The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-12-22
MiNblebmp8tgistsr
TUESDAY. DECEMBER ~, 1874.
The yicksburch Political Murders.

The N~icksbuTgh POlitical
We have not been hasty to give the
narrative of this terrible massacre, for
the purpose of getting at the exact
truth. The early reports were 40 con-
fiicting that each party found stories
Just adapted to their OWL wants, in the
matter of capital for political purposes.
Time and care alone, in such cases, can
unravel the conflicting statements and
give accuracy and certainty to the rec
ord, After this delay we are enabled to
present the following rs the true YER
sion of the affair. with entire confidence
rs to Its accuracy. 1t had been deter
mined by the white Democrats to Dust
several officials. Among these and
most obnoxious, was Crosby the sheriff.
His bonds were said to be insufficient.
A committe was appointed lat a citizens
meeting. to demand their resignation.
They failed to comply and the citizens
went in a body TO the Court House to
enforce their demands. The officers
all fed except Crosby who, under their
threats, signed n resignation. No n
concealed what his fate would be if he
had not done SO. He would have been
hanged on the spot. AZ soon as he got
out of the clutches of the mob he wrote
a letter to Judge Brown, of the Circuit
Court, stating that he took back his
resignation, as he was compelled to sign
it to save his life.
On Friday n rumor got abroad that
Crosby was about to make a good bond,
by placing his office in the hands of
some person or another acceptable to
the people and retiring, leaving all con-
troll to such deputy. Two or three good
parties agreed to take the position, and
arrangements had been made with their
friends to make a bond that would be
ample and beyond dispute. When this
was heard, a meeting of the citizens in
the city was called, which resolved to
frown down any such effort. The next
morning the papers contained notices
warning white citizens from going on
the bond, and this, too, in the face of
repeated assertions hat no charge was
made against Crosby except his failure
to give n good bond. On the street the
threats were numerous that no mans
life would he safe who went on such
bond.
Crosby returned from Jackson on
Friday with instructions from the Gov
ernor to take possession of his office,
and to call in the aid of the militia to
sustain him. He sent news to the
country for the negroes to come in Mon
day and report at the Court house.
They came, w.re met at the city limits
and were slaughtered simply slaught
cred and b%utchered. They were chased
through the woods and the fields and
shot down like dogs. Many were shot
after they gave up, and some were shot
on their knees while begging for mercy.
The spirit of demons was in the people.
1t was not safe for any II not in full
accord with them to be on the street.
This is undoubtedly be truth of the
massacre and there is no denying the
fact that the mob was animated by the
conviction that there has been n politi-
cal revolution in the North, and that
their time is come.
If anything more were necessary this
certainly ought to be sufficient to con-
vince Congress of the necessity of com
pleting their work Of giving civil rights
to the colored race and to protect them
at all hazards, from the bloodthirsty
dispositions of men only intent upon
carrying out their own wills ever ut
the expense of life and blood Of inno-
cent victims.