Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-10-11
ALABAMA.
The Troubles In Sumter COunfy-The
Latest of the Infamies OF the Bad-
zeal CarPetbsggers.
Attempt To Break Up Peaceable Dem.
Ocratic- COnserTatiY Convention
Arrests Made.
The PrisoHtrs al MObIIe-Their Com
mitmeHt-What a Northern Cor
respondent Knows About
the Affair.
From the Montgomery lAlaJ Advertiser and

MAlll
In another column We print two let
ters, from ole OF the most prominent and re
liable gentlemen in West Alabama, to whiel
I the attention OF our leaders is invited. The.
3 give us clear idea o. The game now bsinl
played, by direction Of Charles T. MAYER IL
] sumter county, and lay bare some OF The vii
Z latny practised under cover OF the military
authority ofthe United States. such coudue
may tend 70 make spanlels cover, but free
born citizens Will not be driven 20 surrendel
I their birthright by Mr.. Mayer, and his ku,
kluxing myimidOns. II this vile fellow think
I he can drsguon Sumter county into voting
! FOR his very fitting associate, Charles
{ Hays, he VIII probably hnd ere lons
/ that he has made mistake. II he thinks he
| can intmidate white men, and compel them
/ 70 vote l0r miscegenHtiOn ana social equality
I ne is fool. We Did defiance to him and All
his dirty TOO s. The recent decision Of Judge
I Bradley, OF the United states district court oi
New Orleans, shows that Mayors Sumter
/ county kukluX mad no warrant in law foI
/ their game OF intimidation, and We hope that
steps VIII be taken TO vlndlcate the rights OF
the citizens and the laws Of the land ny the
prompt arrest and prosecution Of every indi-
Nidual actively concerned IN this vile. un-
warrantable and dastardly outrage.
FIRST LETTER.
LIVINGSTON, ALA, September 80
On last Monday our county convention met
FOR the purpose OF nominating a county
uckt I. There was very large attendance,
every beat In the county being represented.
Ihe contest Tor probate judge was a long one,
and, the convention being unable to make a
nomination sooner, adjourned for supper.
After supper the convention was again ca led
70 order, and the ballOting was being proceed
ed with, when il wss asoertained by some OF
the delegates in attempting TO pass out, that
the whole body were prisoners. all the doors
Of The courthouse being guarded by Federal
soldiers with hxed bayonets. soon afterwaFd,
Two United States maTshAls, Randolph and
WillifOrd, with one or two Federal soldiers
came into the house, ana the proceedings Of
the convention were stopped, right in the act
OF balloting 'or probate judge, until some ar
rests could oe made. Two parties were arrest
ed-Oue = delegate, the other a mere spectator
There was at the time at least two
hundred and nifty or three hundred persons in
the courthouse, yet the utmost quiet and or
der prevailed until the arrests were made, and
the house released from being prisoners. when
the convention again proceeded TO the bust
ness before IL, as If nothing had occurred.
Now, suppose that a Democratic sheriff were
TO go into Radical convention, here or else
where, and stop It's proceedings until he could
make arrests, what howl would be raised?
Why were these arrests made at that pRrtfcu-
lar Time? These marshals had been here sew
eral days tue parties arrested mad been in
town almost every day of the week before,
they were present during the whole of the
morning before the convention met, and
could have been arrested then. The reason is
patent. II WAS done Tor the purpose Of infim-
idatlng the whole party. They thought IL
would create great sensation. and throw a
damper over the party IN this county. We
have no doubt that these officers acted under
special orders, 10 make the arrests at the time
and in the way they did, and for the purposes
sJsted. But IN this they were wofully mis-
taken. The Democrats of sumter "don't in
umldate worth a cent" and the convention,
while treating the officers of the law with the
respect TO which they were entitled lost none
Of ITS dignity and proceeded with its business,
and concluded il tnat night.
SECOND LETTER.
