The New York herald., 1874-12-13
The VICKSDuRG TROUBLES.
Statement of the, Origin of the
State Difficulties.
>Fraud and Corruption on the Part Of Radical
Oficials-The Attack on the City
An Appeal to the Country.
vIcKsBURG, Miss, Dec. i2, I

statement OF the origin oil the late dr,nculres
Tue statement Is signed by b. G. Hum.
pnreys Ex-Governor; John A. Klein, President
OF the Mississippi Valley Bank; b. r. Thomas,
President OF the vickseurg Bank G. Gordon,
Adams Express; the United states District Attor-
ney and United states Commissioner; Charles E.
Fariong, republican state senator; John b. Beard,
Frederick speed. Jonn D. Fsnuey an ex-United
States Army ofacer; c. z. Marshall, ID. d. Bow
man and Messrs. Miller, AcCardle, Cowan. Baum
Eathings and other promtnent citizens
After recounHng that the Warren county on
ciais 1873 nearly'aI negroes. the statement
shows that 7. w. CORDOBA, circuit Clerk. was
elected State superintendent OF Education, ana
Governor Ames the-eupon. contrary 10 eAphcit
law and the State constitution, appointed
A. w. Dorsey his successor IN august
ls7A Upon affdavt OF the state Aocitor
OF Public Accounts Dorsey was arrested
Tor issuing alse and forged certncates.
He was committed to jail. and resigned. Again
the vacancy was diled By appointment oy Cover
nor Ames contrary law, and the appoin tee stlli
holds possession OF the otfice. Tue investigation
auto Dorsey's frauds discovered CORDOBA 10 be
guilty OF similar offences.
George w. Davenport, negro, was elected
Chancery Clerk, and was sole custodian OF the
county seal and the public records. IL being dis
covered that large amounts OF forged warrants
were in circulation Davenport was repeatedly
called upon to make report TO tae Board Of Su-
pervisors, and perslstently failed TO do so; he re-
fused a committee OF taxpayers permission to
examine the records, and it may be added here
that after his fight 1t discovered that he had
no bond whatever on record. AT the october
term Of tn. Circuit Court Dorsey, Davenport and
Cardoza were Indicted by the Grand Jury. CON-
posed of ten blacks and seven whites. During the
inquiry into the offence tue books OF the County
treasurer and other valuable records bearing
evidence OF the guilt OF the parties were stolen.
Other records, used In the investigation
put IN charge or Sheriff crosby, were also stolen.
The Sherin is also Tax collector and required TO
glve bond In 100000 Ee gave a worthless bond
and when It's worthiessness was known several
OF his sureties withdrew, thus making
the instrument Illegal. The Supervisors
attorney pepublicanj declared the bond
Illegal; but the Board refused 10 order new one.
1t was generally understood that the Board acted
under the influence OF the Sheriff ana indicted
OfIlcials who were interested In Keeping him in
once. In November the Sherln published card
calling on the taxpayers to pay up and saying he
would hold the Sherns onlce until ousted by the
Supreme Court. This was
THE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS:
Taxes amounting to nv e per cent OF values were
due; the Sheriff. to whom the taxes we're payable,
was insolvent and bondless; the Board OF Super
yisors though importuned to do so, had failed to
take the measures required by law for the protec-
lion OF the people; valuable public rec
ords and papers, necessary as evidence to
convict Cardoza, Davenport and Dorsey on
the indictment found against them, nad been
stolen from the Court House, OF which the Sheriff
il by law the keeper. Sheriff Crosby was known
10 be an intimate personal aud political friend OF
she important duty OF summonlng the juries by
whom they should be tried. was the custodian
Aad JAILED to protect the same from larceny ana
epoliatlon; and, ~ all appearances, these officials
and In strength OF numbers and mutual
countenance, were defying the laws OF The
sns1 sse private epGs II s as fes a % TO
7he taxpayers had meeting and, as already
tnown, demanded the resignation OF the officials.
Crosby resigned and the Others ned. Crosby then
went TO Jackson to consult Governor Ames, and
Ames issued proclamation conlnanding the
taxpayers TO disperse. Contemporaneous. with
Ames' proclamation a card, signed "Peter
Crosby" was circulated among the colored people,
denonncing the whites .s ruffians and barbarians,
and calling on his irie5ds to come 70 the aid OF the
Sheriff and support him. On the same day Cover
nor Ames the Adn,an, , General and @ ads arrived
captain OF negro company OF militia, received
orders to hold himself IN readiness for orders,
not through his superior officers. On sunday
she taxpayers, contemplating no violent
Contemplated BY Crosby and confederates,
presented 10 Chancellor Hin republican, bin or
e. hsa ss Saos M eeSas aqs
an order on sunday night granting the Injunction.
held with Chancellor Hill, A. j. Packer,
Governor Ames' Adjutant General and
A. was rumored the negroes OF the county would
attempt to invade the city upon the following
SUBJECT, but SAID be mad the power to disperse
them, though he saw no objection TO their
sSres sy y pp9P s sna me n
xens present 10 send out orders to them tnat
night 70 return 70 their homes, as II such attempt
was made much blood would be shed. CROSBY
promised 10 DO So Nevertheless, early on Mon
Gay morning
NEGROES MARCHED ON THE CITY
from several roads. The citizens, partly warned
the night belvre, armed and went TO the defence
bodies OF armed negroes numbering IRON 200 to
Soo each on three different roads, and de-
were killed and wounded. ana anout thirty more
captured all OF whom, except four or the leaders,
Tne statement goes on TO say that the prisoners
say they came to the city under orders from
Crosby. who gave Ames as mis- authority for calling
them out. the address concluded =
Upon this record the people ofwarren county are
from Il they ieei that their fairmnded ind eIck
citizens everywhere must inevitably conclude
ihat for several years past our county
government has been In the hands OF ignorant
ana corrupt ofllcials wno. with one or two
executions, plundered the public treasury
shu Scs shc ioMs VI TIE peUple NJ
defiance; that these officials OF late have
been so banded together as efectuaily to deprive
the people OF The remedies provided by law for
their protection, aud to secure Tor themselves com.
parative immunity from punishment ior their
crimes that IN their crusade against the rights
OF the peoDle these oficials have re-
ceived the countenance and support OF
tne Governor aud others OF high authority
IN the state government; that the Governor has
himself twice invaded their rights in open VIOLA
ton OF tue State laws and constitution by assum-
ming TO Nil by Executive appointment Offices made
elective by the people; that ali these officials have
been repuolcans, and nearly all OF them OF the
c0lored race and that not has ever
been moested IN his ONCE by reason
q his politics or his color: that our people mad
endured these evils in spirit OF iorbearance,
nnul forbearance ceased TO be virtue, and they
were impeibed to resistance by the instinct OF
sel-preservatlon that they assembled peaceaby,
And as the surest means OF attaining security
demanded OF these Iaithless stewards that they
resign the trusts con1ded TO them; that falling IN
tnis they resorted 10 a remedy by Injunction In
" La II n xrIira aIIoh IL