The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-22


Down in Copiah county, Mississippi. at
the recent election, the chivalric southern
democracy INDUCED in little display of the
old Mississippi "shot gun policy" which re-
who had the audacity to assert his right
TO differ in political faith, from the negro
hating democracy of that benighted re-
gion. After the election was over the
democrats of Copiah county held a mass
meeting to celebrate their famous victory
and glorify over their murderous work. The
following are portion of the long string of
resolutions adopted by the meeting:
Res0}ced, That in the opinion of this
meeting, 1t is necessary To the safety of So
ciety, and the welfare of all races and classes
in this county that the Matthews family
shall Keep out Of politics in Copiah county.
RcSOLced, That from henceforth, no man
or set of men shall organize the negro race
against sthe whites in this county. and if it
snail be attempted in the future, we hereby
give notice that it shall be at the peril of
the person or persons attempting so TO do
ReSOLc6d That a committee of ~ from
each supervisors district be appointed
by the chair to present copy of these reso-
Iutions to the brothers and sons of the late
j. p. Matthews and that the same be pub
hshed in the Coptdh Sig1odJ and the Crystal
Springs Meteor.
Res0iced, That the clubs continue their
organizations, and consider themselves not
discarded, subject to the call of the demo-
cratic executive committee.
ReS0lced. That the thanks of this meeting
he extended to the Hazlehurst brass band
for their services on this occasion.
The crime of which Matthews was guilty
consisted in organizing the colored voters in
opposition to the democratic ticket. This
gave mortal ofense to the Copiah bourbons,
and so, to satisfy their outraged "honor'
they take the life of the offender and APP
point battalion of southern gentlemen as
a committee to serve notice upon his sons
and brothers that they must keep out of
Copiah county politics, or run the risk of
mourning similar fate. With great show
of virtuous indignation that any one in
great Copiah county should have the temeri-
ty to entertain political opinions contrary TO
their own, they steal the language of tie
Declaration of Independence and pledge
their lives, their fortunes and their sa-
cred honor to prevent any such dire cat
astrophe Detailing their native Copiah. In
commenting upon this matter the Post
and Tribune very properly remarks:
These resolutions tell their own story in
unmistakable language. They threaten the
murder of the entire Matthews family il the
property or person of any democrat is in
jared because of the killing of Matthews.
They threaten the murder of any person
who shall organize the negroes against the
whites, meaning. that any person who or
ganizes negroes to vote against the demo-
cratic ticket shall be killed as Matthews was
killed. With savage cruelty il is ordered
that a copy of these resolutions be given to
the brothers and sons OF Matthews while
they had not yet had time to bury their
murdered father and brother For some
reason the meeting omitted to order copy
served upon the widow by way of consoling
her. Probably in the hilarity of the cele-
bration, which was enlivened by the music
of brass band. they forgot the widow. or
perhaps, they considered her beneath their
notice, on the supposition that widows can't
either vote or shoot. Still it would be '.chiv-
alric" for some democrat TO send a marked
copy Of the Copiah Signal. so as to have it
reach her, If possible, OH the day of the
funeral.
1t will be observed tina: this bloody shirt
rs not raised by any northern paper or ora
tor. but is raised and waved by Copiah
county democracy. II is they who strip the
bloody garment from the murdered Matthews
and shake it menacingly at the Matthews
family. and at anybody who may dare at
tempt TO organize negroes TO vote against the
democratic ticket. 1t is they who held O
public meeting and passed resolutions. and
had them printed in newspapers, and SO
thrust this bloody shirt before the eyes OF
the country
u------.----s->~