The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-02-27
THE INVESTIGATION.
The Teller Committee.
IN WASHINGTON.

Gen. Reuben E. Davis, of MISSISSIPPI
pi, testified before the committee, on the 18th,
that he was a candidate for Congress in the late
election from the First District; he had been in
formed privately of threats to prevent him from
being heard; the idea prevailed that he was en-
deavoring to reorganize the negroes in oppoei-
had been hung in effigy. ana then burned; be
was Greenback candidate, having been nomi-
mated BY that party and was voted for by the
been elected, but was afterward told Maldrow
was successful Witness was asked whether he
did not once make a speech in Congress- about
dd IN Eat he
raigned the Republicans as rebels. and said if
Seward would come south and utter such senti-
ments as he entertained and bad frequently ex:
hang him before he returned North: Witness
said he indorsed every word of his testimony be:
fore the Boutwell, Committee in 1876; be had
operated on negroes by superstition, threatening
to put snakes and lizards into them; the Demo
Gratis now are obnoxious to what he then said Of
the South against the Democracy without being
assassin knife more than he did ostracism; he
against bull osine and bsIlotbos .sanS, but
there was class of ambitious, aspiring men who
sought to render all persons 0dious who did not
ne oonS ne tn
10000 votes.
William yasser. e native Of Virginia but iv.
ing at Aberdeen. Miss, since 1874 testified that
i he ca tb BAPTIZED in the old Wh party and
as State Treasurer; in the late election he sup
ported the Greenback ticket; at Okolona .. 70
ltical meeting was very boisterous two-thirds
he was called upon for a talk; he was charged
with making Radical speech; he had put his
speech hin, in print; the , crowd came in and
he felt satisfied il was bull-dozing crowd; a
good many. white people supported Davis;
everything is called Radical in Mississippi
ness relations are affected by his POLITICAL opin-
ions; in Mississippi middle-aged men. and men
advanced in life. are moderate and respectful to
gal conduct are confined to the younger men,
the politics of Mississippi being largely governed
by young men; the Republican party there is
and since the State passed into Democratic
hands the Republicans have been without lead
BE to prevent the State from again falling into
Republican hands; the people have great hOr.
TOR of being ruled by colored people, and look
upon Northern people coming into the State a.
man in opposition to the Democratic party if he
can be protected in SO doing; witness observa.
ton did not corroborate the claim that the col
and Democrats.
j. H. Field, of Columbus, Miss, tes.
tilted, on the 18TH that he did not know of ain
gle instance of intimidation or attempt to pre-
vent anyone from voting; the election was
sought to be conducted in pleasant way in &C
cordance with the principles of right and justice
though actively and theoretically; witness did
not agree with Gen. Davis unfavorable estimate
OF the negro; those of good conduct and intel
igence have the regard of the people generally.
In answer to question by Senator Garland,
and conciliatory means from having any
would not exclude him from doing 80;
ton Of suffrage or taking the suffrage away from
H sad r 20
would they be received and treated, and said be
thought the people would warmly welcome them
as coming with honest intent to investigate the
condition Of affairs; witness people had endeav-
ored to induce the best class of Republicans to
visit their section, that the low degradation in
the condition Of the colored people might be inn
proved; Col: Muldrow was elected owing to his
popularity; the election was peaceful as any wit
ness had before known. and he neither knew
nor heard OF complaints OF intimidation or bal
Capt. ". W. Humphreys testified that the late
election was more peaceable and quiet than
usual; nobody was prevented from voting; be
thought it a fair and honest election as any in
any VI Tue OCaUeS Wltne6S 0OOeO tnere was no dis
position to deprive the colored man of any of his
rights, except. perhaps, on the part of few ex-
treme men; freedom of speech and of the press
was fully recognized in Mississippi, and any
man could make q speech there provided it was
not calculated to create q breach of the peace;
he believed the principal reason the people de-
sired the cOlored men to vote was increased rep
resentalion in Congress-.
The Chairman of the committee appointed as
sub committee Messrs. Hoar, Mcmillan, Kirk
wood, Garland and Wallace to inquire into the
following branch of the resolution of senator
Blaine, namely: whether, in the year 1873,
money was raised by assessment, or Otherwise
upon the Federal oficeholders or employees for
election purposes. and under what circumstance
raised and how the same was expended; and,
further, whether such assessments were, or not.
in violation of the law" The committee then
adjourned subject to a call of the Chairman.