Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-09-23
General News.
Reign Of Terror in Mississippi.

The collision between the whites and
blacks at Clinton, Mass, proves to havo
resulted in II massacre of negroes. n large
number OF them. yariously estimated a.
twenty. forty, and one hundred. having
been killed. A despatch from Jackson
gives the following account OF the origin
OF the trouble:
According to widely extended notice
throughout Kinds county, = mas Republican
meeting was assembled NJ Clinton last Saiur-
day. Members OF nearly all the Republican
clubs In the county were In attendance. with
many women and children. A barbecue was
announced. and arrangements were made to
feed 800 persons. Nearly this number were
in at,endanee. Every precaution was taken 10
have an orderly and successful meeting. At
halfpa.t +. NJ. the procession filed upon the
ground and the speaking commenced. Ten
minutes there amer. the Democratic speakers
being on the g:ound anl / = for 4 division
OF time, In the inter- 81 Of peace and good feel
ing. their request was granted, and point dis
Gus lion was fixed between Judge johnson,
Democratic candidate, and Captain II. Fisher
editor Of he Jackson Daily Times. johnson
made a liberal and courteous speech, and Cap
tain Fisher, taking the stand, congratulated
the audience on the suspicious opening Of the
campaign In the county. Captain Fisher spoke
In this strain about eight minutes. when he
saw the outskirts Of the crowd leaving to go 10
the scene Of difficulty shout fity yards dis
,ant. The speaker paused and urged the audi
ance to remain. but excited words drew most
of them away. and he stopped sDeaking TO T.
wait their return. In sbopt three minutes a
pistol shot was fired in the crowd, and quickly
another, and Ia n moment 20 shots seemed 10
be DISCHARGED. The widest confusion ensued
In the course Of fifteen minutes exceeding 800
shots were fired. Three whites and four color
ed were wounded. large majority Of the
blacks were unarmed, having been cautioned
sgainst carrying weapons to the meeting. The
difficulty was wholly unsought by them. and
they iougat only in self defence. Armed
whites came out from Clinton aud took posse
ion ofthe ground. At the same lime the Vichs-
burg tain brought armed men from Edw ards
aud Bolton. On saturd ~ night 800 armed
white men oecupi Z IN on, ID there was
quiet. sunday morning at day break, the
Vicksburgers, 200 OF VII Jin were there. com
menced slsugh ering the negroes. All the
coored men they could find we're shot down.
A DOZEN or more were killed in cold blood.
Arm, d bands formed and secured the country,
and Ia. WORK Of slau :hicr went on. IL i es-
timaied that ~ men were killed in this way in
the country on sunday. complete reign OF
terror possessed the country. Colcrrd people
for two days have been hourly arriving aud
reporting new oura.es. The civil authorities
are utterly powerless 10 stop the inarauding
bands.
From another dispatch giving the origin
OF the oui ra.es. it appears that there is
law prohibiting the sale OF liquor in Ciin-
ton, and y young man named Siveley who
had brought bottle of whisky from q
neighboriDg village, was about 10 take
drink with some friends, when he
was forbidden TO do SO by the colored
marshal Of the meeting. They paid no at
tention to the marshal. and when he at
tempted to seize the bottle struck him on
the head with it. A colOred Senator
named Oaldwell started to settle the din
Guilty, and was followed by twenty other
colOred men. lie told them u 20 back.
but hundred others came on. At this
juncture "someOne tired shot," and =
general discharge Of firearms and scatter
ing OF the crowd ensu-d.
Governor Amcs Of Mississippi has called
upon the general government for aid In
suppressing the riot. The Governor says:
Sir.-Domestc violence in lis most aggrsvs-
ted fern exists in certain parts OF this State.
On the evening OF the lst instant, unauthorized
and illegal armed bodies overthrow the civil au-
thorities Of YszOO county and took iorcbe
possess sion OF said county, from which the
sheriff was compelled t. fee for safety, and is
still q refugee. The sheriff OF this (Rinds)
county reports that since the 4th Instant he has
been unable, after every effort, To laainIsip the
peace and protect rights. he reports various
murders by unauthorized armed bodie, who
are securing the country. Warren county is
also reported In state Of terrorism from the
demonstrations Of still other unauthorized
armed bodies, and q feeling Of insecurity pre-
walls In other counties of the state. After 3
careful examination OF all the records, l find
myself compelled to appeal to The general gov
ernment for means Of giving that protection to
which every American citizen is entitled.
President Grant has directed Adjutant
General Townsend, to instruct the officer
commanding the troops In Mississippi to
give Governor Ames ~ much aid IS may
be necessary to maintain order aud protect
life 10 that State II the insurrection Is too
formidable With the means at the gov
ernOr's command.
LETTER TO GOVERNOR AMKs
The President has consente, to the pub
LEGATION Of the following letter:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington, Sept. Il, 1875
To Governor Ames, Jackson. Iis g.,
This hour have dsspatchss ften The PPesi-