The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-12-14
THE viCKsBURG MASSACRE.
Statement Signed by Prominent
White Citizens Of ViCksbuTg.


President Of the Mississippi Valley Bank
B. H. Thomas, President Of the Yicksburg
Bank, G.. Gordon, Of the Adams Express;
United States District Attorney, and Uni
ted States Commissioner; Charles l.. Fur
long, Republican State Senator; John ID.
Beard, Fred. Speed, John ID. FInney, eX'
United States Army officer; q. X. Mar.
shall, d. D., Bowman, Miller, Nc.
Cardle, Cowan, Baum, Cathings, and
other prominent citizens. After recount.
ing that the Warren county officials in
1873 we've nearly all negroes, the state.
ment shows that T. w. CardOzs, Circuit
Clerk, was elected State SuperindCnl oil
Education. Ames thereupon contrary TO
explicit law and the Stale Constitution,
appointed A. w. Dorsey his successor.
In August, 1874, upon affidavit OF the
State Auditor OF Public Accouts, Dorsey
was arrested for issuing false aud forged
certificates. Dorsey was committed 10
Jail and resigned. Again the vacancy
was filled by appointment by Ames con.
trary to law, and the appointee still holds
possession Of the office. lnvesiiga.
tiOn Of Dorsey's frauds discovered that
Cardoza was guilty OF similar offences
George W. Davenport, negro, was elect.
cd ChancGry Clerk, and was sole CustO,
dian Of the county seal and public records
1t being discovered that large amount
OF forged warrants were IN circulation,
Davenport was repeatedly called upon 10
make report TO the Board OF super
visOrs, and he persislently failed 10 do so.
lie refused committee OF Taxpayers
permission TO examine the records; and
1t may be added here, after his flight it
was discovered that he had no bond
whatever on record. At the October
term Of the Circuit Court Dorsey, Daven.
port and Cardozl were indicted by the
grand Jury, composed OF ten blacks and
seven whites. During the inquiry into
the Odense the books OF the County Treas.
urer and other valuable records bearing
evidence OF the guilt OF the parties were
stolen. Other records used in the invest.
CATION were put in charge OF Sheriff
Crosby, and were also stolen. The Sher.
i'll is also tax collector, aUd required 10
give bond in $4,000. He gave worth
less bond, and when its worlhIessness was
brought TO light, several sureties with.
drew, thus making the instrument illegal.
The Supervisors attorney, u Republican,
declared the bond illegal, but the Board
refused TO order the Sheriff 10 give new
one. II was generally understood that
the Board acted under the influence OF
the Sheriff and the indicted officials, who
were interested in keeping him in office.
In November the Sheriff issued o card,
calling on tax. payers to pay up, and say.
ing he would hold the office until OustGd
by the Supreme Court.
In this condition Of affairs, viz: Taxes
10 five per cent, OF values were
due; the Sheriff, to whom the taxes were
payable, was insOlvent and bondless; that
the Board Of Supervisors, though Impor-
tuned TO do 80, had failed 10 take the
measures required by law for the prOtec.
ton OF the people; that valuable public
records and papers necessary as evidence
10 convict Cardozs, Davenport and Dor.
sey, on the indictments found against
them, had been stolen from the Court
House, Of which the Sheriff is, by law, the
keeper; that Sheriff Crosby was known to
be the intimate, personal and political
friend OF these criminals, and besides, be-.
ing charged with the important duty Of
the jurors by whom they
should be tried, was the custodian of rec.
ords furnishing evidence OF their guilt,
and had failed to protect the same from
larceny and spOliatiOn, and that 10 all ap.
pearanCes these officials seemed banded |
together Tor mutual protection, and in |
strength OF numbers and mutual counten-
anCe were delying the laws OF the State and
prostitutiDg their offices to their private
ends;-in this condition Of stlairs the tax.
payers had meeting, and, as already
known, demanded the resignation OF the
officials.
Crosby resigned and the others fled.
Crosby went 10 jackson to consult Gov.
Ames. AmCs issued proclamation com.
the taxpayers TO disperse. Con.
tempOTgneously with Ames' proclamation
a card signed "Peter Crosby" was cir
culatGd among the colored people, de-
the whites as rutiians and bar
barians, and calling on his friends to
come TO the aid OF the Sheriff and
support him. On the same day Ames'
Adjutant General and aid arrived in
Vicksburg, and about the same time Hall,
captain Of the negro company of militia,
received orders 10 hold himself In readi.
ness for orders, which orders were sent
direct TO Hall, and not through superior
officers. On Sunday, the Taxpayers, con.
no violent measures them.
selves, and ignorant of any contemplated
by Crosby and his conlederates, petiIioned
Chancellor Hill, Republican, for bill of
injunction against Crosby, acting Sheriff,
until he should give bona. The Chancel.
lor prepared an order Sunday night,
granting the Injunction, which would
have been served on Monday morning.
While the consultation was being had
with Hill, A. ]. Parker, Ames' AdIutant
General, and Crosby came in to-
gether, and Crosby was informed that
It was rumored the negroes Of the
country would attempt 10 invade the
city upon the following morning. He
iisclaimed any knowledge on the sub
ect, but said he had no power to disperse
hem, though he saw no objection 10
coming II they desired. Upon this he
vas earnestly besought by Chancellor
Hill and citizens present 10 send out orders
o them, that night TO return to their
ZONES, since il they made such attempt
much blood would bG shed. Crosby |
promised 10 do SO.
Nevertheless, early on Monday morn
ngr the negroes marched on the CITY
rom several roads. The citizens, partly |
warned the night before, armed and |
vent 10 the defense Of the city They
,sme in conflict with seperate bodies Of
Irmed negroes, numbering from two TO
our hundred each, on three different
oads, and defeated and rGpulsed each
,ody. 1t Is estimated that from fiIty 10
me hundred negroes were killed and
wounded, and about thirty were captured
III Of whom, except four Of the leaders,
lave been released, aud permitted to 20
lone,