The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-12-12
WAR IN MISSISSIPPI.

Another plentiful crop Of the fruits o; the
radical southern reconstruction bungIe has
ripened in Mississippi. On Monday last
there was 4 battle between the whites and
blacks IN the suburbs Of Vicksburg, during
which some 90 negroes were killed and 30
wounded, against one white man killed and
tpo or three wounded.
The scrimmage originated n his way
Some time ago the tax payers league OF
Vicksburgh learned that the clerks of the
Circuit and chanCcry courts (both negroes
were discovered to be guilty OF stealing pub
lie money and committing forgery and max
ing false entries in their books to cover their
crime. An effect was made to have them in
dicted but Crosby, the sheriff, (anether negro)
packed the grand jury so that no indictments
against the criminals could be procured.
Thereupon the district attorney "a white re.
publlcan) stated the case to Judge Brown
(also white republican, who, after an indIg.
nant reprimand, discharged the jury. y new
jury was impanneled and indictments found,
records as well as the books and papers of
both the clerks were stolen or SO mutilated
that they were no longer available as proof
Of guilt against the parties, and the trial again
the citizens TO come up and pay their taxes
1t was found that the sheriff having thus
connived with the tlievng clerks, had given
no bonds as required TO do by law. The cit.
izens thereupon held a meeting, and demand
ed not only the resignation of the corrupt
clerks, but also OF the Sheriff, unless he filed
sufficient bonds. The clerks fed, but the
sheriff attended the meeting and agreed to re-
sign. Instead Of doing 50, however, he went
next day to Jackson and saw Gov. Amcs, who
advised him TO fight, sending an order to
negro yagrant at Nickburg, named Hail, just
out Of the workhousc, to arm Tie negro mi,
l!ta to assist the Sheriff None ofthe negroes
in Nicksburg paid any attention to his sum.
mons, but II was found on Monday morning
that negroes outside the city had collected,
on his call, in squads of POO or more, in vari.
ious quarters, and were approaching the city
under arms by SIX different roads. Citizens
hastily armed themselves and went out TO
NEE; them. The first band of negroes about
200 strong was met at the end of Grove ST., and
ordered by the commander of the citizens 10
dispers9. They refused and opened fire. The
fire was vigorously returned and the negroes
,nl -, mil a
dead, several wounded and about 80 prisoners
behind. On the Hills Ferry road another
squad of $50 negroes was met and also routed,
the negroes losing < killed and Il number
wounded. But one white man was killed in
both encounters. After that none Of the 9th.
or gro bands ycnurcd TO approach the city.
Sheriff Crosby. it seems, during all this
time, never vcnturcd near NickSburg; bu,
when II party of negroes at jackson Offered
10 Lynch him. hc concluded to save himself
by sending his resignation to the Board of
supervisors at Nicksburg on "Wednesday,
which WAS promptly accepted, and thus peace
restored
toy, AmcS, in his trcpidation after 50 sig
nal failure 10 crush the tax paving citizens,
has called his negro legislature together At
jackson 10 help him out of his difficulty.
The whole diSgracciul affair is of course
the natural outgrowth orlhc monstross rad.
zeal reconstruction system, Ames being GOV.
crnor ot Mississippi by fraud, must sustain his
corrupt clerks and Sheriils holding office by
fraud, Blu, j; looks a ifthc Grant Kellogg
Durcll system was near its end in the south.
and the sooner the better