Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-09-09
THE GAG LAW IN TEXAS.
How Freedom of Speech is Prohibited
in Texas---Inspector Bisseu Threatened
with Death and Forced to Leave for
Making Republican Speach.

Dispatch to Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 22.-Tke
encouragement has received the official
report OF the United States district
attorney of Texas, who was instructed
to investigate the case of Customs In
spector Blssell, who was driven from his
post of duty and forced to leave that
vicinity under threat of death for MAX
ing Republican speech. All the facts
IN the case are given in the following
statement of Mr.. Bissell:
GALVESTON, Tex, July 10.
The Hon. j. r. Burns, Assistant United
States Attorney:
SIR-HaVlng been referred to you by Gov E.
NJ. Pease, the collector Of customs, would re.
specially communicate for your official coneid-
GRAFTON the following facts, which think bast
to state IN my own way. am, and have been
for the past two years, Ia the service of the
Government as mounted inspector Of customs
on the coast Of Texas from Velasco TO the San
Barnard. On the Sth Of May last by request
addressed Republican meeting IN the town or
BraZorla -lade no assault upon the Demo-
cratic party or its leaders, and only said what
as man, l had an undouUted right to say,
was born and raised III Berks county, Pennsyl-
vanla, served during the rebellion IN the flag
ship Benton, OF the Mississippi squadron, and
am, think, old enough and intelligent enough
to understand the ordinary rights of an Amerl-
can citizen. gave the colured people some
god advice as to how to improve their condi-
ton generally, l advised them that though
having a majority Of 800 to 1000 in the
country, they should defer as much as possible
to the claims of Intelligent white men who
were known to be good Republicans and not to
be mlsled into the election of Democrats who
are protested republicans only for Office. 1
complained that, while ample provisions were
made for the education of the white children.
only pa tial provision was made for the coIored:
that the assessment for taxes was two or three
times as much on the property OF colored peo-
pie as on the same kind of property belonging
to white people, and further, that, while colored
persons confined ii Jail were hired out for the
benefit OF the county treasury, white men in the
same TX were not interfered with [ advised
the colored people to strive to elevate and I'M
prove their condition, and In particular I urged
them TO stop the practice of their women being
prostiruted by white men, as had been the Gus
tom Ill times CT slavery.
l said nothing but what [ would publicly re-
peat anywhere. I espocia ly took pains to i'm
press upon the colOred voters to be certain not
to receive their tickets from any but those
known to be Republicans.
The next day, o. my way home, was met
IN Barzorla Dy DR.. Ascham and crowd OF eight
or ten Democrats, who had been waiting for me-
as was informed, to call 1ne TO account for nv
speech IF the day before. DR. Ascham was
spokesman, and told me # l did not wish to
follow SanIee (meaning the Republican county
clerk recently ass&sinated in his Office on account
of his politics. had better stay at home, and
that f l attempted to come to Brazoria again
would be put out Of the way.
| said saT no cause of complaint as [ had
given no offelce.
He replied: ''We don't propose to have an
YANKEES interfering with our county af-
fairs
answered that, having lived in Texas two
years, ana N the county Of BrazJria for nearly
two, anu beng taxpayer, claimed the right
OF free speech, upon which Ascham remarked:
- If you wish to save your life, stay at home"
These threats We're participated III by the
crowd, some of whom SAID they had sent petit
ton to the collector, GOV. Pease demanding my
removal; which I subsequently learned was
fa4se. One OF the crowd swore The would wade
through blood up to his neck 70 Kill the id
Yankee"
Some weeks afterward I was reliably in
formed that DR.. Ascham had said that l would
be killed, but that ne We uld not do it himself :;
that he would be forty miles away when it was
doEe. About two weeks ago, Mr.. Joe Bryan, g
wealthy Ianttr, and his son and nephew, called
on lie. I was absent when he called. On my
return in the evening he sent for me to come
down to the village store number Of people
were gathered there. Mr.. Bryan gave vent to
his feelings IN regard to my speech, and wanted
to know : What business had making a Re-
publican speech ?" He told me that If ever I
attempted 20 make any more speeches IL that
county (BrazOrls) or take any more part IN poll