The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1874-06-20
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How q State was Robbed.


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IN ises q deep laiI sohsme ~
fgfmod w. On Organized hand 4
fol'bcfs N Tssaa Who bod oof fode,
sies throughout Tho so6fhom Stats.
I To render success esraia they pre-
tended 10 bo friends ~ law M,
order, ssd 70 no snSious 10 bay
offenders of every class punished Ger
iainly and effectively. Hence whoa
ever any theft OF murder, vas com.
mitled W themselves they pu. on Z
s9mblance Of virtue and honesty
Adroll thieves ~ they we're, they
cried stop thief to tho ofscers oI
justice with such a sombIsuco Of In.
nocebco that even the United
States Government gave them
their condolences and protection.
About one year after the organiza.
ton Of the band tho leaders had
themselves installed into Offices os-
tensibly TO preserve law and order,
but In realty to gain better facilities
for robbing and plundering. Backed
by the United States Government, 10
powerful did they become that they
obtained possession Of the State gov
ernment of Texas, and placed one of
their leaders in the gubernatorial
chair. This was done by Federal
bayonots, the people Of Texas not
being permitted to Lave any real
choice in the election.
Thus successful, this band Of rob-
bers became bolder. They found the
State rich. out OF debt, and money in
the treasury. The money they dis
tributed among themselves, and then
taxed the people to the fullest extent
Of their ability to pay. The more
effectively to continue their enormous
robberies from year to year they cal.
Illuminated their victims. styling them
robbers and murderers. Emboldened
by immunity they forced the people,
in the shape Of fines and taxes, to
pay them (the robbers) large sums
amaoged by honest labor.
The success of the robbers led
many others to join them. Greedy,
BAD men with carpet>bags in hand
rom the North focked to their
standard, and were admitted to a
share Of the spoils. These carpet
joined in the hue and cry Of
he robbers, sending letters for pub
ication at the North saying that the
people Of Texas were hostile to the
United States Government and all |
Union men.
But in time the North ern people |
,egan to reflect and think how it |
,ould be possible for these pretended |
Union men (robbers) to live unmo-
ested in Texas if the people of that
State were as bad as had been repre-
entod. 1t was improb bable. At
eagth Northern support ceased to
70 given to the robbers, and the
,eople of Texas we're permitted to
elect their own officers. This they
lid last autumn, and the thieves were
lriven from power, but not until they |
lad MADE desperate and inefectaal
truggle to obtain support from the
Government at Washington.
Thus ended one of tho most gi.
,antic robberies OF medern times.
Thc robbers secure millions of
lollars. Still they are at large and
to enjoy their ill.gotten
rains, while much better men than
hey arc sent for life to the peni ten
iary. 1t is said that similar rob,
,eries have been pelpetrated in other
Southern States, some of which are
till suffering frcm the depredations
# men like those who have plundered
Texas. 1t seems to have been O
cheme of a large band Of bad men to |
'ob the Southern people, and it has
,een successful beyond precedent.
After all the arrests that have been made |
Il persons supposed to belong to the |
Bender family. who committed 90 many |