The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-08
THE TROUBLE Ar VICKSBCRG.
The Cause.

between the citizens and negroes-the latte
being the aggressors-in which the negroe
were defeated with considerable loss. III
people of that city have been complaining 70
years past of the oppressive taxation witt
which they have been burdened. owing to tn
rascality of some and the incompetency O
others Of their county officers. Forbearanc'
ceasins to be a virtue, and to save themselve
from impending ruin, they resolved in som,
way or other to rid themselves OF the obnox
Gus officials.
public meeting was held in Vicksburg or
the I'd inst. Of the taxpayers Of Warren county
at which there was a large attendance. Reso
lutions were adopted showing how the county
had for years past suffered from maladminls
traton and frauds on the part Of its officers,
declaring that the present incum5ents had
proven themselves incompetent. and that q
portion Of them are now under Indictment fol
Infamous crimes and misdemeanors, and de-
manding their immediate resignation. This
demand was made on Chancery Clerk Dayen-
port and Sheriff Crosby.
Davenport fled the city with body guard
Of negroes Crosby, in response. sent in his
resignation. and Capt. Beiard. by request,
took charge of the Office. Davenport was
under indictment for the stealing and reissue
of warrants, and for the abstraction of the
public records. The vicAsJaryer; OF the 4th
inst, has the following to say Of the meeting
and its action:
Yesterday was an epoch in the history Of
this city and county. For the first time the
people felt themselves compelled t" arise in
their might and interpose their sovereign
power between official thieves and plunderers,
| and the interest and welfare OF the city and
county.
Everything was done peaceably and in order
There was no undue excitement, no drunk
enness, exhibition of arms, OF attempt at
violence. The best and most orderly and law
| abiding of our citizens entered into and par
ticipated in directing what was done. The
law had thus far failed to reach the case and
provide a remedy, and it was the settled and
expressed belief OF the mass meeting yesterday
that there was no practicable legal remedy to
be had With partisan judges, packed juries,
corrupt and criminal officials, and an ex parte
and partisan administration OF law clear
through. nothing could be hoped for in the
way OF legal relief. The people felt this
They have carefully considered the whole
matter, and have arrived at the conclusion that
with them alone rested the means Of redress.
They had arrived at the conclusion that to
save themselves from ruin and their property
from an utter sacrifice; to purge the offices of
the county OF thieves and plunderers and cor
rupt officials, whose venality is grinding this
people to the dust-to remedy all this, they,
the people, the taxpayers and property own
ers, whose interest was so vitality involved |
must arise and shake off this weight OF cor
ruption and clean the Augean stables, however
heavy and responsible the task. The move
ment is inaugurated. Crosby has resigned,
and his Office is in the hands OF a true and |
responsible man, who can give bond for
$3.50, 900 by tonight with the best of sureties. |
The other officials against whom the wrath Of
the people is directed, must follow in Crosby's
footsteps.
On account of the action of the citizens of !
Vicksburg, as given above, Gov. Ames issued
proclamation, dated jackson, Dec. ), from
which we take the following which is the gist
OF it:
Whereas, The State courts We're in full force
and vigor and competent to punish any OF such
officials if dishonest, until said courts were
paralized by the action Of such unlawful as
and
Whereas, Such threats and intimidation
have been directed exclusively against colored
and
Whereas. It is satisfactorily presented to
me, that the object of said riotous and dis
orderly action is to deprive colored men Of
their civil and political rights because Of their
color and
Now, therefore, !, Adelbert Ames, Governor
of the State of Mississippi, do hereby make
proclamation and command said riotous and
persons to dispense and retire
peaceably to their respective abodes, and
hereafter submit to the legally constituted
authorities OF the State. and | invoke the aid
and cooperation o. AL good citizens to up
hold the laws and preserve the public peace.
ADELBERT A1IEs.
Remarking upon this proclamation the
vicksburg Hauli of the 9th inst, says:
Gov. Ames sets forth, first. that ''the courts
were in full force and vigor, to punish any Of
such officials if dishonest This declaration
is VIGOROUSLY fa.sa. and known by tie Gov
arnor to be false Our courts are exclusively
run in the interest Of the rogues. More than
. wear ago Chancellor Hill advised and in
,trueted Davenport, the Chancery Clerk, to
.efuse TO tie taxpayers of Warren county the
privilege, guaranteed to all citizens, that OF
examining the pu bic records of the county.
ind Judge Brown, of the Circuit Court. has
or months been engaged in an effort to shield
hose twin thieves forgers aud embezzelers,
Jardoza and Crosby, from the punishment due
o their crimes.
The other statement, ''that the object of
he said riotous ard disorderly action is to :
deprive colored men Of their civil rights be-
cause of their color" is a most cowardly and !;
malignant falsohood. The people turned
Crosby out OF the courthouse because his !
bond is utterly and VIGOROUSLY worthless, and :
bis color had no more to do with his election =
from Office than the color of the eyes Of the
Emperor of Russia had to do with the last
Indian foray on the plains If Gov. Ames
did not know that his statement was false, he i
IS unit to be a constable. II he did know it, t