The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-28
The Yazoo Murder and its Effects.

shot to death. Subsequent to this forcible
withdrawal, letter was addressed to the
Attorney for the State and his advice asked
as to the best method to secure freedom in
elections, and the protection of the laws
in the exercise of political rights. His
response was that the laws and the Judicial
ry made ample provisions for the protection
OF all the rights OF citizenship, but that UNI
fortunately for Mississippi the laws and jul
dietary were dead letter in that State
He, however, advised the parties to continue
in their Independent organization, at every
hazard, and make an appeal to the justice
and honor of the people to vindicate their
own integrity and freedom. Dixon re-an-
nounced himself, after the receipt of this
letter, as we seei tstatedin our exchanges, land
as detailed in another column was shot by
Mr.. Barksdale with double -barreled
shotgun. This last outrage seems to have
aroused the people to the necessity of as
serting their rights, and on the 21st large
independent convention, composed of both
whites and blacks, met in Yazoo city, and
nominated full ticket for the Legislature,
sheriff, county clerk, &C., the persons
chosen being both whites and blacks.
We regard this as the most important
movement that has been inaugurated for
years in the South, and a gratifying feature
OF it is that it is extending all over the State
of Mississippi. The necessity of checking
bull-dozing and mob violence is pressing it.
self upon the minds of the people, and the
more conservative classes of the white pop
ulation are uniting with the colored people
for the purpose of establishing the rule of
law. A few courageous leaders among
the property holding citizens, acting here
tofore with the Democrats, united with the
strength of the colored vote, will redeem
Mississippi and the entire cotton States re-
gion from the lawless reign Of the disci-
pies Of the shotgun, iberalize political
sentiment, and invite capital and enterprise
rom other sections. Had this policy been
adopted Immediately after the war, the
amendments to the Constitution accepted
and lived up to, instead of trying to live
| away A1Om UiiCul dIlu UdCh " CllC COllltlU lO1
and influences of 1860, another condition of
| things would prevail in the Southern States,
and more suspicious dispensation encour-
age the people. The violence which has
resulted in the death of Dixon, one of the
former leaders of the Democracy, may
prove blessing to the entire State Of Mis-
sissipp, in that it will arouse the people to the
necessity of indicating themselves from
the foul stain this and other outrages have
placed upon them.
Another lesson is taught by this act of
violence committed by one Democrat upo n
another, for the reason that the organiza-
ton of the party was opposed by the vic
tim. 1t exposes the methods by which po-
litical supremacy has been secured by the
Democrats Of Mississippi, and why it is that
Mr.. Lamar is now in the United States
Senate, and Mr.. Chalmers represents dis
trict in Congress that has majority of
10000 in political sympathy against him.
The murder of Dixon is a history in itself,
opening up the dark and bloody pages of
political crimes in Mississippi, many Of
which he himself made, and exposing to
the gaze of the world the terrible agen-
cies employed to suppress popular will.
Another noticeable feature of this re-
voting crime is found in the utterances of
a great majority of the Democratic press
which have referred to the brutal act. 1t is
not the crime itself that is deplored not
tha uioJot;on Of Fundamental opd ctot t,to
law that is condemned; not the brutal
murder of citizen Of the State that
is denounced; but the apprehension is ex-
pressed, as primary thought, that it
will! iyure the great Democratic party!-
One Democratic journal is stirred to its
deepest depths because the prospects of the
sssuccess of the great Democratic party in
1880, ''may be compromised by the exposure
of the secret springs of the mississippi
PLAN" That a murder has been commit
ted cannot be denied and a murder of a
prominent Democrat by prominent DEM
ocrat, growing out of the fact that repen-
tant and disguised bull-dozer chose to
question the policy of his party, and had
taken steps to give emphasis to the protest
by an appeal to the ballot-box, and it can
not therefore be charged to be ''radi-
cal le," for the murdered man was not
Republican. Hundreds of murders, for po-
litical causes, have been perpetrated in
Mississippi, and scarcely created rifle
upon the surface of popular thought, for
the reason that the victims were negroes
and Republicans. The murder of Dixon,
with the immediate cause leading to it-be-
cause he dared to question the infallibility
of the political Bourbons of the State-has,
however, had an electric effect upon that
class of citizens who had been drifting along
with the current and scarcely giving poll
tics thought, and the result is seen in the
independent move above mentioned, headed
by the most responsible and respectable bu-
siness men of Yazoo county. There is no
telling who may be the next victim if the
shotgun is to be the law, and these men
realize the necessity of making a deter
mined struggle for the establishment of
statute and fundamental law, and living
under their protection, with officers who
will obey and execute their command.
The attention of the whole country will |
be attracted to the contest in Mississippi |
between the Independents and Bourbons,
and wherever the inspiration of freedom
exerts an influence, and reverence. for the
majesty and sanctity of law moves the ac-
ton of men and communities, a hearty and
earnest sympathy will be extended for the
triumph of law and order over Bourbon
Democracy and violence.
It's generally conceded now by both po-
ltical parties, that Mr.. Foster, the Repub-
lcan candidate for Governor in Ohio, will
be elected by a very large majority. The
extreme views of Mr.. Ewing, the Demo
cratic candidate, on the finance question,
have caused Indifference as to his fate with
a large number Of the hard money Demo
Gratis. The policy now is to work for the
SO as secure for Mr.. Thurman
reelection to the United States Senate.
With this view, it is stated, that Thurman's