The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-03-24
Miscellaneous.
" SOUTHERN oUTRAcEs.s
REPORT OF MINORITY coMM1TrEE.

tru ..f ra- -~--- % uactpr lo
- CUT AND DRIED ADVANCEMENT -,.
| We give below the report of tho mi
nority of the select committee to inves-
tigate the alleged outrages in the south
ern States. We bespeak for il a careful
perusal, as II Is truthful exposure of
the manner In which the radicals man.
ufacture political capital and how little
truth there is in the strange stories of
outrages committed in the South:
Senators Blair and Bayard constitut-
ing minority of the committee, found
themselves unable to agree with the
majority, and present their views at
length. After citing the resolution
under which the committee was ap.
pointed, and referring to the report
transmitted by the President in answer
to the senate resolution of inquiry in
relation to the alleged organization of
disloyal persons in North Carolina, the
the minority says: "Thus it will ap-
pear that the resolution, under which
the special committee was appointed, is
founded on the report transmitted, as
aforesaid, by the President. Instantly
upon this appointment, the committee
organized and proceeded without delay
to examine witnesses, who were appar-
emily all ready in waiting in the city of
Washington, to wit The son of Gov.
Holden, Col. George w. Kirk, and Ber.
gen, his lieutenant-colonel. No oppor-
tunity, save that afforded by its single
reading in the senate, has been given
the undersigned to inspect the report of
the majority, or obtain proper knowl-
edge of its contents. The report was
read once and instantly transmitted to
the printer, by whom it has not yet
been returned. We desire to attract
the attention of the senate to the scope
OF the resolution under which the com.
mittee have acted: "To inquire into
the truth or falsehood of the crimes and
outrages of political character in the
southern states" Here is an unlimited
field of general allegation, qualified
only by the word POLITICAL and con-
veying nothing definite to the commun-
tiles, whose domestic affairs were with
out notice or specified charges to have a
congressional dragnet thrown over
them and be hauled before the commit
tee; and the closing paragraph of the
resolution only aggravated the dangers
and difficulties of such an inquisition
by inquiring whether there be in those
states security for persons and property
after saying that no state has passed
any laws in violation of the fourteenth
amendment, and that no question had
been made relative to the exercise Of
power in the emergencies set forth il
the fourth section of article three in tht
constitution" The minority continue
"The undersigned are therefore at a los
to discover where such power is deriv
ed as Is set forth in the resolution an(
acted upon by the committee, ant
therefore they protest in the name ant
under the limitations of the constitu
tion of the United States against any
and all action of inquisitorial character
into the internal and domestic affairs o
any of the states, or any attempt by
congress or the executive to interfere
with the state governments of citizens
individually as to matters not cogniza.
BILE by the Federal government. In
view of the fact that North Carolina is
in all respects under the constitution
and laws upon an equal footing wilt
all the other states Of the Union, tht
minority assert that any claim of pow
er to investigate the internal and do
mestic affairs of that state to invade hel
police powers of control over all mat
ters within her jurisdiction must be
equally valid and have equal force
when applied to any other state, ant
the reserved rights of the constitution
of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio
or New York are in no degree more Sc
cure than those of North Carolina. The
exercise or omission of any such power
is, in the opinion of the minority, un.
warranted by the constitution, and ut
terly subversiye of our federal system
of state governments. They say further
there can no longer be urged the plea
OF military necessity" The flag o
the nation floats in placid security in
every part of the Union, and there is
no pretense of opposition in any quar-
ter to the peaceable operation Of the
civil authority. After setting forth
that the kind of investigation pursued
has simply given an opportunity fol
any one to come forward and assail the
state and people of North Carolina by
any character Of testimony, or in any
manner that prejudice or testimony can
suggest, the minority continue: Blu
all this is manifestly the result Of a plan
cut and dried BY conspiracy form
ed of disappointed politicians who have
lost the confidence Of their people, and
have been cast out Of Office by the al
most unanimous voice of betrayed
and injured constituency AT the hea(
of this conspiracy plainly stands Will.
lam w. Holden, the Governor of North
Carolina, and now undergoing trial by
process of impeachment for high mis-
demeanors and gross abuses Of his Off
clal power. He has beggared the treas
ury of his state and plundered, outrag
ed and betrayed her people, and now
looks to the strong arm of the fedora
government as the only means of rescu
ing him and his followers from the jus
punishment due their crimes. In furth
erance of this scheme the present meas
ure was instituted and this committe,
; raised. The two Senators from Nortl
Carolina, Messrs. Abbott and Pool
have efficiently aided it, suggesting
witnesses and employing interrogator
les for their examination, and some
times escorting them in person to tn
door of the committee room; and wha
, is the character of these witnesses foun
J ready and in attendance for examina
tion ? Joseph w. Holden, the son an
accomplice of Governor w. w. Holder
heads the list. He has been an Office
| holder fattpninu IN tha oorruntionS r