Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-04
The Mississippi Election and South
ern Outrages.

ern Outrages.
THE following extracts nre taken from
Senator Morton's recent speech on his
resolution calling FOR an investigation in.
TO the recent State election in Mississippi: (:
~ the Information have received from very
many sources is substantially true, the late pre-.
tended election In Mississippi was an armed reyo-
luton, characterized by fraud, murder, and vio-
some respects under the forms Of law, but It's real
natun was that OF force. The violation OF law
. and the trampng under foot Of the dearest rights
Hof the great masses Of men was little less suddet
than those revolutions which have distinguished
the States OF Mexico and the countries Of South
America. II did not differ from them in character,
and was equal in atrocity II lsa matter Of the
greatest import TO the American people so know
whether large majority Of the people Of the
State have been Uverihrown and subjected ti the
minority, aud also TO understand upon what pre-
tense or principle such revolt was brought about.
The only thing like principle that should b, as
sumod In Justification OF such a result would be
That political nnS civil power should belong ex-
clnsiyey to the white race, or upon the other
principle that that party, the members Of which
own most OF the property I'm the State should be
allowed 10 govern TO the exclusion OF the maorl-
" who are generally poor and most Of whom
have nothing TO depend upon for their sustenance
but their tabor ! apprehend that an investigation
oi the mississippi revolution would chow that the
triumphant minority acted upon both Of these
principles, and in various ways boldly professed
them as its doctrines.
cited 50 much attention is interesting as matter
OF Justice, of feeling and OF example, but the ma
,,, n9na, question 81 paramount Interest !; the pc.
the violation of political civil and social rights
OF millions of people and the subyersiun Of the
will OF the ma .ority by violence aud intimidation
We stand In the presence pf the great danger over
hanging the Southern States. in which those OF the
North are powerfully, and may say, equally in
terested. In many Of the Southern States the
policy is Openly ayowed OF selling all power into
the hanus OF the white race aud depriving the col'
-ored people OF their political and civil Fights.
With this policy, commonly known rs the white
line, II is believed that the Democracy sympathizo
In every Southern State, and | fear, to cons1.
erable extent in the Northern States. state aftti
State has been conquered from the majority by
violence and we are no longer left In donbt as to
thcpupose thus to establish a solid Sonth in the
Interest Of the Democratic party, aud when they
shall have obtained control Of the national Gov
ernment to reconstruct the Southern States upon
the white mau's basis, and to destroy the Repub.
licnn party by making 1t impossible for mrn OF Res
publican principles TO enjoy and express theft
opinions In peace and safety Then, rs before the
from the South and 1t will be to them as foreign
country. When We consider how fearfully rapid
der a Republican Administration, we can under
dcrstand how It might be accelerated and consum-
mated with a Democratic President elected chiefly
by the Southern Democracy and necessarily SYM
pathizing with them In their operations. Let 1t
not he said that do injustice to the Northern
f5ot beg leave to remind the Sen
Democracy not only connved at the OPP
pressions upon. the Republican party and
its exclusion from the Southern States but
made merry over and defended the outrages
committed in the South upon Abolitionists and
that now and ever since the war the Democratic
party either deny, justify or excuse the dreadful
atrocities committed upon the white aud black
Republicans In the southern States. A necessary
cohconltant OF ihe system OF murder, violence
hood and perjury, The men who commit these
crimes viii, as matter Of course, commit perjury.
In the Ku.Klux investigations and trials the most
were witnessed. Many men who had, before the
ku-klux committee or on examination in court
rs witnesses, testified to all want OF knowledge Of
the organization or It's crimes, were afterward
conclusiAely proven to be members OF ID and
guilty. The victims OF these infamous crimes
were covered with the foulest calumnies, and
scarce an Outrng, was investigated that was not
denied under oath. or justified or excused by tho
~ most infamous faschoods against the sufferers.
monstrous system OF fnl ehOOd has been contin
ually practiced not only in Mississippi, but in ev-
cry Southern State, by which the Government OF
the United States IL constantly charged with the
Erossest and most wicked oppres ssion of the
Southern people. Republican State and County
Governments are assailed with charges Of corrup-
tion and oppression, which, in most cases, are ut.
terly false and grossly exaggerated. Many very
ignorant people OF the South have thus been made
to believe that they sorely oppressed by the
Government OF the United States, and that It IT,,
as char ,ed by distinguished Mississppinn, now
member Of Congress, the most tyrannic Govern
ment on the face Of the tn, and yet il they were
called upon u specify in what they have suffered,
thcyeonld not do it, even II their lives depended
ON IT,. Inc Charges OF COfrupuOn against GOY,
Ames and every Republican State and county Of
hcial in Mississippi have been so voluble and per-
sistent that very many OF the ignorant have been
made to believe them and have thus to some ex-
tent been bounded on to madness and crime.
Many well-meaning people deplOre any refer
cnce tn the outragCs committed in the South rs
inimcal to reconstruction and harmony between
sections. They nre exceedingly anxious that in
this Centennial year all past differences shall be
forgotten. and the people North and South, for
getting and forgiving and mindful only OF our
great national future. shall meet and embrace as
nation of brothers. IL Is q contamination devout.
q ly to be wished, but must remind such we'll
meaning people that any formal reconciliation,
while the dearest rights of millions are systemati-
cally violated and the greatest wrong pissed un-
noticed and unpunished will be the rankest hy-
pocrlsy, revolving nike to divine aud human
justice it only the Enayish qunck who puts !
blister over tho mouth Of & wound and says 1t Is
healed. The healing process must begin at the
bottom and be thorough to be permanent and
healthy All the gushing and handshaking which
precedes the concession of lual rights and ju ice
10 men OF all colOri and opinions in the Southern
States will be the veriest sham and deceive nobody
They will forever Obtrude themselves upon the
world and cry aloud for redress. 1t will be the
cry Of peace, peace, when there Is peace" and
II the sound Republicans Of the North turn deaf
ear to the complaints Of the Republicans OF the
South, and affect to believe that reconstruction has
taken place and that all is we'll they will be Justly
contemplate in the eyes OF mankind. The Union
men OF the South have been sub ected t. trials OF
which We in the North have but a faint idea. and
have shown their faith and patriotism by adherence
10 their principles under circumstances where the
weak, the venal, and the unpnncipled have Joined
the enemy, and the Republicans OF the North dare
not and will not now abandon them. Let me say
to this class of people. and to men Of the South,
there Is but one highway TO reconciliation, and
that is open straight and free, and its portals
are inscribed these words: Equal Justice to all.
To all the equal protection OF the laws" And il
the Southern people will walk in that highway
they will arrive at the temple OF peace and md un-
broken rest