The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-15
The Vicksburg Affair.

We must give the leaders OF tAe Whue
Leaguers at Vicksburg credit for some de-
gree of judgment They evidently felt that
their version of the slaughter week since,
and the result, as indicated by the relative
loss of the killed and wounded on both sides,
to use slang phrase, "would not hold
water" They felt that the public would see
that there was an absurdity in their state
ment that body of negroes moving upon
the town with arms could only wound two
and kill one of the citizens who went out to
repel them, while the latter killed the former
by tens and scores. They well knew that the
days Of the war are not so far distant that
thousands of Northerners could be made to
beliere that two hundred negroes strongly
entrenched and armed, could be driven out of
their works and scattered by any force with
out less to the assailants. So they have got
number of respectable citizens, bankers, ex-
army officers, etc., to set forth their story,
trusting that the cumulative testimony OF
the best business men will convince the coun-
try that White LeaguerS can slaughter COL
ored citizens. we'll armed, with the utmost
safety, even when strongly entrenched! Even
with this respectable endorsement, we fear
that the average reader will not accept the
White League version of the slaughter OF
last week. He will conclude that the -e-
spectacle citizen of Vicksburg was not pres
ent at the battles, and was led TO make this
affidavit to save the reputation OF his city
from the reproach and infamy that its law
less and blood-thirsty inhabitants have
brought upon it.
Even if we admit all that the spokesmen
of the Vicksburg tax payers assert respecting
the condition and incompetency of the colored
county officials, there is not particle OF ex-
cuse for the violence which has occurred.
Take their own story, and, in it, there is no
charge of malfeasance in Office against the
sheriff They say his bond was not satisfac-
tory, and because it was not, these good cltl-
zens and taxpayers surrounded him with
mob and demanded his resignation, urging
it with plentiful arguLients in the way OF re-
yolvers and rifles. He had committed no
crime. The good citizens only feared
that he might appropriate part OF the coun-
ty taxes which he had not attempted to col
lect. This was the pretext for the civil war
which has been inaugurated.
The fact is the White Leaguers have set
about the task of obtaining the ascendency in
Mississippi. Already they have Mayor in
Vicksburg. They think that if vacancy is
forced in the office of sheriff, by intimidating
the colored voters, they can elect one OF their
own number. Having secured his resigna-
ton, the next step is to frighten the colored
voters so that they will not appear at the
polls. Their assembling near the city at
fordde fine opportunity TO fill them with ter
ror and at the same time reduce their vote by
as many as they were able to butcher. They
have accomplished their purpose. When the
election is held we shall hear the guns of
Democratic victory.
Can MessIs. Seymour, Tilden and other
Democratic potentates speak the word which
will put an end to the outrages and butcher
les which would disgrace Mexican state, or
is it part of the programme which is to in
sure Democratic victory in 1875? Is 1t
thus that the Fifteenth amendment Is to be
made ssnull and void ?"