Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1874 — The Vicksburg Massacre. [ARTICLE]

The Vicksburg Massacre.

That a false account of the slaughter of the colored men in the neighborhood of Vicksburg has been spread over the country by those who are sympathizers with the aggressors, guilty of needless and most wicked bloodshed, we are not at liberty to doubt. . We have, from a source that commands confidence, a statement that is due the country. Our information is that the active whites of Vicksburg had some time since determined to ** clean out ” the present officeholders. Three of those officeholders were indicted at the last term of the Grand Jury. Crosby, the Sheriff, was the one especially aimed at. It was determined that he should be put out of office. ■ The papers insisted upon the Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday of last week and requiring Crosby to give good bond. A meeting of that body was called, and it is known that the intention was to require Crosby to give a good bond. But the citizens, headed by a hotheaded and irresponsible set of men, put out an incendiary circular calling for a meeting of the citizens of the county

on the same day the Board of Supervisors were to meet. And every one knew full well that it was the intention that the Board should be forced to do what was wanted, or personal violence used. So the country members failed to put in an appearance. But the citizens held their meeting. It was attended mostly by the younger men and irresponsible parties spoiling for a row. During the session a committee of five lawyers were appointed to report if all legal means to oust Crosby haa been exhausted. A minority report wee made by two young limbs of the law saying that all legal means had been exhausted, and that the time for action had come. By “ action” they meant force, and by force they meant the rope. No concealment was made in their talk about hanging, etc. A committee was appointed to wait upon certain officials and demand their resignation. The meeting adjourned to await the report. The officials who could be found begged time to consult their lawyers, butfailed to reply in the time given them. On the reassembling of the meeting in the afternoon, and hearing the report of their committee, they resolved to adjourn in a body to the CourtHouse and demand the resignation of the officers. On reaching the Court-House all the officers fled but Crpsby. He signed a resignation. No one concealed what his fate would l>e if he had not done so. He would have been hanged on the spot. As soon as he got out of the clutches of the mob he wrote a letter to Judge Brown, of the Circuit Court, stating that he took back hto resignation, as he was compelled to sign it to save his life. He was then out in the country, on his way to Jackson. The morning after this row Judge Brown tried to hold court, but the parties left in charge of the Court-House refused to let the deputy enter the courtroom, and so court has been adjourned from d-«y to day since then. On Friday a rumor got abroad that Crosby was about to make a good bond by placing his office in the hands of some person or another acceptable to the people and retiring, leaving all control to such deputy. Two or three good parties agreed to take the position, and arrangements had been made with their friends to make a bond that would be ample and beyond dispute. When this was heard a meeting of the citizens in the city was called, which resolved to frown down any such effort. The next morning the papers contained notices warning white citizens from being on the bond, and this, too, in the face of repeated assertions that no charge was made against Crosby except his failure to give good bond. On the streets the threats were numerous that no man’s Hfe would be safe who went on such bond.

Crosby returned from Jackson on Friday, with instructions from the Governor to take possession of his office, and to call in the aid of the militia to sustain him. He sent news to the country for the negroes to come in Monday and report to the Coqrt-House. .They camewere met at the Cfty limits, and slaugh, tered—simply slaughtered and butchered. They were chased through the woods and fields and shot down like dogs. Many were shot after they gave up, and some were shot on their knees while begging for mercy. The spirit of demons was in the people. It was not safe for any one not in full accord with them to be on the street. One poor old negro by the name of Ambrose Brown was ordered off the street by Capt. Cowan, a former rebel battery commander, and being tardy in going Cowan deliberately shot pirn. Many prisoners were taken and kept in the Court-House, and taken out in the morning. With winks and nods and laughter and jest it was reported that three of the most obnoxious made their escape, which means they have simply been murdered while prisoners. This is unquestionably the truth of the massacre, and the people of the nation should fully recognize all its enormities. The worst of it is that the person's who have been guilty of this wholesale mur-' der fully justify themselves upon the statement of facts that we have given, and we are bound to add they are animated by the conviction that there has been a political revolution in the North, and that their time is come.—Cincinnati Commercial, Dec. 11.