The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-17
oRI0ODY NISSISSIPPE"-G HE
FACTS EIIGIEED.

.RIOODY MISSISsIPPI"-C:I
FACTS EIlCifED.
We have read with care both the ma
iorlty and minority reports of the Mis-
sissippi investigating committee, and are |
entirely willing that they be printed to-
gether and placed in the hands of every
voter in America. The truth has so shorn
the muchtalked of outrages OF their cnor-
mites and given such turpitude to the
acts of Governor Amcs, that the white
people of Mississippi are exalted for their
torbearancc, in the minds of unpreiu
diced men. the country over.
BY the unfair but peculiarly radical
ruling of the majority of the committee.
the white citizens involved in the So
called outrages, were not permitted to
enter an appearance, personally or by
representative. On the other hand negro
witnesses were permitted to crowd the
committee room, to detail their fears and
coniectures. and give interpretations to
the acts of the whites wholly unwar-
ranted by the facts Yet the investiga-
ton, almost wholly er parte, failed to
connect any of the scenes of riot and
bloodslIed with political affairs, or with
any issue growing out of the then pend
| ing state election.
The riot at Clinton. the bloodiest oc-
currence into which inquiry was made.
had its origin in drunken brawl, in
which a white boy stabbed negro. The
boy was pursued and cut to pieces. The
negroes then organized and threatened
to devastate the country. The whites.
believing their lives and property en-
dangered, organized and armed them
selves, and killed eight negroes who
were known to be encouragcrs of the
proposed massacre of the whites. Sub
.equently the whites and blacks met in
| council. formed n treaty of peace. and
thus ended the bloody affair at Clinton.
The troubles in Columbus. Lowndcs
county, like those ut Clinton, had no
connection with politics. On the even
ing preceding the late election the citi-
Zens of Columbus were informed OF Il
purpose upon the part Of the negroes,
who greatly outnumber the whites. to
| burn and sack the city. That such a di-
abOlcal purpose was entertained is
| shown by the testimony of Lieutenant
Owen, commander of the negro company
subsequently captured at Nieksburg. He
testified that but Tor notice mot to
come, he would have been in Columbus
before nightfall, with a gun in one hand.
coal-oil can in the other and box of
matches in his pocket Without
| Lieutenant Owens assistance, however.
the town was fired at point remote from
the center. While the citizens We're pr o.
sounded in another quarter, and thus
alarm succeeded alarm until the eighth
had been sounded. No other conclusion
could be formed but that the negroes
threats, and that the community was on
the verge of great disaster. AS a de
tensive measure the marshal took semi
military possession of the city at once, to
prevent the free circulation Of the people
giving his subordinates orders 10 halt
every man who was not known, and 70
shoot him if he disobeyed. Under these
orders the patrols shot and killed fouI
negroes. No political significance wa,
given to this occurrence even by the ma
jority of the committee, vet it is still
used by the Mortons of the North as ir
refragible proof that Democratic ascend
ency in Mississippi was achieved through
means that make 1.-The blood of the pa
triot fairly curdle in his veins
The Wilkinson county troubles had
their origin in the brutal murder of a
white store keeper named Aaronson, by
a body OF negroes who were in search OF
another white man, with the charitable
intent OF hanging him.
/, And so on to the end. 1t is not
: claimed that the white citizens of Mis-
sissippi have not embrued their hands
in negro blood-sometimes without just
proyocation; but ii is insisted that the
bloodshed was not due to political eX
element. or 10 any purpose to scare thC
colored voter into the support OF the
Democratic candidates. No other con
clusion can be formed after careful
reading of both reports and so unayoid
able is such conclusion that the Repub
; lican party dare not and will not put tn,
full result OF the committees labors int
the hands OF the people.
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