The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-01-06
STAUNTON VIRGINIA, THURSDAY JANUARY 6. 1876
Mississippi Affairs.

The Introduction Of resolution In the SEN
ate of the United States by Senator Morton,
asking the appointment of committee to in.
vestigate the recent election in Mississippi, ha.
met with unsparing denunciation from tie
Democratic press. The Senator is charge
with desire to reopen the exciting contrc.
versy about Southern affairs, with view te
making political capital for the next PrcsideE.
| tial election. We certainly acquit Senator
Morton of any such purpose. We believe he
is impelled by a conviction that the amend
ment 20 the Constitution, confeniag citizen.
ship and franchise upon the colored people, is
practically nulity in some of the Southern
States. A brief visit to Alabama last summer
enabled US to learn something Of the means
employed to secure Democratic tr;amphs III
some Of the Southern States, and the result OF
the election in Mississippi by which Repub-
lican majority of twenty thousand was dissipa-
ted and Democratic majority of thirty
thousand secured, is confirmation of the
conclusion to which we arrived as to
Alabama's politics. The fact, in short, is, the
lives of colored voters in those States are re-
garded as entirely worthless, when it is Eeces-
sary to sacrifice them for party ends, and if
they cannot be inundated from the POLLS by
threats, more serious and fatal Instrumental
ties are employed,
The Washington special correspondent of the
New York Times, under date of Dec. Goth,
referring to this subject, says; ''Since the in
PRODUCTION of his Mississippi resolutions, Sena-
tor Morton has received from residents of that
State a great number of letters describing the
manner in which the November election was
carried by the Democrats. According to these
letters, in almost every county in the State Or
CARNATIONS were formed for the avowed pur-
pose of prosecuting every man, white or black,
who should vote the Republican ticket. These
organizations pledged themselves to lease no
lands and to give no employment to any man
who voted against them, and their purpose
was published in the local papers and favorably
commented upon. Voters were deferred from
going to the polls, not by force and open viola
ton of law, but by a system of intimidation
that was just as effective. The most stupez-
dous frauds were also, praeticed, the vote for
Democratic candidates in some instances being
greater than the aggl egate vote of the coun
ties. In furnishing this information the writers
beg Senator Morton not to reveal their names,
as such revelation would be sure to place their
lives in peril. Senator Morton has also been
supplied with newspapers published in various
sections of Mississippi, Of dates before aud
since the election. Accounts of the hanging
and shooting of colored men are printed with
approving comments, and since the election
these same papers are demanding the fulfill
ment Of the agreement made by county Or
CARNATIONS not TO lease lands to. or employ
any man who voted the Republican ticket.
Should the pending resolutions lead to pro-
tracted debate, Senator Morton will arrange
and give TO the country the evidence furnished
by the local newspapers of the existence of
frghtful terrorism in Mississippi. He believes
the mere reproduction ct the universally ex-
pressed sentiment of the Mississippi newspa-
pers will startle the people Of the country, and
convince them OF the necessity Of some action
on the part Of Congress to protect the free ex-
ercise Of the right OF suffrage in the Southern
States. Senator Morton says it is mockery to
talk about obtaining redress for these outrages
i'll the local courts, because the same terrorism
which prevents men from exercising their
rights at the polls, prevents the expression OF
honest convictions in the jury box. He has no
doubt whatever of the right of the Senate to
order the investigation, and feels confident the
resolutions will pass"