The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-03-16

A review of the terrible crimes of in
cendiariaism, murder and acts of vio-
lence in the disturbances at Meridian
on Monday last, VIII bring out the fol-
lowing prominent facts:
For months preceding the riot, the
town has been in a constant fever of ex-
element in consequence of the evil
teachings and Vaccinations of Sturges,
the imported Mayor, who devoted him
self exclusively to fomenting mischief
and stirring up strife between the whites
and blacks
On the Saturday before the Monday Of
the riot, one Bill Clopton, negro des-
perado, who belonged to the Sturges
clan of mischiefmakers, used his pre-
tence of a militia organization to make
threatening and insulting demonstrations
against the white citizens of the town,
and before an angry assemblage of his
race, with pistol in hand boosted of his
murderous intentions, and proclaimed
that one hundred blacks could whip a
thousand white men, &c. That others
Joined him from the same stand in SINH
lar warlike demonstrations, among them
| Aaron Moore, negro member of the
Legislature, who as Prophet of Evil
foretold that the fate of Sodom and Go
morrah would soon overtake the town OF
Meridian.
That on the very night of the day on
which these revengeful threats were made,
a fire was discovered in the store of Stur-
ges, achieh ,eas largely insured, and which
speedily communicated to other build
ings, consisting of infamable material,
and destroyed vast deal of valuable
property belonging to citizens on which
there was either no insurance at all, or
but partial insurance.
That while the flames were in progress
the same Bill Clopton and his clan were
| fourishing their weapons and indulging
in savage exultations over the calamity,
calling on the colored people not to assist
in putting out the fire, exclaiming, ''Let
the damned rebel property burn, we've
been working for 'em long enough" and
that he provoked a difficulty while the
fire was raging and but for the interposi-
ton of colored man, would have MUIR
dered his intended victim.
That soon thereafter the African
church bell was rung it was supposed as
signal for the assembling of the incen-
diaries.
That number of citizens placed them
selves at the disposal of the Sheriff as
posse to prevent further disturbance of
the peace, which was threatened, and
that with this pose he arrested the ring
leaders.
That on Monday while the cases of
Clopton and Others were undergoing in
vestigation in the Magistrates Court,
Warren Tyler, onepf the prisoners, COM
menced firing at 4 witness on the stand,
who was at the time in the custody of the
City Marshal, and discharged numerous
shots in the crowded contributing, kill
ing the Judge (Bramlette) at the first
fire.
That the citizens, having no other al
tentative, then and not till then took
their protection in their own hands-re-
turned the fire of Tyler, killing him
and others of the ringleaders of the mob,
thus obeying the instinct of selfprotec-
ton and the law of self-defence.
While such occurrences are to be deep
ly deplored, they are the natural result
of the wicked teachings and example of
bad men upon the ignorant and excitable
negro population on whose passions
they but too successfully played. In
contemplating the whole affair from the
beginning to the close, we do not know
which most to admire, the fortitude dis
played by the citizens in bearing the in
suits which have been put upon them for
the purpose of creating strife, or the
courage which they displayed at the try
ing moment and the precision with which
they did their work, when the difficulty was
precipitated after all their earnest and
patient efforts to avoid it,
And now we will venture to predict
that after this process of publication. if
the Governor will appoint a prudent and
capable man to the Office of Mayor, who
has the good of all classes of people at
heart, and commands their confidence,
that there will be no more peaceable and
law-abiding community in the Union
than the town of Meridian.