Texas Troubles

Copied from Texas Civilian Yahoo list. Posted August 2007 by Annette Bethke

This information was posted on another list, thought some might find it interesting.

Annette Bethke

1860

Home Front News

STATE GAZETTE-

Austin Texas –

Col. Long of San Antonio , who reached this place last night, informs us that large quantities of poisons have been discovered in the possession of negroes and white men at Tennessee Colony in Anderson county. And that two white devils, were publicly hung at the latter place yesterday. The proof of their complicity was in controvertible, and the wretches were immediately strung up on the nearest tree. The report has just reached here that the town of Belleview, in Rusk county, was burned on Saturday night last and the mail rider from Gilmer informs us that he has authentic information that
Daingerfield, in Titus county, was totally destroyed by fire on
Sunday night. We have direct news from Athens in Henderson county, that one well was poisoned in that place on Sunday night, and that upon investigation, over one hundred bottles of strychnine were found in the possession of the Negroes. After a severe punishment, the latter related the particulars of the plot - which was to poison all the public and private well sin the town on Sunday night - to poison, as far as possible, the family breakfast, and the knife and pistol with which they were well supplied, to complete the fiendish work. All the old women and young children were to be murdered, and the young women were to be taken as wives by the hell-hounds. So far as we have heard, the negroes being examined separately, tell exactly
the same story, the truth of which we cannot for a moment doubt.



BELLVILLE COUNTRYMAN -
The Houston Telegraph says:

We are informed that an attempt was made a day or two since to set the town of Owensville , Robertson county, on fire. The incendiary has been arrested. The report comes to us direct and appears authentic. The reported burning of Palestine, Tyler, McKinney and other towns, as well as the reported attempts on half the towns in the interior are not to be believed until they are confirmed. Palestine , McKinney and Tyler were all safe at latest direct accounts, which are later than any rumor could have brought the truth. The report of the burning of Henderson is confirmed. Loss$211,500.

TEXAS REPUBLICAN-

Marshall Texas –

A gentleman of this place has received a letter from Tyler, dated the 15thinst., to which is attached the following postscrïpt: "A Mr.Thomas had his gin house, cotton press, plows, wagon, with all his newly picked cotton, etc., burned up last night, three miles from Starrville; a clear case of inncendiarism. There is considerable feeling on the subject in Tyler ."

Posted on Texas Civilian Yahoo list August 2008 by Kimberly Scott

THE REIGN OF TERROR
In Texas and some of the other Southern States the slaveholders seem to be almost insane with excitement and terror. Every Northern white man who is not known among them, or does not come square up to their peculiar views, is at once set upon and persecuted – very probably hunt up to a tree, and certainly got rid of in some very expeditious manner. The country is full of apprehensions of poisoned wells, assassinations, and negro rebellions – all resulting from this blessed institution of slavery. If we are to believe the accounts in the local papers, no one can go to bed in these regions with the assurance that he will not be murdered before morning. There cannot be a particle of doubt but that most of these dangers are wholly imaginary,
but the very existence of slavery is a community induces a feeling of suspicion and danger that can never be silenced. We quote below a few paragraphs from Texas and other papers, showing some of the features of the present reign of terror at the South:--

EXECUTIONS BY LYNCH LAW
The Tyler Reporter of the 8th says: "Col. Long, of San Antonio, who reached this place last night, iforms us that large quantities of strychnine have been discovered in the possession of negros and white men at Tennessee Colony, in Anderson County, and that two white devils (Abolitionists) were publicly hung at the latter place yesterday. The proof of their complicity was incontrovertible, and the wretches were imeediately strung up to the nearest tree."

RUMORS OF A POISONED WELL
We have direct news from Athens, in Henderson county, that one well was poisoned in that place on Sunday night, and that upon
investigation, over one hundred bottles of strychnine were found in the possession of the negroes. After a severe punishment, the latter related the particulars of the plot, which was to poison all the public and private wells in the town on Sunday night – to poison, as far as possible, the family breakfast, and use the knife and pistol (with which they were well supplied) to complete the fiendish work. All the old women and young children were to be murdered, and the young women taken as wives by the hellhounds. So far as we have heard, the negroes being examined separately, tell the same story exactly, the truth of which we cannot doubt.

SIX PERSONS HUNG
The Crocket Argus learns that three white men (one of whom was a
pretended minister) and three negroes known to have been identified with the insurrection movement, were recently hung in Georgetown, Williamson county.

HUNG TO SEALING A NEGRO WOMAN
The citizens of Wood, Hopkins, Titus, and Upshur counties demanded of the citizens of Upshur county, a man named Morrison, who had been lodged in jail for stealing a negro woman. After his detection in that crime, it was ascertained that the had been engaged in iciting the negroes to insurrection. He was surrendered and hung in the suburbs of Gilmer, in the presence of about five hundred persons.

ORDERED TO LEAVE
The Palestine Advocate, of August 22, says that on Friday last, Wm. Staton, of Anderson county was tried by a jury, and found guilty of inciting the servile population to rebellion and committing deeds of incendiarism. He was ordered to leave the country.

THREE MEN HUNG IN COOK COUNTY
A letter from Clarksvill says that three Abolitionists were hung in Gainsville, Cook county (Templeton, Hensley, and Kirk.) These men, before they were hung, implicated fifteen other men belonging to an Abolition conspiracy.

A MAP SELLER AND NEGRO EXECUTED
The San Antonio Ledger of the 20th remarks: "We learn from the best authority that a wandering map-seller (lately in this city) has been translated near Columbus to another sphere of action. A negro boy accompanied him in his permanent suspension from earthly duties."

HUMOROUS ACCOUNT
The Galveston News says: "The Abolitionist, J. E. Lemon, who recently was escorted out of Wood county under orders to leave the State, ii is reported has been prevented, by a material impediment, from obeying instructions. We presume he climbed a tree and hurt himself in coming down."