The New York herald., 1874-08-18
THn CONFLICTING RlCES.
The Cause and General Eject Oh
the Austin Outbreak.
SHALL THERE BE PEACE OR WAR?
The Southern Newspaper Press on
TIE Question Of Color.
AUSTIN, Miss, August T., 1874,


cvt Rights bin aad passed the Senate not ripple
had disturbed the mutual gooa understanding be-
tween the white and black races since the cleo
non OF 1872. No sooner had that news become cur
rent than q marSed change was noticeable among
our coiored people many OF whom supposed the
bill had become law, and majority OF them
acted as II the occasion demanded ot them that
they should assume airs o. importance correspond
ing with Jhelr new social status. Say what you
will at the North, you cannot appreciate tue de-
gree OF mutual good VIII between the races where
the blacks are not IN the ascendant; but here,
where they so far outnumDer the whites as TO be
In full possession OF politcai power, stroag feel
Ing OF disauietude has long held possession oil the
minds OF the whites, VINO felt that their
main reliance or security OF person and
property was IN the moral, intellectual and social
ascendancy OF the Caucasian race. TIE failure OF
any one OF these supports must naturally induce
feeling OF uneasiness among The entire white popu-
laiion. For the FIRST time since the war white re-
pubhcans have manifested consciousness oil
sharply defined race ansagonlsm, and accordingly
in the recent elections considerable numbers OF
white republicans voted the anEi-radcal ticket
Only the other DAY heard distinguished white
republican say that the blacks already enjoyed
everything which The C.vil Rights oil proposed TO
grant them, out that Whenever tie iaw said TO
proprietor OF hotel that lie must accord to all
black men privileges which he extended to or with
held from individual whites at MS own option, this
was placing the black above the white, and no
white man would consent to any SUCH imposition.
THE LAW IN MISSISSIPPI
Il Is true that here in Mississippi we have law
very similar in Its provisions 10 the Clvil Rights
bill, but the Judge OF the United States Court FOR
the Northern District OF Mississippi told the black
man that, while the proprietor Of a hotel was
10 a liberty
to seat him at any table and assign him to any
sleeping apartment ne pleased; and with this
construct Oh OF the law the whites ana most OF
the blacks were wen content. But some OF the
causes o. disaGection lie deeper ana are none the
less dangerous because hidden beneath the
smOoth-seeming surface OF our society. large
majority OF the adult blacks are men,
bers of various secret societies. the men,
bers OF all OF which-excepting. perhaps
only the masOnic-are understood to be
distinctly pledged to united opposition to every
political doctrine measure favored by
the Southern whites. 1t is true that in our recent
elections numbers OF oiac KS voted the "whte man IS
ticket" but this deviation, due manly to personal
influence and interest, only serves 20 emphasize
the decded race antagonism which obtains as The
general rule and is the effect, mainly, OF outside
machinations This general view of tie situation
premised, proceed to give you the facts tnat have
recently occurred
TIE BYGISNING or I.
As long ago az Decoration Day the appearance OF
q body ol negroes armed with regulation muskets
who formed part OF the procession that paladed
through the streets OF Memphis on that day, occa
stoned considerable comment and inquiry. Il wal
ascertainea that these arms belonged to a From
street merchant, who had bought taem on specu
laton ana htIei them to the negroes for a consd
eration and this military show was set down t.
the account o. the negroes love ior parad
ana mmicTy OF marital pomp. Abou
this time number OF military organization
were got up among the young white men Of Mem
phis. WHO met and drilled, but without suirabl,
arms The stunning defeat suffered by the negroes
at the iate election, especially in West Tennessee
where two years ago the republicans carriet
everything trumphantiy, aroused violent feel
ing OF animosity among the coioreG people, which
lound vent IN loud denunciauon and passionate
threats. which were promptly responded 10 on tht
part OF the more mpulslve and inconsldeTate p0r
tIon OF the white population. The general feeling
however. Immediately after the election was one O
good humor ana joIlity Ia the midst OF this genera
rejoicing on the evening OF the 1th, the day afte
the elecuon, despatch reached Memphis from
somerve, the county seat OF the adjoining county
OF Faye5te, saying, ave are in the midst o. riot
Several men killed about one O'clock to-day. Tax
negroes from the country are marching on the
town. Send Us, II possible, 800 armed men D!
special TRAIN, &c. The news
SPREAD LIKE wILDFIRE.
Thousands OF young men filed the streets in The
vicinity oi the headquarters OF the embryo military
organiza tlons above referred TO- "there was bur
-ryiug to and iro,ti bayonets flashed in the g.:
lights, expressions OF evaporation against the
colored men were heard on every side. the phrase:
"To the iront!n "Hurry forward" and the meas
ured tramp OF armed men re5ounced through the
streets The remark was often heard, "iow mucI
1t seemed like tae old war times" some 2o
armed youths toos a night ride 10 someryine ON
TO learn that there had been a street iracas, IL
winch four persons were killeG--not a strange
thing in TINS latitude-anc that the AFFAIR was al
over. SO, after waiting a reasonable time ior TN
negro hordes supposed 20 be marching on th'
town, the young heroes returned to Memph!
covered with aust and as much glory as couid bt
reaped from such field.
SoRE CRIES OF WAR.
But short repose was allowed them, for on tnt
11th an alarm was sounded from Austin, MISS, o
rising the blacks and alleged iears OF genera
massacre That evening Colonel Morgan, OF Her
nando, Misc, arrived In Memphis with a squad 0
men from Mississippi, few of whom we're blacks
to procure arms for the rescue OF the white citI
gems OF Austin, and that evening this party, TO
sether with about 800 volunteers from Memphis
took passage on the steamer a. j. White Tor tn
new seat OF w0r. Tie Memphis party left IN
steamer at shoe Fly landing Eve miles Delo'
Austin and at three O'Clock on the morning Of th
18th occupied Austin without hriug gun.
Austin, small village Of a lew hundred nhabi
tants, is the county seat OF Tunica county. Miss
the second county south from the Tennessee line
seventy mules below Memphis and twenty mile
above Helena Ark, by the river.
TIE ORIGIN OF rHE AUSTIN DIFFICULTY
Is as fouows:-ADout the middle OF July Dr. Gu
X. Smith, resident OF Austin being disturbed b
the noise made Dy a disorderiy negro attempted
remonstrate with him. and in the quarrel tia
ensued DR.. Smith nrod MS pistol at tie negro, an
the ball ganclng rom the negro's shoulder killed
negro boy Dr. Smith indicted and committe
to iail for shis SHOOTING but on the 2Ota or Juy