National Republican., 1883-11-17

murderer, we are told that on the evening of
tho same day (afternoon is called evening"
at tho south) 10 committee waited on his
family aud brothers and informed them
that they would be protected, and an armed
guard was placed around his residence to
relieve the minds of his family" Protected
from what and from whom? Had the taste
of the blood of Matthews created an ungov-
ernable appetite for moro? Had it sufliccd
only to "blood tho hounds noses" and set
them to smiling around the home of the MUIR
dercd man for the larger supply there?
Tho good citizens of Hazlehurst did not
stop here. On the day following, and
before there had been any chance for "tho
family and brothers" of the murdered Mat
thews to get outside of tho enemy's lines,
the citizens of Copiah met in mass meeting
to deliberate upon the situation. Thoy do
not pretend that the protectors or jailors of
tho Matthews family and brothers" had
heard a word of threat or even of indigna-
tion. They only deal with what they call
certain rumors,' without giving tho source
of information. They then, as mob, legis-
late as follows
/. Any OF tho Matthews family who shall
injure any person or his property shall be
without the pale and protection of the law"
and be regarded as common enemies of So
ciety," and eve will visit upon them certain
swift retribution."
Q. The Matthews family shall keep out of
politics in Copiah county.
3. White political leaders shall not have
negro followers on pain of death.
4. The mob pledges its lives, fortunes, and
sacred honor to enforce this bloody CODE and
will always respond to the summons of tho
chairman, j. L. Mead.
5. That "a committee of tlCenty-four from
each supervisor district" shall carry the news
to the brothers and sons of the man who lies
stark and cold for daring to be an independ-
ent candidate for sheriff against the demo.
cratic candidate.
But, as we learn from the Natchez CRUSADER,
tho murder of J. P. Matthews was but part
and parcel of the general spirit of the bour-
bon canvass in Copiah county. That paper
says:
One night shortly before the election o com.
mitee of the "chivalry" took to horse in the in.
terest of the "pawty," taking along such weghty
arguments as shotguns, pistols, grass ropes, n
piece of gin belt, three inches wide by three
feet long, attached to a pine handle &C. The
debuto was inaugurated by taking out Handy
Former, an old man 6S years of age), stripping
and binding him, and after throwing him upon
the ground, with Henry Pollard sitting on his feet
and Bob West upon his head, $50 lashes with a
new grass rope -four double" 600 lashes in all
were administered to cow ince old Handy that
he had taken the wrong side when he ventured
upon support of the independent ticket. Henry
Pollard aud Bob West then received their share
of stripes and the mob, having gotten its hand
in started Off for earnest work in the interest o
"honest, intelligent government" Seven miles
away they came upon the cabin of Tom Wallis
go years oldl. Calling the old man out they shot
him dead in the arms of his wife, who had
thrown herself about her husband to protect him
her devotion to her aged companion costing hel
Tn rec buckshot in the muscle of her left arm O
the volley issuing from the guns and pistols o
these heroes of bourbonism.
Is not this state of insurrcctionary war
Lives there Christian man who doubts tha
tho righteous Judgment of heaven will bt
visited not only upon the vile perpetrators o
such deeds, but much moro upon the natior
which shall look on and refuse to interfert
BECAUSE while claiming paramount allegiance
from its citizens as against state control, il
has failed to enact laws to protect those cit
zens from outrage and murder, which thu
states wink at?