The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-09-17
Alabama.


The Washington Chronicle of the 14th inst,
publishes letter from Montgomery, Alabama'
giving horrible details Of the prosecutions, out
ages md murders perpetrated upon Repuol'-
.ans in that State. It mentions first the mur-
Ter and mut;laton of Thomas L. Ivey, color
nan of prominence, and citizen OF Sumter
County, who was in the service of the United
States as j route-agent in the postal service, on
The Alabama and Chattanooga railroad. On
The 30th ultiino, the train in which he was Off
,ially engaged, WAS tagged down by band
If despe1adoes, young Ivey instantly murder
I'd, six or seven ball. entering his person, and
lis mouth cut from car to ear, and his tongue
cut out. During the same week, four other
colored persons were murdered in the. same
county. Mr.. W. r. Billing, white Republi-
can, had been previously murdered in cold
blood A, ho.el Keeper at Livingston, Jon hearing
OF this murder, remarked that the assassin
ought to lie brought to punishment, and that u
man named Renfro. the leader of the Ku-Klux
OF Sumter county, knew who perpetrated the
deed. Renfro hearing this, hunted up the ho-
his pistol, and quietly rode out of town.
Chancellor Fielder, candidate .on the Republi-
can ticket for the Supreme Bench, recently at
tedpted to make a speech in Greenvilie, Butler
county, Alabama, and was rotton-e gged off the
stand. He was subsequently fired upon, while
on his way to the home Of q friend This gen.
tleman is one of the most distinguished jurists,
in that State and above reproach in his private
character. but because he was a Republican, be
was not allowed to speak.
These, and other outrages,a are detailed in the
communication referred to at the COM
mencement Of this article. It further gives a
most revolving account of the public sentiment
in Alabama, which sympathises with the brutal
transactions mentioned.
On reading the article, we concluded that il
was too highly colored to be true. We were
not disposed to believe that such outrages could
be tolerated in any civilized community, and
inclined to the conviction that the author of it
was seeking to manufacture public sentiment
away from home. But we had scarcely finish
i ed the perusa1 of the narrowing details as Civ
en- in the communication, before distinguish
ed gentleman from that State, native OF the
South, earnestly enlisted in efforts to do all he
can to promote the general prosperity OF his
section, came into our Office. He read the ar
tclc, and in response to an inquiry from us as
to the probable truth Of the statement he re
4 spoilded that every word Of it was true. He
knew young Ivey well, and stated that a more
horrible outrage was never perpetrated, either
in civilized or savage community, than thai
inflicted on this colored man. This gentleman
is member Of Congress from Alabama, occu-
1 pies distinguished position at the bar Of thai
State, refined, intelligent, calm and dispassion.
ate. But he says that the condition of the pub
lie sentiment there, is truly deplorable. That
the Democratic party have determined to carry
the next election at every hazard Of blood ano
| life. and that he anticipates the most thorough
system OF persecution, intimidation and outrage
that has ever yet afflicted the people, to accom-
piish the object designed.
4 After hearing his clear, minute, and dispas-
| sionate statement, given with deep concern
for the future of the State and the South, we
| were compelled to ask the question, ''where is
| this to end?" We see in it the spirit of 1856
| revived, when Southern Leagues and .'Scarlet
| Letters,'' mapped out the programme of a
Cotton States Confederacy, to which Virginia
was to be ''hitched on and dragged out -
Look at the condition Of Alabama, Louisiana,
| Mississippi, Kentucky and Arkansas, and the
similarity OF the organizations that are seeking
to control popular sentiment, and compare
them with the conclaves and agencies that
fired the Southern heart, ''under the inspiring
declalnations OF William L. Yancey, in 1867
1t presents an ominous picture, and carries a
deep feeling Of concern for brave and chival-
rous people, who are being blincly led by de-
signi1g demagoguee, into untold troubles and
disasters. N ss
We can but repeat what we have said in an
other article to-day--the only solution of the
pOrtentous Surroundings, which the South is
aggggravating, and which are destined to precp-
itate them into still more. unfathomable depths
OF distress. is a frank, honest and sincere. rec
ogaition Of the results of the war; forward
movement. and comprehensive understand
lag of the pregnant future that awaits u.s. We
cannot reverse the arbitrament OF the past
We cannot abate the stern determinations ncor-
porated into the amendments to the rational
constitution. Our policy and our duty is to
accept them and make the best out OF them we
can. It-requires nerve and heroism to do it.,
but the sooner it is done, the better for the
peace, prosperity and future progress of every
Southern community. %