Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-02
YICKSBURG.
Continuation of Col. Horace
Miller's Statement.
The Color Line Established by
the Negroes Themselves.
GOV. Ames Could Have Prevented
BIOOdshea

GOV. Ames Could Have Prevented
BIOOdshed.
VICKsBURG, Jan. The examination
Of Col. Horace Miller was continued by the
cOmmitfee. In regard to the so-ealled col
ofed line, he said that for some time after
the war, the whites made earnest efforts to
accommodate themselves to the new state
Of affairs, especially with reference TO ne
grOes voting, by holding out every induce
ment to get them to vote with the whites,
by nominating some of them for Offices.
This was continued for years without sue
cess, when il become well recognized that
every negro whose name was placed on the
Conservative ticket was Ostracised By his
own race, no matter what his
former connection with them
had been. After many unsuccessful at
tenipts Of the kind, feeling grew upon the
community that it was impossible to con-
ciliate that element, owing to the fact that
the prejudices Of the blacks were continually
inhamed against the whites by the appeals
of carpet-baggers, political adventures and
the worst elements Of the white race, to the
effect that the whites we're their natural
enemies, and exaggerated statements Of
eFueities and punishments inflicted on the
blacks in slave times, and that the object Of
the Democratic party was TO re-
duee them to slavery aga.n and that
their only safety was in adhering to the
Republican party. Every element Of diseOrd
was constantly kert before them, and the
result was that in every election for
series of years, the negroes were voted in
almost a solid mass, and often carried to
the polls in military array under leaders,
where they remained until the whole col
umn had voted, the leaders handing them
their tickets or else depOsiting ballots for
them. This state Of affairs produced the
color line, the whites being satisfied it was
useless to attempt to cOalesce with the ne
gros in voting and that they were incapa-
bic Of administering any Office for the ben
eft Of the country, and determined in the
future to support only whites for Office.
But in this they had no intention of de-
priving the negroes. Of the right Of fran
chise or other rights granted them under
the Constitution, nor had the abridgment
Of any Of their rights as voters been dis
cussed at all. The whites Of Mississippi
accept in good faith the constitutional
amendments and laws passed by Congress
in relation to negroes. The only ex-
eeption to the blacks being free to
vote as they pleased, came from
their own race, and such is the intimida-
ton used in this case they dare not vote
against the Republican party. He cited
two individual cases Of cOlOred men-One
his former slave, who wanted to vote the
Democratic ticket, but be (Miller) had ad-
vised him not to do so. as his black neigh
bors would kill him. Also another
in Vicksburg, called Edmund, who, on
two occasions, had to be escorted TO the
polls by whites in order to deposit DEM
Ocratic ticket, and each time on returning
home was assaulted BY mObs Of black men
and women, and only escaped murder by
the interference Of white men. Knew OF
no instance where negroes had been dis
charged for not voting the Democratic
ticket. Had heard many say that in con-
sequence Of enormous taxation, they
would not employ negroes who voted with
those who had saddled their taxes on
them. PeCulatiOns in Office here dated
back to the action Of Crosby as County
Treasurer, and CORDOBA as Circuit Court
CLERK. The increase Of taxation here has
been rapid and enormous. Now the entire
taxation for State, county and city was
near SIX per cent. A reduction had been
made in the rate Of city taxation since
Democratic government had been elected.
Il was difficult 10 estimate assessments on
lands outside the city with their real value,
but in nearly every case if put up at public
sale they Would not bring the assessed
value. The value OF lands in the State
since the war deteri0rated from 50 TO 70
per cent. Lands in the vicinity worth
prior to the war so to So per acre, are now
only worth s. to SO. A plantation which
sold before the war for 100000, sold re-
Gently for SIS, 900. Also instanced a case
in ISsequena county.
To Mr.. Speer-Large bodies Of land in
these and adjoining counties have been
abandoned BY the owners, or else forfeited
to the State for taxes, because Of excessive
taxation. Col. Miller said the statements
in Gov. Ames' proclamation Of Dec. in
regard to the condition of affairs in Vicks-
burg. were untrue. Two Of the Governors
staff were here that day, and knew they
were untrue. Adiutant General Packer
had Afterwards told him he saw no, riOtOus
demonstrations whatever that day, and
while the Governor was not liked by the
white people Of any party here, his presence
as Governor and disposition to act fairly
would have settled the whole matter with
out blOOdshed.
GOV. Ames 20 be Summoned as a Wit.
uess.
DR.. Harvey Shannon aud Col. William
French were also examined, but their teS-
timOny developed no new facts Of interest.
The committee adjourned till 10 A. NJ.
tomorrow. The Democratic members Of
the committee will request that Governor
Ames and Adjutant General Packer be
summoned to testify. The investigation
will probably continue until Friday next.