Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-10
TEE FAYErrE COUNTY TROUBLES.

THE FAYErTE COUNTY TROUBLES
The somerville tragedy of last Friday
is one of the legitimate consequences of
the unnecessary and wicked policy
adopted by the unprineipled Radical
oficeseekers Of the. South. We do not
blame the blacks one.half as much as
we do the white men who have pandered
TO their prejndices and continually
stirred up strife between the two races
for selfish purposes. In Fayette county
the two races are numerically about the
same, although the census OF 1870 was
so doetored as TO make the blacks ap-
pear to be in the majority by about
hoo. The whites were discouraged At
this showing, and many Of them gave
way to feeling Of timidity or indiffer-
enee and declined to take any pert in
the elections. The blacks we're stirred
up by infammatory Larangues Of white
leaders and became bold and aggressive.
But when the civil rights iniamy was
proposed the white people resolved to
make one more desperate effort to
protect themselves and their fresides.
1t has been ascertained by an actual
count, that only about 20 white men in
that county neglected to vote on the 9th
of August. Hundreds turned cut to
the polls who had not been seen there
since the first year of the war. And
five hundred Republican East Tennes-
seaans who have lately settled there-as
true men to their convictions as ever
shouldered musket or cleft the sturdy
oak in the forest-came TO the rescue,
and voted the white mans ticket There
was more work and peril in Fsyette
county, considering all the facts, than
any county in fhe State. The results
are such as no one could have predicted
a year ago. The Radical majority is
reduced almost to nothing, if not entirely
extinguished. It will require the closest
count to ascertain which party actually
carried the day. It was reported, how
ever, before all the precincts we're
heard from, that the Radicals were
elected by a majority oflO5. This fred
them with triumph, and their vindic-
tiveness took shape in the conduct Of
Cash Warren, who was not shot down
until he had twice snapped a revolver in
the face of Mr.. Hendon, the Mayor Of
Somerviile Then the news soon came
in that 500 negroes we're coming to
avenge the supposed death Of Warren.
1t is a well known fact that everybody
in the town had been alarmed
for week. The negroes had
come in quietly enc at a time and
bought up nearly all the ammunition in
the place before their movements were
suspected Then they boosted that they
were ready for business. Oscar Will
Hanson, noted negro desperate, made
a speech in the town OF Someryille few
weeks previous to this trouble, in which
he said:
! am going to have my social rights,
let it cost what 1t will, if / have 10 ride
in the blood Of the phites 10 mv
bride bits | am ready to begin now
and die before night, ii necessary.
Pointing to the academy he asked.
Are We allowed to send our children
there2 No. But we ioiu haze our
children on top II Il sinks erery rhte
child Ia F'dyctte county 10 hem
No wonder, then, the white people in
the isolated village Of Somerville we're
apprehensive. and that when Cash War
rem was shot they looked for an attack.
Young Oscar Burton was one oil
those who armed to help defend the
town. and when the Radical Sheriff and
two brothers, backed by several negroes
near by, attempted to disarm him. be
resisted to the death. Sheriff Reeves is
wounded; be is brave, fearless man, but
he is the Barbour Lewis Of tayette
county, only be is a much better man
and has many excellent traits Of charac-
ter. After his fall the widest rumOrs
prevailed, and an appeal was sent to
Memphis for help. How calamity our
Young men responded is veil know,
and how grateful the people Of somer-
vile we're viii be expressed hereafter
Fortunately there was no further blood
shed. The expedition shows the ear
nestness Of cur people, aud We hope will
have a good moral effect in both these
counties. We earnestly desire peace
and harmony. and would risk our lives
for the colored man, If Necessary, TO
enforce Law aud order. Letu enjoin AID
practice moderation, hui Jet them obey
HE laws. But the white carpet-bagger