The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-10-09
THE LATE TROUBLES IN YALLA-
HUSHA COUNTY.
Digni1ied and Truthful Address a
the Democratic Chairman.
Rooms DEMOCRATIC Ex. COM.


|
Rooms DEMOCRATIC EX. COM,
fALLABuSIIA CO., MISS, Sep. -, 1850.
10 the People Of ialabusha County
The various erroneous statements whic
have appeared in the public prints in T.,
gard to the troubles in this county ahOu
the time Of the special election for Sherit
and especially the articles published in th
lalIabusha Standard, of August 2Sth AN
September nth, and rcpubIishcd in su,
cecding issues of said paper, over the sil
nature Of A. Il. Wimbcrly, Chairman {
the state Executive Committee Of tn
National Grccnback party, demands som
notice ut my hands, but was delayed first
in order to ascertain the facts, and attcl
ward by sickness. Now, even at the ris
of being considered tedious and repcatin
in part an old story, will begin at the first
and give the facts rs detailed to Inc by re
SpOnsihlc persons who were cye-witnesscs
On Saturday, the 2lst of August, Dem
ocratic ratification meeting was held here
| (COheevillc,) in accordance with prcyiOu
advertisement. Capt. Wimbcrly asked 70
II division Of time, which was finally de
| clincd, about as he'states, it being II ratti
cation meeting, and speakers having been
invited to occupy the full time. The Dem
ocrats held their meeting in the grove, ant
the Greenbackcrs held theirs in the court
| HblHt. Alltl DDlll IttllIeH Ilut utlJbtlIll
| ed, and As the Democratic procession wa
passing through the streets, Il difficulty oc
Cured between X. V. Pearson, Greenbacl
candidate for Sheriff, and ThOs. Spcarmun
| (colOredD. Republican Commissioner o.
election for this county. Now, as to who
brought on this difficulty, | have not beer
able TO ascertain; but is II fact that Spear
man had that morning published Il card in
| the Water Valley Central in which he stat.
Lat hot h. IS.IIt.b
ncnt for Sheriff, and urged all his people tC
do likewise. Shots were exchanged be-
tween Pearson and Spcarman This occur.
red on the corner near VI. u. Dcrdcn's
saloon, just AS the head of the Democratic
procession reached the point in the street
opposite, when some Democrats near were
drawn into the difficulty. As this mattel
will be Investigated by the courts. and then
will be made to appear who We're the az
gressors, and whilst have statements en-
tirely cXOnorating the Democrats who par
ticipatcd in the difficulty from any blame,
and as | do not wish to tone up or prcju-
dice the minds of the people concerning Il
matter to be investigated by the courts, !
refrain from any further statement of facts
relative strictly to individuals concerned
in this particular matter.
Pearson was severely wounded, Spear
man slightly; one of the Democrats re-
ccivcd severe wound, one Il slight wound,
and one or two Others had their clothing
shot. For Il time great excitement pre-
vailed among all parties, the impression
having been that the procession had been
fired into by the GreenbackerS, but this
impression having been removed, all soon
became quiet. During this excitement,
and labOring under this misrepresentation,
no doubt many rash expressions were made,
and some hasty persons ut the same time
dispatched to the Governor that riot was
threatened here, thereby giving the affair
undue Importance, for ii was nothing more
than II street fight.
The negroes, who constituted the great
body of PearsOn,s supporters, were III Il
very great state of excitement, having led
to believe that the Democrats had attempt
ed to assassinate Pearson, and under this
excitement made use of many threats and
rash expressions, and that their belief was
not predicted upon proper understanding
of matters as they really existed, and that
the Democratic party had neither intended
nar designed any violence whatever to Mr..
prove; for every one VIM N''t"P'Wh" mingIY
ness is bound to admit that if there had
been such intention or design i'll the least,
there was nothing to prevent its execution.
