Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-19
The SOUTHERN TROUBLES.

letter has just been received at
Washington from Mississippi by u
high official, which furnishes an in.
sight into the condition of affairs in
some Of the Southern States which
cannot be learned from the public
prints. The following are extracts :
ABERDEEN, Miss, Sept. 7. 1874.
An extra Republican appeared
here Saturday containing the letter
of the President and order of Attor'
ney General of the United States
Marshals, which caused considera'
bic c0mmOtion among the White
Leagues,and a great amount Ofhap
piness to the Republicans, especially
rs it came just as we were in the
midst of the excitement caused by
the circulation of q report for seve'
raj days previous that the negroes
were coming to Aberdeen on Sat.
urday to provoke ~ riot. You can't
imagine the intense excitement
created by such report. Two weeks
before we had q similar riot. Some
Democrat had persOnated our sheriff
and through rural colored man had
ordered one of the Republican clubs,
composed entirely of colored men,
living in the Ku-Kluk part of the
county, to be in Aberdeen at 10
o'clock OH the second of August, to
attend mass meeting with "ban,
ners flying and drums beating,' &c.
At that hour we were astOnished to
hear the beating of a drum, for since
the White Leaguers began their or
CARNATIONS we have abstained from
political gatherings, and avoided
everything which could possibly iri-
tate the "colOr liners" 1t was cur
remit yreported on our streets among
the Democrats on the day before
that the negroes were coming to
town, and the White Lesguers were
armed and stationed in the law Off
ces, by which this club was to pass,
when stopped by Holms outside,
who could scarcely convince them
that there was no meeting on that
day, and that they were not expected.
Every preparations had been made
to murder these unotfending men,
who were within one square of the
intended slaughter ground when
stopped by Holms. Since the Vicks
burg election military companies
have been organized all over the
country, to protect themselves aginst
negro riots, as they say. Rumors of
riots and outbreaks are continually
ahoat, hut it is a fact that there
never was less cause for such reports.
The colored people are really alarm
ed at the warlike preparations of
the Democrats, which are openly
conducted, and indeed but for our
constant counsel and advise to them
to go about their work and not be
frightened, and] that the Govern.
lnent that set them free would pro-
tect them in their rights, there
would have been q reign of terror
among them. l have never seen
such bitterness of feeling as exists
here now on the part of the Demo-
Gratis, and for no cause. Our taxes
in this county are nearly one-half
less than last year. Nearly all our
officers were rebel soldiers. We
have no election for fifteen months,
and there never have been difficult
ties between the whites and blacks.
except in individual instances. Then,
why all this arming and drilling, I'M
less it be for the purpose Of violence 7
There can be no doubt they are in
tent on violence. The President
has done much to check this by his
letter of the Sd Ito the SECRETARY of
War. The people are certainly
afraid Of the military, and OF the
power of the GOvernmest.