Middletown transcript., 1874-08-08
A Massacre Imminent.

Under this caption the New York Sun
gives the following account Of the cause
of tho "war Of races" that is now threaten
ed in Vicksburg. Miss, and on account
Of which Gov. Ames has been trying so
hard to persuade the U. S. Government
to send soldiers to Vicksburg:
A very threatning state Of feeling exists
in Vicksburg, Miss, and it would not be
surprising to hear at any moment of terri
BILE eutrages arising from the hatred exist
ing between tho whites and blacks In
that city the colored population have the
political power, they are disposed to carry
matters with high hand, which of course
has resulted in exasperating the whites.
For long time matters have been grow
ing worse and worse, until the situation
has become one of serious danger. 1t is
not disagreement about political meas
ures, for white men who served in the
Union army are as bitter in their resent
ment against the blacks as any of those
who wore the gray uniform; while the
blacks are defiant and aggressive. 1t does
not appear that any earnest attempt to
effect measures of Cancellation has been
made from either side.
Some weeks ago an attempt was made
to disarm the two white militia companies
of Vicksburg and to leave the negro COM
pany in possession of their rifles. AS the
State Government is virtually in the
hands of the blacks, the attempt might have
proved successful had not the white COM
panies resorted to strategy. Their guns
were not delivered up, but by some un-
known parties they were conveyed to
place Of concealment. where they could be
reached at any moment. Shortly after
this the canvass, preliminary to the city
election, which is to take place on August
4, began, and this being conducted with
moderation on both sides, the excitement
caused by the attempt to render the whites
defenceless subsided.
But an exhibition of imprudence soon
occurred which served to excite the passions
of the community to a higher pitch than
ever. A little more than week ago a
mulatto ofhce-holder in speech delivered
at the court house, declared that if he
we're only bachelor he could marry some
one of the leading white ladies of Vieks-
burg, and advised his hearers that color
ed man wishing to marry white lady, if
he was opposed by parental Interference
the speaker taking it for granted that the
lady would be favorably disposed to such
matrimonial arrangement-would be
justified in making demand for the lady S
hand at the point Of the pistol. Of course
such declarations as these in city where
race preiudices are so strong as they are
in Vicksburg, created great feeling, and
rendered the situation more perious than
ever.
The local newspapers commented with
great bitterness on this speech, whereupon
the negro company provided themselves
with cartridges for their breech- loading
rifles, and paraded daily with loaded arms
The whites responded to this menace by
supplying themselves with revolvers, an
example which was Immediately followed
by the majority of the negroes, so that
now nearly every man of either race goes
armed. Since then numerous vexatious
arrests of white men on frivolous pretenccs
have been made by the negroes, and gen
tlemen and ladies have frequently been
stopped in the streets by armed bodies of
blacks and compelled to give satisfactory
accounts of themselves before being per-
mitted to proceed about their business all
of which served to intensity the bitterness
of the strife, On both sides companies
are forming and arming themselves, and
unless peaceablc counsels from some in
huential quarter should very soon make
themselves felt, a bloody and barbarous
conflict may be anticipated.
This is a terrible state of things to exist
in city of the United States under what
is supposed to be free and enlightened
form of Government, but it is the natura
consequences of those teachings of hatred
toward the whites which have been instill
cd into the minds of the Southern blacks
by politicians of the worst class for theil
own selfish purposes.