National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-11
The H1ss1ssIppI ELECr1oE A FRAUD.

There can be no one, however Indifferent
10 the great interests of this country, who
will not readily confess that the situation in
tie past and in the present to which Mis-
sissippi is reduced, whether it has arisen
from the violence of political factions or
-. from an arbitrary system Of government,
justifes the most serious apprehensions,
and earnestly demands the exercise Of all
the wisdom and vigilance within the scope
of the National Government An element
comprising the worst ingredients Of an
effete social system has interfered with the
constitutional rights of q majority of the
State, and by a series of warlikc demon
STATIONS and threats Of personal violence
has barred certain class of citizens from
the exercise of the franchise power and
from free participation IN the affairs of
local and State government. Nor has this
mob element ceased in IFS unlawful de-
monstrations after accomplishing these
grieVous wrongs. The same spirit which
violated the freedom OF election now in
vades the sacred precincts of the State adj
ministration, and threatens to impeach the
authorities should they attempt to exer-
else q privilege heretofore undisputed
of making such appointments as may
in the judgment of the executive of the
Commonwealth seem best. They have
taken upon themselves the responsibility
of openly charging the Governor Of
Mississippi that IN case he fills the
vacancies which are to occur next year in
the judgeships and chancellorships of the
State with men who are to them politically
inimical, they will forthwith impeach him
and secure an executive who will cater to
their wishes and comply with their de-
mands. The mob have thwarted a majority
of the citizens the State in the free exercise
of the franchise, and now, by open threats,
declare that they will fetter the privileges
which ccnstitutionally reside in the Exec
utive, and by acts of riot insurgency, and
violence have placed themselves in posi-
ton to execute their miserable menaces
This is the true position of the Mississippi
administration to-day, and the serious ques-
ton arises for the consideration of the
American people of how can this wretched
political condition bealleyiated? The SUBJ
ieess who are truly loyal to the Chiefmagis-
trate of the Commonwealth will not advise
or submit to the arbitrary measures thus
ATTEMPTED TO be forced upon them by
the insidious element in the body-politic
of the State which has won a brief author
ity by unlawful and fraudulent means.
But in sections where force predominates,
which is shrewdly and dishonorablY man
ipulated in expressing the weak and pre-
venting them from the use OF privileges
constitutionally conferred, the Executive
who would oppose this tyranny is utterly in.
capable of executing his wish. Thus it is
that to-day, while we find the citizens of
most of the States in the Union in the free
and full exercise of all the rights pertaining
to an unfettered citizenship ia other COM
monwealths, and more particularly in
Mississippi, we discover them suffering I'M
der the domination Of force which has
absolutely wrenched from them the priv
ileees guaranteed by the Constitution
both of the nation and the State. 1t has
been said by prominent member from
Mississippi that the freedom OF election in
his State had been maintained. Was it
maintained by placing cannon at the polls |?
Was 1t maintained by the armed bands Of
masked murderers who committed four
hundred political base assassinations just
prior TO and on the day of election2 Was
it maintained by open and persistent
threats 10 murder those who attempted to
vote the Republican ticket Was it main