The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-10-19
THE COAHOMA TROUBLE,
A PULL STATEMENT.
Dispatch from senator AIcorn.
Fans POM, Miss,

Fans POM, MISS,
| Via HELENA. Ark October II, 1875
!. Editors NesC York 9ribtthe:
You ask me TO give the facts touching
the troubles at Friar2s Point. l will dc
80 as briefly as | can. We have fol-
.LSheriff a eoIored man from Oberlin, Ohio,
elected two years ago on the Ames ticket.
this bond was made by Ames, who, q
year ago, snrrendered him, on the plea
that he had appropriated to his own use
nearly FIVE thousand dollars of the reye-
nues belonging to the State, and had de-
manded the cooperation of the Treasu-
rer of the county, white Republican,
in fraud upon the county treasury for
nearly six thousand dollars, more, a
number Of wealthy planters, all Conser-
vatives, all of whom had opposed his
election, ignorant Of the facts touching
his default, became his bondsmeD, in
the hope, as they said, that he might be
controlled in the interests of peace. The
State Senator from this district, elected
four years ago, was ,colored man from
Ohio, named Bolls. Two years ago,
and while holding the Office Of Senator,
he was appointed receiver of public
money. A year after he defaulted with
large sum and ran away. Smith, an
,other Ohio negro, was sent from jackson
10 this district to run for a Senatorial
vacancy, and was elected, and now holds
the office. At the close. of the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, Smith was ap-
pointed our County Superintendent of
Education at nine hundred dollars a
year. All these offices he now holds.
Two months ago Sheriff Brown made
known 60 the negroes that Smith must
be elected to both of the Offices Of Cir
cult and Chancery Clerk. This was not
satisfactory TO the negroes 1t alarmed
the taxpayers. Among the powers Of
the Chancerv Clerk are those Of ap-
proving official bonds and keeping the
records Of the Board Of Supervisors,
the taxing power of the county. These
offices would make the ring for the
plumber Of the county complete
In Brown and Smith. The negroes OF
the county, urged by the taxpayers, made
stubborn resistance to Browns pro-
gramme to control them. To sub.
due opposition, Brown began bar.
ranguing the negroes six weeks ago
touching declared. outrages ON his race in
other portions Of the State, He stirred
their blood by Rotations of Clinton and
Yicksburg. He urged them to arm for
defense, as the whites were watching the
opportunity for assault. Citizens quietly
/ protested that they meditated no war on
the negro; that the whites had held no
public meetings; that they had no mill
tary organizations; that not single
negro had been killed by q white man
in this coanty since the war; that the
whites are planters and not politicians
that they care not who holds the Offices,
if they but hold them well and that
their fields were white with cotton, and
ruin would come upon them should they
| fail to gather the crops. These. protests,
coming to the ears Of Brown, were de-
nounced as hypocritical. He said he had
orders from the Governor to carry out
his programme at all hazards; that he
could bring. if need be, Eve hundred
militia men to each voting precinct;
that this county belonged of right to the
colored people, and they intended to
| have it; that the white man had had his
| day, and that the day of the colored man
was now at hand. Brown supplied him
self with Winchester rifle, and was re-
ported to have brought o large lot Of am
munition to the county, Alarmed at his
demonstrations, two of our most respected
citizens visited him, one Of them his
bondsman, and urged him, if he did not
mean war, to sendt the ammunition away.
This he refused TO do. The whites now
began to counsel for defense, but had
made little progress when Browns con-
vention met, The negroes we're com
pletely under his control Nsne wers
allowed to speak except byh permission.
Brown was re-nominated for sheriff,
Smith for both circnit and chancesy
clerks, and one white man and four igDO-
rant negroes for the board of supervisors.
The result was proclaimed in the streets
of our village, with the deatening noise
of many drums, on the evening OF the
second Of October. The same day as
that of Browns convention a meeting Of
citizens, white and colored, was called
at the court house. After others had
spoken, l, being recognized in the audi
ence, was called out. responded in q
sharp review of Browns outrages, and
made the first public disclosure of hi: