Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-31
II. E MCCAIN,
0He OF the Federal Grand Jurors Who
Recently Found True Bills Against
Certain Persons
Charged with Interfering with Elections
He Reviews the Position OF the
Appeals Correspondent.

To the Editors of the Appeal:
CoLDwATER, MIS-, January 81 see in
the last issue OF your paper severe criticism
upon the action of the grand jury which con-
vened at Oxford during the greater part Of
the month of December past. The author,
seems, is a regular correspondent of the Ar
PEAL ia resident of the little city OF OK
ford, and must have had splendid oppor-
tuui,es to have learned the political views
of at least few, if not every member Of the
grand jury, had he taken the time and
trouble upon himself prior TO addressing his
letter to the APPEAL.
His communication is lengthy one, and
canvasses thoroughly and uusparinzly every
department OF this judicial body, from the
Judge upon his seat TO its petty deputies.
In reply, shall con6ne myself particularly
to his statements concerning the grand jury,
having had the honor to be one OF its mem
bers.
The author makes this statement, namely
"The grand jury which found bills Of indict-
ment in all these election sses-indictments
in every instance sgainst the Democratic
party-did not contain one single Democrat"
Now, ask from what source he derived
his information. In the absence of personal
knowledge, is the author prepared to make
such an assertion? 1 will say, with as much
Difference to the author as he chose 10 extend
to the jury, that his statement was an abso-
Lutte mistake and grossly unjust. To my
certain knowledge, there was one other be-
sides myself who supported Manning, and
whose political views were as extremely
Democratic as the most partisan Republican
with whom we had TO contend. Our fore
ian, also, who did not woe in the last con-
gressionai election, is a warm supporter OF
the Democratic party. In verihcation of
the above facts, Twill add thatin every cleo
ton / have always voted with the Demo-
cratic party, Gu ported, as L believed, by q
large majority of the responsibility OF our
country. That the jury was composed
principally OF negroes, Is lamentable Tact
and cannot be too strongly condemned by the
press and by the public at large, but the
statement that all were hostile TO the Demo-
cratic party is, 10 my mind, an inexcusabe
mistake. No grand jury, l presume, has
ever yet escaped the condemnation OF the
public, and / am not surprised that We re.
ceive the odium OF the general public
throughout the district, but / am surprised
that a little handful OF us should be held
responsible for thing over which it is not
possible to have any earthly control. We, as
Jurors, were placed under oath and were COM
PEELED under the most solemn pledge to lay
at the door OF entrance our partisan feelings,
and to examine impartially the testimony
that came up before us. That some entirely
uniusti6able frauds were committed in the
! asst election, we had the testimony OF some
of the most credible witnesses of the coun-
try to sustain, aud it wac especially in cases
of this kind that felt the solemnity OF my
oath, and it was only In cases OF this kind
that felt justif able in supporting bill OF
indictment. To have acted otherwise
would have been to have peijursd ourselves,
and felt under no obligation to psrjure
myself 10 hide the shame OF anothers guilt.
i will say further, that large uumber of
witnesses who swore before US, representing
the Greenback party, were men OF respecta-
bilitv, truth aud intelligence, and in no case,
where bill was found, did it fail 10 be sup
ported by such character of testimony. /
felt satisfied that bills we're found that could
not be sustained in a final trial, and under
the charge delivered to the grand jury by
the district attorney, Judge G. c Chandler,
felt under no obligation 10 support them,
however reputable thu witussEes who testi-
fed in the case; but with two others TO my
support, and occ asionally our clerk, we en-
deavored 10 pass only such bills as would
stand the test in hual trial.
That Democrats were chosen to sit on both
the grand and petit jury was true, and their
failure to do so grew cut Of an
excuse much deeper felt than the one
expressed. Time, to some, is too important
to leave their homes and business for the
paltry sum they expect to- receive for their
services as jurors-a mere support; and this
accounts for the fact that some OF the most
important business transactions OF the couu-
try are submitted TO a class of men who are
incapable of providing for the actual wants
OF themselves and families. This honorable
colored body scattered throughout our couu-
try are not acquainted with an aspiration
that would Lad Them beyoEd mere support,
and are proud Of opportunities to draw from
the government the small sum ofered-a
thing entirely unsatisfactory to men who are
capable of discharging public service.
r. E. MCCAIN.