, 1874-08-03
THE RiCE.ISsUE At VICKSDURG.

*~~A~t~--
Tho Origin OF the Difficulttes-Tho
Frauds nnh C0rruptlons Of tho Car-
pet-1In1 GOvcrnnout-Tho Coming
Municipal Contest.
Veksbura Aiss. tJn,4 as corrxsponds"ef f ths Rf''
retE NtSdip.
That the peoD1e Of Tue whole country may
havo correct understanding OF tho raca-issno
now pending In this ctr, purpose to give you
summary, Of transaclions for tho paat scyatal
months I will sayin advance, howover. that thero
Ia au uudue excitement regarding afsaira here:
Though nogtoes and whites arc organized and
armed there is lit]e apprehension of collision,
very littio excitement hcra. akd there has never
easily served and oftcAdcEs prosecuted ~ now:
Tho police fotos has beon increased and
sixty Deputy sheriGs arneinted. and
with this force every turbulent character Ia i'm
n,odtately arrested ant! punished. TO account
that Il nuaie!nal election sskcs place on tho 1tis
Of August, The city and county bavo for eight
years heen under the ccntro! Of the negtoes and
adytntnrcrs. Tdor have built upa debt equal to
oue.afth Of tho value u tho taxable personal
creased taxation until now, With county and
State taxes, it amounts to 6I por cont. Owning
almost no property whatever. thoy hnvo multi.
piled Offices, squantlerea tho pnb'io mpnegs and
But With al this ths white people, i11tont moro
upon their personal business and building up
thor fallen fortunes, paid htt!a heed to political
mattarA. mill fnallF they mere somewhat housed
with commi, tees to eramne aI tho procccdiuggo Of
The County Bnard Of BMperYiao,s and tho City
Board OF Aldofmen. The negro County Clerks
ansolcntsy rofuaoa thom per1niaaion to examine
iAo bools, though tue action taken influenced
tho Aldermen TO rot, oncf to small degree. ThB
WAS sororal months ago. About Tho sasro timo
the negroes commenced to organize mtlita eotn-
panios Arma they Ind no difficulty IN obtain
lug from the State. Tllcy drilled daily in differ
ent hnrts Of tho city, but Of this tho nlite pep
plo took 1ittle notice, astributng 1t more to tho
pcefo's love Of dibpiaJ ttau anything olne,
though these armed DegroeB were often tnsolent
aud over bearing. hAye known frequently. dur,
leua S 4G ais 5 ss o5 b.a aes s ssas into S s s
streel from the Sidewalks by armed balds Of
these black, greasy, md irnpuaont fellows. On
tho 10th Of Jnue tho nadcaIs-tlat iH. tho ne-
Esoca and dozen Of 30 carpot-bag whtea-.
OF tho tAiteen nominees ten wcre negroes Of tho
worst order OF politicians in the city. Tho nonat-
noe for mayor waa d Nhito mnn. under lutiot-
ment for perjury and blaoknailing as former
caunos write Lis own name. while tho third Wan
youth, to fortune nnd :, farno unknown. q
mere hgulchead. The whites saw In the e}oc-
tion Of sucll ticket more debts, more taxation,
further oppsessions !: indeed. With the City Coy
ernmont in the I1anda Of such men thoro could
he nothing hns ruin to every commercial interest
OF the city, and they aroused from thoir long
APATHY, formed ward clubs, and prepared to
make vigorous campaign.
About this ure-aay thleo weokB aRo-a load
ing colorcd politician-G. ". Davenport, Clerk
OF tho Chancory Court-st = negro polltt-
cal meeting referred to q lato escapade and
marriage! Of 3 yonnE whito girl with q negro,
and ssld tho time was 9ot far dts,
daily; It would be nothing to see largo numbers
follow the cxampIs Of that young lady. Ho would
SO further and say TINT thb,o were thousands of
Southern womon. many here In Vicksburg, OF
the most respectable families. who would do 80
To-day wete they not afraid. But theHs things
would change; barriers would DO bsoton down,
for the white women now eoo TINT sho negro III
the coming man, and TINT they have tho control
OF tho City and State Governments. II be wera
not u married man he conid get tho daughter of
ho IL the matrimonial market, ho would BUCKLE
| on brqce Of royolvcrB anl moot tho womon'a
brothers Or fathers who would aaro to Interfere
with Ills love affairs, or attempt to preyeut
selection Of a good husband (wllom they wore
] anxious to havc) among tho colored men.
This fon! sla',der upon tho iaaies Of the city
aroused tho whites as ITO political move could
F! at evo1v whi,o ward club in tito city, Davenport
ndhis ntrocious sentiments wero denounced ;but
beyond that and threats BY few OF Dayonport'H
| Afe, no over act was lnaao BY tho white pcoplo.
| Il1at h,a fo "as not ia danger Is shown hom
tie tact that Ae Is still waiting the streets ur-
| 1nolcatcd. From That tlElo fot two weeks the
| excitement was intenae. Thn negroes copgro-
gated In tho noighboshood Of Dayenport's house.
armed with mnskesa and noot}lo guns, and armed
squads we're detailed by blaek loadors to patrol
tho city, with tho apparent design OF intimidat-
ing tho whites. Even Washington street, The
principal business thoroughfaye Of tho city. Nas
not free from tho presence OF these armed NO.
Eroes' who marched back aud forth. With
their guns 'on their shoulders aud thoff
bayoEets glssrcning In tho sun By day and
rejecting the gsara Of gaslleht BY night, Thtr
ettitudo was nouacing III tho extreme. White
| mea Whose whosH bnHlnesa or inoilnnt1onH de.
taincd them down town till q 1ato host at night
we're halted On the public highways while peace
ably returning to their honea by negro ptokots
and sk!Ein!ahera. IN BONE OF the suburban noIgh'
eorh.'odH thoro Hea oouaternatlon among whlto
fanai,ies carlacd by tue prcseuce and boisteroua
conduct OF the bands of arn,od negroes "ho were
sometimes loud In their denunciation OF Ind
threats against tho Whites. It lasted thua Tor
two or thrco days and nights beiore thu wllite
people were stirred up ~ full knowledge OF ING
situation. TLoy saw tl.at they Woro nouaoed
from all stdes by tue cotorotl element. Ine ar
Was pregnant with atorios OF outrage On ClIoriy
atreet a,A Of. the Jacasen yDad %lere te nagfoca
were tlalting aua sometimes sealol'11lG white mon
| hsforopelMttiug tbon TO aHH. Ile Court-tlouee
aud grounds ORC occupied by tho colorcd troops,
and from this point scouts were sent ont in
various directions, ln1amnatojy speeches Werc
mado by ncg,o leaders at public meetings. nud
law or solt-p1ererYatou forced thorn to orRaniza
for tilo!r own protection and 10 prepared to nFe-
vent riot a,,i blootsl,el In tba streets of VioGB
burg. They did organize, and organized
thoroughly, With tho determination to put 4 stop