New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-10-01
EsO,ll Mississippi.
ROANALD.

VICKsBURa, Sept. IL, 1874.
To he Editor Of the Ne,p National Era:
If you will allow me space in your valu-
able journal will attempt to furnish some
information of the acts and doings of White
Leagues in and around our historic city.
THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT,
which assumed power in the early part of this
month, has so far given entire satisfaction to
the white portion of our citizens, because it
has carried out the teachings of the blazing,
furnaee-like press of this city, which always
advocates, as you we'll know, the oppression
of the negro. You have doubtless heard a
great deal of our late municipal elections,
especially Of the peace andquietude that ex-
listed during election day. You have heard
Of the war.like demonstrations of the ne
groes; You have heard of the negroes COM
hitting outrages against the whites, and of
every race difficulty that has occurred you
have been told the negroes were the insti-
gators. Now, sir, permit me, in one broad
assertion, to say that nine-tenths, and might
be safe in saying all, Of these representations
are shameless lies manufactured by the Bour-
bon press and political hotspurs for political
effect at the North. But to the peace and
quetude, it is true that on election day there
was no disturbance, and Why Because the
White League had succeeded in bringing into
the city about three hundred white roughs to
carry the election, peaceably, il possible,
forcibly if necessary, and when they found
hot oo,,1l INF; ono,,Oh Popnh1i-
cans and keep them from the polls to carry
the election, it was unnecessary to resort to
violence. But on the day following, after
they had elected their ticket under the most
shameful circumstances, they sought every
means to Undue their hands in the blood of
some innocent, inoffensive, and defenceless
negro, or some quiet, peaceable Union man.
Colored men were knocked down and ILL
used, and white Republicans attacked and in
suited on every corner. Congressman Geo.
C. Mckee, while walking up one of our pub
lie streets, was pointed out to some of these
roughs by our brave and chlvalrous Southern
gentlemen (?) who attacked him in the most
brutal manner, and nothing but his I'M
daunted courage saved his life. On the same
day some ex-rebel, called "Captain" Cobb,
invaded our county with an armed force,
turned their horses loose upon the crops oil
colored men, and when they demonstrated,
threatened to kill the last d--n niger OF
them if they interfered. The colored men
sent one of their number into the city to con-
suit the Sheriff and procure assistance, and
when the Sheriff, Mr.. Crosby, attempted tc
discharge his duties, he was prevented by
body of armed men under DR.. Shannon, g
leader of Vicksburg society, who said: ~
the d-n niger sheriff attempts to give
orders we will kill him." This, Mr.. Editor
is not half of what transpired ON the day o
the election, but must forbear. as desire
to speak of other things. 1 can only ado
that. if any one had been in Vlcksbug OF
that day, he would have thought he wa
among savages rather than civilized men
the nineteenth century.
HORRIBLE DEED
| was committed few miles from here on thu
5th inst. by the White Leaguers. A maj
named Jessie Mason, president of a Repub
lican club, was assasinated by coward.
wretches belonging to the White League
The circumstances are briefly these, as VI
learn them from parties living in the neigh
borhood. On the morning Of the 5th inst
Mason went to an adjoining plantation to or
ganize a Republican club; the whites OF
said plantation having forbid the colore
men to organize, Mason called them togethe
and addressed them to the effect that it wa
their right to organize and to vote as the
saw fit, and the whites had no right to pre-
vent them; and that they ought not to be 8
easily inundated, etc. The club was OF
ganized and Mason elected president; bu
alas! his pains cost him his life. That nigh
an armed body Of white men appeared at ri
door, violently took him from his bed, carrie
him four miles from his cabin, and then litei
ally riddled his body with bullets. And ye
the Democratic press Of this city is so give
to living that it publishes to the world tina
this man was killed by negroes because d