The Richmond palladium., 1874-12-23
RICHMOND,
THE VICKSBURG MASSACRE.


tine NekEOe9 i" ere onOt ADOW II GmC
UnrecOnstructed Whites.
That false account of the slaught-
er of colored men in the neighborhood
of Vicksburg has been spread over
the country by those who are sympa.
thizers with the agressors, guilty of
needless and most wicked bloodshed
we are not at liberty to doubt.
We have from source that COM
mands confidence, statement that is
due the country. Our information is
that the active whites of Vicksburg
had some time since determined to
"clean out" the present officeholders.
Three of those oficeholders were in
dicted at the last term of the Grand
Jury. Crosby, the Sheriff, was the
one especially aimed at. 1t was de-
termined that he should be put out of
office. The papers insisted upon the
Board of Supervisors meeting on
Wednesday of last week and requiring
Crosby to give good bond. A meet
ing of that body was called and it is
known that the intention was to re-
quire Crosby to give good bond.
But the citizens, headed by hot
headed and irresponsible set Of men
PUT out an incendiary circular calling
for meeting of the citizens
of the county the same day
the Board of Supervisors were to
meet. And everyone knew full we'll
that it was the intention that the
Board should be forced to do what
was wanted or personal violence used.
And the county members failed to
put in an appearance. But the citi-
zens held their meeting. It was at
tended mostly by the younger men
and irresponsible parties spelling for
a row. During the session commit
tee Of five lawyers appointed to report
if all legal means to oust Crosby had
been exhausted. A majority of the
committee reported that all legal
means had not been exhausted A
minority report was made by two
young limbs of the law saying that all
legal means had been exhausted and
that the time for action has come. By
action they meant force, and by force
they meant rope. No concealment
was made in their talk about hanging,
etc. A committee was appointed to
wait upon certain officials ani de-
mand their resignation. The meeting
adjourned to wait the report. The
officials who could be found begged
time to consult their lawyers, but fail
ed to reply in the time given them.
On the reassembling of the meeting
in the afternoon, and hearing the re-
port of their committee they resolved
to adjourn in body to the Court
House and demand the resignation of
the officers. On reaching the Court
House, all the officers fed but Crosby.
He signed resignation. No one
concealed what his fate would be if
he had not done so. He would have
been hanged on the spot. AS soon as
he got out of the clutches of the mob
he wrote letter to Judge Powers, of
the Circuit Court, stating that he took
back his resignation as he was com
PEELED to sign it to save his life. He
was then out in the country on his
way to Jackson.
| The morning after this row Judge
Brown tried to hold court but the
parties left in charge of the Court
House refused to let the Deputy enter
the court room and go court has been
adjourned from day to day since then.
On Friday rumor got abroad that
Crosby was about to make good
bond by placing his office in the hands
of some person or another, acceptable
to the people, and retiring, leaving all
control to such deputy Two or
three good parties agreed to take the
position, and arrangements have been
made with their friends to make a
bond that would be ample and beyond
dispute. When this was heard a
! meeting Of the citizens in the city was
called which resolved to frown down
any such effort. The next morning
the papers contained notices warning
white citizens from going on the bond,
and this too in the face of repeated
assertions that no charge was made
against Crosby except his failure to
give good bond. On the streets the
threats were numerous that no man 8
, life would be safe who went on such
bond.
Crosby returned from jackson on
Friday, with instructions from the
Governor to take possession Of his
office, and to call in the aid of the
militia to sustain him. He sent news
; to the country for negroes to come in
Monday and report to the Court
[ House. They came, were met at the
city limits and were slaughtered-sim-
Ply slaughtered and butchered. They
r were chased through the woods and
fields and shot down like dogs Many
were shot after they gave up, ano
some were shot on their knees while
begging for mercy. The spirit of de-
mons was in the people. 1t was mo-
y safe for any one not in full accoro
, with them to be on the street. Ont
,, poor old negro by the name of Am
3 street by Captain Cowan, formel
a rebel battery commander, and beinl
tardy in going, Cowan deliberatel.
shot him. Many prisoners were ia
ken and kept in the Court House. ant
e taken out in the morning. Will
s wjnks and mods, and laughter. ant
: jest, it was reported that three of tn,
0 most obnoxious made their escape
: which means that they have simpl,
r been murdered while prisoners.
g This is unquestionably the truth O
: the massacre. and the people of th'
r nation should fully recognize all it
: enormities. The worst of it is tha
f the persons who have been guilty o
: this Wholesale murder fully justif.
: themselves upon the facts that W,
e have given, and we are bound to adj
o they are animated by the conviction
e that there has been a politi :al revolu
g tion in the North, and that their tim
|, Is come.-Cincinnati Commercial.
y Not . Licensed Saloon i'm Town.
: At the present term of Commission
/, ers' Court, now in session. there wer
G only three applicants for license t
: sell liquor according to Baxter. The
l were all from this place. They wer
u McMasters, Hamilton and Sam. Bar
e nett. d. " Mason appeared for tn
: applicants, while the temperance par
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