The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-24

lish justice and insure uoniesuc trah
quillity:
And whereas the Constitution provide,
for the security Of all citizens OF equa
civil rights, and TO all citizens the priv
leges and immunities that belong to the
condition OF citizenship, and that the right
of citizens OF the United States to vote
shall not I've denied by the United States
or any State on account OF race, col
or. or previous condition OF seryitude,
and further provides that no State shall
DENY to any person within its jurisdiction
the equal protection OF the laws;
And whereas. among the privileges and
immunities inherent in citizenship are the
right pcaceably TO assemble for the con-
sideration Of questions OF State and ma
tional concern, and In safety to discuss the
same and the right to exercise the elective
franchise In every State freely and without
molestat,on or intimidation;
And whereas general election was TO
occur, and did occur, In the State OF Vir-
gina on the 9th day OF November, 1888;
And whereas 1t is alleged and currently
reported In the public press that on or
about the Sd day OF November, 1888, ut
Danville, IN said State, large number Of
peaceable citizens OF the United States and
of the said State were violently assailed by
an organized body OF men and fired upon,
and several of them killed, by said armed
men conspiring TO affect and with the
purpose OF affecting the result OF said eiec'
ton so about TO occur by creating, by
means of such unlawful violence and hon.
icide, q state OF alarm on the part OF peace
able citizens throughout the said state
which should induce them TO refrain from
voting, or to vote differently from their
previous intentions at said election;
And whereas 1t is alleged that all the
victims of said attack were Of one race and
one political party and all their ASSISTANTS
Of another;
And whereas it is alleged that the au-
thorites Of the said State Of Virginia have
not brought any OF the persons connected
with said conspiracies, violence. and homi-
cides before the courts of justice for en-
animation or trial. whereby the equal rights
OF citizenship and equal protection OF the
laws have not been secured to all people OF
said State;
And whereas a general election was to
occur in the State OF Mississippi on the 9Th
day of November, 1883;
And whereas ii is alleged and currently
reported in the public press that prior to
said election in the county OF Copiah, State
Of Mississippi, there was an organized
movement by members OF one party to
prevent members OF another party from
voting at that election. and 10 prevent the
free and open discussion and expression
Of POLITICAL opinions; that this purpose
was carried to execution by organized
plans OF terror and violence; that the means
used for that purpose were by iawless and
organized mobs, moving by night and by
day, assaulting, and in some cases killing,
lawful voters, with the view by terror and
fear Of violence to deter others from yOt-
ing; that this violence was committed by
one party upon members OF another party
with the view to deprive the latter OF their
constitutional rights, and extended
throughout said county OF Copiah and into
portions of other counties OF that State;
that as part OF this general plan and con-
spiracy one j. Il. Matthews, peaceable and
law-abiding citizen OF Copiah county, was
warned not to vote, and UPON his voting
on the day OF election was murdered at
the place of election by person selected
for that purpose, with the approval. ex-
press or implied, OF the officers OF election,
and no effort was made to punish the MUIR
derers; that his killing was subsequently
by public meeting IN said town,
composed entirely of members OF one
party, and bv such public meeting it was
justified and approved, and the following
resolutions were adopted:
Whereas certain rumors are current That the
relatives of the late }. L. Matthews have threat
eped the peace of society in order to ayenge his
death by killing Democrats and destroying tseir
property: now, therefore, be II
Resolced 6u peOple Of C0pidh county IN mass
meeting assembled this day at The courthouse OF
said county Thai If any person shall be injured,
or an attempt made 70 injure him, either In per-
son or property, in any manner by said relatives
or friends OF said ]. p Matthew's, we hereby de-
clare that we will bold his said relatives and
friends who participate accountable for the same.
and that we will regard them as without the pale
and protection of law and common eneu les Of So
cieiy, and that we will visit upon them certain and
swift retrieutiOn.
Resolved, That so long as the friends and rea-
tivcS of the said j Z. Matthews obey the laws aud
become good citizens we hereby pledge them the
PesoIred, That in the opinion OF this meeting It
is necessary TO the safety OF society and welfare OF
all races and clas -es in this country that the
Matthews family snail keep out OF pOntics III
Resolred, That from henceforth no man or set
of men shall organize The negro race against
whites In this county. and If II shall be attempted
in future we hereby give notice that II shall be at
the peril Of the person or persons attempting to
ResoEred That We do hereby pledge ourselves
each 10 the other, eur lives and fortunes and our
sacred honor, that we will, all and individually,
from hCncefOrth hold ourselves IN readiness 70
enforce the foregoing resolutions, to meet az any
time upon the call OF the chairman OF this meet
ing. -. -.
from each supervisors district be appointed by
the shair 10 present copy OF these resolutions to
the brothers and sons Of the late J.. z; M.tthews'
and that the same b. published IN the C0piah Stg-
nal and the Crystal Springs .HtteOT.
Resolved by the citizens Of Coptdh in mass
meeting assembled. That the honors heretofore
wOrTl-anl worthily so---by Beat No. q" be, and
the same are hereby, awarded 10 4" Beat No. g."
Be II further TesoIrCd, That this resolution L.
by no means intended TO reflect upon the past and
u probation OF the result Of The election Of the
ticket In " Beat No. 81
10 Is also resolred, That the clubs continue their
organization and consider Themselves not dis
banded, and subject to the call Of the chairman OF
the Democratic Executive Committee
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be
extended to the Hazlehurst Brass Band for their
services on this occasion.
IsignedJ jill. NEArE. Chairman.
Jesse Thompson, Jr. G. J. allen. Secretaries.
And whereas it is alleged that the aH-
thorities of the State OF Mississippi have
utterly failed and neglected to protect and
preserve the citizens OF that State in the
equal enjoyment OF civil and political
rights, but have in some cases contributed
TO their overthrow, and have failed to pun
Iilsh or bring to trial the persons alleged
to be guilty Of the conspiracies, violence,
and homicides above stated, in disregard
OF the equal rights Of citizenship in the
equal protection of the law guaranteed TO
all the people OF that State: therefore
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Priyi-
lcges and Elections be, and 1t is hereby,
instructed TO inquire into all the circuin--
stances Of and connected with said alleged
events, and into the condition OF the con-
sttutional rights and securities before
named OF the people OF Virginia and Mis-
sissippi, and that it report by bill or other
wise as soon as may be, and that 1t have