Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-02
1EE4JPS ~ MISSISSIPPI.

The majority report of the house committee
which visited Mississippi gives statement OF facts
concerning the troubles arising out of the election
from office of Peter Crosby, elected sheriff Of War
rem county, Mississippi, at the November elections
of 1872. 1t states that shortly after his election
there formed in Nieksburg an association
called the Taxpayers League" the object OF
which was to correct the alleged misapplcatlon
of funds, both of city and county. That early i'll
| 1874 another organization made its appearance
| narrower in its purposes, illegal IN its AIMS and
basing itself upon an embodiment OF force and
readiness to violence for controlling and over
throwing the will Of the majority lawfully ex-
pressed in form of an election. This interior Or
ganizaton has not yet such precise form and so
distinct existence as in Louisiana; but it is un-
questonably an extension III Mississippi OF the
White League organization, whose headquarters
are at New Orleans. The purposes Of their organ
Zation are, first, to make census and enrolment
of all the white men in the State; second, to in
corporate into the interior military organizations
all the whites who may join with them; third, to
set aside by whatever means may be necessary the
election OF colored men to office, and to nullify the
enforcement act; fourth, to allow none but white
men to be elected or hold office.
The committee then recites fully the means taken
by these organizations to control registration by
keeping out of Nicksburg, under show of force,
any person they choose to peep out They pa
rolled the streets, had countersgns, watched III,
steamboat landings, ferries and roads, and attend
ed in armed bodies at the registration of voters.
The committee reviews the cause leading to the
election of Crosby from office, and states that the
regularly elected officers of the county were by
"ners" ousted from office, entire records, papers,
Offices the court house and all the county property
were unlawfully seized in direct and palpable vio-
lation and deliberate ransgression Of all principles
and forms Of law known to any civilized people.
The committee then rectes the facts concerning
the Cherry street tight in Ncksburg, and says, to
read the report Of the newspapers, or to take the
testimony Of some of the participants, the pas
sage of the bridge of Lodi was nothing to the
fight on Cherry street. The black people, on being
fired upon, scattered in all directions, sngy or in
groups, and occasionally returned an Intellectual
fire. The repoi Len sets forth the names Of those
killed, and the circumstances attending their kill
ing.
1t regards the questions arising from the condi-
ton Of the public mind in those respects as grave
and serioas, the whole fabric of society having
been subverted by war traditions prejudlces hab-
its and inherited beliefs having been overthrown
by irresistible force. Old relations between master
and slave are discussed the difference in condition,
ETC., and picture is drawn Of the slave brought
from scryiude to the level Of legal and political
equality. The changes of war brought no changes
in human nature, and though war compelled the
obedience of the conquered, 1t does not bring cbe-
dience from the heart of the man who lost all by it.
The report does not say there exists throughout
the South hatred to the negro merely because he
is a negro. but the hatred Of negro officers of mu
inequalities, legislatures and States is intense.
There is dislike to recognize the negro in office
or on jury duty. The conservatives are always WILL
ing that the negroes should vote for white men,
but they cannot induce the negroes to abandon the
party which liberated them and gave them their
rights. The negroes are incapable Of combination,
unfit for conspiracy, gentle in temper and endur-
ing to fault. The whites control the land, com-l
merce, the press and the telegraph wires, buy cor
respondents and give coler to all news magnitying
the offences of colored men, etc.
The report concludes as follows: The committee
believe there is urgent necessity for further action
by this Congress, and concur in recommending the
passage of the caucus bill and the adoption of the.
following "Resolved, That the violent over
throw Of law and order in Vicksburg justifes the
application of Gov 4Ames for troops aed the &C
ton of the President in ordering them sent to that
city"