The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-02-28

Hzeglnlntive Investigates.
The committee appointed by the
Legislature to investigate the !awless-
ness said to exist in Pike. Amite,
Franklin and Lincoln counties, have
through their chairman. made the fol-
lowing report:
Mn. SPRAxsR-Your special commit
appointed to Investigate alleged
state Of lmwlessness in southwestern
counties, have given the subject that
careful and deliberate. consideration
which its great importance demands.
We have summoned and taken the ties
timany of qnite a nnlnher of Intelligent
and reliable persons, living in Amite
and Pike counties. We have also had
before ms the testimony of a number of
parties taken before officers in the
counties in question, and numerous
private letters. From these various
sources of information, it has been as
certaiued that sincs the early part of
last Fall, there has been more or less
lawlcssness existing in the counties OF
Amite, Pike Franklin and Lincoln, and
sometimes spreading to adjoining II
ties. m rnifesting itself. Persons going
about at night. leaving threatening no
tees, whipping and sometimes killing
persons. and burning houses Your
committee have sought diligently for a
II for this state Of affairs, but are
unable to arrive ut m conclusion other
than the general financial depression of
the country. We are satisfied. how
ever. that the psIties engaged in this
la wlessness are not inf lenced by poiiti
cal considerations; it ia rather n spirit
of agrarianisin, n consequences. as it
appears Of the unfortunate financial
management Of the people who have
seer their HON $ and other property
pass under mortgage and deeds OF trust.
INTO other hands. A few years ago
these counties were rs prosperous, inde-
pendent aud law abiding az any section
of the State, but the system of agricul.
ture, OF making cotton at a low figure
to purchase the necessaries CT life at a
high price, has caused their condition
to grow from bad to worse until these
people nave become dispoudent and
have given way to an unfortunate and
deplorabIe c~ommnhistic feeling. Such
a question as is here presented. is by
NJ means IL new one 1t is a subject
that has from time to time puzzled our
wisest sta; esmen in different parts of
our common country. The committee
desire to emphasize the fact that this
question has nothing to do with polit-
les. These lawless persons have no
luminosity toward the colored people,
for evidence of which, your committee
refer to the disavowais on this subject
made in the many anonymous notes
and letters scattered over the country
to terrify and alarm these people. Their
obiec. seems to be Il desire to drive off
the laborers and tenants OF the land
holders. and not to iDjure tho laborers
themselves. 1t is a spirit Of commun-
ism in it's incipienc.y, which, in the
opinion of your committee, will demand
vigorous and immediate action OH the
part of every lawfully constituted au
%tllority OF the Government, if law and
order are to be restored to that section
of the State. W. are happy to state
that lawlessness, by no means prevails
throughout these counties, but is con-
fined to certain localities. By far the
larger portion. and the better class, OF
the people are DESTROYS that law and
order should prevail, and are ready and
willing to co operate with the authori-
ties in putting down the vioiators Of the
law. The committee. has ascertained
further that the Courts and proper
officers are dilligant in the attempt to
| enforce the law in these counties, and
it is no fault Of theirs that this condi-
ton of affairs exists. Tue difficulty ia
that these lawless persons go about at
night and keep so well concealed and
have Witnesses usually so terrified that
it is almost impossible to bring them to
Justice. The officers. aided by good
citizens, are dong all that is possible
under IL peculiar circumstances to put
an end to this unfortunate state of at
| fairs. but have thus far been unsuc-
cessful.
Your honorable body has taken one
step in tho right direction by making an
appropriation tn enable the Governor to
cali ont the military power of the State,
in the event it becomes necessary. The
committee, as a partial remedy to meet
the case, Recommend the passage of
the accompanying bill. and being at a
great loss to know what further to do,
would most earnestly beg the advice
and earnest thought OF every member of
the Legislature on this grave question.
in this moment Of supreme Democratic
rule in Mississippi. In conclusion.
having devoted q large portion of our
time to the earnest, faithful and patient
consideration If this subject, honestly
endeavoring to lay before you the real
facts in the case. and having the utmost
confidence in the desire, ability and
patriotism in the great dominating par
ty in the State to protect each and every
citizen, from the highest and lowest, in
the free and full enjoyment of every
right, your committee would ask to be
discharged from further consideration
of the subject.
A. B. Hurt, Chairman.
81. r. A.s