During Saturday night and sunday the
town remained quiet. Owing TO the dill
Guilty of Saturday, and the excitement pre-
yailing among the negroes, certain cllllens
Of Cotlcevile, being apprehenslNe OF 1ur-
ther trouble, communicated the TACT 10
their friends in the surrounding vicinity,
number of whom came in on Monday, some
bringing arms. A number of GreenDack-
ers came in on Sunday evening and Mon
day morning. All were promptly dis
armed however by order of the civil
and the town during Monday
was remarkable quiet. Capt. Wimberly
says that'he was waited upon by two com
mittees appointed by the Democrats, one
consisting of Capt. j. l.. Eskrid gG; the
other of Capt. X. W. Jones anu W. i.
Wynn. Capt Eskridge authorizes me to
state that he went to see WimberIy on that
day ut the urgent request of W. L. Hyde,
Wimberly's personal and political friend,
that he was not commissioned by any one,
and that he represented no one but HIM
self. Captain Jones and wyatt authorize
me to say the same of them with regard to
their interview; that is that they Went at tne
instance of HYDE and Eskridge, Wimberly
being consulted by Hyde and EskridSe and
asserting thereto. As an evidence that
these gentlemen did not wait upon VIM
berly in the capacity of committee, Is the
fact that there was no meeting held that
day, that there was no organization OF the
people and no attempt to organize them'
and the people were scattered about the
streets talking politics, ETC., as usual on
such occasions.
The charge that the Democratic party
assembled a mob here on that day for the
purpose of mObbing Wimberly, oroi inter-
fering with or influencing the election, Is
utterly without foundation in fact. The
best evidence of this is the fact that VIM
Derly was in nowise disturbed, nor We're
here any demonstrations made IN that
way, when there was nothing to prevent
he people who were here that day If they
lad come for such purpose from carrying
hat purpose into execution, except ABOUT
wenty members of the COtfeeyillc Guards
Who were on duty. every one OF WhOm Is
Democrat in full sympathy with the
Democratic party, and would have readily
Oined in any movement started by the
eaders of their party.
Another fact that shows cOncluslYely
hat the assembling of the people here on
IIonday was not political move, nor got
en- up for political effect, is that at the
lection here next day, everything was
,eaCcable and quiet; every man going TO
he polls and voting as he pleased without
ear of molestatiOn. The number OF votes
lOlled that day were only two less than the /
lumber polled last fall at the general cleo /
ion, and the Greenbackers made gam OF
hirtv-SeVen votes as compared WIN thc /
otes of the last general election; and yet, I
here was nothing to prevent this mob oi
rmed Democrats, as they were called, /
most" of whom were in town, from break
ng UP and preventing the election alto
ether. So much for Capt. Wimberlys /
barge on the subject of the Democratic /
lob. i
Now, as to Capt. Wimberly's criticism OF
iOv. Stone. Capt. Wimberly should nave /
nown that the sole Objec of the Govern
RS visit to COfleeyille was TO ascertain the I
Xact condition Of affairs, and and to take /
ueh steps as might be deemed necessary
D prcycnt the occurrence of any further
-oublc; and being assured by the leaders /
{ both parties Il know he was by the Dem I
Gratis, and presume that Capt. WlmbeTly
ave him the same assurance in behalf OF the i
that all they desired was
lir and peaceablc election on the following 1
uesday. He returned home satisfied that /
lere would he no further disturbance as |
ne law amply provides against any Ordi- I
ary breach of the peace, requiring peace /
tiicer to be appointed at each voting pre-
met with authority to arrest any and all
erSons violating the law; to see that each .
ersou entitled to vote has the privilege OF /
ding 50 : to suppress any disturbance, and |
D summon any and all persons to assist
i'm in the discharge Of his duties. These
eace officers had all been appointed by
he Commissioners of Election for the
nunty. as provided hy law. and the
,quei shows that the Governor did right
accepting these assurances. for there
everwas a more peareahle and quiet elee-
on held in the county. The high char
.tar Of Gov. stone aS 4 man. his careful