The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-08
THE MISSISSIPPI TROUBLE.
TWO REPORTS BY THE CONGRESS
INQUIRY COMMITTEE.
The Republican Majority Report Chnrpipr
the Disorders to Democrats-Tbe Very
Different View Taken by tho Minority.


the Disorders TO Democrats-Tbe Very
Different View Taken by the Minority.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-The report pre-
sented by Senator Boutwell,, In behalf of the ma
jority Of the Mississippi Investigating Commit.
tee, reaches the conclusion that the present
Legislature OF Mississippi was elected by fraud
and intimidation, and u. therefore. not legal
body. The resignation of Gov. Ames was ille-
ealIy effected 10y this body; that Gov. Ames Is
not amenable to any just charge affecting his
integrity OF fitness as Chief Magistrate; that
there were no foundation for reports that ne
groes were armed, or we're arminG and massinG
In large bodies for the destruction Of
the whites, there being no such organizations.
that outrages were perpetrated in the counties
OF Alcorn, Amite, Chickasaw, Claiborne, Clay
Copiah De Soto, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes,
Kemper Lee, Loundss, Madison, Marshall. Mon
roe, Noxubee. Rankin, Scott, Warren, washing
ton. and Yazoo and that the Democratic victo-
RACES so penetrated. II, In the coun-
ties named. there had been free cleo
tion, Republican candidates would have
been chosen; that the State OF Mississippi 10 at
present under the control OF political oreaniza-
lions, composed largely OF armed men, whose
he free exercise OF their right OF suffrage that
these oreanzations will, II left to themselves.
retain control by force and fraud; that the
power OF the national Government will be In
voked, and should be exercised, in order TO
OF government TO the State Of Mississippi. The
report concludes:
The measures necessary and possible in an ereency
the S prCiecon oi ciiens IN The fespsctye states
son,Toed by BY bodies Of armed men, should be denied
representation In Congress- thrd the constitutional
State o. win the United Il these
e 10 na M s
territorial condition. anu through sJstem OF public
education and kindred means change the ideIs u the
Inhabitants and reconstruct the Government on q
republican basis.
The minority OF the committee. Messrs. Bay
ard and Mcdonald, present their views at length.
They say that, while writing them, they read
with surprise and regret the message OF the
President Of July 81, Transmitting to Congress
certain correspondence relating to the murders
lately ccmmitted at Hamburg, ~ ,-hlch he saws
But recently committee o. the Senate q the United
on the subject OF frauds and violence in elections.
Their report has not yet been made pubc, but await
faIy settle al thai nave stated retailing to fraud and
violence In the state OF Mississippi
In his letter of the 28th Of July to Gov. Cham
berain, be had stated:
Mississippi is governed TO-DAY By ofncals chosen
through fraud aud yioenee sucn as would scarcely be
Christian people.
This last statement, come II from whom II
may, we pronounce, In the face OF the testimony
taken by this committee, and not vet printed, to
be untrue and unwarranted by the facts
Scoos Tss % tS tone Of to the
throughout the Presidents message and letters
Is unmlstakable. In his lye OF July 81, six
SAYS; The report ION MississippD ba. not
s,,o,N se, been MADE % public. Why should he
men everywhere discreditable for the Chief
Maaistrate thus to have exhibited such evidence
OF prejudice against any portion OF his fellow
citizens. It adds. however, but another proof
to many given heretofore that the heart and
Of justice where his political opponents, espeo-
Tally in the southern States, are concerned.
When Gov. Ames took his seal on Iha-J Jst day
State who was not member OF the hepu el,can
party. There was not a county omcial 10 be ap-
pointed by the Governor who was not In
SiSs' Ssn conna,es-and nu nd ali were Republican in
which negroes we're In maloily-erwenJ every
the entire coniroI OF the state was in the hands.
OF Gov. Ames and his party associates. In AL
these Republican strongnolds IN 'n, wn,on sne are
alleged to have existed, It Is noted that the en-
tire ocal po ser was in Republican hands.
RepublIcan system OF missoycrnment upon
| real estate and property, and shows a.
some length and that sarssn:d SGH A9s %s
| and speaks OF the State militia being Or
sspi1ed preparatory TO bs ,se mssa Notorious
| and unscrupulous partisans, black and white OF
| the state Administration, many OF them oelng
the white population, and violence, boodsned,
| and force, as the only arbiter Of tne eleStion,
were first 'usTss.'a sne STATE % on Ms.issipp,
by Gov. Ames and his politicas associates.
Inc minority say & 10 jSs'lty ys5,b any ,eSISn Amsna
| ment the obstruction OF the right TO vote
| must be for sole reason OF race, color or pre-
| yious condition. &c, and there IL no power In
| Congress to interfere for any other cause what
ever There is not from the beginning 10 tne
end OF this testimony single case Oh tne 40,
struction of a voter bt cause he was a colored
| man A vast majority OF he people OF Mlssissipp'
| have element that constitutes a good American
| citizen, but they have been victims OF misruie
which they sought in vain to avoid or remedy
| Tue reformation in Legislation and administra
tlon Il Mississippi by the party III contfol Slhet s
With great benefits to the entire community
Inc minority make few remarks upon ,ne tnt
| condition OF Mississippi In June last. sallhl
| tbat mo- act of a dsorderiy or turbulent nature
WIS witnessed by the committee. and no slRhi
Of enmity or incvilty were ehhloiteu ou,, M oI o
the contrary, courtesy and rerpect were on al
hands extended TO the committee. Inc poNeIt
OF the people was apparent IN theT tue gIfp 80
, ABSENCE OF good and comfortable vehicles
Ihe only exhioition OF pleasure seeking VIII
messed was by coio,en reepe, MIND Snd whos
Z holiday excursions, by railway, started from lh
depot opposite. The only cannon sonnu wa wa
| from their Republican ratification meeting, an
theirs was tue only music heard oy us III Mis
| sissippi. , , m
often painfully apparent In groups Of wltnesse
| VINO clustered upon tue long gallelles,Wrelche
. 10 appearance, end miseraolY e'au nv,nS S
house. Ipterferierense 9y Fedsrs, aItn3r''SS Sa
: anse,lv ennse 'nS TAKEN place, and never withot
deploi ble and disastrous results, ana on y, w
other hand the appGs'9n1b ,n bs OF nevertbeie inIi
5HaS dsnisS BY federal a s%sss,a,'i';. w.%S' s.Ms
c,snt results. such Interference has alwa,
- been followed land very naturally oy local di
!. SOa'eh SOa Aiabams. While virginia, North Carolin
Georgla, Texas, and Arkansas are hylns Pro. proc