The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-28
TIE COP[AH TROUBLES.
Minority Report ofthe sherman Committee
Singing Arraignment OF the Republican

Singing Arrnicnment OF the Republican
Party.
IBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, May 27.-The minority re-
port on the Copiah investigation was SUBJ
mitled to the Senate to-day. It Is signed
by Senators Salisbury, Jonas, Vance, and
Pueh. II starts out with the assertion that
the minority dissent entirely from the
statements and conclusions contained in
the report OF the majority, and pre-
sent their own views OF the affairs in
Copiah county, formed from testimony
OF reputable and credible witnesses
examined by the committee. They say
..We fully concur in the assertion OF
the majority that nothing can be more
Justly odi0us than 10 Use such inves-
legations aud disclosures (as this) Is pOlti-
cal instruments, and this is especially true
when such Investigations are inceplod
and conducted not TO ascertain and estab-
fish the truth. but by distortion Of facts TO
mi,lead the public mind and excite popu-
lar prejudice in order TO advance the sup
posed interest Of political organization"
They say they would gladly, ii they
could, eXonerate this investigation from
faint or suspicion OF partisan purpose and
design. but that justice to truth and candor
compel them to declare their conviction
that il was originated and conducted for
the purpose OF aiding the Republican
party in the approaching presidential can
yass by reyiying stories OF outrage and
crime which they say were so etlectually
used in former political campaigns. and
perhaps. they add, to furnish IN excuse, II
neces sarv, for rejecting the vote OF MissiS-
sippi in the Electoral College. and "thereby
defeating, as was done in 1876, the clearly
expressed will OF the American people III
the choice OF President"
They say they are fully aware OF the re-
sponsibility they assume in making these
statements. and assert that they are made
from convictions forced upon them at every
step i'm the inquiry. Referring to the orr
Gin Of the investigation they say that the
resolutions adopted by the Senate charged
"upon the Democratic party OF Coplah
county every species OF crime known to the
vocabulary OF INSCRIPTIONS politicians
and upon theauthoritias OF the State neglect
and failure to do their duty. These charges.
they saw. were based upon the statements
of an adyenturer (Blrnett). who sought to
secure Federal office by prtclaiming him.
self a martyr. They make the charge That
this Is following n practice in con-
formity with which at every recurring
presidential election since the civil war
atfempts have been made to excite the
nrpiudices OF the people OF the northern
States by accusations OF outrage and Wrong
in fine South. and they refer to the Eliza
P;nlston ease and give their views rs
70 the mart 1t PLAYED in the throwing out OF
the votes cast for TiIden in Louisiana in
1876. They ask who believes the Pinkston
story TODAY. and assert that this and other
suc6 tales having lost their potency, Dan
Vile and Copiah investigations were con-
ceiyed and brought forth.
OF the Investigation on which the report
Is based thew say: ali the origin OF the
Investigation had left any doubt as to the
nnrnos,. for which it was instigated that
Doubt would have been removed by the
manner in which it was conducted" They
saw that the fact that the Investigation was
held outside OF Copiah county, ana
outside OF the State OF Mississippi Is
evidence that the refutatlon OF Tue
SANDERS against the people OF that county
and State was sought to be avoided; ana
aihIdinc TO what they call the "garbled "
rororls Of the inquiry which were sent
North TO Republican newspapers by the
clerk OF the committee, they say: The
members OF the committee are response
bic for his appointment, and would Ger.
tainly have permitted no such breach OF
decorum unless Il met their approval ana
aided the general purpose and design Oh
the investigation"
Speaking of the report OF the majority
they saw: at furnishes the most indubita-
HE evidence not only OF the partisan pur-
pose OF the investigation, but OF the unre-
liability OF the statements and conclusions
reached by senatorial committee wnen
Marty interests are 70 be served
| by an investigation commillea 70
rs CHARGE; and they say further tnat IN
their opinion an impartial lary OF inteif-
GENT men, hearing the testimony taken
Nv the committee and giving due
Weight TO the evidence, would unhesi-
tatingly arrive at conclusions directly
the opposte OF those submitted Dy
the majority. They say that ihe majority
report evidently ignored and purposely
disregarded the sworn tesIlhiohs ., sne
most intelligent, trustworthy, and reliable
citizens OF Copiah county, ana gave iusi
credencc and belief to the statements OF
nersons some OF whom were shown to be
destitute Of character for veracity, ana
Others apparently too ignorant 70 under
stand and regard the obligation Of loe
oaths taken By them.