The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-18

"eto hot "ar5 amongst them-b1tter feudB
which cannot be healed. These things give
GENERAL Grant a vast deal OF trouble; but
they como from n dieease generated in a
great degree by him. and 70 rs much beyond
ms power to control as are the winds. He
trlos to keep tho factions in Pennsylyania
last bound to himself; but their strife with
one another threatens to sink him. and lie
cannot put an end to that; he cannot still the
passions no has sowed; he cannot, to quote
froude, quiet tho hounds whose noses he
has Observation-Disclosures Dispatch
AC hLUX OUTRAGE N FLORIDA-0n tho Cd
day of lust Dccomber, Mr.. Neil Fergus on. the
Tax collector OF Marion County, Florida. was
murdered. His body was discovered the next
day, near Dunning's Hammock, and it WAS
evident that lie had been murdered in the
most deliberate and cold-blooded manner
LIS mead was broken, his throat was cut, and
Tho news was rapidly spread throughout the
state, and tho diabolical character OF the
deed called forth tho loudost denunciations
oi press and people. The Democratic papers
alluuea .I Is TO the outrage in fitting terms but
the Radical and carpet-bag organs, taking
their cue from the fact that the murdered
man was a Republican in politics, cent up a
thrilling howl of ku klux. They called upon
congress TO come to the rescue OF loyal men
In Florida, and held up the murder Of Fergu-
son AZ another evidence that the exigoncies
ot the times demanded martial law for that
State. Mr.. Ferguson, in common with Dick
iLsoii, whose murder in Jackson County ex-
clteu 30 much regret, was held up as loyal
martyr aud AZ another victim of the uncon-
qCered rebellion, and We venture TO assert
tnnt the name OF the unfortunate man is to
be found III the list Of Ku Klu1 uutragcs fur
nishcd by the scaiawags and carpet -baggers
to The Congressional Committee which via cd
Jacksonylllo somo time ago. Fortunately
however. for the people Of Florida, and fortu-
hately for the people Of Marion County, the
impartial verdict OF time has rct the III right.
loyal wards OF the nation-named, respect
ivcly, Robert Brown, Andrew Spaight and
Moses Green, and they were arrested shortly
after. In a Very little whiie, all the facts of
inc murder came out, and these facts go to
SHOW That In spirit, plan and execution, IL was
oAe OF the most deliberate and cold blooded
nomicldcs ever committed. In order that the
iac's may be properly classified among the
records of crime, and in.ordcr that the Rev.
Mr. Greeley may SEQ tho plastic and conve-
| hient material from which Ku Kux outrages
are manufactured, we venture to give an &C.
cnnht OF The murder, condensed from the tea-
timuny OF tho various witnesses examined at
tn" recent trial OF The murdercrs i'll Mar,on
County.
The murder OF Mr.. Ferguson was planned
ny tho negroes week before the deed was
committed, and the arrangements fully COM
piclcd. The motive seems to have been rob
pcry. Air. ferguson was the Tax Collector
of Marion County, and was supposed by the
negroes to carry about his person la rye sums
w uiouty ne day OF the murder the three
ilehds followed the unfortunate man to w aca-
hoota, lodged him until he started to re-
| turn, and finally met him ON the road An
,lro" Spaight asked Mr.. Ferguson il he had
been collecting xes. to which he replied in
he Affirmative: Upon being asked if he had
much money, the doomed man answered tn at
he had very little. The people were poor,
and found 1t difficult to pay their taxes
The negro Andrew Spaight then dealt him
tirce heavy blows with club telling him to
| ha ground, and the negro Brown deliberate
| y cut the throat of tho murdered man. The
| negroes then retired to = hammock and di-
yidcd their plumber.
They were brought to trial in 0cala on the
10Th OF March. and pleaded not guilty. The
jury before which they wore tried was com
posca Of six whites and six colorcd men and
after hearing the testimony, verdict OF
guilty was unanimously and immediately
agreed upon. Alluling to the examination
o: TIE witnesses for the defence, ali colorcd,
TIE Ocala Eunne,' On Radical puptr) says: .'it
WIS :" evident that the witMes scs for the de-
fence were deliberately pcrjuritS til, ,,m.clvcs
that counsel wouid not continue III cxlmn a.
ti"il. The prisoners were sentenced to be
ha".;eI -Sucuh"nh Republican.
.