LIVINGSTON, ALA October 3.-We
were not aware until within the last few DAYS
that martial law existed in this county, but
such is the fact. Houses are entered by United
states soldiers without form or ceremony;
private property IL taken and carried
OF without leave or license, and pri-
vate citizens, against whom there is
not The snaduw Of charge, are arrested with
out warrant OF process of law. Let me give
you few instances; A few nights ago the
whole body OF the Democratic and COnserva-
tive convention was put under arrest, until,
IN the good pleasure OF the deputy United
states marsh al, he saw proper to release them:
on the next night squad Of Federal soldiers
went into the country. went to the houses,
and not finding the owners al home. took into
their possession guns and pistols belonging to
different parties. At one Of the houses, which
was in charge Of a negro man, who was
sleeping IN IL with his little son nine
or ten years old in mpUng TO surround lt
they awoke the little boy, who became fright
ened and started to run. He was shot at eight
or nine times, but whether he was wounded
or not am unable to say. On the next night
Marshal Randolph, with two or three soldiers
and a detective went 10 the house Of one of
the most quiet and respectable citizens or this /
county, and surrounded his house. When he I
got IN in the morning he found that mis- prem /
ises were guarded al around. As soon as he 1
had dressed he opened the doors, and Ran I
in. The gentleman was told that he was a /
prisoner, and ordered TO Cross his hands so 4
That lie could be handcuhed. He demanded /
their authority for his arrest. Randolph very /
significantly tapped his muskets. and re- /
This Is my authority The gentle /
man told him that he knew enough about law [
10 know that he could not be arrested IN that ,
wy. They then accused him OF harbOring
and, after insulting him in the
u HHaTa mo NmVaHH HHw.s-
lad no right to arrest him. he de-
.ective, who is connected with the
oostofiice department afterward apoi.
Jgized for his rudeness, nut said
hat some Of his plans had been frustrated, /
md he was mod, etc. On yesterday morning
N old gentleman who resides some distance
n the country, wishing to come to town on
Ome business, concluded that he would take
n early start he vas met Dy a United States
narshal with a squad Of Federal soldiers, who
lalted him and asked him where he was
.Olng. lie told them that be was on his way
o Livir gston. They told MIN be was 'Ou,
atber too early" and took him prisoner, and
ield aim for several hours; would permit him
lCither 20 come on 70 town nor to 20 back
ZONE. Now, are not Marshal RaHdoiph and
lis tools drawing the thing little fine? Can
Tot United States marshal be proceeded
.gainst for false Imprisonment? We shall see.
'be Radicals and their coadjutors in the dirty
YORK mere are very much disappointed; they
expected 10 hnd armed "white leagues all
'ver the country, and that any arrests made
~ them would be at great peril. But arrests
hing moves along as quietly as If nothing
lad happened. Indeed, satisfied
hat in order % get the parties who
ave been arrested TO Mobile or Mont
.omeTy, nothing more WAS necessary
haJ b' notify them OF the time and place
hey were wanted they would have responded
ir0mpily. Il was known that arrests would
De MADE ON the day Of our convention, yet
wO Of the three who we're 70 be arrested were
lere all ay one OF them was a delegate 70
he county convention, but neither made the
east effort 10 get out OF the way. Other ar
esis viii, no dOuot, be made for as the cleo
ion dragA near, greater efforts VIII be made
o "inLimidage" and kukiux us. Parties ar
esJed here are carried 10 Mobile 10 have a
Teii mlnaTy examination, Notwithstanding
here are three United states commissioners
q this county at this time. Comment Is un-
ecsssaFy.
THIRD LETTER
LIVINGSTON, ALA, October 3, 1874
We are having perfect reign OF terror here.
Ditod states deputy maTshals and detectives
re NJ 3klng arrests which, 10 most OF us, are
lcOm prenensible some cas- "muskets"
eiug ihe only au horily-as Marshal Ran
olph put on one occasion. The sheriff /
HI ga.HH