The daily gazette., 1876-04-03
The Mississippi Election.
The Debate in the Senate.
Mr.. Keys Remarks.

<'s. nv
From the Congressional Record Of Satur day.
l am free to say that if represented
State which had not been in the re-
bellion, perhaps if had taken no part
in that rebellion myself, l should vote
against it. Before Heaven assert that
in my judgment there is no necessity
or just occasion for this investigation.
On the contrary, believe it will be
productive of no good. These inves'
legations Of elections are confined to
one section of the country, and that
the feeblest one. They are evidence
of want of confidence in the people of
that section and postpone complete
and harmonious reconciliation. But
frequently on this floor. and even in
this debate, have heard Senators from
northern States who have spoken kind
words of the people of the South de-
nounced rs greater enemies of the Go
vernmeni than those who engaged in
the rebellion, and for no other or bet
ter reasor which could discover than
that they had some faith in the south
ern people. If l have offended, if my
people have offended, against the laws
of the country, want and my people
want no vlcarious punishment admin
istered on that account. "Let no gull
ty man escape" but in Gods name
punish net the innocent. Sir. we are
not believed. Our statements are of
no effect. Our testimony is discredited
and opposition to this investigation is
construed to mean desire to conceal
deeds of infamy.
For one | desire to relieve our
friends of all embarrassment ON eur
account, and for that reason and with
the hope that the distinguished Sena-
tor from Indiana Mr.. Morton] and
the distinguished. Senator from
Massachusetts, Mr.. Boutwell, for
both of whom have very great admi-
i ration and respect, will learn from it
Cat the people of the South are not so
bad as to them they seem, deal in no
harsh epithets. There is no man any
Where against whom bear malice, and
| can sit with temper unruffled and
mind serene and listen to these denun.
Citations; for, while know that they
are unmerited, l know also that these
disting dished gentlemen believe them
deserved, or they would net utter
them. They are hardly. competer
jurors, in the eye of the law, to try the
people of the South, as they have net
only formed but expressed an opinion
against eur innocence. Still, for one
/ am wailling to waive their incompe
tency, and let them try us, find us gull
ty if they want to, and hang us if they
will, and then trust that the country
and the women and children of tn,
South will have peace. Let every maj
: whose misfortune it was to own slav
be punished with death, and that ma,
end the cry of slave aristocracy. Invit
not such to your approaching Centen
: nial for there is no hope for them her
OF hereafter, and their presence woult
destroy the joy of my distinguished
friends on that occasion, and of tina
great multitude who shall follow then
to the glorious triumph they declar
/ they must obtain in the Novembe
election. If what they say be true
there is no joy in the centennial yea
for the Southern States, and the,
: would be unwelceme guests at th
feast which shall celebrate it,
y The Senator from Indiana refers, o
has referred heretofore, to the majer
L
0 Mississippi for the last few years a
, evidence of fraud and intimidation
He tells us that in 1869 the republican
gave rs, 1856 and the democrats 3S, 90
: votes: that in 1882 the republican
= gave 80, ,175 and the democrats 47,2S6
!. that in 1878 the republicans gave 70,
662 and the democrats 44,286 votes
and that in 1875 republicans gave G6,
K $50 and the democrats SO, 906 votes
C and fir m this great revolution in ma
jorities we are to infer that fraud an,
= intimidation were used to produce it
This is certainly quite change, bu
T. do not such changes frequently occu
= in other States? The democrats wer
never charged with carrying Mas
lsachusetts by fraud and intimidation
and how has it voted? In 1868 tn
republicans cast 1856, AIT and the demo
= Gratis SO, ,40S votes,a republican MAORI
ty of 77,069, in 1872 the republican
- gave 133, ,472 and.s the democrats 60,26
votes,fa republican majority of 74,21
votes; and yet in 1874 the republican
1884 and the democrats 96,376 gave
q democratic majority of 7,032 votes
The change in Mississippi in 1878 an
1878 between the majerities was so.
623 votes, and in Massachusetts iron
1872 1874 was 1,244 votes, that is
greater by more than 81, ,OO0 votes tha
in Mississippi and yet no one propose
n to investigate the Massachusetts elet
= ton. Other examples night be giver
: This shows that though such transfer
nations are remarkable, they are nc
so uncommon as to be very marve
Gus.
Remarks of DIr. Thurman.
All that the fifteenth amendment re
quires is that the same law that exist
for the white man shall exist for tn
colored man. 1t confers no righ
whatsoever upon any individual t
vote; nor does it limit the power G
the States to fix the qualifications fo