The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-03-05
MISSISSIPPI.
The Vicksburg jority and
Minority Reports by the Committee.

The Vicksburg Investigation-Majo rity and
Minority Reports by the Committee.
The committee which visited Mississippi TO
investigate the condition of affairs in that State
have submitted two reports. the Republicans
uniting IN the majority report, and the Demo
Gratis in that OF the minority. The former
begins by giving statement of facts concern
ing the troubles arising out of the election
from Office of Peter Crosby, elected Sheriff of
Warren county, Miss, at the November cleo
ton of 1873. 1t states that shortly after ms
election there was formed in Vicksburg an AZ
ISOLATION called the Taxpayers League, the
object of which organization was to correct the
alleged misappHcation Of funds, both of the city
and county; that early in 1874 another organiza-
ton made It's appearance narrower in its pur-
poses, illegal in its aims and basing itself upon
the embodiment of force, and readiness TO use
violence for the purpose of controlling and
overthrowing the will OF the majority lawfully
expressed in the form of an election. This in
terror organization has not yet such precise form
and 80 distinct an existence in Louisiana
but IL unquestionably an extension into Misss-
sipp of the White League organization, whose
headquarters il in New Orleans. The purposes
OF these organizations are /. To make a cen
sus and enrolment of all white men i'm the
organizations all whites who will Join with them
3. To set aside, by whatever means may be
necessary, the election of colored men TO Office
and to nulify the Enforcement act. 4. To allow
none but white men to be elected to OF hold
Office.
The committee then recite fully the mems
taken by these organizations to control registra-
ton, by keeping out of the city of Vicksburg
under a show of force, any persons they choose
to keep out. They patroled the streets had
countersign; watched the steamboat landing,
| ferries, and roads and attended in armed bodies
at the registration of voters. The committee
review fully the causes leading to the election
OF Crosby from office state that the regularly
elected officers of the county were by violence
ousted from Office the entire records and
papers of the offices, the Court-House and all
| the county property unlawfully and riotously
seized upon by an unlawful combination of men.
not only without warrant of law. but in direct
and palpable violation and deliberate transgres-
sion of all principles and forms of law known to
any civilized people.
The committee then recite the facts concern
ing the Cherry street fight in Vicksburg, and
say that to read the reports of the newspapers,
or to take the testimony of some of the partici-
pants. the passage of the bridge of Lodi was
nothing to the fight on Cherry street and
they treat the engagement with great levitv.
They say the black people, on being fired upon,
scattered in all directions, singly or in groups.
and occasionally returned an Intellectual
fire. They then set forth the names of those
killed and the circumstances attending the
killings
They regard questions arising from the con-
dition of the public mind in those respects as
grave and serious the whole fabric of society
having been subverted by the war traditions
prejudice, habits and inherited beliefs having
been overthrow by irresistible force. They
discuss the old relation between master and
slave, the difference i'll condition, etc. They
picture the slave, brought from his lowly condi-
ton of servitude TO the memorable level of legal
md political equality. The changes in the war
brought no changes i'll human nature, and
though the war compelled obedience of
the conquered, it does not bring ODE
dience from the heart of the man who
lost his all by it. They do not say
there exists throughout the South a
hatred to the negro, merely because he il a ne
gro, but the hatred of negro officers of munich
palties, Legislature. and States liz intense.
They dislike TO recognize negroes in Office or on
jury duty. They are willing that they shall al
ways vote for white men, but they cannot in
duce them to abandon the party that liberated
them and gave them their rights, in the full ex-
ercse of which they are despised. Negroes are
incapable of combination, unfit for conspiracy
gentle in temper and enduring to a fault. The
whites control the land, commerce, press and
telegraph. buy correspondents, and give their
color to all views magnifylng the offenses Of
colored men, etc. The report conclude az
follows:
''The committee believe there is urgent necessity
for further action 10y this Congress, and in
recommending the passage of the caucus bill, and
the adoption Of the following:
80 ReSOlred That the violent overthrow of law and
order in Nicksburg justtes the application Of Gov.
Ames for troops, and the action of the President in
ordering them sent to that city"
THE MINORITY REPORT,
which is signed by Spear of Pennsylvania and
| O'Brien, of Maryland, concludes as follows:
From review of the whole testimony we briefly
state our conclusions:
! First-That in the city of Vicksburg and county
of Warren the white citizens pay about 90 per cent
of the taxes. which have grown enormously oppres-
sive, and the negroes chiefly assess collect, aud dis
| burse them.
second-That the debt of the city, which in 1869
was $4,000, is now 81 10000, far be as
certained; that IL has accumulated to this sum by
reckless and improvdent legislation by officials
and is a grievous burden imposed on a population
of IL 900 people less than half Of whom white
people.
! Third-That n corrupt and infamous ring. COM
posed Of negro officials, has existed in said city and
county for several years, who, by forgeries pecula
! ton, and systemized frauds on the revenue, have
impaired the public credit impoverished the people,
and augmented the taxes TO rates resulting in prac
teal confiscation.
FOurth-That Peter Crosby the Sheriff and Tax
Collector WAS the political and personal friend of
the corrupt officials, and by his power in sum
moning jurors, their conviction was rendered prac-
tically impossible that the Sheriff admitted TO bail
his political friends when charged with the gravest
offense, on bonds VIGOROUSLY worthless, was the
impeachment 10 the administration of justice in the
courts.
FVth-That Judge Brown had publicly declared
! that the prosecution of CORDOBA the leader of the
ring, for malfeassnce in office, was persecution
when no honest man in Vicksburg of either party
doubts his guilt and by his craftsmanship had de-
stroyed public confidence in the tribunal over which
| he presided.
Stnth-That the Tax Payers League was organized
irrespective of politics color and that its sole OBJ
ject, stated in its Constitution and declared in its
meetings, was to secure capable officials and honest
government.
.Ssrenth-Thst the bonds of Crosby as Sheriff and
Tax Collector were utterly insufficient, if abso-
! lutely worthless.
! Eighn-That the Board of Supervisors were adj
vised of the utter insuficiency of Crosby's bonds
but corruptly declined to compel him. the law re-
| quired, to give good and sufficient bonds.
Ninth-That the time having arrived for the col
lection of taS es, the taxpayers having adequate
remedy, justified in their demand for Crosbys
resignation, and that his resignation voluntary
and not the result of violence or threats
Terth-The conflict of Dec z. resulting in the kill
ing OF two whites and twenty-four colored persons
was solely and wholly caused by armed attempt
of the negroes of Warren county to invade Vicks-
burg; that this invasion melted and instigated
10y Peter Crosby, and that Crosby advised and
encouraged to take this course, and promised
aid in IL by Gov. Ames.
Elcuenth-That the defense a the city WIS made