The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-07
TUE MISSISSIPPI oUrRAGEs.

Findings and Recommendations of the Ma
jority of the Senate Committee.
WASHINGTON. May 6.-The report of the Sen
ate committee on privileges and elections in re-
lation to the Copiah branch Of the Investigations
which that committee has been making, bearing
the signatures of five Republican members of the
committee, was laid before the Senate this after
noon. The Democratic members of the commit
tee will make a minority report The report
says:
1.-THE committee entered upon its task with al
most inexpressible repugnance. Nothing could
be more Justly odious than to use such investi-
cations and disclosures as party instruments,
unless it be to commit, profit by, or screen
the crimes which were investigated. But
the rights invaded were rights declared
by q national Constitution and which the national
Congress was bound to secure by appropriate
legislation against infringement or violation by
any State. If the powers already conferred upon
Congress by the Constitution were not ample
for their protection, it would become a duty to
propose the granting of further powers, that the
blessings of liberty and equal protection and the
right to vote, without distinction of race or color,
might not fail through neglect of any State in its
duty. The proposition that the protection of the
right to vote secured by the fourteenth and ff-
teenth amendments 20 the Constitution is the
concern OIL Jne WnOle people, ueeuS III dTSuuleul.
The report points out the number
of member of the House and
electors given the former slave States by
the colored population, and quotes the provision
Of the Constitution relating to the reduction OF
the basis Of representation, and declares it to
he the duty of Congress, and not a matter of
discretion, to take action in the premises when
ever tho conditions warrant it, and adds:
cit is to be hoped the returning conscience of
Mississippi, or such laws as Congress may en-
act, may prevent such "a condition of things from
becoming permanent in that State as shall com
pei Congress to enter upon a discussion whether
her representation in Congress must be dimin
ished. The committee cannot doubt whether
the methods which determined the election of
county officers in Copiah in 1883 will be in full
operation. so far as they may be needed. in de
termining the vote of Mississippi for presidential
electors and members of Congress in 1884"
The committee then reviews the testimony as
to the alleged outrages in Copiah county. From
the facts presented them. they conclude that the
conspiracy was organized representative young
Democrats, with the countenance OF that party
in COpiah county, and was entered into to drive
their opponents from the polls. To that end, a
mob was gathered and systematic outrages per
petrated, ending in murder, one OF the victims
being a wealthy and generally-respected white
man. During the whole time these outrages
were going on the Democratic State and
county officers remained passive, and thus allowed
the election to be turned into Il mockery, In
conclusion, the report says:
"The committee had not time to go into an in
Vestigation of the security of constitutional
rights in Mississippi. 1t can only refer to the
evidence of witnesses who think Copiah a favor
able specimen of the counties of that State; to
the documentary matter brought to our aUten-
ton; TO the evidence taken blythe Senate commit
tee ia 1876; to the testimony in the election
cases in the House of Representatives; to the
numerous declarations of the Democratic press,
and to the crimes, we'll known and UNPUBLISHED:
such AZ the murder of Chisolm. of Dixon, of
Foote. the United States collector of internal
revenue, and three others in Yazoo, whose blood
stained hand Copiah is so eager to grasp.
No legislation dealing with Missis
sippi alone should be enacted without
investigation which should cover all parts of the
State. Before such investigation a national
election will have taken place, at which the
temper and respect for law of the people of
Mississippi will undoubtedly be made fully man
ifest. If the Constitution has not power
enough in its arsenal for protection Of all the
rights it confers or recognizes, the people, on
being satisfied of the fact, will confer others.
Each house of Congress is imperatively required
by its duty to refuse seats to persons whose
election is directly or indirectly due to crime,
either of violence or fraud. The committee
the publication, for use
of the American people, of the testi-
mony taken. They further recommend
the passage of Senate bill No. Is, which is de
signed to furnish a remedy for some of the evils
disclosed. They further that after
the next election in Mississippi, unless the same
shall be unquestionably fair and free, there
shall be a full Investigation of things in that
State, with a view to determining the question
whether a Republican government exists there,
and whether it is entitled to its existing repre-
s~entation or has forfeited it in whole or part by
reason of denial or infringement of the right to
vote to any of its people. Questions of further
legislation the committee reserves for further
consideration"