The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-12-25
DayaId'S Remarks OH MiSslS-
sippi.

OF documents, written ny
of persons in Mississippi de-
failing the circumstances attending
the recent election. The statement
he'proposed to lay before the Senate
was not of his own knowledge, but
was received from Others. lie re-
viewed the election in Mississippi AZ
far back rs 1869. The last election
was $4,000 higher than any vote poll
ed.
The Democratic vote in 1875 was
96,sOG, against 44,2l6 in 1873. The
Republican vote fell off, but not in a
corresponding ratio. He read letters
showing intimidation in several coun-
ties.
Mr.. Bayard said this resolution,
so far as lie knew, was without a pre-.
cedent in the Senate, and he would
like to inquire Of the Senator from
Indiana tMorton) under what clause
of the Constitution Of tho United
States he found authority to make the
inquiry in case Of this kind.
Mr.. Morton said no did not pro-
pose now to 90 into q constitutional
argument upon this question. He
had ony to say that it had been de-
cided heretofore as in the Louisiana
case, besides the enforcement act had
been violated in Mississippi, and the
blow had fallen upon the colored PEG.
pie, as it was intended to.
Mr.. Bayard denied that tho Iouis-
lana case was similar t. this; that
investigation was under clause OF
the Constitution which made the Sen
ate the sole Judge Of the claims for
seats in that body.
If law had been violated in Missis-
sippi tho courts were open, and this
was government Of laws those
courts were open for the Indictment
Of offenders, and for damages against
those who wronged others. In those
courts the remedy was to be found ;
it could not be said that the political
or party friends of the Senator from
Indiana in Mississippi had not full
and equal chance before the law eth
er in the United States or State
courts.
The officers all over the State, from
the Governor down to the constable,
were of the Senator's party, and if
they could not punish violators oflaw,
it was q sad confession for the Sen.
ator from Mississippi to make. When
the new Senator from Mississippi
came here with his credentials, il
there wcro grounds that lie was moi
qualified, then tho Senate could SIT
as Judges, but until that time, nc
action could he taken. When be.
fore in the history of this country
did tho Senate Of the United States
propose to take testimony in regard
to the election Of members Of the
other House Of Congress as this res
olution proposed to do?
The Constitution provides tina
each House shall be the judge Of tn
qualifications of its own members
The Governor Of Mississippi asked TO
Federal troops before the election tt
keep the people Of that State in awe
The correspondence between him ant
the head Of the Department of justice
was known to all. Gov. Ames faile,
to show that any cause existed 70
Federal interference.
Mr.. Bayard then referred to the lat
message of the President, and sail
there was not one word in it abou
Southern affairs. The Department o
Justice had its agents down there
gathering information for the guild
ance of that department. There wa
not one word or suggestion as Il
these alleged wrongs. If these thing
existed there, it was remarkable tha
the President If tho United State
maintained dead silence on the sub
ject.
All this matter came from the Sen
ator from Indiana, who always seem
ed to have in his possession statement
hostile toward the peace Of the Soutl,
ern States-some assertions withou
character against the whole people o
that country. This was revolution
airy proposition. It was but anothe
step in the march toward the conso
lidation Of power, which the peopl
of this, country must see.
I This was the first time that tn
Senate of the United States sough
to take testimony concerning the cleo
ton of members in the other Hous
Of Congress. At the time these South
ern people were helpless and bleed
ing at the foot of the Senator from