New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE MISSISSIPPI CONFLICT.
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE RECENT
TROUBLES

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE RECENT
TROUBLES.
AN ADDRESS ISSUED BIZ PROMINENT CITIZENS or
vIcKsBURG-THE FRAUDS PRAcrICED BY TIE
COLoRKD OFFICIALS ski FoRTH-UNLAwvUL AP~
POINTMENTs By GOV. AMHs-THB PEOPLE FORCED
TO TAKE ARMS IN DEFENSE or THEIR n0MEs-
GOV. AMEs's COURSE DENOUNCED - PROTEST
AGAINST AN EXTRA SESSION or THE LEGIsLATuRE.
VICKsBURG, Dec. 13.--A large body Of citi-
yesterday set forth statement OF the origin OF the
ate troubles. The statement Ia signed by b. q. Hum
phreys OK Governor; John A. Klein. President Of the
Missssipp Valley Bank; b. X Thomas, President OF the
vicksburg Bank; @. Gordon Adams, ex-United staiss
District-Attorney and U. 9. Commissioner; ChnA r.
Furlope Republican State Senator; John T. Beard.
Fred. Speed, John d. Fnney. exU. o. Army officers C.
X. Marshall. d. d. Bowman and Messrs. Miller, McCar
die, Cowan. Baum Cathings aud other prominent cti-
zena After recountng that the Warren County officials
in 1873 were nearly all negroes. the statement shows
that w. Csrdoxa. Circuit Clerk. elected State su
perintendent OF Education. and Gov. Anes thereupon,
contrary to explicit law aud the State Constitution
pointed A. w. Dorsey his successor, In August, 7L
Upon affidavit OF the State Auditor Of Public Accounfs
Dorsey arrested Issuing false aud forged cer
Gates. Dorsey committed to Jail. and resigned
Again the vacancy was filed by appointments by Gov.
Ames contrary to law and tho appointee still holds
possession Of the Office Tie Investigation into Doreys
frauds discovered Cardoza TO be guilty Of similar
ofensea
George W. Davenport. negro. was elected Chancery
Clerk and sole custodian OF the county seat and tho
public records. 1t being discovered that large amounts
Of forged warrants In circulation, Davenport
repeatedly called to make report the Board Of
Supervisors and persstenty failed do He refused
o committee Of taxpayers permission to examine the
records and after his flight 1t discovered that ho
had no bond whatever record.
At the October Term OF the Circuit Court Dorsey Dav
enport. and Cardozs indicted by the Grand Jury.
composed Of ten blacks and whites. Daring the
inquiry into the oeDse the books of the County Treas
urer other valuable records bearing evidence OF tho
guilt Of the parties stolen Other records ~sed In
the investigation, put in charge OF Sheriff Crosby, were
also stolen. The Sheriff is also Tax Collector, and
required to give bond in s7oooOo He gave worthless
bond and when it's worthessness known several OF
his suretes withdrew, thus making the instrument He
gal. The Supervisors Attorney tRepubcap) declared
the bond Illegal, but the Board refused to order
one. Il was generally understood that thee Board
acted under the influence of the Sheriff, and
indicted officials who interested In keeping
him In office. In November the Sheriff published card
calling the taxpayers to pay I'D. and saying he
would hold the sherifs office until ousted by tho
Supreme Court. In this condition CT affairs, namely
amounting to five per cent Of values were due;
the Sheriff to whom the taxes were payable was In
solvent and bondless the Board OF Supervisors though
importuned do so, had failed to take the
Qured by law for the protection OF the peoples valuable
public records and papers, evidence to con-
Wet Cardoza Davenport and Dorsey, on the indictment
found against them, had been stolen from the Court
house Of which the Sheriff by law the keeper; Sheriff
Crosby known to be an intimate personal and polti-
cal friend Of those criminals and beside being charged
with the important duty Of summonng the iurcs by
whom they should be tried the custodian OF records
furnishing evidence Of their guilt aud had failed to pro-
tect the same from larceny and spoliaton and to a
han aA tbAR HAr
mutual protection and IN strength Of numbers and
mutual countenance defying the laws OF
the State. and prostituting their onices to
their private ends IN this condition OF Affairs the tax
payers held o meeting and, as already known, de-
manded the resignation Vt the officials Crosby re-
signed and the others fed Crosby then went to Jack
son to consult Gov. Ames and Ames issued proeama-
ton commanding the taxpayers to disperse. Cotem-
poraneously with Amess proclamation, a card siSned
Peter Crosby" was circulated among the colored
people, denouucDg the whites as rufans and barbar-
ms aud calling his friends to come TO the aid OF tho
Sheriff aud support him. On tho same day Gov. Ames,
the Adutant and aid arrived in Vicksburg and
about the same tune Hail. the captain OF negro COM
pany of militia received orders to hold himself In
readiness for orders hch orders sent direct to
Hail. and not through his superior Officers. On Sunday
the taxpayers, contemplating no violent measures
themselves and ignorant auy contemplated by Crosby
and coufederates presented TO Chancellor Hill tRep)
bill or Injunction againsy
he should give o bond. The Chancellor prepared an
order Sunday night granting tho Injunction, winch
would have been served Monday morning.
While the consultation was being held with Chancellor
HILL A. j. Packer, Gov. Ames's AdjuantGenerdl. and
Crosby came In together, and Crobsy was Informed
that IL rumored the negroes OF the country would
attempt to invade the city the folio wing morning.
He dIscaimed any knowledge che subject, but said
he had power disperse them. though he saw no
objection to their coming II they desired Upon this be
was earnestly besought by Chancellor Hill and the
citizens present send out orders to them that nghs
to return TO their homes, II such attempt was mads
much blood would De shed. Crosby promised TO do 30.
Nevertheless, early on Monday morning, negroes
marched on the city several roads. The citizens
partly warned the night before armed and went to the
defense of the city, They In contact with several
bodies of armed negroes numbering from 200 TO 400 each,
an three roads, aud defeated and rcpulsed each
body II Is estimated that from 80 TO 100 were
killed and wounded and about 80 more captured, all Of
whom except four OF the leaders. have been released
and permitted TO 20 home
The abatement goes on say that the prisoners say
they come to the city under orders from Crosby, who
gave Ames as bis authority for calling them out. The
address concludes as follows:
Iynop this record the people Of Warren County are
wiling to receive the Judgment Of tue COUNTY, From
n they feel that their fair cllowclz Ms every.
where must inevitably conclude that for several years
past our County Government mas been III the bands VI
ignorant ana cOrfupt WIN Vbc vi tWO oA"
cepons pundered the public treasury aud sec the laws
and rights OF the people at defanee that these oeiss
of late have banded together eneenay 70 de-
prive the people of the remedies provided by law for
their protection, aud 10 secure FOR eoopera
tive Immunity from punishment for their crimes;
that In crusade against the rights OF the people
tnese officials have received tue .counienance and
support Of the Governor and olefs Of nlgh authority
40 the State Governments that The Governor Mas hu-
sef twice Invaded their ghs In open violation Of the
state laws and Constitution by assuming to MI by TX.
ecutive appointment offices made elective Dy tue peop.el
mat ali these officials have been Republicans nearly
All OF them OF the cO0red race anu that not one hn
ever been moested iu his ONCE BY reason OF hs potcs
or ba color people had endured these evs IN
ioroearance until fvroearapce ce seq 70 oc
virtue they impeled ~ resistance Iy the IN