Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-07
THE MISSISSIPPI HIVES rIGArION.
The Majority ReD0f.f.

far the rights OF the people OF Mississtpoi,
guaranteed by the constitution OF the United
States, and secured especially by the fifteenth
amendment, were violated by force, fraud
or intimidation at the election held in that
state on The % OF Novemoer 1875, submitted
70 the Senate to day the testimony taken
with the conclusions of the committee tnere-
OF. The report says:
The testimony taken Will fully support the
allegation that force, franz and lntinlda Ion
were used generally and successfully la tue
political canvass OF 1875. But before proceed
Ing To q detailed statement of tue facts and
conclusions sustained and warranted Gy tue
proof, the committee think IL proper to refer
10 the suggestions ana excuses ofere1 In
Justification of the outrages cOmmitLed Ii
has been alleged that Governor Ames was
vas elected Ia the year 1878; nut, ON the cou-
trary, the committee find from the evidence
as well as from general report in Mississippi,
That Governor Ames was not oaly not ne.
nable TO any just charge affecting his per
sOna1 integrity, his character as q public
officer, or his ability for the duties OF chief
magistrate OF that state, Int that his ftGess
in eli these particulars was sustained by the
testimony OF those VINO were not In ac.ord
with him politically. The committee refer
especially 10 the testimony OF the Hon. j. A.
+. Campbell, appointed by the existing gov
erpment one of the judges of the supreme
court of the state OF Mississippi.
The evidence submitted tends strongly to
show, what cannot be denied, that there
were many persons in office In the state of
Mississippi, especially in elective offices, In
the several counties, who were either incap-
able or dishonest; and there were few of
the same character connected with the state
government. The conduct of these persons,
however, was not approved by the governor
nor by the masses or the republican party.
Complaints and charges against a class of
persons called "carpet- b4 ggers" are fire.
quent In the dispositions of witnesses OPP led
To the republican arty In the state. II Is to
be admitted that small number OF 1 nmi-
grants from other states misused the conf
tence OF the black people. secured office, and
betrayed the trusts confided to them. But
the number OF SUCH persons, compared with
the whole number of immigrants, was very
small; and II is but just TO say that the great
majority are intelligent, upright and brave
men from the north who are entirely inco--
ruptible, and who, In peril of their lives,
are now struggling against serious odds To
maintain their political opinions and TO Sc
cure just administration of the govern
ment.
THE TAX QUESTION.
IL Is alleged that during the last six or
eight years the expenses of the state have
been unnecessarily Increased, and that heavy
taxes have been imposed for which no Il te-
quate return has been received by the peo-
pie. Comparisons are made between the
rate OF taxation previous to the war aud
since the year 1910, and The conclu sion is
drawn That large ms OF money are extort-
ed from the people and wasted, or, through
negligence and extravaganza, misapplied.
II Is Undoubtedly true that taxes are higher
IN the state of Mississippi than they were
far less than in some OF the northern sta es,
where no serious complaints are mate
against the administration ofpubiic AFT .irs.
II Is 10 be observed, also, that previous 10
the war taxes were not levied for the sup.
port OF schools in Mississippi indeed, there
was no system OF public instruction; and
that sir ce the war school houses have been
erected in all parts OF the state for the ecu
cation OF the children OF both races, and
large sums OF money have been expended
annually for the maintenance OF schools. in
fGr nj fann f.
also true that previous To tue war the taxes
were imposed upon slaves aud upon bust
ness, While since the war the taxes have
been laid chiefly upon personal property and
upon land. In 1873 the state expenses were
1888 Geo. IN 1874. sos, 900; and in 1915 the ex-
penses were only s6ls, 600. The state deot,
not including trust funds, is only $500, 00J. A
tax OF 81 60 upon each person will pay the
public debt and meet the current expenses
for year.
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE oUrRAoEs.
The testimony taken tends 10 show Luat
those who participated in the means oy
which the election of 1915 was carried by the
democratic party rely for Justification upHn
the facts OF INSTRUMENTATION, as set form
In the testimony submitted with this report.
In the opinion of the committee, those errors
and wrongs, If admitted To the extent
claimed, furnish no justification Whatever
for the outrages and crimes established by
the testimony. 1t is alleged in Justification
OF the acts OF intimidation, and Of the crimes
committed during the canvass and az the
election, that Governor Amos had organ
lied, or attempted to organize, force,
termed the negro militia. AT the time OF
The riot al Clinton, on the 4th of Septem Der,
1875 which resulted in the death OF at least
thirty persons, there was no military organ
ization In the state. the sum of $50, 600 had
been appropriated by the legislature, at its
preceding session. for the organization and
support OF military force; and the event at
Clinton, In connection with the fact of dis
turbances in other portions OF the state led
Gov. Ames to attempt Its organization. =
Some Of the officers selected byihim were
native born white citizens who had served
In the late war on the side Of the confeder-
ates, and he solicited and accepted recruits
from the white as well as from the black
population. This effort on the part of the
governor, IL Is now claimed, was the occa.
and arming themselves, ostensibly 10 resist
the black militia; but In fact, such organ
izattOn had been effected previously, as Is
ton riot, and Ia the end IL became the means
by which the colored Inhabitants and the
white republicans Of the state were over
rights as citlzens These organizations were
the Instruments also by which numerous
murders were committed upon persons who
toe republican party.
BY the terms OF the peace conference en-
tered into by General j u. George, the chair
man OF the democratic stale committee, and
Governor Ames, on the 18TH OF October, 1875
the attempt 10 organize the militia was
abandone ed, General George on his part
dgTeelDs 10 secure peaceiul election ana
the full and free enjoyment OF the elective
franchise by every citizen. The stipulation
on the part OF the governor was faithfully
Kept, bot the promise made by General
George was systematically disregarded by
toe democrats In the larger portion of the
state. The outrages perpetrated by the
white people in the canvass and on the day
OF election find no justification whatever In
the acts or the policy of Governor Ames
concerning the state militia. The effort on
his part to organize the militia for the pres
ervation of the public peace seems to the
committee 70 have been not only lawful bat
proper, and the course of the democrats IN
organizing and arming themselves to resist
the governor In his efforts 10 preserve tue
public peace was unlawful, and the proceed
lngs should have been suppressed by the
state authorities IL possible; and, In case OF
the United States.
In the opinion Of the committee, the riot
at Clinton was In harmony with the policy
previously adopted by democrats in that
vicinity, and that 1t was designed to intimi-
date and paralyEe the republican party.
Nor DO these outrages ind Any excuse In the
statement made repeatedly by witnesses.
that the negroes were organizing or threat
ened or contemplated organizing themselves
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