The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-15
Senatorial Speeches on the Southern
Outrage Question.

In the Senate on the 9th ult. Mr.. Sherman's
resolutions on the Virginia and Mississippi
elections were taken up.
Mr.. Sherman said that since the beginning
of the present session he had felt that recent
events in the STATES of Virginia and MisSiS-
sippi were of such importance Us to demand a
full and impartial investigation of the causes
that led to them, the real facts involved, and
the proper constitutional remedies 70 prevent
their recurrence: and. If necessary; to further
SECURE 10 al American citizens freedom OF
speech in the open assertion of political Opin-
ions and the peaceful exercise of the right to
vote. Now that sufficient time had elapsed to
aliay to some extent the excitement caused
by these events he hoped the Senate would
make this investigation, so our citizens in
every State might understand how far the
National Government could protect them IN
the enjoyment of their rights: or if it was
helpless or liStless that, no longer relying
upon the barren declarations of the COnstitu-
ton, each man for himself might appeal to
the right of self-defense or to the boosted
American right of migration to more friend
ly regions. The allegations in this resolution
as to the Danviile riot or massacre were,
the public prints, supported by
the oaths of witnesses. and their substantial
truth is also verified by the published state
| ment of u member OF this body-a Senator
from the State of Virginia. The allegations
as to Mississippi were founded upon cOpiOus
narratives in the public prints. proceedings of
public meetings. and the act and failure To act
of officers of the State Government. including
Governors, Judges, courts and juries. IL these
statements are true then in both those States
there have been organized conspiracies 10
Subyert the freedom of elections, accOimpa
MED by murder and violence in many forms.
The crimes depicted are not ordinary crimes,
but those of the prevailing majority TO sub
vert by violence the highest constitutional
privileges of citizens, and they could not from
their nature be inquired of or punished by
ordinary tribunals. "1f," he said, they are
true, then in those commun ties the members
of our party and our race have no rights
which the prevailing majority are bound to
respect" Hc had no desire to open up sec
tiOnal questions or renew old striieS. Still. If
these allegations were true, il would be IL cow
ardly shrinking from the graveSt public duty
to allOw such events rOdeepcn into precedents
which woull subvert the foundation of Re-
publiC0N institutions and convert our elections
into organized crimes.
. If the events at Danvillc were the result of
q chance outbreak or riot between opposing
parties or different races of men, they might
properly be left to be dealt with by the local
authorities; but il riot and massacre were
par; of the machinery devised by a party to
deter another party or race from freedom OF
elections or free open expression OF political
opinions, then they constituted crime against
the alton Government, and the highest
duty OF the Government was to maintain at
every hazard the equal rights and privileges
of citizens. II the events of COpiah County,
Miss. were merely lawleSs invasiOns of indi-
vidual rights, then, thOugh they involved
murder, as well Us other crimes. they should
be left TO local authority. and il justice couid
not be administered by the courts and a citi-
zen was without IL remedy from lawiess VIC
ience. then he must fall back upon his right
of scif-dclcnse. or. failing in that, mus. seek
u home where his rights shall be respected or
observed. But if these individual crimes in
VOWED. the greater one of org iniZcd con-
Spiracy of 4 party or race to deprive another
party or race of citizens of the enjoyment OF
unlueStioncd rights. accompanied with overt
acts, with physical power sufficient TO accom-
plish the purpose. then ii became a National
question which must be dealt with by the
National Government.
The war emancipitcd and made citizens of
five millions of people who had been slaves.
tiOnal Government TO protect citizens in the
essential right OF freemen. No man should be
allowed 10 hold II seat in either House OF Con-
grcSS whose election was secured by crimes
such as are depicted here, nor was il sufficient
to say the elections refcrie d to were not Ma
t onai elections in the sense that they did not
involve the election of a President or MEM
Der of Congress. While the power OF Congress
over the election of Senators, Representatives
and President extended to tn. making and
altering of laws and regulations pass d by the
respective States, ard therefore was fuller
than in respect TO State elections, yet the Con-
s,itutiOn p.Ovided that: The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses.
papers and effects. aga nSt unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be viOlated;'
that AL persons born or naturalized in the
United States and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof are citizens of tine L nited States" that
mo State shall make or enforce any law
which shall aiiridge the privileges or immuni-
ties of citizens of the United States: nor shall
any state deprive any person OF life. liberty, or
property without Uu: process of law: nOrdeny
any person within the jurisdiction the equal
detection of the law; ard that 1.-The rights
of citizens of the L nj ed States to vote shall
not BE- denied or abridged by :he United states
Or by any State on account OF race, color, Or
previous condition OF Scrvltude."
Ii is also declared ih:t Congress shall have
power to make all laws necessary and proper
to carrying into execution the foregoing
powers and al! other powers vested by this
Constitution in the Government OF the United
States or in any department or officer thereof
Power is alSp given Congress To enforce all
recent amendments by appropriate legisla-
ton. IT the essential right or citizenship
were overthrow by the State or the people
of the Siate with the sanction OF the local au-
thoritieS within the limi,s or the state, then
Congress. as the legislative power of the
United States. b und TO provide additional
safeguards AMI should exhaust all the powers
of toe National Government to maintain
these eSsentia rights OF citizenship within the
a manner rs it would guard or protect the un-
questioned rights OF citizens of the United
States within the domains of the most pow
eriul Nations Of the world. He could ap-
preciate the changes that had occurred TO the
Southern States and that natural antagoniSins
would arise by the emancipated slaves min
CLING in the same community with their for
mer masters. He cou'd pardon the prejudIceS
Of race, caste. and even localities. and the
American people,, he bought, had waited
with great forbearance for the time when
cOIlStllUI.OTal tights WOulu DC respected
without regard TO race. color. creed. or party.
If the time had come when the members OF
the Republican party. through whose agency
largely the existence of the Government had
been maintained, could not enjoy constitu-
tional rights, were murdered at the ballot box
without fe II of punishment on the part of
the murdcrerS, were driven from their homes
by outrage and terror. and that black and
white alike were subjected to OStracism and
Inju tee, and as a party DISTINGUISHED, then,
indee 4. was a pate 1t inquiry demanded and
4 full, open. manly assertion that rights and
equalities should be maintained and enforced
at every hazard.
If the Copiah resolutions were the creed of
the Democratic party South, then indeed was
he war a failure. They seemed to him the
very germ of despOtism and barbarity; aud
get he was assured by the gentlemen friendly
% them that they were the creed of nine
,enths of the party in power in Mississippi. 1t
was right that the groundwork of opinions so
utterly ~repugnant TO republican institutions
should be known.
In this investigation" he said, 81 would
seek every palliation for excuse or the con-
duct of the people complained of. | would
give to their motives and to the natural feel
irxs of mankind in their situation the most
charitable construction. l would give to
them ali the political power they ever en-
jOyed, and without u~nkindness, or pains.
or penalties. or even reprOaches; l would
extend to them every right, favor. or
facility enjoyed by any citizen in any part of
our country: but when this concession
is made them / would demand that in the
States under their control the freedom and
equality of rights and privileges guaranteed
by the Constitution and laws to all citizens,
white or black. native or naturalized, poor or
rich, ignorant or learned, Republican or DEM
@-.nN abal bn oa,.A he n StaAo 0r-a,