The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-10-20
THE COAHOMA TROUBLE.
Dispatch from senator AIcorn.
FRIAR's POINT. Miss,
Via HELENA ARK October IL, 1875 !

Sheriff colored man from OberlIn, OHIO,
elected two years ago on the Ames ticket.
His bond was made by Ames, who, a
: year ago, surrendered him, on the plea
that he had appropriated to his own use
nearly FIVE thousand dollars of the reve-
nues belonging to the State, and had de-
manded the cooperation of the Treasu-
rer Of the county, a white Republican,
IN fraud upon the county treasury for
nearly six thousand dollars more. A
number of wealthy planters, all ConseT-
vatives, all Of whom had opposed his
election, ignorant of the facts touching
his default, became his bondsmen, 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
a large sum and ran away. Smith, an
other Ohio negro, was sent from jackson
to this district to run tor a Senatorial
vacancy, and was elected, and now holds
the office. At the close Of the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, Smith was APP
pointed our County Superintendent of
! Education at nine hundred dollars
year. All these offices he now holds.
Two months ago Sheriff Brown made
known to 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-
| l. l. Ill
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 har-
ranguing the negroes six weeks ago |
touching declared outrages on his race in
other portions of the State. He stirred |
their blood by recitations of Clinton and |
Vicksburg. 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 a single
negro had been killed by white man
in this county 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, five 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 coiored man
was now at hand. Brown supplied him
self with a Winchester rifle, and was re-
ported to have brought 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 send 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 were COM
pletely under his control. None were
allowed to speak except by his permission.
Brown was re-nominated for sheriff,
Smith for both circuit and chancery
clerks, and one white man and four igno-
rant negroes for the board of supervisors.
The result was proclaimed in the streets
of our village, with the deatening noise
r Kl,a Nf fho
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, 1, being recognized in the audi
ence, was called out [ responded in a
sharp review of Browns outrages, and
made the first public disclosure of his
plumber of the taxpayers, reciting the
fact of his effort to stir his people to vio-
lence. Brown was in the audience and
denied some of the assertions made. |
rejoined with point. Brown drew his
pistol and held it exposed until l had
closed. This was on Saturday. Brown
announced to the audience that he would
make his reply at the court house Monday
night. Sunday it became known that
Brown was sending runners over the coun-
try, urging his leading negroes to mar
shall their commands and bring them in on
Monday night, under arms, to the court
house. Citizens were alarmed. Some |
of his bondsmen went to him and urged |
him to defer his meeting. He persisted, |
but finally Welded to request to post |
pone it till Tuesday, and then to have |
the people come without arms. On
Tuesday rumors were rife that the negroes |
were organizing for an armed raid on
Friar's Point. Brown denied that it was
so but the town people, with the few |
visitors present were hasty in making |
preparations. Brown read in this de- |
termination that promised to bring him
to his senses. He sent to know if he
was regarded IS sheriff, and if his sum-
mons would be obeyed. The answer was
made in writing, that the community
were anxious for peace, and that If he
would summon a posse of fifty whites
and fifty colored men, all disorders could
be suppressed. To this proposition he
made no reply, except when appealed to,
and when assured that the negroes were
marching, armed, and with loud curses,
on the town. He then replied that the
negroes had no arms, but, if mistaken in
/ this he would turn them back. Many
believed him to be sincere, but the prepa-
ration for defense was not altogether sus-
pended. had gone to my home. A
half hour elapsed, when message came
that the front of the negro columns was
already in view. ran to the place of
rendezvous, about two hundred yards
distant. The negroes were in full view
on the edge of the town. The whites, to
the number of about fifty, were falling