The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-09-19
now .so..A.ra ~; E.:s.,.a. ar. Car

1
The Investigation in the MISSISSIPPI
election Of 1875 by the committee O
the United States Senate has developed
the main outlines of what the Democ
racy of the South call the Mississippi
plan" (which consists in terrifying by
murder and threats of violence, a ma
iority Of the voters OF State, so thaI
they absent themselves from the polls
and allow the minority to run the cleo
tion 10 suit themselves. The testimo.
ny before that committee. shows some
particulars in regard 10 the working OF
the Mississippi plan, which have not
yet been brought before the attention
OF the public, but which deserve the
attention OF every voter. Mr.. James
Redpath, the secretary Of the commit
tee, has embodied some Of this testi-
mony in letter to the Cincinnati Ga
zette. He gives evidence in regard TO
the elections in half q dozen counties
In Mississippi, of which we take two
samples. tChickasaw county has a
black population of 10, ,069 aud o white
population of $3.50. In 1878 the vote
was as follows: Republican, l,463;
Democrats, 976. In 1875 il was Rs-
publican, 987; Democratic, 1,778. How
was this immense gain secured? On
the 26th OF last January William ID.
Fraze, a Federal officer, wrote q letter
to the Govsrnor showing how the
Democrats carried Chickasaw county,
and large number of witnesses before
the Oxford grand jury corroborated
every statement in the letter. For
weeks prior TO the election the larger
part OF the Democratic party OF the
county was organized into military
companies, who visited the residences
OF the most prominent colored Repub-
licans and fred into them. The Dem
ocratic clubs passed resolutions not to
employ or lease lands to persons vot-
ing the Republican ticket. Democrat
10 speakers at mass meetings drew pis-
tolls and, fourishing them, shouted:
These are the arguments We expect to
carry the election with" "To sum
up" says Mr.. Frazee, "if i were to
state that this county, for two weeks
prior to the election and one week af-
ter, was a hell upon earth, / would
only tell the truth. i was told by
Democratic friends that they thought
my life was in danger on account of
the political excitement, and was ad-
yised by them to be on my guard all |
the time. Almost any Republican in |
Iho UUuuty vUuid tell enough 30 iavali- |
tate dozen elections il they were not |
afraid TO tell the truth"
In 1873, Colfax county had l $50 |
votes, and only Al Demo |
Gratis, but in 1875 1,737 Democratic |
votes were counted in and only $50 Re-
publican The clerk OF the Chancery
court of the county, in letter to Gov. |
Ames, shows that mobs OF Democrats |
from neighboring towns and counties |
poured into Clinton and struck terror |
nto the blacks of Colfax county by
general slaughter Of |
legroes few days before the election,
thirty and forty negroes hay
ng been assissinated. The remaidder
VI the negro Republicans were CON-
,letely intimidated, and white Repub-
leans were driven out Of the county.
The whole county wns at the mercy of
! rabble from other counties, and, OF
course, went Democratic.
The Mississippi plan, as il operated
q these four counties, operated all
'ver the State The Republican vo-
ers were compelled either 10 remain at
iome and lose their vote, or, il they
,ersisted in demanding their right to
massacre were the details of the Mis-
issippi plan, by which the Democrats
arried the State, The testimony on
his point is unimpeachable. The let
ers and documents on this point have
ever been answered. The evidence of
Iundreds Of witnesses TO the same Of
ect has never been controverted. IL
hese things happen in State election,
Shat may we not expect in the Presi-
Iential election? IL such things are
under Republican admins
ration, what hope has the negro or the
hite Republican, Of the right of suf-
rage under the administration OF
rilden and Hendricks