Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1876-07-29
FLOYD, IA, July -. 1876
.Nr. Ed3Or:

FLOYD, IA, July -. 1876.
Nr. Editor:
proceed to give you an account of
an important mceting held to-day in
this place, in the interest Of law and
order
While disturbances, much to be
tlcplorcd, have been occurring in many
sections of our country, perfect quiet
has rcigned here and the colorcd pop
ulation have conducted themselves
well, until very recently. But now
it is very evident that some malign
influence is at work among them, and
from some sources. they are being
proEptcd to deeds of lawlcsSncss and
violence, with the hope, doubtless, of
creating riot on the part Of the
whites.
About week ago the order known
as the United Fri, ndS Of Temperance
had public celebration purely in the
interest Of temperance. Politics was
not even alluded to. and everything
was passing of quietly and pleasantly,
when late in the afternoon, some
negroes were drunk, aud animated,
, because they had no: been invited up
: to partakc Of the dinner, invaded the
hall where the festivities of Tie day
were going on, and with protanc.
coarse and brutal language, insulted
The citizens and delicate ladies there
assembled, and whoa compelled to
leave, they retired sulienly and with
threats. Three or four days after
this occurrence, there was picked up
in our village q document evidently
written by some very ignorant person
or some designing white man tcigning
ignorance, and signed, The Black
People"
This communication was addressed
to the acting Justice OF the Peace for
this Ward, l.. u. flanagan, Esq, en-
planning of bis want of action in behalf
of the colored race 1t i, we'll known
fact that this gentleman has committed
to prison many more whites than
D.
house over his head and to burn the
town of Floyd.
Enclosed in the document, when
found, was the figure or representation
OF Il heart cut out Of red flannel, III
tended, we presume, 10 signify a
bloody heart. In consequence of these
proceedings notice was issued for q
meeting of the citizens of this ward
to he held in the town Of Floyd today
and most heartily was the call res
pended TO. Although the meeting
was not suggested until three days
ago, nearly every white man i'll the
ward was present, and mere quiet
, aud determine d set Of men We have
never seen. The Oldest, most sub
stantial and most respected citizens
of the ward were nearly al! present
The meeting was organized by calling
H. Il. Wade to the Chair and appoint
irg j. +. G. llcdrick Secretary. +
III. q. Taylor, Esq being called upon
explained the object Of the meeting
lie cmIla,ically announced that ii
was not proposed to go outside Of the
; law in any particular that the meet
ing was called in the interest of laS
! But while such was the case w
intended TO put in force every appi
cation furnished us by the law ant
enforce the peace at all hazards
Col. III Il. Lott, after few fOrcibl'
remarks, moved that upon the prope
aIidavits and statement of facts in the
premises, Justice flanagan appoin
; four special constablcs, afterward
increased to five, with power to sum
> mons to their assistance any either
> or citizens of the ward to aid them IL
TIE suppression of all lawlessness ant
d to preserve the peace OF the commu
;, nifty, and that a committee of three b
! appointed to prepare the atlidavits ant
u statement Of facts: the motion wa
5 adopted. +. III. g. Taylor, j. w
: Uroughon and T. D.McCandless wer
l appointed as said committee, who
after retiring for about half an hour
made Their report anu preSenteu III
I aiiidavils Of several well known an
J. reliable citizens TO the facts abov
{ stated. Whereupon Justice llanaga
l. appointed w. ID. Reid, WIN. Dicke1
5 crson, Isaac Dempsey, NJ. Z. Rec
' mond and Peter Gui,r special const;
Ii bes in accordance with the resolution
c as adopted. Upon motion of Il. .
/ Loudon, the citizens assembled unaI
: imously resolved by rising vote
$ sustain by their substance, their homo
J. and if need be, their lives, the action
y of Justice flanagan and the specl'
II constables appointed by him. Th
: meeting quietly adjourned.
y j L. Z. HEDRICK.
m ~