The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-02-20
The Teller Committee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. L.
The Committee examined Gen. Reuben e.
Davis, of Mississippi. He testified that he
was a candidate for Congress in the late elec-
ton from the First District; was Informed
privately Of threats to prevent him from being
heard; the idea prevailed that he was en-
sition to the Democracy; after the election
he heard he had been hung in effigy and then
burned; was Greenback candidate and was
nominated In opposition to his own wishes, and
was voted for by the colored people, who un-
derstood their interests on that question; was
at first informed that he had been elected, but
was af.erward told that Muldrow was success
full. Senator Garland called the attention of
witness to his testimony before the Boutwell,
Committee in 1876. The witness said he en-
dorsed every word he then uttered; had said
the Radicals were bull-dozers, and they oper-
ated upon the negroes by superstition, threat
ening to put snakes and lizards into them I;
Democrats now are obnoxious to what he then
said of the Radicals; q white man could not
vote in the South against the Democracy
without being ostracised, but he dreaded the
assassin's knife more than he did ostracism !;
believed great majority OF his district was
but there was class Of ambitious, aspiring
men who sought to render all persons odious
who do not adopt their views; witness claimed
that by fair count he could have beat
William q. Vsssar, native of Virginia, but
living in Mississippi since 1874, testified that
he attended a political meeting at West Point
during the campaign and was called upon for
talk was charged with making Radical
speech; explained that everything is called
Radical in Mississippi that is not Democratic; |;
q mans social and business relations are af-
fected by his political opinions. Witness said
that the middle-aged and men advanced in
life there are moderate and respectful to all
citizens; confusion and boisterous and illegal
conduct are confined to younger men, the poll
tics OF that State being largely governed BY
Republican party in that State was virtually
dead, and that Northern people coming into
the State were looked upon as intruders.
WASHINGTON. Feb Is.
Senators Teller and Garland continued the
inquiry into the Mississippi election. j. 81.
Field, Of Columbus, testified that he did not
know a single instance OF intimidation or an
attempt to prevent any one from voting; the
election was sought to be conducted in q
pleasant way in accordance with the princi-
Piles of right and justice, though actively and
energetically; witness did not agree with Gen
eral Davis unfavorable estimate Of the negro;
those of good conduct and intelligence have
the regard of the people generally; witness
said that their people endeavored to in
duce the best class Of Republicans to visit
in the condition of the colored people might
be improved. Capt. w. w. Humphreys testi-
fed that the late election was more peaceable
and quiet than usual; nobody was prevented
an election as any in any of the States; that
there was no disposition to deprive the colored
man Of his rights except, perhaps, on the part
of a few extreme men; freedom Of speech and
of the press was fully recognized in Missile
sippi, and any man could make a speech there
provided it was not calculated to create a
breach of the peace.
The Chairman Of the committee appointed
as a subcommittee, Senators Hoar, Mcmillan,
Kirkwood, Garland and Wallace, to inquire
into the following branch of the resolution of
the Senate, namely: "Whether in the year
1873, money was raised by assessment or 9th
ployes for election purposes, and under what
circumstances and by what means, and II SO,
what amount was so raised and how the same
was expended; and further, whether such as
sessments we're not In violation of laws" The
committee then adjourned; next meeting sub
ject to call of the chairman.