The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-04
Minority Report of the COpiah In.
vestigation.

WAsHINGroN, May 27.-The minarir,.
report on the COpiah investigation an.
sents entirely from the statements ana
contained in the r,purt NJ
the majority, and presents their own
view of affairs, formed from the f.ti.
mony of respectable and Creditah'e wiz
nesses examined by the committee
They express the opinion that the ipye..
tigation was originated and conducted
for the purpose of aiding the RepubU
cans in the approaching presidential
canvass by renewing stories of OUTRAGE
and crime, which were 50 enectugIh
used in former political campaigns. apI
perhaps to furnish the excuse, if per...
sary, for rejecting the vote of Missis>ippi
in the Electoral College, and thereby d,,.
feating, as was done il. 1876, the CLEARLY
expressed will of the American pcopla
in the choice of President.
They refer to the Eliza Piukstou ,tofy
and ask who believes it to-day, and a..
sert that this and other such tales. hay.
ing lost their potency, the Danville aud
Copiah Investigations were conceived
and brought forth. They say that m,
majority report evidently ignored and
purposely disregarded the sworn tcsti.
mony of the most intelligent, Trustworthy
and reliable citizens of Cupiah county.
and gave full credence aud belief To the
statements 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.
The report states that the people Of
Copiah county are law abiding, and that
the number of crimes and violations Of
law committed by the white people in
that county are less in number and less
aggravated in character than in many
portions of New England and other
Northern States that boast their educa-
tional advantages and superior ciyilia-
ton.
They analysed the testimony before
the committee to show that the crimes
investigated were not political crimes.
With regard to the killing Of Mat.
thews, the minority quote from the tes-
timony to show that it resulted from a
personal quarrel between Matthews and
Wheele: about politics, and that Wheel.
err was acquitted on plea of self-defense.
OF Matthews they say he carried arms
upon his person and was regarded by
many as ready and even eager for the
frav. He was Just such person as
would be likely to come into collision
with others, sooner or later, that would
end seriously, if not fatally.
In regard to the investigation proposed
by the majority, of the next election in
Mississippi, the minority say it is threat
to disfranchise the people OF the State Of
Mississippi in the coming presidential
election, made with view TO lettering
the citizens Of that State from casting
its electoral No.e Contrary to the party
I in power, and that q more tiagrant at
tempt to bulldoze an entire State by
threatening to disfranchise is people
and destroy its autonomy, cannot b,
! found in the annals of constitutional
government.
In conclusion the minority say: "Iht
duty of the undersigned is perhaps dis
. charged by exposing the animus Of The
recon- nendation, but they feel justified
? in SAYING they little understand the
E spirit or temper of the American people
). who suppose they will again submit "a
the defeat of their will in the choice o.
a President, as was the case in 1871
{ Neither an electoral commission moi
e armed soldiers around this Capitol will
!. prevent the installation in the pre,den
Il tial Office of the man elevated to that posi-
/ ton by the votes of his countrymen. The
reproach brought upon our system o.
Y government by the occurrences which
i placed in the Chief Executive Office Of
the government man who had been
t defeated at the polls is too keenly fell
!, by the people of the country to justify
+ the belief that they will tolerate for
e moment suggest on of their repetition
0 and the minority can but express thc
r surprise at the temerity that volunteers
d however covertly, to avow a purpose 50
destructive TO the hopes and honor o.
+ the country"
f The report is signed by Mc,-rs. Vance
i salisbury, Pugh and Jonas.