The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-06-21
MORE ABOUT THE CAsEYVILLE
MEETING.
Letter from Il. ApPIewhite, I'm which
the Comets Wow of that Meeting
is Sustained.

Mr.. E. Applewhite is well-informed and
intelligent farmer near Oaseyville, and in
every sense responsible man. We give
his letter below, as published in the Brook
haven Ledger of last Thursday, from which
il will be seen that The COMETS view of
the ''true inwardness" of that meeting is
sustained by him;
CAsEYvILLE, Miss, June 16, 1879,
Editor Brookhaven Ledger
In the Ledger of May 22d there appeared
an article purporting to be the resolutions
adopted by a mass meeting of the law abid>
ing citizens of this and the adjoining coun-
ties, held near Caseyville, on the 18th May,
ostensibly for the purpose of putting down
bulldozing positively and peremptorily, and
too impatient to wait for the courts of the
county to act, complaining of having wait
ed patiently on said courts and were de-
ceived. Since which time, certain peace>
able and unotfending citizens in that neigh
borhood, who saw proper to ntay at their
homes and pursue their usual avocations,
have been publicly styled bulldozers, or
sympathizers with bulldozers. And for
what? Simply for not attending a meeting
of men who denounce the courts of the
country, and propose to take the law into
their own hands to deal out retributive JUS
tice to the offending parties, and with the
same breath exclaim that they do not know
any of the parties they propose to punish.
Which looks the more like bulldozing, join
ing that meeting or steering clear of it?
While the charge of bulldozing or sympa-
thizing with it has heen laid at the door of
certain unoffending citizens the said meet
ing itself became an object of suspicion,
assuming to be q mass meeting of the law
abiding citizens of this and adjoining
counties Can any one believe that at that
meeting there were assembled all the law
abiding citizens of said counties, or that
this county at large ever heard of any such
meeting until its proce edings were publish
ed in the Brookhaven Ledger? Who ever
heard of county mass meeting being
held in one corner of the county, and
without notice? If that was meeting of
the law-abidlng citizens of said counties,
then it seems that law-abiding citizens are
becoming scarce indeed. From which it
would appear that the law-abiding citizens
of several counties had shrunk up into that
meeting at Caseyville. Is it possible that
all the law, order and peace in several coun-
ties have fed from the courts of the coun-
Try and sought refuge at Caseyville, Missis-
sippi2 The place where, at the last cleo
tion, no voter could walk up to the polls
and deposit his ticket unopened and unin-
spected Why was this done, and where
were these law-abiding citizens? That
question is easily solved.
In regard to the lawlessness alleged to
have been committed, 1 think the parties
SO offending should, upon evidence, be pun
ished before the courts of the country; and
that from the party so greatly complaining
some one might come forward and make
an affidavit, and that affidavits would be
made by several if they knew anything
about what they were complaining of. 1
cannot see why any one should be censured
for not joining that meeting to denounce
the courts, when the acts so grievously |
complained of, were alleged to have been |
committed since the meeting of the last |
Grand Jury, and when no one will come
forward and make an affidavit upon which |
any court can act. Let the facts be brought
out, and then see if the courts refuse to act
before assailiDg them. Is man to be CEN
sured for not joining a meeting of men
who can wait no longer upon the courts
proposing to take the law into their own
too look with indignation on any and all
citizens who have not the fear of the law
before their eyes. Is man to be censured
for not joining a meeting of men styling
themselves law-abiding citizens who pros
pose to exculpate parties who have been
engaged in bulldozing the lien law? If
adopting these resolutions is not proposing
to out bulldoze the bulldozers then l pro-
tn wait natiant1xy fnr fo ttrioa |
and explain"
AS regards the Especial notice" alleged to
have been posted up as threat-what
would these resolutions have been without
it? And where would they have been but
for it? Is there striking likeness between
the two, with similarity of diction, breath
ing the same spirit of indignation, assum-
ing the same prerogatives, embracing the
same circle of acquaintance? The one
to come from the Regulating
Association of this and adjoining counties,
the other from the aw-abiding citizens of
the same district of country. Were they
both the product of the same prolific brain!
Was it he who posted up the one, that con-
spurned it in the other? Would
he play have been complete with any part
eft out?
In regard to the lawlessness reported in
he last Ledger, l am surprised at your
it without having first received
,ome reliable information. The bloody
coffin affair was made up from whole CLOTH
and its publication was calculated to pre-
udice the public at large against those who
nave not joined that military company,
feeling satisfied that the Courts have done,
and are doing all they can to suppress law
essness. Has the said company, having
met several times, effected anything in
bringing offenders to justice? In regard to
he onslaught made upon our Courts by the
Herald. we only cease to wonder
lpon learning that the President of said
meeting is brother to the son-in-l law of
he said 'great and good Hearald."
E, APHLEwHrTE.
Upon this letter, the Ledger comments
as follows
r. We had heard that the coffin was
,laced upon Mr. McRee's gallery, and men
toned it upon information received We '
lave since learned that the report was '
alse, and we are gtd to note it.-EDIToE
LEDGER.
And Mr.. McReo also comes in for an ems
,hatic expressions:
a Mistake About the Coffin.
CAsEYv1LLE, Miss, June 1G, 1879. {
,ditor Brookhaven Ledger: 8
You will please inform the party or par J
les that started the report about the bloody
offin found on Penn McRee's gallery, that
is an infamous lie; and don't think it !
dvisable for them to risk the undertaking. =
Yours, ETC., S. p. MCKEE. :
WE clip the following orders and circu-
ars as issued by Gen West from the