Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-08

THE MINORITY REPORT.


views at length In a report to the Senate
10 day. They say. while writing them,
tney read with surprise and regret the mess
age OF me President Of July 3lst, transmit
ting 10 Congress certain correspondence re
isting 10 murders lately com mitted at fam
burg, in which he says: "But recently a
committee OF the Senate OF the United States
visited the state of Mississippi 10 take testt.
mony On the subject OF frauds and yioleuce
IN elections. Their report has not vet reen
maze puhlic, but await its forthcomtng
win feeling OF confidence that IL Will fun V
sustain all that / have stated relative 10
fraud and violence IN the state of Missis-
sIpPl.- IN his letter of the 18th of July to
Governer Cham berlain he had stated: Mis-
sissippt is governed 10 day by officials ca sea
through fraud and violence such as wnuIt
scarcely oe accredited by savages, much
less 10 a Civilized and Cnristisn people y
THIS last statement, come from who n Il
may, we pronounce in the face of testimony
taRen Dy this committee and not yet print
&c, 10 De untrue aud unwaTranted py the
Facts disclosed The tone OF anirnosity TO
the white people OF the south which o-eaJnss
throughout the Presidents message and let
Ter Is upmistakabls. In his message OF July
81, six days subsequent 10 this letter. the
PRESIDENT says: THE report (on Mississi ppl
has lot yet been made public" Why should
be anticipate? We hold 1t. and believe II
Wopld be so held by right thinking men
everywhere, discreditable for the Chief Ma
gistrate thus to have exhibited such evil
dence OF prejudice against any portion OF mis-
fellow. citizens. 1t adds, however, but an-
other proof Of the many given heretof ore
that the heart and mind OF President Grant
are closed To all sense OF justice where his
political opponents. especially fn the soatn-
ern states, are concerned.
The minority claim that other attempts 20
forestail public opinion In relation TO affairs
In Mississippi have been made aud are caI-
culated TO grossly mislead. When Governor
Ames TOOK ms seat On the LIST aay Of Janua-
~, 1s74-elected In the month OF November
prev1ous-there was not an official In the
s stat&sSfo WAS not meTtHs1 OF the repnbli:
can Eyy. There was nv rn county official
i 0 e Se spSsS W %,i6 al Ha sSs was not
which negroes vel q a., 4sisi iss%sSer ~
%hTs tbs w sS,i,s same party
the hands OF Cover ~ M. 0nes and his n ,rtv
associates. In all 80 repu An str Ing-
holds, IN which charges Of turbuience ana
1t Is noted that the entire local power was in
republican hands. The minority then speak
OF the effects OF the republican system OF mis-
government upon real estate property, aud
argues at some length that Gov ernOr Ames
prostttuted his Office and bargained with ap-
Po1nfees, and speak Ofthe state militia being
organized preparatory 10 the campaign, and
the officials being among the most notorious
and unscrupulOus partisans black ana
White OF the state administration, many of
them being unable to read. Tnis Great Ell
great alarm among the white population,
and violence, blOOdshed ana force as the
only aIbiter OF the election were first sug-
gested IN time OF . profound peace IN me
his political associates.
The minority say 10 justify any le2isIa-
lion by Congress to enforce the 15th amend.
ment, obstruction OF the Fright to votsr
must he for the sole reason OF race or color
or previous condition, &C., and there is M
power i1 Congress TO interfere for any other
cause whstever; There is not, from begin
ming to eud OF this testimony, a single case
Oh obstruction OF voter because he was a
coiored man. A vast majority of the people
OF Mississippi have every element that con-
= a = ~ nj txav,
nave been victims OF mtsruie which they
sought In vain to avoid or re nedy TIE
reformation IN The legislation and I'D
iIlnist!allon Of Mississippi by that party IA
control since January, 1e.6 has been i'm 20.
tant ard marked With gfea. beuetts To tie
entire community. Toe minority max a
lew remarks opon the conci tiou OF Mis'Is-
sippi IN June last, saying no &C. OF u turpI-
lent or disoTderly nature was witnessed ~
The committee aud no signs OF eanity or
incivility were Exhibited ,but on the contrarp,
courtesy and respect were On all hands eE
tended to the committee. The poverty Of the
people was apparent In their garb, the ap-
pearance OF their houses, and the marked
absence OF good and comfortable vehicle. the
only exhibition Of pleasure- seeking wItnes sed
was Dy the colored people, whose PROFESSIONS
passed the committee room, and whose holt
Day excursions By railway started from the
depot opposite. The only cannon sound was
rom their republican ratification meeting,
and theirs WAS toe only music heard by us
In Mississ1ppt. The poverty of the coiOred
pSopic oiSO WOO 8pp8I6uL ln the
groups of witnesses who clustered upon the
long galleries, wretched in appearance aud
miseraoly clad, giving TO the hotel the ap-
pearance OF county almshOuse. InterTer-
ence by federal authority In state elections
and internal affairs has, since the close OF the
war, frequently taken place-never without
deplOraDle and disastrous results; and, on
the other hand, applications of minorities,
defeated by the popular vote, to be never.
theless installed in office, has never been de-
MED BY federal authorities without such de-
n1al being followed By benencent results.
Such Interference has always been followed
disorder, as In the case of Louisiana and
Alabama, while Tennessee, Virginia. North
Carolina, Georgia, Texas aud Arkansas are
living proofs, In their Increased prosperity
and tranquility, OF the wisdom of non.inter-
ference.