The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-08-30

1875, a resolution was adopted vestins
him with an authority to appoint com
miItee, with himself as chairman, L
visit Washington and call upon ths
President for armed aid to the Republi-
can party in the ensuing canvass, which
resolution, and the action of the commit
tes under it, shows the character of tbs
campaign which they intended should bs
waged in that State. 1t may be here
mentioned that the prevalent idea among
the negroes and the handful of white:
whO led them in Mississippi seems to bs
] that the Federbl Administration will al
all times exert its armed authority fol
/ the purpose of retaining them in Office
and II was in the hopes of such interven-
| ton that the application referred to was
made. and which, as We believe ha:
largely promoted and induced the com
pliint which led II the constitution OF
this committee. The experiences of prior
elections had been favorable to this be-
lief. (See page-of tesiimGny.)
Question. Was it a fact. then, that
the military arm of the Government
was used in his election in favor of one
party?
Answer. Yes, sir; the troops we're
sent to various parts of the State at that
time, and persons were arrested and
thrown into prison; and the effect Of the
use OF troops against men who were op-
posed to that party had very great inhu-
ence in controlling and determining the
election.
Q. l would like TO ask that fact,
whether the Army of the United States
has been used as party agent in the af-
fairs Of Mississippi, and if it has been so
felt by the party to which you belong?
A. Yes, sir; it has been so felt, for it
was felt in that election, aud the military
commander was seen to gp into a political
organization and pledge his support to its
candidates and the troops were plsced
in various portions of the State without
any ostensible cause other than their
presence would have that effect
The Dsmocratic-Conservative party
of Mississippi, in the platform adopted
at their State Convention on the 81 OF
August. 1875, contained the following
propositions
First. The recognition of civil and
political equality of all men as establish
ed by the Constitution of the United
States and the amendments thereto.
"Second. Favoring the education of
all the children of the State in public
schools, sustained by adequate taxation /;
but opposition to extravaganza or parti.
san administration of said schools"
The thirteenth cordially invites the
voters of all the people of both races to
unite vigorously with them in the ap,
proaching canvass. (See page-of tes-
tifnOuy.) 1t was by this convention that
4 the Democratic executive Committee was
organized, and ]. u. George appointed
as chairman.
Thus opened the campaign of 1875.
1t is in proof, by almost every witness
who was examined on the subject, that
the negroes were organized in clubs, hav-
ing quasi military organization in every
county in the State. Clubs, also, Of
white people were formed, and the pa
rading and marching, with the use Of
flags, drums, music, cannon for salutes,
or the explosion of anvils,-a rude sub
stitute for cannon-became general
throughout the State
Much of the alleged intimidation OF
the colored people by the white popula
ton was claimed to be from causes like
these, which could only have operated
upon minds of the most childish charac.
/ ter, and W uld be ridicuied If proposed
with the same intent in any part of the
Northern States. This constitutions
timidity of the colored population wa
frequently and gravely urged as entering
into alleged violations of the fifteenth
amendment by white men, who fred OF
pistols in the air and exploded anvils a
night on their return from meeting
through the country. At page 112, A
Parker, Republican sheriff in Amt
county, testifies as follows:
Question. You may state whether o
not these outrages had the effect of in
timidating the colored voters.
Answer. They certainly did, sir.
am satisfied that for month before tn
election there was not weekday or
Sunday that colOred people did no
come to my residence or to the court
house, and tell me of these visits to thei
houses, and ask my advice as to wins
; they should do, and did l think the
) would be killed, and all such inquiries q
that. Of course | encouraged them a
l could. will state as my candid opir
, ion that there were no less than fiv
: hundred men who lay in the woods til
greater part of the night before the ele'
ton. They would stand in line at th
( polls, and drop asleep standing up, o
: account of not having had sleep the pr
a vious night. These Democratic ciul
e were organized into squads, and each
? these squads had two anvils. The
E would go to little rising place in ii
S road, and put these anvils down, an
: shoot them of ten or twelve times, an
o shoot their shOt-guns, yell, and go OF
s and stop perhaps a mile farther on, an
! repeat the same thing again. We ooul
r hear it in every direction from tow
!. and it sounded just like war times. II
e colored people, when these squads woul
d be approaching them, shooting and ye
! ing, would of course imagine that thI
e we're going to kill them, and they wou
e slip out and get into the woods, and h
IS hid until morning. In the morning tn
% came in one at time, aud found out
|, one had been killed. This was done
< the night before the election, and flu
b ing out that nothing serious had be
a. done, aud that this vas only q trick
1t frightea them, they came up to t
a. polls and voted. and We polIedFa larg
10 vote than we had polled before since I
as war; both Democratic and Republics
le Perhaps the best proof that can be
st fered of the real intent and spirit W
in which the Democratic and conservati
or canvass was organized and conduct
ee will be found in the telegrsphic corr
a; pondenoe between Mr.. George, {
J. chairman Of the executive commit
is and his party associates throughout
)st State, who communicated with him
ew ring the canvass. This correspondent
he although not referred to by any with
- or in any way supposed to be coanec
III with the subjects to be inquired of
70 the committee, was, by the order of