The New York herald., 1874-08-01
THE STATE ARMS QUESTION.

by the republicans, but by the democrats it is
1,seeisved only because they have become
oppose the presence Of troops at this time. or
the causes OF this lamen tabe state OF affairs it Is
lection for all. Can there be any serious objection
why troops should not be sent thereY No
The cur ssate nner in fwS S
one would more than compensate for the harm
which, any & q 90 o not S see see to result from such
troops there for any emergency
ADELBERr AMEs, Governor of Mississippi.
REPLY By THE SECRETARY OF WAR
The following reply was sent to Governor Ames
to-day
WASHINGTON. July 81 1874.
Hon. A. AMEs, Jackson, Misslsstpp:-
The contents OF your despatch have been sub
troops, except under cali made strictly In accor
nance with the terms ms, OF the constitution.
W. W. BELKNAr, Secretary OF War.
The Origin of the DiMcuIties-The
Frauds and Corruptions of the Carpet
Bag Govornment-The Coming NUM-
cipal Contest.
VIcKsBURa, Miss, July 90, 1874
That the people OF the whole country may have
correct understanding OF the race issue now
pending in this city, purpose to give you a sum.
mary Of transactions for the past several months.
Will say In advance, however, that there Is an
undue excitement regarding affairs here.
Though negroes and whites are organized
and armed, there Is little apprehension of
q collision, very little excitement here and
there has never been time when a magistrates
warrant was so easily served and offenders prose-
cuted as now. The police force has been in.
creased and sixty deputy sheriffs appointed, aud
with this force every turbulent character IS i'm
mediatey arrested and punished To account for
the fears of collision you VIII remember that
municipal election taxes place on the 4th OF
August. The city and county have for eight years
been under the control OF the negroes ana adven-
turers. They have built up debt equal to one
fifth Of the value OF the taxable, personal and
real property in the city; they have in-
creased taxation until cow, with county and
State taxes 1t amounts 60 SIX and q half per cent.
Owning almost no property whatever, they have
multiplied offices. Squandered the pubic moneys,
and were reckless and partial in their legsl alton.
But with all this the white people, intent more
lallen fortunes. paid little heed to po,tica mat
ters, until finally they were somewhat aroused to
the situation. They formed
A TAXPAYERS LEAGUE,
with committees to examine all the proceedings Of
Board Boz Of Aldermen The negro County clerks IN m
solently refused them permission to examine the
books though the action taken influenced the
Aldermen to retrench TO q small degree. TINS
was several months ago. About the same time
the negroes commenced to organize militia COM
panies Arms they had no dlaleaty 10 .,,N,, oh,
daily in dinerent parts OF tue city, but
notice, attributing it more to the negros love OF
display than anything else, though these armed
have known frequently, during the Lenten season,
of ladies, going to and returning from church,
being turned into the street from the sidewalks by
armed bands or these black, greasy and impudent
fellows. On the 18th Of June the radlcals-that is,
the negroes and dozen or 80 carpet-bag whites
or the thirteen nominees ten were negroes Of the
worst order Of politicians in the city. The nomi-
nee for Mayor was white man. under
INDICTMENT FOR PERJURY
and blacrmalng as former Chief Of Police; an.
other one OF the white men cannot write his own
name while the third was youth, to fortune and
to lame unknown, mere igurehead. The whites
saw In the election OF such ticket more debts,
the city government IN the hands of snch men
there could be nothing but ruin to every CONNER
their long apathy formed ward CUBS and pre
pared to make vigorous campaign
About tas time-sa' tnres weeks agoma leading
| Chancery COurt-at negro political meeting re-
ierred TO q late escapade and marriage OF young
white girl with negro, and said the time was not
TAR distant when such affairs wond be repeated
daily; 1t would be nothing to large numbers
go urther and say that there were thousands Of
| Southern women many here in Vlcksburg, OF the
most respectable families, who would DO so to-day
down, ior the white women now see
have the control OF the city and state govern
ments. II he were not married man he could get
| the daughter OF one of the best families in vicks-
burg, and were he IN the matrimonial market ne
would buckle on u brace Of revolvers and meet the
wOmen's brothers or fathers who would dare to
interfere with his love affairs or attempt to pre-
vent daughters and sisters from their choice In
the selection OF a good husband whom they were
| anxious t0 have) among the colOred men.
| THIS FOUL ISLANDER
upon the ladies OF the city aroused the whites as
ing after its delivery. at every white ward club In
the city, Davenport and his atrocous sentiments
! few of Davenport's life no overt act was made
by the white people, Tbat his lile was not in
danger Is shown from the fact that he %. Is
! that time for two weeks the excitement
was intense. The negroes congregated in the
! neighbornoOd OF Davenports house, armed with
uuskets and needle guns and armed squads were
detailed by black leaders to patrol the city, with the
! apparent design OF ofntimidating the whites. Even
Washington street. the principal business thorough.
fare OF the city, was not free from the presence OF
these armed negroes, who marched back and
| forth, with their guns on their shoulders and
their bayonets glistenng in the sun by day and
renectlng the glare OF the gaslignt by night.
| White men whose business or inclinations de.
! tanned them down town till late hour at night
sbV ,e reurnin9 to their homes by negro p'cSets
ana sKlrmisners. In some Of the SUBURBAN neigh
! bornoods there was CONSERVATION among white
families caused by the presence aud boisterous
conduct OF the bands Of armed negroes who were
sometimes loud In their denunciauon OF and
threats against the whites. 1t lasted thus for two
or three days and nights before the white people
were stirred up to a iull knowledge of the situa:
All S the caored the sr
pregnant with stories OF outrage on Cherry street
and on the Jackson road, where the negroes were
| halting and some times searching white men be-
| fore permitting them to pass. The Court House
| and grounds we're occupied by the colored troops,
and from that point scouts were sent out III
| various directions. lnnammatory speeches were
made by negro leaders at public meetings. and
still the white people iorbore until the inevtao!e
law OF selfpreservati0n forced them TO organize
for their own protection and be prepared 10
PREVENT RIOT AND BL0oDsHED ,
in the streets OF yicksburq They did organize,
and organized thoroughly, with tne determlnatlVu
to put stop TO that state OF affairs, wheh might
at any moment lead to irreparable consequences:
Companies were formed and armed Iuey detalleu
men TO patrol the streets ana give notice ol any
belllQerent or ri0tous conduct on the part OF the
blacks Signals were arranged l0r immediate
gathering ia case OF collision. and TOR few days
it seemed that collision was az any Inomeht I'm