Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-10-14

| leased to The South Carolina Railroad Com
pany, TO its remaining in. the hands of the
present parties
Trial Justice Gourdine. colored, opened his
office at this place last week. He halls, be-
lieve, from Charleston, and is very diminu-
tive in stature What he lacks in matter be
may make up in mind. ,QUI.
MORE TROUBLE IN MISSISSIPPI
Trouble between the blacks and whites of
Mississippi is again reported-this time from
the village of Friar's Point in Coahoma coun.
ty. In this county the negroes outnumber
the whites, in voting force, in the proportion
of three or FIVE to one. Recently, however,
schisms have prevailed among the blacks,
and at the approaching election which takes
place the second Monday in November, the
present officials fear they are destined to be
ousted. Several weeks ago there was trouble
about registration at precinct back on Hop
sons bayou, 30 miles to the east Of Friar's
Point. The disturbance was quelled without
serious results, except to excite the people of
the surrounding region. A couple Of hun
dred people went to the scene Of the difficulty,
but upon arrival found everything quiet The
row was all about couple of fellows who
lived beyond the border Of the county apply
ing to register, so as to vote illegally at the
ensuing election. This seems to have unset
tied the public mind. so that uneasiness has
prevailed and kept people on the alert ever
since. The sheriff Of Coahoma county is,a
yellow man named John Brown, native of
Kentucky, born free and educated at Oberlin,
Ohio, but living in Coahoma for several years
past. Six or eight weeks ago he caused q
former school-mate-a black man named
Smith-to emigrate from Ohio to Friar's
Point. He had Smith nominated on his tick
ct for Chancery and Circuit Clerk, and the
entire ticket was composed of darkies of the
most ultra type, only a single white man,
son of Senator Alcorn, being on for the posi-.
ton of County Treasurer. This ticket Sheriff
John Brown worked for with such vigor that,
three weeks ago, he caused to be purchased
several bags of buckshot, powder and other
ammunition to be used in an emergency
which means riot. He also announced to the
people that his friend Smith had to be elected
at all hazards, and he would sacrifice his of.
flee rather than fail to secure this result.
When demonstrated and pleaded with in the
interest of peace and urged to ship the powder
and lead away, he emphatically declined.
This caused serious thoughts to pervade the.
minds ofwhite people, nearly all of whom
went quietly to work to arm and prepare for
the worst, should it come to that,
The frequent visit to the house of Brown of
VIM. Pease, the BLACK Brigadier-Geheral of
militia for the District, failed to serve as q
panacea for the uneasy condition Of the public
mind. ia ticket in opposition to the other
one headed by Brown had been prepared.
composed of half whites and half colored men.
A large proportion of Conservative colored
people supported this ticket in the interest of
tax payers, having become convinced that
white men ought to have voice in the man.
agement Of the county government. This
ticket is exceedingly popular among the Lib
eral Republicans and Democrats Of all colors.
This is the story given of the political stu.
alton. The canvass has been very bitter, and
Senator Alcorn has exerted his influence
against the Brown faction, and Brown, think
ing his defeat at the polls would be almost GER
tain, endeavored, it is alleged, to precipitate
conflict, believing he would thereby turn the
tide, and the election would result in his fa-
vor. To this end, Immediately after the ad-
ournment ola Democratic meeting, at which
Senator Alcorn "a Republican, spoke by in..
vitation, and severely criticised Brown, that
individual commenced distributing ammuni.
ton among his supporters, at which the
whites became. alarmed and, as it seems, not
without cause, as on the morning Of the 9th
instant, the town of Friar's Point was attacked
by an armed band of negroes headed by Pease,
4 Brigadjer. General of the colored militia. The
whites, however, were fully armed and pre-.
pared for defense, with Senator Alcorn and
Gen. Chalmers in command, and the attack
ing party were driven from the town. Am
bushng by the blacks, and desultory shoot-
ing both parties, with loss of three or four
negroes, and one white man, occurred after
wards. As soon as the fighting commenced,
Brown made his way to Helena, Arkansas,
and denies having melted the disturbance.
He also says he will not return to Coahoma
county, as he learns the negroes there threaten
to kill him if he does. At latest accounts
Gen. Chalmers was pursuing Pease, whom he
is determined to capture; but from the fol-
lowing telegram sent by Senator Alcorn to
Attorney General Pierrepont, we may con-
clude that the Coahoma war is virtually at
an end; / I'D
Having read several incorrect and sensa.
tional dispatches touching upon the recent,
race troubles at Friar's Point, beg to assure
you that there need be no alarm for the peace
of the county. Several hundred armed ne
groes, who had been melted by an il-tempered
chief, marched on our town and were rapidly
repused by the whites under the lead of the
most prudent citizens, who have been follow
ing the armed bands of negroes and dispers.
ing them with as little violence as possible,
and urging them to 90 home. The mob has
been dispersed and, I think, will remain qui-
et- There is no question of politics in this
excitement. The whites, to a man, are for
defense. Those of the negroes who have been
misled are fast being reconciled. A commu.
nifty of planters may be relied upon for kind
treatment of the laborers The whites have
made no demonstrations Of hostility against
the negroes of this county, but are anxious to
cultivate the most friendly relations. My
name has been most ridiculously connected
with the matter, and trust you will not give
credence to the share g given me in this affair
by the telegrams Respectfully,
J. L. ALcoRN,
-. .. "United States Senator"
WAsH1NeToN, October 9.-The attorney
general of the State of Mississippi, ex-senator
Pease, postmaster at Vicksburg, and District
Attorney Wells, of the Northern District,
called on the encouragement this morning
to present to him the situation OF affairs III
that State. They represent that the recent
troubles are of a personal nature and are now
over. They do not want Federal troops sent
;nto Mississinni Thew set forth that If troops