The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-08-06
TEXAS WHITE LINERS.
Their Brutal TerrOrism-Threate
the Lives of RepubIicans.

the Lives Of Republicans.
Washington Telegram to Chicago Inter Ocean,
Some days ago report was received
from Texas to the effect that an attempt
had been made to interfere with Re-
publican officer for making speech In
Texas by threatening his life. Atty.
Gen. Devens ordered United States At
torney Burns to investigate the case, and
his report has been received. He says
eff the courts of the National Govern
ment cannot protect the right of free
dom of speech there will be no such
right tolerated in the South.
Several other confrmatory statements
accompany the report, one being
newspaper cutting, saying that the prop
erty of the colored people is taxed two
or three times as much as that of white
property, but in regard to the Bessels
case, which called out the investigation,
his own sworn statement is the most
concise and circumstantial narrative of
the affair, and is embodied in Burns re-
port. 1t is as follows.
GALVESTON, Tex, July IL, 1881.
To the Hon. j. R. Burns, Assistant United States
District Attorney.
SIR Having been referred to you by ex-
Gov. L. L. Pease, the Collector of Customs,
would respectfully communicate for your official
consideration the following facts which state
in my own ways am, and have Deen for the
past two years, in the employ of the Govern
ment as mounted Inspector of Customs on the
coast of Texas, from VeIasco to San Bernard
river. On the 9Th of May last, by request,
addressed Republican meeting in the town Of
Brazoria. made no assault npon the Demo-
cratic party Or its leaders, and said only what
as a man had an undoubted right to say. l
was born and raised in Berks county, Pa.
served during the rebellion on the flagship
Benton, of the Mississippi squadron, and am, /
think, old enough and intelligent enough to
understand the ordinary rights of an American
citizen. | gave the colored people some
good advice as to how to improve
their condition generally. / advised
them that, though having majority
of 5000 or 10000 in the county, they should
defer as much as possible to the claims of in
telligent white men who were known to begood
Republicans, and not to be misled into the cleo
ton of Democrats who were professed Repub-
lcans only for Office. complained that while
ample provisions were made for the education
of white children, only partial provision was
made for colored and that assessment for
taxes was two or three times as much on the
property of colored people as on the same kind
of ptoperty belonging to white people and
further, that while colored persons confined in
Jail awaiting trial we're hired out for the bene-
ttof the County treasury, white menin the same
fix were not interfered with. advised the
colored people to strive to elevate and improve
their condition. said nothing but what would
publicly repeat anywhere. took pains to i'm
press upon the colored voters to be certain not
to receive their tickets from anyone but those
known to them to be Republicans.
The next day, on my way home / was met in
Brazoria by DR.. Aschom and crowd of eight
or ten other Democrats, who had been waiting
for me, as l was informed, to call me to account
for my speech of the day before. DIR. Aschom
was the spokesman, and told me that, if did
not wish to follow Santee (meaning the Repub-
lican County Clerk, recently assassinated in his
Office on account of politics., / had better stay
at home, and that if ever attempted to come
to Brazoria again, would ''be put out of the
way" said saw no cause of complaint, as
| had given no cause of offense. He replied
ave don't propose to have any Yankees inter-
fere with our county affairs" answered that,
having lived in Texas three years, and the
county of Brazoria nearly two, and being tax
payer, claimed the right of free speech upon
which DIR. Aschom remarked eff YOU wish to
save your life, stay at home" These threats
were participated in by the crowd, some
of whom said they had sent petition
to the Collector, Gov. Pease, demanding
my removal. This statement, 1 subsequently
learned, was false. One of the crowd
said he would wade through blood up to his
neck to kill Yankee. Some weeks afterward I
was informed by trustworthy person that DIR.
Aschom had said that would be killed, but he
would not do it himself that he would be forty
miles off when it was done. About two weeks
ago Jos. L. Bryan, wealthy planter, and his
son called on me. was absent when he called.
On my return in the evening he sent for me to
come down to the village store. A number of
people were gathered there. Mr.. BRYAN gave
vent to his feelings i'll regard to my Speech and
wanted to know what business had "making
Republican speech" He told me that if ever
| attempted omake any speeches in that county
(Brazoria), or take any more part in politics,
would " slide off like Santee," or "forget to
wake up some morning." | informed him
that did not hold myself responsible to him
or any other Democrat for making Re-
publican speeches. I know num-
Der of persons who witnessed this
affair, Later / learned that the crowd had de-
tarmined to kill me, and | was urged to leave
the county Immediately. To save my life did
SO, and came on to Galveston to lay the matter
before the Collector. Though a poor man,
will be compelled to give up my place to avoid
ASSASSINATION. The character OF this man, DR..
Aschom, is well calculated to satisfy anyone
that he and his partisans are fully equal to any
amount of assassinations. He has lately muir
dered three parsons, the last one poor, inof-
fensive young man, who only few days before
had nursed HIM through an attack of delirium
tremens. DR.. Aschom shot him down, and was
acquitted by Brazoria jury ON the ground of
insanity. AMOS I. BIssELL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th
day of July, A. d. $780,
GEORGE G. REYES,
Clerk of the United States District Court.
BY James T. Spaun, Deputy.