The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-24
THE MISSISSIPPI MURDERS
Election Carried by Force,
Fraud and Assas 5ination
Report of Investigating Committee.

Report of Investigating Committee.
MessrF. Boutwell,, Cameron at Wis
c. nsln. and Mcmillan, at Minnesota,
presented their report in he Senate Aug
ust Z hall cLncurring in every part oft.
II will astound the people of the North.
It presents the most appalling pictures of
fraud and crime ever brought before the
American people since the horrors of
Andersonvllle were first revealed The
evidence taken before The committee will
fully support these conclusions:
1 That force, fraud, a nd intimidation
were used generally and successfully ia
the political canvass IF 1875.
9. That Go vernon Ames was a man of
personal integrity and an able chiefmagis-
trate, and that his fitness was admitted
by hi politica! opponents.
3. That tn, re were many persons in
office, especially elective officers, who
were incapable and dishones', but. that
this fact is az true Of the Democratic as of
thu Republican counties, and that nett her
the Governor For the masses Of the party
sustained them, but, on the contrary,
that they were generally driven rom
Office. HI
4. That while it is true that some of
he recent citizens, or carpet bag gers,
betrayed the trust confded to them, the
majority were intelligent, upright, and
brave meu from the North, who we're
entirely ,lncorruptible. and who are now
struggling against great odds to secure
ii just administration Of public affairs
5. That the rate OF increase of taxas of
Mississippi before and after The war is
much less than in some of the Northern
States, where no complaint is made
against them. This complaint is consid-
cred at some length.
6. That there was 10 justification what
ever IN any wrongs or errors of Republic
can administration for the ou'rages and
crimes committed to overthrowlt.
Z. That the charge that GovernorAmes
attempted to organize the black against
the white race, by NEGRO militia" has
no foundation i'll fact, as the evidence
shows that native-born citizens who had
served in the Confederate army were &C.
cepted by him, and commanded as
officers, and that it was his purpose TO
solicit and accept recruits from all of the
people of the State.
s. That although this act occurred after
a serious of assassinatIons following the
Clinton riot). which left the government
powerless to keep the peace, it was made
the pretext by the Democrats for openly
organizing and arming themselves in mil
itary clubs, by which the coiored inhabi-
tants and WhitevRepublicans of the State
were oVerawed, lntlmidated,, and depriv-
ed of their rights as citizens.
8. That these companies committed nu-
merous murders of citizens who lad been
ard then were active in the Republican
party.
10. That tue Governor not only not
in organizing militia. but
that it was Ills duty to do so, and shat the
conduct of the Democracy in arning to
resist il was unlawful, and ought to have
been suppressed, either By the State or
national authorities.
II. THAI the riot at Clinton and the
bloody massacre on the following Sunday
were in harmony with the policy previ-
ouslY adopted by the Democrats in that
vicinity, and designed to intimidate and
parelyze the Republican. party.
10. That che allegation that the negroes
were orga aized into military bands for
the destruction of the white race was a
pretext made for the formation of Demo-
cratic armed companies, as the evidence
shows not only were the blacks not armed
to any extent, but that those who had
arms were furnished with inferior and
secoL d-hand weapons, aud that their lead
ers, both religious and political every
where discountenanced the resort to force.
49,. That in sentence it may be assert
ed that all the statements made tina. there