Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-08-16

The telegraphlc synopsis OF the majority
report in the United States Senate of the
committee appointed to investigate politi-
cal affairs in Mississippi is as follows:
The majority Of the Senate Committee to
investigate Mississippi affairs asserts that
the testimony taken fully supports the al
legation that force, fraud and intimidation
were used generally and successfully in the
political canvass Of 1875. They find that
GOV. Ames is not amenable to any JUS
charge affecting his integrity or fitness as a
Chief Magistrate. The Committee find that
the young men of the State, espe,i tally those
who reached manhood during the war or
who have arrived at that condition since the
war; constitute the nucleus and main force
of the dangerous element.
As far the testimony taken by the Com
mittee throws any igh upon the subjec', it
tends to establish the fact that the Demo
cratic organizations, both in counties and
in the State, encouraged the young men in
their course, accepted the polit cal adyan-
tages of their conduct, and are in large
degree responsible for the criminal results.
Democratic clubs were organized in all parts
of the State, and able bodied members were
also organized generally into military com
panies, and furnished with the best arms
that could be procured in the coun-
try. Members of these organizations, the
majority assert, are shown by the evidence
to have traycrscd various counties for
weeks before the election, menacing voters,
provoking disturbance, or breaking up
Republican meetings, causing the riots at
Vicksburg and Clinton, and killing large
number Of unoifending persons throughout
the country. About half the white voters in
Republican distr cts were thus organized,
and ny intimidation they compelled Repub-
lican nominations to be Withdrawn in some
counties, and forced the Republicans to vote
e.. h..,. l.. 4
of any opportunity to vote otherwise.
The majority also find that civil authori-
ties have been unable to prevent these out
RACES or to punish offenders. The Commit
tee assert that the Democratic victory in the
State was due 10 the outrages perpetrated.
IL there had been free election the Repub-
lcan candida es would have been cho- en-
and the character of the Legislature 50
changed that there would have been sixty
six Republicans 10 fifty Democrats in the
House, and twentysiX Republicans to eleven
Democrats in the Senate. Consequently the
present Legislature Of Mississippi is not
Il legal body, and its acts not entitled
to recognition by the political depart
mcnt of the Government of the United
States, although the President may, in his
discretion, recognize ii as a Government de
facto Tor the preservation of public peace.
The resignation of Gov. Amcs was effected
by body Il men calling themselves the
Legislature of the State of Mississippi, by
measures unau horned by law, and he Is of
right the Governor of that State. The evil
denCe shows further that the State of Miss
issippi Is at present under the control of po-
litcal organizations, composed largely of
armed men, whose common purpose 1t is
to deprive the negroes of the free exercise
of the right of suffrage, and to establish and
maintain the supremacy Of the white line
Democracy in violation alike of the Consti-
tuition of their own State and Constitution
of the United States.
The report concludes as follows: The
memory OF the bloody events of the cam
paign Of 1919, with the knowledge that their
opponents can command hn instant pres
encc of organized bodies of armed men at
every voting place, will deter the Republi-
can party from any general effort to regain
the power wrcsted from them. These disor-
ders exist also III ne ghboring States, and
the spirit and ideas which give rise to disor
ders are even more general. The power of
the National Government win be be in
voked, and honor and duty will alike
require its exercise. The Nation can
not witness with indifference the dominion
of lawlcssness aud anar ny in u State, with
their incident evils, and II knowledge of the
incyi able consequences. 1t owes duty to
the citizens of the United States residing in
Mississippi. This duty it must perform. 1t
has guaranteed to the State of Mississippi a
republican fo Ill of Government, and this
ga rantec must he made good,
The measures necessary and possible in
an cxigeney are these; First, laws may be
passed by Congress for the protection of the
register of citizens in he respective Sta cs.
Second States in anarchy or wherein affairs
are controlled 10y bodies of armed men,
should be denied representation in Con
gress, Third. the Constitutional guarantee
of "A republican form OF government 10 ey-
cry State will require the United States, If
these disorders increase, or even continue,
and milder measures prove Intellectual, to
remand the State to territorial condition,
and through "A system of public education
aud kindred means of improvement, change
the ideas of the multitude and reconstruct
the Government upon Republican basis.