Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-08-22

ing local affairs. Such an organization
was effected in Yazoo County, and prep
arations were making by its candidates
for local officers to develop its strength
in the approaching election. It was
while the candidates for Sheriff and
Chancery Clerk were going to the diff
ferent precincts to see that the negro
voters were duly registered that they
were intercepted by the shotgun brig
ade and forced, under threat of swift
determination, not only to abstain from
that business, but to withdraw from
their candidacy. This is the practical
application of the virtuous Vicksburg
resolve that the negro voter should
henceforth have fair play.
What is the remedy for this Missis-
sippi political banditismP Judge Nor
ris, of Vicksburg, tells the victims OF
the shotgun party that $50 far as the
form and theory of our laws and judi
ciarry are concerned, your remedy ought
to be abundant and speedy But of
what efficacy are the form and theory
of laws that habitually and with impu-
nifty are set at defiance by a political
party, armed with shot-guns, out on
hunt for "niggers' or the white can
didates of a party with which "nig-
pers'' are permitted and invited to votep
3 1t is painful" p" says Judge Morris, ito
have to admit that praCttcally our laws
upon this subject are a dead letter, and
our judiciary dead system, because
violence and fraud in elections, and
fraud and perjury in covering them up
have in too many instances oeen the
chief instrumentalities by which our
public officers got into power, ana py
which they expect to retain it.
Such an admission by a judicial func-
tionary familiar with the facts does not
accord with the vehement declarations
made by Southern blatherskites in Con-
gress; but supported by fresh facts in
the Yazoo case rage, it will oyerbear
tons of southern speeches in Northern
opinion. 1t does not indicate remedy
for this Southern barbarism; it serves
only to show that in the theory and
forms of law and its judicial admins
tration there is no remedy. The rem
edy must be sought for beyond the
forms Of law and judicial procedure in
Mississippi. At the North, there is a
widely-prevailing belief that it Will
only be found by meeting the Solid
South on its platform of rufliaAism and
barbarism by a Solid North, that will
return 1t, after 1880, to very impotent
minority of political power. 1t hardly
needed new manifestation of barbar-
ism in Mississippi to strengthen this
Northern belief. The Yazoo affair will
strengthen it beyond doubt. The view
of Judge Morris is entirely warranted:
{" If one party in Yazoo County cannot
organize without consulting the other;
If no citizen can cast or receive vote
without the consent of his adversaries,
if party largely in the majority can
be dispersed and scattered with impu-
nifty by an armed mob, it requires no
prophet to foretell that we shall embit-
ter the Northern people and make them
solid against u.s." If there be no prac--
tical remedy for these manifestations of
MeDicGniSnl in the forms of law and Ju-
dicial procedure, then remedy will be
found In the solidity of Northern civill-
! zation against Southern barbarlsm. VI
this Southern men can be very sure
Chicago Times Dem.