The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-01-12


ssFer the Good of the Party'-Refuta-
ton Of the Charge Of Intimidation at
the Election.
Amite is one of the counties where
scenes of intimidation and violence are
represented to have occurred during the
election; and of outlawry and forcible
resistance to United States civil officers,
since the election. To show the falsity
of the last charge, we recently re-
ferred to the undisputed fact that the
U. S. Marshal, Capt. j. L. Lake, soon
after the election, and when there was
reason to believe from exaggerated Radi-
cal reports that the passions of the people
were desperately infamed, sent noto-
rious Radicsl negro into the county as
deputy z. g. Marshal to summon wit
nesses to appear before the Z. S. grand
jury for the purpose of procuring indict-
ments against citizens of the county for
violating the laws of the United States.
Judging the motive by the act, no other
conclusion can be reached except that
the object of the United States Marshal
in sending this negro into Amite county,
was to provoke the citizens and tempt
them to commit violence in order that a
genuine ''outrage" case could be manu-
featured and reported to Washington with
characteristic flourish. 1t was no
doubt argued by the authors of the plot,
that the negro would. serve as excellent
food for powder, and, that if he were
killed, it would be all the better for the
Radical party. However, they were
sadly disappointed. The negro deputy SC
far from suffering violence from the
white people of Amite was treated with
the utmost kindness. Not only was his
authority respected, but they exerted
themselves to aid him in the discharge
of the duties which he was so lit
tie qualified to fill and which
were imposed upon him from the basest
motives, and to subserve the lowest parti
san purposes.
So much for the alleged resistance o.
those people tothe authority of the United
States. Now for the other branch of the
su biect-viz., their conduct at the cleo
| ton.
The only box at which intimidation was
reported to have been resOrted to, was
Thickwoods precinct. 1t was charged tina
| Col. Powers, of Louisiana, with squad o.
some fifteen or twenty armed men, haC
broken up the election at Thickwoods; tina
they cane charging down upon the voters
yelling and firing guns and pistols, to the
great terror and alarm especially Of the
colored voters, and that some sixty Of
seventy of these latter had been driver
from the polls; that the inspectors haC
been so overawed that they would no
dare to count the votes, and all that sor
of thing.
Now mark how plain tale will pu
down this bugaboo story 1t is a state
ment of two of the Inspectors of Capt.
Anderson who had charge of the militi;
at that box, and also Of Mr.. Williams
who was acting there as United State
supervisor, having been appointed az
the representative of the Republican
party.
We, the undersigned, Inspectors o
the election at Thick woods, do hereby
state that on Tuesday, the I'd day o
November, A. D. 1873, the polls were
opened at the appointed place, and tina
during the day all persons, of boil
colors, had the opportunity of voting
without molestation, and that the poll
were closed at six o'clock p. NJ, and tina
! so far as we know or believe, every mar
who desired to do so cast his ballot. W.
further state that about half after foul
o'clock Z. NJ, Col. Powers, with some si1
men, came on the ground, but did no
offer to disturb anyone, or in any
manner interfere with the election
and did not remain more than half al
hour While Bowers was on the ground
some person (but not one that came with
Powers shot dog and crippled him
and that several shots were fired at him
at which some alarm was manifested, but
that afterwards everything was peaceablt
and orderly, and that colOred men voted
up to the hour gf closing.
Tuo3IAs F. STREET,
w. L. HAYNES.
| November 3, 1875.