Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-19
The Mississippi Horror-What an
Ex-Mississippian Says of it.


To the Editor Of the Tribune:
CHICAGO, May ll.-Itis simply horifyiog to be-
hold the calm indifference and GOODNESS with
which the people at the North receive news OF the
recent massacre of white republicans IN hemper
county, Mississippi. But what shall be said oil
the utter heartless response made by Gov stone
who was elected by the knives, pistols and guns
of the White League to the position he holds ana
not by vote of the people-to the touching prayer
of Mrs. Chisolm sent to the Executive at Natchez'
that something may be done to preserve the lie OF
her wounded husband, and for their guardianship
until they can leave the country 1t cannot be
| characterized as less than damnably demonacal.
Judge W. W Chisolm, though republican, is
one OF the wealthy citizens of Kemper county;
has for years held the position of Sheriff, with
other prominent and responsible Offices; AMI is
southern born gentleman. While he is a fearless
eXpounder Of republicanism, he has held the re-
spect and regard of majority of his felow-ci'izens
Of both colors and all grades Of politics. Still he
was never personally safe after his espousal of re-
publican principles. lie informed the writer,
seven years since, that he had found II necessary
to move about his own county n secrecy; that Is,
if he were preparing for journey he would
| never tell any person, outside Of his own house
hold, where be was going for fear of assassina-
| ton Willie he was always armed, and always
ready to meet man in daylight, he never ex-
posed himself unnecessarily 10 execution from the
assassin's bullet, by sitting in his house or office
with the window curtains up and light burning.
If called out in the night, he seldom carried a
lantern. lf he went away on horseback after
dark, as he was sometimes compelled to do, he
would set out in an entirely different direction
| from that in which he intended going. So careful
was he, that people never knew where he was go
| ing, or had been, until he returned. In the cay
light no ordinary man cared to face w. W. Chs
| dim. lie was known TO be a fearless man. llav
ing an intelligent wife, an elegantly accomplished
daughter, cherished son, and a home to be proud
Of and being the owner OF l0ODO acres oil land
| in the county, he was otherwise we'll situated.
| Last year he for Congress, but was defeated
BY the same violence that defeated every republl-
| can candidate. la 1876 he was about the only
man IN his part OF the State who had the courage
to stump his district for the republican cause.
John L. Gmer who met his death in the same
lynching tragedy, was friend and supporter of
Chisolm. He aud Judge Chisolufwele the Damon
| and Py Ihias, the David and Jonathan, of kemper
county; and, where one was found in trouble, the
other was sure to be. Gllmer was Senator from
| the kemper district for two terms and faithfully
held to his principles. He was the only man
iound IN the dark day, bold enough TO take the
| appointment of Sheriff of Warren county, when
Peter Crosby was forcibly deposed by the White
League. young man of promise. be has met an
| undeseryed and violent fate. lie OF the fire.
eating character himself-always carried his life
in his hand. those men generally carry that val
liable commodity. pistol at his back and Chs
olm near, Gilman did not fear legion of his foes.
But by da-tardy uick, both were killed 1hey
were arrested on a trumped-np charge that they
we shooting
man named Gdlly, with whom there mad possibly
existed q leud,-taken to jail, AMI then cruelty
shot down when wholly unarned.
Mrs ChisOlm, her son and daughter, were with
them, and they used fire arms IN defense of the
husba and father with effect, and were finally
them selves brought low, the son killed, and the
daug liter wounded |; was at first reported that
Judge Chisolm had been suddenly killed, as well
as Gilmer. 1t probably arose from the death OF
| the son. Tie young lady was badly wounded,
aud not doctor in the place would attend her,
and one had to be secured from Meridian. Here's
chlvalry! Here's maniness
Now we see that Judge Chlsolm is still alive,
suffering horrible pains contiaed TO his home, his
noble wife his only nurse, and the place contlnu-
ally under watch of those who hunger for the in
jured mans life. Then, say, what shall be
thought of the humanity of the man who can re-
fuse protection to that bereaved and stricken fam
lily; Mrs Chsom approaches Gov. Stone with
piantive duplication that something may be
done to protect her dying husband during the few
hours he may live. Stone replies that he cannot
permit Capt. Shaughnessy, IN the character OF a
private citizen, 10 raise a force of armed men TO
take care of Jddge Chisolms family; and com
pacehtly adds, that he will return soon as pos
sible to the Capital, at Jackson Gov. Stone Is at
Natchez, engaged in some Masonic celebration.
He can get to Jackson, by steamer to Nlcksburg
10 twenty-four hours; and from Nicksburg to
Jackson br railroad in about four hours. Let us
see how quickly he will return to the Executive
Office. and how soon he will do something for
Judge Chisom. | predict that he will do abso-
lutey nothing and that Judge Chisom aud the
renal nder Of his family will have plenty of time
10 which to fall victims to the White-Liners ere
Gov Stone will have considered what he may do
for them.
If Gov. Stone permits few more murders of
this character murders by wholesale of unarmed
unreslsting, and previous surrendered men, with
innocent wives and daughters of republicans, or
of democrats, the universal verdict of the people
of the North will be, that he is unworthy of the
place he fills and should be classed among the
merciless Thugs who have so long governed his
State
The Vicksburg Herald-the leader Of the White
League in Mississppi-,ays the killing of Gmer
and Chlsolm was simply the result of neighbor
hood-feud. The editor Of the Herald, when he
| wrote this, knew 1t was false. lie was aware of
the fact that the deed was performed by his chosen
band of cutthroats and murdercrs. He knows
that this combination has never been broken up.
tics and the lives the labor and the votes of Miss
lssippi. But no falsehood is too thin, no device
too despicabe, no act too cowardly, for a man in
his position to play act, to cover up the deep
and damnlng evidences of the manifold crimes Of
the White Leagues. | have reason TO doubt any
thing and everything that democratic editors may
print regarding any incident of the kind Their
powers OF invention are great, and they are al
ways exercised when a "nigger" or "black repub-
lican, OF "caTpct-bagger" is killed.
40 no Inv tha apE To limb e oT
few hundred OF the followers of such editors and
the persons VINO do then bloody behests, would
have beneficial effect in Mississippi. If Presi-
dent Hayes can possibly originate something short
of a universal guilotine, which shall make some
Of the Southern States a safe place of residence
fol- the immigrant of every political bias, he will
do more than anybody has ever yet done, and be
entitled to the thanks of the whole county.
The New Pension District.