Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-06-25

senate Omm1Ctee-SOmoth1nS Tor Hon
est Men to Ponder Over. 49,.
MADISON, Wis, June III observe
that the Democrats of Copiah County, Miss,
at their recent meeting to choose delegates to
the national Democratic convention, adopted
resolutions practically indorsing the sssassina-
tion Of J. P. Matthews for voting the Repuh-
lican ticket; and also that circular has been
sent ont advising Democrats how to deal with
this perplexing question before the people.
This case does not seem to be fully under
stood. Having some personal knowledge of
the affair, will state it briefly. The several
brothers composing the Matthews family were
natives of C0piah County, and most Of them
served in the rebel army. After the recon
struction period they became independents
DDS resorted to by the Democrats to retain
political control-''to keep down the niggers."
clear the country of Radicals and prevent inn
migration. " .
These brothers were capable, enterprislng,
generous, successful, reputable men. They
the dead Matthews was the richest man in
the county. They built SCHOOL, houses and
churches, loaned money to those in distress,
gave to the poor generally and used their credit
for the benefit OF the community. These char
acteristics made them strong. especially with
the blacks, just as similar traits make men
strong in the North.
When they chose to run for Office they we're
elected, because. in addition to the negro vote,
they commanded the support of large num-
ber of respectable whites. Last fall one of
them WAS candidate for Office, the others, of
course, supporting him.
Let us now sac how they do things in that
Tn k1,n ~lx, - ,o%s
the rebel Democrats formed themselves into
oath-bound associations called Ku-klux Klans
the Invisible Empire, Pale-Faces, