Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-26
AT Southern LaWlessness.

"Home rule" is very good thing sc
long as those who rule the home are de
cent people AS exempliied in Kentucky
however, home rule appears to be the sort
of thing that some communities would be
better without, and the same may be sait
of many localities in the south We dc
not wonder at the news that keeps coming
of fights here and there and everywhere
throughout the southern states. Many
communities have a large class of lazy
rum-drinking loafers who like fight, ant
who would confer n favor on the world by
leaving it mcursed by their presence
They choose to stay, however, and have te
be endured.
They are prohibited by the law from
killing people and still they do it. Perhaps
stringent license law prescribing whom
they might kill would be a good substitute
for the present prohibitory statute. We
don't know, however, and merely say that
if Kentucky or any other state cannot put
stop to the bloody encounters that are
the order of the day, the general govern
ment ought to do it. The state government
ought to do it, somebody must do it. II
was the habit of defying law that Matched
the rebellion. The habit is rapidly return
inc to the communities of the south
The most important of the recent dis
plays of rioting was in Lancaster, Gtrrard
County, Kentucky. Murder and incen-
diarism accompanied it.
The trouble grew out Of the recent cleo
ton and is between the friends, both white
and black, of William Sellers and kenne-
DIV. the former republican and the latter
a democrat. Thursday, the citizens, ire
spective of party, held meeting and APP
pointed committee to wait on the princl-
pals and endeavor to influence them to set
tie their misunderstanding otherwise than
by arms, but were unsuccessful. right
ing has been going on n intervals since
Wednesday, During Friday and Saturday
forenoon. Kennedy's friends occupied the
court house and Mason & Saunderss hotel,
situated on the road leading to Stamford :;
Sellers forces were located on his prem
ises. lust down the hill on the Lexington
pike. and a short distance from the public
square, while II third party, whose mission
was to preserve or restore peace, occupied
the corner building on the public square,
between the two parties, and on the road
to Lexington. Early Saturday, Il party
from Lincoln county and the Kennedy par
tv commenced firing on the negroes who
occupied the Sellers property, but without
provoking any return fire. About o clock
in the afternoon, the wood and coal-house
Immediately back of Sellers residence
were ignited by tire-balls, and the main
building was soon after on fire. Town
Marshal Miller and other citizens protest
ed against firing the house, but without
effect. and Miller then called upon Capt.
Fletcher, in command of the United States
troops. to assist him in protecting the build
inc from fire. but the request was not
needed until the flames mad gained control
of the main building. About 6 O'Clock
Fletcher marched his forces to the public
square, and it was soon after agreed that
Saunders should withdraw and disarm his
men. and Marshal Miller, with the assis-
lance of the United States troops, should
demand the surrender of the negroes en-
camped on the Sellers place and place
them under the protection of the troops. In
accordance with this programme Marshal
Miller, with Saunders, marched down in
front of Sellers house and called upon
the negroes to come out and give up their
arms. Ten negroes came running to the
front gate. with guns and pistols in their
hands, and some of the troops, not under
standing their intentions, called upon them
not TO come out of the yard. at the same
time leveling their guns upon the negroes.
Amid the intense excitement that follow
ed, Il shot WAS fired from some unknown
source followed by volley. The soldiers,
supposinr they were being fired upon 10y
the party in the rear, turned, and fired in
hat direction. and then the firing became
general and lasted several minutes, which
was followed by the soldiers retreating
with twenty-five negroes and three whites
whom they had captured. Early Sunday
morning, 200 state militia arrived, and en-
camped on the public square. Meanwhile,
nearly all the negroes had left town, as
we'll as many citizens. and there is now no
immediate danger of further trouble.