The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-20
Senatorial Speeches on the Southern
Outrage Question.

Iuu anu lulpdfUldl ADMINISTRATION Ol Jn6 CdusSS
that led to them, the real facts involved and
the proper constitutional remedies to prevent
their recurrence, and, il necessary, to further
secure to all American citizens freedom OF
speech in the open assertion of political opin-
ions and the peaceful exercise of the right 10
vote. Now that sufficient time had elapsed to
allay 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 1t was
helpless or istless that no longer relying
upon the barren declarations of the Constitu-
ltion, each man for himself might appeal TO
the right of self-defense or to the Doasted
American right of migration to more friend-
ly regions. The allegations in this resolution
las to the Danyille riot or massacre were
he said, founded upon statements IN
the public prints, supported by
the oaths of witnesses, and their substantial
truth is also verified by the published state
ment of o member of this body-a senator
from the State of Virginia. The allegations
las to Mississippi were founded upon oopious
narratives in the public prints, proceedings of
public meetings, and the act and failure TO act
of officers of the State Government, including
iGoyernors Judges, courts and jurtes. II these
statements are true then in both those States
there have been organized conspiracies to
subvert the freedom of elections, accompa-
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. "If," he said, ''they are
true, then in those communities the members
of our party and our race have no rights
which the prevailing majority are bound to
respect" He had no desire to open up sec
uonal questions or renew old striies. Still, II
these allegations were true, ltwould be cow
ardly shrinking from the gravest public duty
n q mol aVn he m N nInpp1pntg
which would subvert the foundation of Re-
publican institutions and convert our elections
into organized crimes.
elf the events at Danyille 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 if riot and massacre were
part of the machinery devised by party to
deter another party or race from freedom of
elections or free open expression of political
opinions then they constituted crime against
the National Government and the highest
duty of the Government was TO maintain at
every hazard the equal rights aud privileges
of citizens. III the events of Copiah County,
Miss. were merely lawless invasions of indi-
vidual rights, then, though they involved
murder, as well as other crimes, they should
be left to local authority, and If Justice could
not be administered by the courts and citi-
zen was without remedy from lawless vio-
lence, then he must fall back upon his right
of self-defense, or, failing in that, nS'st seek
a home where his rights shall be respected or
observed. But if these individual crimes in
yolved the greater one of organized con"
spiracy of party or race TO deprive another
party or race of citizens of the enjoyment of
unquestioned rights, accompanied with overt
acts, with physical power sufficient to accom-
plish the purpose, then it became National
question which must be dealt with by the
National Government.
The war emancipated and made citizens of
FIVE millions of people who had been slaves.
No court ever denied the power of the Ma
tional Government TO protect citizens in the
essential right OF freemen. No man should be
allowed to hold a seat in either House of Con.
gress whose election was secured by crimes
such as are depicted here, nor was it sufficient
to say the elections referred to were not Ma.
tiona elections in the sense that they did not
involve the election of President or mem
ber of Congress. While the power of Congress
over she election OF Senator's Representatives
and President extended to the making and
altering of laws and regulations passed by the
respective States, and therefore was fuller
than in respect to State elections, yet the Con-
stitution provided that: 1.-The right of the
people to be secure in their persons, houses
papers and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated;''
that "all persons born or naturalized in the
lUpited States and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof are citizens of the United States;" that
'"no State shall make or enforce any law
which Shall abridge the privileges or immlni
tiles OF citizens of the United States; nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, liberty, OF
property without due process of law; nordeny
any person within the jurisdiction the equal
protection of the law" and that the rights
of citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United States
or by any State on account OF race, color, OF
previous condition or servltude"
1t is also declared that Congress shall have
power to make all laws necessary and proper
TO carrying into execution the foregoing
powers and all other powers vested by this
Constitution in the Government of the United
states orin any department or officer thereof" "
Power is also given Congress to enforce all
recent amendments by appropriate legisla.
tion. II the essential rights of citizenship
were overthrown by the State or the people
of the State with the sanction of the local au.
thorities within the limits of the State, then
congress, as the legislative power of the
United States is bound to provide additional
safeguards and should exhaust all the powers
of the National Government to maintain
these essential rights of citizenship within the
limits of all the States in as full and complete
a manner as it would guard or protect the un-
questioned rights of citizens of the United
States within the domains OF the most pow
erful Nations of the world He could ap-
preciate the changes that had occurred to the
Southern States and that natural antagonisms
would arise by the emancipated slaves min
Cling in the same community with their for
mer masters. He could pardon the prejudices
OF race, caste. and even localities, and the
AucIlCun DtUplc, ne tuOugub Huu WulUeu
with great forbearance for the time when
constitutional rights would be respected
without regard TO race, color creed, or party.
lJf 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 constitui-
tional rights were murdered at the ballot box
without fear of punishment on the part of
he murderers, were driven from their homes
" outrage and terror, and that black and
Ihi 70 alike cnbinntpd IN ogfrancm IN
injustice and as party disfranchised, then,
indeed, was patient inquiry demanded and
a 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
the war failure. They seemed to him the
very germ of despotism and barbarity; and
yet he was assured by the gentlemen friendly
TO them that they were the creed Of nine
tenths of the party in power In Mississippi. II
was right that the groundwork of opinions so
utterly repugnant to republican institutions
should be known.
SIN this investigation" he said, "I 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
ings Of mankind in their situation the most
charitable construction. i would give to
them ali the political power they ever en-
tjoyed, and without unkndness, or pains
or penalties, or even reproaches; / would
extend to them every right, favor, OF
facility enjoyed by any citizen in any part OF
our country; but when this concession
is made them l 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 OF
rich, ignorant or learned Republican or Dem
pcrat shall be secured by the State Govern
nent orif not, that these rights and privileges
tshall be asserted aud maintained by the Ma
lfional Covernment ITpon this issue WoulC