The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-02-27


connection with the matter.
The Court here adjourned.
Mr.. Tracy will continue on Monday.
Report on Mississippi Affairs.
Representative Speer, of Pennsylvania,
and o Brien, of Maryland, Of the Missls-
/ sippi special committee, have united IN II
/ report concluding as follows
From review of the whole testimony
We briefly state our conclusions.
First-That in the city of Nicksburg,
county of Warren, the white citizens pay
+ about 90 per cent Of the taxes, which
/ have grown enormously oppressive, and
that negroes chiefly assess, collect and
/ disburse them.
Second-That the debt of the city,
winch in 1869 was $4,000 is now
/ 81 100000 as far u can be ascertained.
/ That it has accumulated to this sum
by reckless and improvident legislation
by Republican officials, and is a grevious
| burden imposed on a population
! of 1000 people, less than half of whom
are white people.
Third-That Il corrupt and infamous
ring composed of negro officials has ex-
istcd in said city and country for several
years, who by forgeries, peculation and
svstematizcd frauds on the revenues,
have impaired public credit, impoverish-
ed the people, augmented taxes to rates
resulting in practical contiscation.
Fourth-That Peter Crosby, the Sher-
. 1T and tax collector, was political and
N 4 al
I by his power in oummoning juries their
conviction was rendered practically I'M
possible, that the Sheriff admitted to bail
/ his political friends when charged with
/ the grosest offence on bonds utterly
worthless and was the chief implement
/ to the administration to justice TO court.
Fifth-That Judge Brown had public
" declared that the prosecution of
Cardoza, the Leader of the ring, for NAL
fra,ancc in office, was persecution, when
no honest man in Nicksburg Of either
party doubts his guilt, and by his parti-
sanship had destroyed public confidence
in the tribunal over which he presided.
Sixth-That tho taxpayers league
WAS organized irrespective Of politics, or
color and that its sole object, aS stated in
it, constitution and declared in its meet
ing was to secure capable officials and
an honest government.
Fourth-That the bonds of Crosby as
sheriff and tax collector, were utterly in
Sufficient, if not absolutely worthless.
Eighth-That the Board of Supervis-
ors were advised of the utter insufiiciency
of CrJ,by's books, but cCrruptly declined
to compel him, as the law requires, to
give good and sufficient bonds
Ninth-That the time having arrived
for the collection of taxes the tax payers
having no adequate remedy, We're just
fled in their demand for Crosbys resig-
nation, and that his resignation was vol
untary and the result of violence or
threats.
Tcnth-Thc conflict Of December 7, re-
sulting in the killing of two white and
tweHty-tour colored persons, was solely
and wholly caused by an armed attempt
of the negroos of Warren county
to invade Vicksburg; that
this invasion was melted and
instigatcd by Peter Crosby and that
Crosby was advised and encouraged to
take this course and was promised aid in
it bv Governor Ames.
Elcvcnth-Thut the defense of the city
was made under the direction of the
Mayor, and that all the preparations and
conduct of the citizens were justified by
natures highest law, self preservation,
/ They acted in defense of their families
and their homes, any other course would
have been cruelty to the families of both
races, for as General Packer testified
that it was Il mercy to the women and
children. white and black, that the
negroes were prevented from entering
the city.
TwcIfth-That the purpose of the in.
yadcrs was limited by the will of their
leaders, aud if they had succeeded in en-
tcring the city they would have been IL.
sisted by larger number of well arurd
and thoroughly organized negroes, who
were ready to support them.
No Organized Resistance TO COnsti
tuicd Authority.
Thirtccnth-That there is not, and
has not been, any organized resistance at
Nicksb burg. on the part of the whites to
lawful authority but on the contrary the
whites own nearly all the property, pay
ing nearly all the taxes, and are sincerely
DESTROYS of preserving peac" and good
order; their interests, social and business,
give strength to this desire, and the pa
tience they have exhibited under accum-
ulatcd wrongs and outrages, such u the
citizens of northern city would not toll
crate for day, Is a marvel OF our civili-
zation.
ourtccnth-Thcrr Is No white league
or political organization in Mississippi,
whose object l. to deny the colored men,
because of color or for any reason, amy
rights or privileges guaranteed by law
nor is there any political organization Of
white men which has any other object
than to secure the election of honest and
capable officials.
Fittccnth-That the call Of the Gov
ernor and President tor military
aid was based on parti-
san sentiments, utterly devoid of
truth. and ut the time the call was made
Nicksburg was rs quiet and pcaceablc AS
any city of the same population in the
United States, and has sorcmained to the
present hour.
Sixtccn.h-Altrr Croshy'S resignation
Flanagan was elected sheriff, and took
pcaccable possession of office, Whether
he or Crosby was the legal sheriff, was
question for the courts alone TO determine,
yet in shameless disregard ofthc laws and
rights of the citizens, Flanagan has been
marched out of the court house by Unit
ed States soldiers, at the point of the
hayonct.
Condition Of the State Dcplorable.
Scvcntccnth-Tha the condition Of
Mississippi is indeed dcpIorablc, with "a
Governor who has declared that if not
in Office he would not reside IN the State
if given the whole it; with corruption
prevailing to an Alarming extent in the
countir, where negroes and carpet bag
gers shave control, with property dcpre-
ciating and taxes iucrcaslngi utter ruin
can be arrested only by restoring to the
people honest government and control