The Portland daily press., 1879-08-21

The troubles in Yazoo county, which have
finally eliminated in murder, were the result
of the determination of Capt. III. NJ Dixon to
run as candidate for geriff against the regular
Democratic nominee. Dixon announced him
self as candidate in May, Subject only" as his
announcement read, ''to the choice of the peo-
pie at the ballot-box.' From that day for
ward the Democrats commenced to organize
throughout the county, not merely into clubs,
but also into military companies, differed ac-
cording to military usage, with full line OF
commissioned and non-commssoned officers.
When the registration of voters commenced
these military companies began their respec-
tive tours of inspection" around the places Of
registration for the purpose OF overawing and
intimidating voters. 1t was, however, very
difficult to overawe and intimidate Dixon and
such other whites as supported the independent
movement by threats and show of force, and
so it was resolved to compel him to leave the
county, and probably in the event of his re-
fusal murder him. Accordingly on the morn
ing of the 25th of June, armed forces to the
number 500 men were assembled, under the
command of Henry Stubblefeld, Democratic
candidate for Sheriff, at the town of Benton.
Such force could not have been assembled
but by means of an artifce. This was found in
the invention that Dixon was about to assem-
BILE an armed force of negroes at that point.
Upon the arrival of the force it was formed up
on both sides of the road near the village, their
officers pretending to be awaiting the approach
of the enemy. They had not to wait long, but
WI tha arrival in tba of Cant
Dixon, seated in his buggy and accompanied
by only two friends, with no arms in sight, the
lying stratagem stood confessed. Every man
man who was not party to that lie was seized
with disgust and nearly POO of the mob dis
banded and returned to their homes Dixon
remained for only half an hour, when he and
his two friends drove back to Yazoo City, and
he returned to his family. Very soon the re-
mainder of this valiant army, numbering now
about 300, followed him into the city, and
forming in the street, detailed squad of six,
who, under instructions of their leaders, went
to Dixon and demanded that he should leave
the country, under an armed escort, within "a
hours, and never return, or take the consequence
es. He was man of great personal courage,
and it was not until the mob had whooped
about his house for six hours, and there became
imminent danger that not only his own house
but those of his friends would be burned. that
he consented to allow his friends to come to an
agreement with the mob under which he left
the country and withdrew from the canvass.
After Dixon withdrew Major Barksdale,
Chairman of the Democratic State Committee,
issued circular to the Democratic ConserYa-
tive party of Mississippi. The concluding para
graph reads as follows: Relieved from the
menace of organized opposition, majorities are
liable to become indifferent to the MAIN
tenance if their own organization and to
divide among themselves. 1t should be
remembered that the reforms which have
been inaugurated can be perfected and carried
out only by rigid adherence to the discipline
and observance of the methods by which the
victories of 1875, '76 and " were won" The
only paper in Mississippi which denounced
this outrage was the Vicksburg Herald and
in consequence its editor was promptly
denounced by the Democratic citizens of
Yazoo county as an enemy to the community.
After Dixon had been away three weeks he
issued card saying that he did not consider
the agreement which had been extorted from
him to be binding and that he considered him.
self still candidate for sheriff. After this
nothing was heard of him until his murder was
announced in the dispatch given above. The
consequence of opposing the Democratic
ticket in Yazoo county seems to be death.