The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-10
THE TROUBLE AT VICKSBURG.

whites and the negroes at NlcksDurS oooo no'
spring from any antagonism between .ne
! rases. It is not per Sc race conhic'' Du'
grew out of the determination OF The "hHe
tax .payers to see that every official who was
annoin.ed or elected, whether white or black,
should perform honestly the duties OF his
Office and give ample security therefor.
For wears past the people of Vicksburg and
the citizens of Warren county had been pitt
lessly robbed, very much after the manner in
which we have ourselves been despoiled, by
set of unmitgated villains, and SO great had
become the popular discomfort that organiza-
tons were formed for protection under the
title Of Taxpayers Associations.
| There i, no White League in Vicksburg,
but the people are banded together in these
taxpayers associations for mutual protection
and for resisting further spoliation of their
property. Until last fall the power was in
the hands Of most unprincipled Radicals who
controlled every department Of the govern
ment and used the courts as means OF OPP
preston.
The people were robbed under the forms OF
law and not a rascal carpet-bagger in Warren
county but could have the most glarlng
frauds legalized in the courts. This was
stood by the patient and long suffering tax
navers until forbearance ceased to be virtue
and resistance became matter OF absolute
necessity.
After the victory achieved by the whites in
yicLsburg last fall they felt themselves strong
enough to demand justice, and some weeks
ago. having cause to believe that the Clerk OF
the Chancery Court, G. W. Davenport "a
negro), had been guilty Of malfeasance in
Office, they appointed an expert-an honest
white Republican (they have one such man in
Mississippi), Judge Arthur, to examine the
Clerks books.
T During the examination thus instituted, the
books were suddenly spirited away by Dayen-
port or'his emissaries, and have never since
been seen, although large rewards have been
offered for their recovery.
The disappearance Of these books, which
it was confidently believed would convict
Davenport of enormous frauds, caused great
excitement among the taxpayers.
The sheriff of Warren county is negro
named Crosby, OF bad character, who has
never filed good bond, though he has been
in Office some fifteen months. The white PEG.
ple demanded that the Board Of Supervisors
: Radicals, and mostly negroes) for Warren
county should compel Crosby to give a good
and sufficient bond, inasmuch as the time fol
the payment Of taxes had arrived, and thu
amount involved some $3.50, 1000.
This request was urheeded. Crosby pro
ceeded in the exercise of his duties, notwith
standing his bond was worthless,Ian hence
the demand on the part of the whites for hi
resignation. Crosby, apparently yielded tx
the demand; he resigned, but said it was un
der compulsion. Subsequently he caused
3 placards to be put up around the countr!
and had the negroes privately notified in thei
churches to move on vicksburg, for the pur
! pose Of reinstating him in Office.
This was all done very secretly and the PEG
pie of Vicksburg knew nothing OF the pre-
? meditated assault, until the negro army wa
actually near the outskirts of the city. There
q upon they assembled and rushed out to defent
: their homes and their lives. The result il
Il known.
1t is remarkable fact, and one well worth.
: of consideration, that in all this business tn
! town negroes Of vicksburg have taken no par
or hand whatever and only the ignorant farm
hands on the adjacent plantations have beef
induced by artful demagogues to rush madl.
into conflict with the whites.
:. The gentlemen who compose the Taxpayer
!, Association Of Vicksburg, and who command
the white forces, are the very first men in tn
city. Col. John D. Beard, who figured in tn
: recent disturbance, was until recently,
e Federal ofiiceholder, was formerly an officer il
= the United States army, and if we mistak
n not, was wounded during the war, befor
n vicksburg. He is gentleman and therefor
/ takes the side of right and justice naturally
= The construction of new narrOw-gauge rail