The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-08-25
4 Ringing lRenorf

The report of the Senate commit
tee appointed to investigate Missis-
sippi affairs is terrible arraign-
ment of the White Liners of the
South. 1t is not simply a rehash of
generalities, but it sets forth in de-
tail the particulars of many out
RACES committed in Mississippi by
the White Democrats fer the sole
purpose of frightening the negroes
from the polls.
Take this for a sample: The re-
ports sets forth "That in Issaqnena
county one Col. Ball, All officer in
the Confederate army during the
war, and at this time ofhciating as
clergyman, took command of a body
of armed and mounted men on the
morning of the 9th of Decem Der
and traversed the county below
Rolling Fork during that day, and
that night the men of his command
took from their houses at least seY-
EN- unoilendiug negroes and shot
them in cold blood" This is but a
sample of the numerous outrages
cited, and the evidence taken by the
committee is said to be conclusive
as to the truth of the statements
made.
The committee reports that the
present Democratic ascendency in
Mississippi is due solely to the out
RACES thus enumerated. That if there
had been q free election there would
have been eighty Republicans to
thirty-five Democrats in the House
and twenty-five Republicans to fif-
teen Democrats in the Senate; and
that tie present State Legislature
and State government of Mississip-
pi are not lawful bodies. 1t follows,
therefore, in the opinion of the COM
mittee, that Gov. Ames is still OF
right the lawful Governor of that
State.
The committee declare in closing
that the power of the National Gov
ernment will be invoked to put an
end TO such unlaw FIJI proceedings
and that honor aud duty will alike
require it's exercise. In the opinion
of the committee the measures nee
essary and possible ia such an ex-
| igency are three:
L. Laws may be passed by Con-
gress for the protection of the rights
of citizens in their respective States.
2. States in anarchy, or wherein
the affairs are controlled by bodies
of armed men, should be denied
representation in Congress.
8. The constitutional guarantee OF
a Republican form of government to
every State will require the United
States, if these disorders increase,
or even continue, and all mildeT
measures shall prove Intellectual. to
reconstruct the State upon q Repub-
lican basis.
This report Is signed by Senator
Boutwell, of Massachusetts,, Senator
Cameron of Wisconsin, and Senator
Mcmillan of Minnesota.
This suggestion that Estates in
anarchy or wherein the officers are
controlled by bodies of armed men,
should be denied representation in
Congress-" begins to look like bnsi.
ness. If this report shall be adopt.
ed by the Senate Mr.. Lamar will
not be permitted to take his seat as
Senator from Mississippi, to which
he was elected by the Legislature
now declared TO be an nnlaw ful
body. 1t would now be well foI
this country if such q provision
could he embodied in an amend.
ment to the Constitution, and the
facts hereafter determined by Judi.
cial process rather than Congress.
sional committees. Until such pro.
vision can be made, however, il i.
well for Congressional committee.
to do their duty fearlessly.