The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-03-02
GENERAL TELEGRAMS.
THE vIcKsBURG REPORT.


THz MINORITY REPORT ON THE vIcKsBURG
TRoUBLE-soME REMARKS SOMEWHAT
PARTIzAN.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.-Representatives
Speer, of Pa, and O'Brisn, of Md, OF
the Mississippi special committee, have
united in a report concluding as fo
lows from a review of the whole testi-
mony: We briefly state our conclusion:
L. That in the city, OF Vlcksburg and
county of Warren the white citizsns pay
about % per cent. of the taxes, which bav
grown enormously oppressive, and that the
negroes chiefly assess, collect ana uisouse
them. 2. The debt OF the city which In
1869 was $4,000. is s,4OO. 600 as
far. far it can .ccn3o o u,stsd ahses'ained tois
sum By reckless and impr0videns
legislation by republican officials, and is a
grievOus burden imposed on a population OF
II 600 people, less than halt OF whom are
white people. 3. That corrupt and infa-
znous ring, composed of negro officials, ex-
listed in said city and county for several
years, who, by forgeries, peculation and
ssystematIzsd frauds on the revenue have
impaired public credit, impoverished the
people and augmented the taxes to rates re-
sultinp in practical confscation. 4. Peter
Crosby, the sheriff and tax collector, was a
political and personal friend OF the corrupt
officials, aud, by his power in summOnlng
juries, their conviction was rendered prartl-
cally impossible; that the sheriff admitted 70
bail his political friends when charged with
the gravest offenses on bonds ntoriously
worthless was the chief impeachment TO the
administration of Justice in the court. D.
Judge Brown had publicly declared thai the
prosecution of CardoZa, the leader OF the
ring, tor malfeasance in office was persecu-
ton, when no honest man Of either party
doubts his guilt, and by his partizanshlp nac
destroYed the public confidence in the tTl-
bunal over which he presided. g. The tax
payers league was organized irrespective OF
politics or color, and that its sole object, as
stated in it's constitution, and declared
in its meetings, was to secure capable
officials and honest government. 4 The
honds OF Crosby, as sheriff and tax col
Iector, were utterly insufficient, If not WORTH
less. s. The board of supervisors were ad-
Vised of the utter insuthclency or tne
Crosby bonds but corrGptly declined TO
compel him. as law requires, to give BONDS.
g. That the time having arrived tor the col
lection OF the taxes, the tax payers having
no adequate remedy are justified IN the de-
mand FOR Crosby's resignation and his res
ignation was voluntary and not the result
of violence or threats. 10. The conflict OF
Decamber z, resulting in the killing of two
white and twerty-four cOlOred persons, was
solely and wholly caused by an armed at
tempt of the negroes of Warren county to
Invade Yicksburg; that the invasion was
INcrTED AND INsTIaATED
and encouraged to take this course, and
was promised aid by Gov. Ames. IL. That
the defense of the city was made under the
direction of the mayor, and all the prepara-
tiOns and the conduct of citizens We're jnsti-
ned by natures highest law, self preserva-
ton. They acted in defense OF their fami-
lies and homes. ANY other cause would
have been cruelty to the families of both
races, for, as Gen. Packer testified, IL was a
mercy 70 the women and children, white
and black, that the negroes were prevented
from entering the city. II. Tpat the purpose of
the invaders was only linlfed by the will of
the leaders, and that if they succeeded in en-
tering the city they would have been as
sisted by large number Of well armed and
thoroughly organized negroes in the city,
who were ready TO cooperate with them.
l3. That there is not and has not been any
organized resistance at Vicksburg, on the
part of the whites, to lawful authority, but
on the contrary, the whites, owning nearly
all the property and paying nearly all the
taxes, were sincerely desirous of preserving
the peace and good order. Their interests,
social and business, give strength to this de-
sire and patience, which, exhibited under
accumulated wrongs, such ~ citizens OF a
Northern city would not tolerate for
a day, Is the marvel OF our
civilization. IA. There is no white lesgue.
or political organization in Mississippi,
whose object is TO deny to colored men, be-
cause Of color, or for any reason, any rights
guaranteed by law; nor is there any politi-
cal organization of whites which has any
other object than to secure the election
honest officials. 10 That the call of the
governor on the president for military aid
was based on partiZsn statements devoid oi
truth. At the time the call was made Vicks
burg was as quiet and as peaceable as any
city of tbs same population in tlie United
States, and has so remained to the present.
is. After Crosby's resignation Flanagan was
elected sheriff and took peaceaole possession
of the Office. whether he or Crosby was
legal sheriff was question tor the courts
alone to determine, and yet in shameless
disregard Of the civil law of tho rights oi
citizens, Flanagan has been marched out o.
the court house by the troops at the point
of the bsyOnet. IL. That the condition o.
Mississippi is indeed deplOrable with gov
eruor who has declared that il not in Office
be would not reside in the state il given tht
whole of it. With corruption prevailing
to an alarming extent in the counties where
the negroes and carpet-baggers control
with property depreciating, and taxes in
.creasing. utter ruin can be arrested only by
restoring to the people honest government
and the control of their own affairs withou
interference from the army.
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