The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-20

The witness said he indorsed every word
he then uttered. He had said the Radicals
were bulldozers, and they operated on ne
groes by superstition, threatening to put
snakes and lizards into them The Demo-
Gratis now are obnoxious in what he then
said of the Radicals. A white man could
not vote in the South against the Democracy
without being ostracised. But l dread the
assassin's knife more than l do ostracism.
He believed the great majority of his dis
trict was against bultdozing and ballot-box
stufiing but there was class of ambitious,
aspiring men. who sought to render all per
sons odious who de- not adopt their views.
He claimed by fair cohnt he could have
beaten Colonel Muldrow, his opponent; by
ten thousand votes.
VIM. Fl. Vasser, native of Virginia, but
living at aberdeen. Mss, since 1874, testi-
fed tnat he was baptized in the old Whig
party, aud since the war was elected on the
Alcorn ticket, State Treasurer. Iu the late
election he supported the Greenback ticket.
AT Okaloma political meeting was very
boisterotis. Two-thirds of the crowd seemed
drunk. While at West Poiut ne was called
upon for talk. He was charged with
making Radical speech. He had
put his speech in print The crowd came
in and one person demanded what he was
reading. He felt satisfied it was a bull-doz-
ing crowd. A good many white people
supported Davis.
Senator Cameron, of Wisconsin-What
do you call Radical speech? A. What
you call Republican speech, they would
call Radical and insurrectionary one
Everything is called Radical in Mississippi
that is not Democratic. he man who
makes such speech is considered a pest,
and if the speaker is man of ability, he is
considered dangerous pest. A mans
social and business relations are affected by
n ninTn
Senators Teller and Garland, on the 18th,
continued the inquiry into the Mississippi
election. j. FL. Field, of Columbus, testified
he did not know of single instance of in
tlmldation or attempt to prevent any one
from voting. The election was sought TO
be conduc ed in pleasant way, in accord
ance with the principles of right and
Justice, though actively and energetically.
The witness did not agree with General
Daviss unfavorable estimate of the negro.
Those of good conduct and intelligence
have the regard of the people generally.
Senator Garland-Are your people will
ing to accord the black man all his rights
under the Cons tuition? A. l think they
are with this modifcation-namely, the
white people generally would dissuade the
negro, by kind and concilatory means, from
having anything to do with politics, while
they would not exclude him from doing so.
l think our people are against the imita-
tion of suffrage, or taking suffrage away
from them. 'ss--a
Senator Garland asked if Senators Kirk.
wood and Teller should go to Mississippi
and make Republican speeches, how would
they be received and treated? A. 1 think
the people would warmly welcome them as
coming with an honest intent to investigate
the condition of affairs. Our people have
endeavored to induce the best class of Re-
publlcans to visit our section, that the low
degradation in the condition of the colored
people might be improved. Colonel Muld-
row was elected, owing to his popularity.
The election was as peaceful as any he had
before witnessed, and he neither knew nor
heard of complaints of intimidation or bal
lot-box stuffiug.
Captain w. w. Humphreys testified that
the late election was more peaceable and
quiet than usual. Nobody was prevented
from voting. He thought it as fair and hon
est an election as any in any of the States.
Witness added there was no disposition
to deprive the colored man of any of his
rights, except, perhaps, on the part of few
extreme men. Freedom of speech and of
the press was fully recognized in Missis-
slppl, and any man could make a speech
there, provided it was not calculated to
create breach of the peace. He believed
the principal reason people desired colored
men to vote was the increased representa-
tion in Congress.
The Chairman of the Teller committee
appointed as subcommittee, Messrs. Hoar,
Mcmillan, Kirkwood, Garland and Wallace,
to inquire into the following branch of the
resolution of the Senate, namely:
Whether in the year 1878 money was
raised, by assessment or otherwise, upon the
Federal Office holders or employees, for elec-
tion purposes, and under what circum-
stances, and by what means, and if SO,
what amount was SO raised, and how same
was expended; and further, whether such
assessments were or not in violation of
law"
The committee then adjourned, subject
to call of the Chairman