The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-04-14
A FLORIDA EnEor1ox.-The Savannah

held in that city, Thursday last. Wo
ask the special attention of members of
Congress TO the shameful reoital-rend der.
ed still more outrageous from the fact
that the deeds of lawlessness and bru-
taiity occurred directly under the noses
OF Radical officials, without the slightest
effort to correct them, if, indeed, they
were not privy, rs we'll as oonsenting, to
the riotous proceedings. It is by such
means that the Grant party in the South
expect to carry the Presidential election.
We can only exhort the conservatives in
every State to prepare for the contest, to
maintain the law, assert their ,ghts and
punish every attempt at enci nchments
on either, be the cost what it may.
But read the Comrier'S account of this
affair in Florida, ono of which, by the
way, the organ Of tho Radicals in that
city boasts Of as glorious Republican
triumph:
The CRY ELECTION. election,
which came off on Thursday, deserves
more than passing notice. The Jones
faction were numerically successful
that is to say, majority of the ballots
cast Gncluding double-folded ballots)
bore their names. To obtain this result,
every unfair and corrupt method was re.
sorted to; indeed, there was no hesita-
tlon at anything. however venal and ras-
caily, which would procure vote. tits
hard to believe that even n Radicals
avidity for Office could lead him to COM
NIT the gravest and most infamous
crimes known to the law. From morn
ing until night, the street fronting the
polling place was thronged with riot
GUS, excited and drunken gang of negro
vagabonds, shouting for Jones, and
using every means, coercive and other
wise. to compel other negroes who were
not of their own way Of thinking to
vote what was called the straight Repub.
lican ticket.
At an early hour in the morning tho
lighting began--sticks, slaves, clubs,
bludgeons, bricks, rocks and fists we're
used indiscriminately, while shouts and
curses, and language which would have
disgraced the orgies of herd Of demons,
Tiled the air, and ever and anon, as
some poor devil wished to poll his vote
Tor any candidate opposed to tho Jones
tactlon, ut nod from some ring-lender
in the devilment, the crowd would fall
upon and beat him in manner that wns
absolutely savage. One poor wretch ap-
preached the polls exhibiting Moody
ticket, which he made an attcmpt to
vote. He was Immediately set upon
his head bruised and beaten until the
blood streamed down upon his fnce, and
he was at last compelled to vote for
Jones. Another wishing to vote for
Moody was set upon and beaten. He,
with great difficulty, disengaged himself
from his prosecutors and fled, but was
SO closely pursued that, in order to save
his life. he was forced to take the river.
There he came near being drowned, and
it was with the utmost difficulty that
through the interposition of some white
men he WAS saved. These are only some
of the incidents that occurred, and are
Mentioned only to illustrate the charac-
ter OF the days proceedings.
The savage fighting, the demoniac
bowling. the swayiag to and fro of the
black and blasphemous rioters, making
the air momentarily hideous by their
howls and imprecations, continued until
the closing Of the polls rendered the
further continuance of the riot unneces-
sary. Then the boisterous ragmufIin
crew slowly dispersed. And during all
this time, Mayor Jones and police, sup
posed to be the conservators of the pub
lic peace, stood passively by, making no
effort to quell or even to mitigate the
riot, further than occasionally to expos
tulate gently with the worst of the riot
ers. It would not do, of course, to hurt
hair or kink in the heads of these pet
lambs when votes were at stake. Oh, no!
Mayor Jones cared nothing for his oath
of Office, and his subs doubtless acted
under wink from their superior. And
these drunken and irresponsible mis-
creants who thus so boldly defied the
peace Of the city, we're many of them
imported from beyond the corporate
limits of Jacksonville, for the purpose
expressly Of voting for Peter Jones and
his ticket.
Many OF them had not even brains
enough to put forth the pretenoe OF
being citizens of Jacksonville. They
came from La Villa, Brooklyn. Potts
burg, and all the environs Of Jackson
vile and the adjacent country, hired and
employed, and paid in mean whiskey, at
least, to vote. Peter Jones may not
have hired and he may not have paid
them, but he stood by and saw the whole
proceedings, without making the slight
est effort to preserve the peace. Many
citizens demanded, begged and implored
that he Should exercise his authority.
bnt he would not even 30 far exert him.
self Us to command the peace. Indeed.
his conduct was such as to justify an OBJ.