[Marshall] Texas Republican, August 26, 1860
The Houston Telegraph learns that in Montgomery county, there is considerable excitement about the negroes.
A white man by the name of Simmons was arrested on the 2d and put in jail. He was implicated by several negroes as being their agent to furnish them with arms.
On the 4th there was a large meeting of the citizens in Montgomery, which appointed a Vigilance committee. This Committee was at last accounts investigating the whole affair. They had not yet reported on Simmons case. The Sheriff had resigned to be out of their way, the Committee by the common consent of the people having all the authority.
We learn by word of mouth that Col. Shannon, of that county, observing something wrong in the deportment of his negroes Saturday night, had them taken up and separately examined. They all concur in saying that they had formed a plot to burn his premises and murder him and his family, and then escape.
A man by the name of Williamson, who had been suspected of tampering with negroes at the Navasota City Depot, was arrested there on Saturday. On being brought to trial, none but negro evidence appeared against him, in consequence of which he was not convicted, though it was perfectly evident that he had received stolen property from the negroes for months, and that the negroes by his instigation were to have set fire to the town and made their escape on Sunday night. It was decided to send him out of the State.
At a public meeting of the citizens of Gay Hill, Washington county, a committee of safety was appointed; patrol organized; a rifle company recommended to be raised; cessation of assemblies of negroes for religious worship recommended, unless on the premises of owners and under their supervision; liquor selling to slaves to be stopped peremptorily and dealers therein strictly watched; no one of intemperate habits to be on the patrol or committee, etc.
The Anderson (Grimes county) Texian says:
In our own county, while there has been no well defined plan detected, enough has been ascertained to settle the conviction upon the minds of all that something was in expectancy, although the impression in general that there has been nothing like organization, or any plan matured by them for definite action. An active Vigilance Committee of our citizens has been formed, and there are now engaged in ferreting out all which will tend to throw light on the presumed complicity of the negroes of this county in the movement.
The Brenham Ranger of the 10th says:
A few days since several negroes were arrested on Mill Creek, in this county, who acknowledged to their having poison given them by white men, for the purpose of poisoning their owners and families, and that the day of election was the time fixed for a general insurrection. They also implicated some negroes about town as being concerned in the murderous plot.
- W. Flournoy, Esq., Democratic candidate for Attorney General, passed through Belton a fortnight ago on his way to Austin from Northern and Eastern Texas. The Democrat understands he reported the hanging of two more abolition incendiaries in Tarrant county.
The Belton Democrat has this paragraph:
A letter from Meridian, dated July 28th, says “The men who had gone in pursuit of tucker, the accomplice of Covington, have returned with him, and the people will meet to-morrow to dispose of the case in whatever manner may seem best. It is said he has made some important disclosures.”
The same paper says:
We understand that several abolitionists have been quietly hung in Northern Texas—the object being not to spread such facts until they secure many others, whose names have been revealed to the appropriate committees.
The young men of LaGrange have formed a sub-vigilance committee; the citizens of Fayetteville have organized a committee for the same purpose.
The Fort Worth Chief of the 1st says:
A preacher by the name of Buley was hung at Veal’s Station last week, for being an active abolitionist. A majority of three hundred men condemned him.
The people of Tarrant county have appointed a vigilance committee, Hon. Isaac Parker chairman, with power to examine suspicious strangers, and take such other action as they may deem proper in case of emergency.
Matagorda city is vigilantly patrolled every night. A meeting is to be held there on the 18th to bring about concert of action in the whole county.
A vigilance committee has been appointed at Bellville, Austin county; separate slave congregations for religious worship were advised to be stopped; pedlars to keep out of the way, and special patrols appointed.
The citizens of Cameron met on the 1st inst., appointed a special patrol, warned all abolition favorers away, and organized a vigilance committee. Arms have been found in the negroes’ hands.
After the meeting, a school teacher who had before been privately warned, concluded to leave suddenly.
The Sentinel says:
A negro woman, belonging to Gray, who resides some four miles from town, voluntarily confessed to her master, that all the negroes around were in possession of the news relative to the intended revolt on election day; that they had been freely discussing the matter, and for him to be on the alert.
- O. Campbell, postmaster at Travis, writes to the Bellville (Austin county) Countryman:
It is no trivial matter to find, in the post office, a paper published by Black Republicans, and bearing upon its first page the names of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin.
Such a paper I find in the office at this place, published at St. Louis, Missouri, in the Bohemian language, with no less than three Agents at Austin county and one in Colorado.
The following are the names of the Agents as published in the paper: Industry P. O., J. Lesikar; Catsprings P.O., Reisnershofer; New Ulm, P.O., G. Schiller; Freisburg P. O., Colorado Co., Fr. Piskacek.
The paper is taken by one Gobri, in this neighborhood.
There was much excitement at Industry on account of this.
A night police has been organized at Gonzales, in view of the startling news from the northern and central part of the State.
A negro was hung on the 5th inst., near Science Hill, Henderson county.
The Telegraph says:
On Monday last a white man rode up to Mr. Dick Breedings, near Round Top, at noon, and finding nobody but a negro girl at home, questioned her about runaway horses, etc., and finally asked her how she and the negroes were satisfied. He then went off, and soon after returned with three negroes, demanding something to eat. The woman gave them food. After eating they broke open a trunk in search of money. They then put a shovel full of fire in the bed and left. After they were gone the negro woman extinguished the fire and then ran in the overseer’s house to tell him what had happened.
The Huntsville Item of the 8th says an old gentleman, who has lived in that county for some time, dealing in lands and land claims, and who has always stood fair with the community, has been arrested and taken to Montgomery, on a charge of being connected with the insurrection plot there.
The citizens of Huntsville, at a large meeting on the 2d inst., adopted strict measures for guarding the town and watching the slaves, prohibiting preaching to them, and otherwise exercising due vigilance.