The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-01-15
The mississippi Investigating
Committee.

JACKSON, Mss, January l4.-Judge
Brown, in his testimony last night, said
he had left Vicksburg on q special train
on Wednesday night after the fight, at
the request Of prominent citizens, who
thought his life might b. endangered by
remaining, He got on train which had
no lights, at the machine shops adjacent,
Mr., Packer testified to-day that the
Governor ordered him to Vicksburg;
after Crosby's arrival on Sunday, he
thought the matter would be peaceably
settled by Crosby giving new bond; that
after finding that thsnegrOCs were coming
in be had tried to get them turned back,
as heretofore noted, After Crosby's ar
rest he had written his resignation at his
(CrOSby's) request; never gave him any
advice IN regard to il, but thought his
resignation was caused by intimidation,
as hc had heard McArdlc say in y crowd
that the United States troops were COM
ing and Crosby would DO hung don't
think Crosby would have resigned
unless froh fear, Under the law none
OF tho militia officers Of ViCksburg at
the time were legally acting as such;
thought the cOlored officer was the only
one 10 be depended on, Crosby never told
me he had ordered the county negroes
10 come in; think the citizens were prob
ably justified in raising q force 10 keep
the bodies Of armed negroes out; don't
think ii had told the Board that Cros-
by's resignation was invalid at the time,
that his or my lie would have been safe
in the excited state Of feeling then,
Major Gibbs, Auditor Of State, was
next examined In reference to the States
finances, lie promised to make writ.
ten statement for the use Of tho Commits
tee, He stated that the State tax on real
estate in 1869 was one mill; that 1t was
now fourteen mills, and in Warren coun-
~ double that,
Governor Ames wus examined at great
length, IEc said that when he returned
last July he found numerous commune
cations In reference to troubles preceding
the August election IN Vicksburg, and
asking for troops 10 preserve the peace
aud prevent Intimidation by armed bodies
Of whites; asked for troops, and tho Presi.
dent declined owing TO the infOrmality Of
The call; when Crosby came to him he told
him, after consulting with the Attorney
General, that he had authority to sum.
mon the power Of the county to regain
his Office, and sent his Adjutant General
to assist him; regretted that the cOlored
militia companies were the only ones that
could be depended on to assist Crosby;
thought the mistake Crosby made was In |
issuing his call surreptitiously and in not
putting himself at ia head. The Adju- |
tant when he returned from NicksbIrg
said the White Leaguers would kill Cros- |
by. The Governor believed that the policy
Of the white line was, Caucasians against
tho world, and that no negro should
hold office; that the blacks had q majority
Of fifteen or twenty thousand In the State
md the white leagues proposed TO over.
come this by violence rs recently instanced
In Warren County, The Governor was
then cross-examined at great length, tho |
points Of which were that he came to the
State Us a commander in 1900; concluded
to settle here in December Of that year,
md was elected Senator the following |
january; II he had not beeh elected he |
would probably have remained In the
army. One cause OF his determination,
was formed from the fact that the blacks
werc living under n black code worse
than slavery, and were deprived OF all
legal rights, and he thought their freedom
depended on the success Of the Republican |
cause. lie had signed his credentials MS
Senator himself ~ The provisional Cover
nor, State not having been admitted into
the Union; that he had bought property
two years ago and paid more taxes than
some Of those who were bowling about him
not being a tax payer; don't know that he
bought propertytoqulet the clamOr about
his being Il non tax payer. Such things,
as have been suggested to him by friends,
might have been forced on these people
as Mr.. Grant was forced into the Prcsi-
llcncy. XII.
Nj. Sullivan, Of lhe Legislative In
yeStigatiDg Committee, gave as u resolu.
lion that the Committee sit with closed
doors, because The nGgroS would be alrnid
to testify IN an open room.
The Committee then adjourned 10 meet
IL Washington. The Committee will
leave this afternoon via Louisville.