The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-05-17
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cluslon, show state OF Affairs IN that un-
happy State even more lamentable than
would be inferred from the telegraphie re-
ports of the outbreak which were sent to
the Northern press Ii appears that the
tragedy of April Is was only the terniua-
ton Of an aggressive warfare by the ne
groes on the white population Of the parish
which had been in progress for months,
and which had been attended with fire.
quent manifestations Of violence, the OBJ
ject of the negroes apparently having been
to drive away all the white people who
would not submit to their domination,
Since the day Of the principal ARRAY many
new facts have come to light which are es-
tablished by sworn testimony of unques-
tionable character, and these provo beyond
the shadow of doubt that the blacks
we're the aggressors in this wretched bust
ness from first to last.
The family of Judge Rutland were driv
en- from their home on tho LIST of April,
nearly two weeks before the Colfax fight,
after having their lives threatened by
Ward and other negroes. Judge Rut-
lands house was plundcred and destroyed,
and a coffin containing the remains of one
of his children was broken in pieces, by
the mob. The offence of Judge Rutland
was that he presented to Kellogg, the car
pet-bag usurper, the white mems story of
the difficulties existing in the parish
Judge w. L. Richardson testi6es under
oath that from January last armed mobs
of negroes had been in the habit of visit
ing his house making threats of murder
On Saturday and Sunday preceding the
LIST of April crowds of negroes passed there
continually, cursing him and the ladies of
the family, daring the Judge to come out,
and threatening to burn the house. On
the I'd day of April they said there was to
be fight, and told the Judge that mo
Cd white man. should stay in Col
fax that night. On the next morning at
4 o'clock his house was surrounded by ne
groes who endeavored to break in the
doors but assistance came and they re-
treated, firing on the house as they went,
After this Judge Richardson and his fam
lily fed, not daring to longer risk their
lives. About week before this difficulty
a negro named Ware had fired into the
house, and previous TO that time mobs of
negroes had come to the house and put
cooked pistols to the heads of the inmates,
accompanying these outrages with the
most brutal threats.
Mrs. Shackleford, the wife Of planter
and large storekeeper, who has always
boon Republican, was driven away from
her home in the absence of her husband,
and when she returned she found that the
negroes had not only plundcred her house,
but had broken 10 pieces and destroyed
what they could not carry away. She had
been living in terror of the blacks for
months, and once before had been forced
to leave her home. A year ago a white
man named Yaun had been shot and killed
without provocation, and several white
men had been driven away by the blacks,
S, Il. Curry, the Postmaster at Colfax, Il
colored man and Of course Grant Repub-
lican, has made statement in which he
says that he was repeatedly told by the ne
gro rioters that he would be shot unless he
took up arms with them. On the morn
ing of April 10 when he went to receive
the mails he was met by an armed crowd
of negroes, who told him to get on his
horse and leave or he would be killed. He
went to Alexandra, and from that place
sent requisition to Sheriff Nash, demand
ing protection for himself and the Govern.
ment property.
Sheriff Nash was Republican who had
been commissioned during Gov. War
moths term Of Office, and had continued
in the exercise of his duties with Kellogg's
assent. A negro named Ward, who, al
though he had not been elected, had been
permitted TO take a seat in the Kellogg
Legislature, was the ringleader of the tur-
bulent negroes who had for months been
engaged in assaults on the white popula-
ton. This fellow headed mob, drove the
parish officers out of the Court House
without the slightest pretence of authori.
ty for doing so, took possession Of the
Offices, and forced all who were opposed to
their proceedings--whether white ,)r black
to leave the town. The Sheriff then
posse to recover possession of
the town and public Offices. 1t is said that
the negroes had repeatedly declared that
If gun was fred against them they would
give no quarter, and that this was well
known to the whites. The fight began at
noon on Sunday, April IL. Sheriff Nash
and his party found thu negroes in position
behind brcastworks. Before the posse at
tackled the town, they sent flag of truce
asking the negroes to surrender, finally
giving them time to remove their women
and children. There were 1873 men in the
Sheriffs posse the negro force was much
greater. The whites charged on the breast
works and took them. Eight or ten whites
were wounded in the charge, and num-
Der of negroes killed. Then the blacks
retreated to the Court House, where they
treacherously fired ON PARTY who adj
yanced to parley with them after they had
put out flag of truce, after which the
Court House was burnt and the negroes
who remained we're mostly killed. Some
were burned and some were shot in the
street.
Such is one result of the teachings of the
earpet-baggers who represent the Admins
tration in the South. For the sake of
manaoin0 the enlorad vote tho h;tta.os,