was Under
stood in fact that these men were on hiiht t or I
aways OF this BE this Il nay tnS ,oaJa "a lea
Deputy sheriff had, pretended 10 hiye' NIL wr,s m hi
possession for the arrest OF this ana eN ~ had iSn
but not from the authorities IN Mississippi n0 a., % NJ ~
posed on the creduy Of cooiea ~ ctleps thar il
dian. backed as he was by assuIineo' % t oscane
was all right The runaway negro s tins ~ kp.s ,hps
Aiahama " gentry and carried OF into lha1 STATE &
About week later the same cooleu vI",Ot r W. 80 ~
| bp
secopd Inn ON This occasion he was ACCOMPANYING y
posse Of some hafdozen despera,e M Eah9u m Spf s
seened or runaway blacks. Not finding ther men th.
whites LEFT ON the evening fe search AZ nish Sc re-
paired the house OF one @ Iom n,rd AZ Seem.
by crowd Indignant blacks T1q no. toos to % S9lIru
The Deputy claimed that he fecoguzea ~ on ~, Va, M
artY ic n white man named Price Price Indignantly ne
nles al Soeysr swore out warrant the arrest
~ Price and as Price was teacher IN acoored schoou
may may, Va held over for trial MAYOR sturges huding
tbe current setting heavily against fIlce, ooh suons
br"tlcr became surety for Prices appearance Tins II
one the acts Of the Mayer tna Inaas nun p
ored Deputy from Alabama came INTO tow WIN All ared
t nistos and double barrced shotguns. These
paroed about town swaggerng clustering, anu swear
n me town they came three blacks from Alabama
known 10 the party The negroes were ponnced upon
%sinned and although scarcely able stand they
were put under a guard until evening, when theJ
were placed the train and carried of 10 Alabama
and a. believed. TO their death well. All this time
there no interference on the part 81 the e1snS ana
fessed himself powerless IN the premises.
rnR MEETING or coLoRED CITIZENS.
The excitement being nc fever heat and riot pros
pect the Mayor postponed the trial OF Price fos one
week A. the day OF trial again approached having
reason TO fear the advent OF still larger force o Ala
oama desIeradoes lees of whom were in town
every and intimdatng the bac k the