The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-12-24
YICKsBURG.
The Origin of the Late TrOubIeE, az
stated by Prominent Citizens, Federal
Omeerz. Republicans and Others

The Origin of the Late TrOubIeE, az
stated by Prominent Citizens, Federal
Omeers. Republicans and Others
A large body of citizens of Vieksburg
set forth statement of the origin of
the late difficulties. The statement is
signed by B. G. Humphreys, ex- gov
ernoT John Klein, president of the
Mississippi Valley bank; b. r. Thomas,
president of the Vieksburg bank; g.
Gordon Adams, ex- United States dis
trict attorney and United States COM
missioner {; Charles E. Farlong, repub-
ican state senator John ID. Beard,
Fred. Speed, john d. Finney, ex- United
States army officers, and other promi-
nent citizens. The statement is in
substance as followsi
The negro circuit clerk, Cardoza, be-
ing elected state superintendent of ed
acation, Gov. Ames, in violation of law,
appointed Dorsey his successor, Last
August, on affidavit of the state auditor,
Dorsey was arrested for forging certifi-
Gates. The consequent investigation
implicated Cardozs also. The negro
Davenport, who figured last summer as
a most offensive advocate of civil rights,
was chancery court clerk, and, a large
amount of forged warrants being in cir
culatiOn, the board of supervisors called
on him TO report, which ne refused to
do, and subsequently fed, when it was
discovered that ne had given no bond
whatever. In the October court. this
trio of officials were indicted by Jury
of ten negroes aud seven whites, where
upon all the official documents bearing
evidence of their guilt were stolen.
This attracted attention to tho negro
sheriff, Crosby, who had custody of
the courthouse, and his official bond
was found to be worthless, and his straw
sureties withdrew, leaving him without
pretence Of a bond. Being tax cOllec-
tor also, for which bond of 500, 900
was required by law, Crosby neyerthe-
less issued his fiat for taxpayers to come
up and settle. Under these circum-
stances, Crosby being in evident collu-
sion with the fugitive criminals, and
attempting to collect taxes without any
security whatever, the tax payers met
quietly and requested Crosby either to
give bond or resign. Crosby went TO
see Ames sbout 1t. Meanwhile the tax
payers procured an injunction against
Crosby, from the republican chancellor
last Sunday night, with the intention of
serving it Monday morning. But that
morning developed three different bod
les of armed negroes, numbering from
200 to 400 each, marching on the town
by three different roads. Carnage re-
suited, and the number of negroes
killed is variously estimated between so
and 100, while 80 were captured, of
whom only four leaders have been held
as prisoners.
"Upon this record the people of War
ren county are willing to receive the
judgment of the country"
The statement proceeds to implicate
higher officials as instigating Crosby to
get up an insurrectiOn, and affirms that
the course of the citizens has been die
tated by no prejudice against the race
or color of the delinquent officials, but
solely by the principle of self-preserva-
tiOn. The measures they took were
peaceful and legal until they we're con-
frOnted by an armed mob. Quiet being
now restored, there is no occasion for
the expense of an extra session Of the
legislature.