, 1876-09-20
"THE MISSISSIPPI PLAN" IN TEXAs

"THE MISSISSIPPI PLAN" IN TEXAS.
Tho i" Mississippi Plan Is working we'll
in Texas. 4 fow days since wo referrod to
the details Of recent Democratic legislation,
by which 1t is possible to bring imaginary
charges against co1ored Republicans, convict
them of fclonies, sentence them to the peni-
tentiary, and thon sell them to the e1-alave-
mastoss for torn Of years sufficient to sat
isfy tho sentence, thereby not only remand
ing them into temporary slavery, but also
diHfranchising them and disqua1ifying them
from serving on iuries. Tho packed Con-
fedornto jurioa, however, cannot work fast
enough to overcome Republican majorities,
10 ''T'he Mississippi Plan has been put into
operation. Tho Dallas City Union Inteut-
ge7acer Of the 10th inst. has narratives Of tic
murder aEd massacre Of Republicans
upon every page. Wo lave already ro-
ferred in these columns 10 the cowarlly mur-
der of j. II. BAuonMAN, the ex-ShoriE Of
Wharton County, while lying in his bed. Hi9
was courageous Union officer, who lad won
his promotion by bravery, and, after tho
close Of tho War, settled in Texas and was
elected Sheriff. That he was an honest
officer Is shown by the fact that the Demo-
Gratis have not been able to find any fra1du-
lent act committed by him whi1o in Office.
Aftor his term Ind expired ho followed tho
quiet occupation of farming, and was widely
known as friend md counselor Of the ue-
grocs. After tho murtlcrous onslaught by
Democrnss upon tho negroes Mt Eaglo Lako,
their frionds cano to him for alvico. Ho
counseled them to apply for warrants
against tho murdorcra, md his counsel has
cost him his life. On tho 18th inst. four
Republicans woro killed In Goliad County.
A fow days since thu Sheriff of San Patricio
County, Republican, was shot dead
whi1o attending church. Tho co1orod
peoples churches III Rcfugio County
havo beon burned. a correspondent of tho
Goliad Neses Domocrat) recently recorded
the murders OF several colored Republicans,
atlding tl,at they Ind boen !" sent to tho hap.
py lunting-grount1s." WILLIAM II. StMMs, q
Republican OF Durnot County, was taken
ont of his house ou tho night Of tho 18th
inst, aud hanged for no other oGonse than tho
expression of his politicnl opinions. From
every part OF Texas con4cs tho nows of Ro-
publicanB murdered upon the highways,
hanged to trees, shot in their bells md ut
their tlrcslaes by gnnga OF Iiltlonitcs. 1n
Western Texas especially, reign Of terror
exists mud any officer who intorferes in be-
halt Of INV nnd order Ia at once ahot down by
tho Democratic mobs. Tho way negro riots
arc manufactured Is thus shown by .4e
InteNyenesr:
NnH nr3nno Ar1 THrtA .5,5ta
difficulties with aud ,tlll one or mosc frrcl,nou
anh to protect themselves from punishment, fhey
ntouse the whole country with cries u q negro
insurreclton. A. ths whites cotloct md arm, tho
colored people begin to rally together, Hers
then IL proof Of the hostltu Intentions OF the
bucks, and 1t always results tn tho killing Of q
few moro tso.callodl turbulent negroes, in order
10 auell tho insurrcction! Tta blacks being gen.
orally unasmed, and No long accustomed to thu
domination Of the whites, 1t IL seldom any trouble
to llsFqEso them by a fuw well. directed shuts,
After thts ID done. The MEN who begun tho dlnl.
Guilty roam around and over the Country under tho
pEetenao Of avoiding murder BY this negroes, mud
thoy quarter themselves with IMMUNITY upon the
better casses Of tho white citizens, whom they
hare drawn into these so.cAilcd nrSso rots.
70 punish those Democratic luobs Is SIM
ply impossible, hcuco they can murder with
impunity. They do not 90 meskod, md con-
sequeutly cannot be tried under tho Ku-Klux
statutes. They must be indicted in somo OF
tho Stato Courts within tho county wleso
tho otIcnse was committed An all colored
men who cannot both read and writo 'aro OK.
clusled from juries, thoy arc composed Jaail.
y OF white men, md as tho wlito men aro
other directly concoruotl IN those outrages,
Or are active sympa.hizors with tho murder
crs no ono, can be conyicted Meanwhile, il
negruis arrested fur yagrancy Or drunken
ness, ho is convicted I,y tkosu white juries Of
felony, sentenced for long term Of years,
an,t sold into slavery. T}a on1y possibility
Of hope for tho unfortunate negrous. and for
whito Republicans as well, IL the fear OF
sosns OF the Democratic newspapers that