Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-28

lncepted and conducted, not to ascertain and
estaDllsh the truth, but by distortion of
iacts 10 mlslead the public mind and to excite
popular prejudice in order to advance the
supposed Interests of a political organization
They say that they would gladly, if they
could, eXonerate this Investigation from the
taint or suspicion OF partisan purpose and de
sign, but that justice TO truth and candor COM
pei them to declare their conviction that it
was originated and conducted for the purpose
OF aiding the Republican party in the ap-
preaching Presidential canvass by reviewing
stories OF outrage and crime which. they
say, were so efectually used in
former campaigns and, perhaps, they
add, TO furnish an excuse, if necessary, for
rejecting the vote of Mississippi in the ElectO-
raj College and Thereby to defeat the Demo-
Gratis and, as in 1876, the clearly expressed
President"
THERE CAN BE NO MISTAKE.
They say that they are fully aware of the
responsibility they assume in making these
statements, and assert that they are made
from convictions forced upon them in every
step in the inquiry. Referring to the origin Of
the investigation they say that the resolutions
adopted by the Senate charged "upOn the
Democratic party of COpiah county every
species of crime known to the Vocabu-
larry Of INSCRIPTIONS politicians and
upon the authorities of the State of neg
lect and failure to do their duty" These
charges, they say, were based on the state
ments of an adventurer (Barnett, who sought
to secure Il Federal Office by prOclaiming HIM
self martyr. They make the charge that in
TINS, following practice in conformity with
which. at every recurring Presidential cleo
ton since the civil war; attempts have been
made to excite the prejudices of the people of
the Northern States by accusations of outrage
and wrong in the South, and thew refer to the
Eliza Plnkston case and give their views as to
the part it played in the throwing out of votes
cast for Tilden in Louisiana in 1876. They ask
who believes the Pinkston story to-day, and
assert that this and other such tales having
"a fhn7V fNrats i
investigations were conceived and brought
forth.
NO ROOM FOR DOUBT.
OF the investigation on which the report is
based, they say: ''If the origin of the investi-
CATION had left anv doubt as to the nurDose
for which it was instigated that doubt would
have been removed by the manner in
which it was conducted. They say that
the TACT that the investigation was held
outside OF COpah county, and outside of the
State of Mississippi. is evidence that the refu-
tation of the slanders against the people of
that county and State was sought to be
avoided, and alluding to what they call
"garbled" reports of the inquiry, which were
sent North TO the Republican newspapers by
the clerk of the committee, they say: "The
members OF the committee. responsible for
his appointment, would certainly have per
mltted no such breach of deCOrum unless it
met their approval aud aided their general
purposes and the design of the investigation -
Speaking of the report Of the majority. they
sd II luIulSutS lIiOSb lNuuDllaDlc GVIuenGe.
not only of the partisan purpose OF the inyes-
tigation, but of the unreliability Of the state
ments and conclusions reached by Senate
rial committee when party interests are to be
served by an investigation. The committee re-
turns to its charges and they say further that
in their opinion an impartial jury of intelli-
gent men hearing the testimony taken by the
committee and giving due weight to the evl-
denee would unhesitatingly arrive at con-
illusions directly opposite Of those
submitted by the majority. They
say that the majority report evidently
ignored and purpOsely disregarded the sworn
testimony of the most intelligent, trust
worthy and reliable citizens of COpiah county,
and gave full credenee and belief to the state
ments of persons, some OF whom were shown
to be destitute of character for veracity. and
others apparently TOO ignorant to understand
and regard the obligation of the oaths taken
by them.
GOOD WORD FOR COPIAH.
They quote from the testimony taken by the
committee in support of the position taken bv
them (the minority, that the people of COpiah
county are as law-abiding as those of any
other community, and add that while there
are IN that county. as in other communities
per5 ms unmindful of their duties as citizens
and reckless alike of their own interests and
of the rights Of others, they (the minOrity) do
not hesitate to say that the percentage OF such
persons is not in excess of that in most other
localities and far less than in MANY other
places, and that the number OF crimes and
violations of the law committed by white
people IN JildI county are less IN number and
less aggravated IN character than in many
portions of New England and other Northern
States that boast of their educa-
tlon2l advantages and superior civilization.
The minority quote from the testimony before
the committee TO show the condition Of af-
fairs in COpiah county at the time of the
occurrences under investigation. They say
that the alleged cases of lawlessness in that
county have been greatly magnified IN num-
Der and exaggerated in character in the re-
port of the majority.
They charge the majority Of The committee
with having, in their anxiety to convict the
Democratic party of Copiah county of con-
spiracy in the commission of murder, arson
and other crimes, forgotten the obligation
which their position as Senators and men,
bers of committee charged with the inves-
tigaton imposed upon them, to state fairly
the facts established by the proof.
THE ALLEGED POLITICAL CRIMES.
They analyze the testimony before the COM
mttee to show that the killing OF Wall. the
whipping of Frostryner, the shooting of Bar
nett, and other crimes Investigated were not
political crimes. With regard to the killing
of Matthews the minority quote from the testi-
mony TO show that IT resulted from personal
quarrel between Matthews and Wheeler
about politics, and that Wheeler was acquitted
on the plea OF self-defense. OF Matthews
they say he carried arms upon his person
and was regarded by MANY as readv
even eager, for fray He was just such a
person as would be likely to come into col
lision with others, sooner or later, that would
result seriously, if not fatally. Coming to the
proposed by the majority, tue pub
licatiOn of the testimony, the passage of the
Edmunds bill and an investigation into the
conduct of the next election in Mississippi.
the minority say of the first that it will not
give to the American people any valuable in
formation. OF the second they say that they
do not propose to discuss the Edmunds biil
until it it comes before the Senate.
BULLDozING SCHEME.
it Is Il' threat "' to '"liS disfranehise inss
the people of the State Of Mississippi, in the
coming Presidential election. made with a
view to deterring citizens of that State from
casting its electoral vote contrary to the party
in power, and that more fiagrant and
by threatening to disfranchlse its people and
to destroy It's autonomy, cannot be found in
the annals of constitutional government. In
conclusion the minority say: 1.-THE duty Of
the undersigned is perhaps discharged by
exposing the animus of the recommended
tiOn, but they feel justified in
saying that they little understand
the spirit or temper Of the American people
who suppose that they will again submit to a
defeat of their will in the choice of Presi-
dent, as was the case in 1871. Neither an elec-
toral commission nor armed soldiers around
the capital will prevent the installation in
the Presidential Office Of the man elevated to
that position by the votes of his cOuntrymen.
The reproach brought upon our system Of
government by the occurrences which placed
in the Chief Executive Office Of the govern
ment a man who had been defeated at the
polls is too keenly felt by the people OF
the country to justify belief that they win
tolerate for moment a suggestion of their
and the undersigned can but ex-
press their surprise at the temerity that vol
unteers, however covertly, to avOw a purpose
so destructive to the hopes and honor Of the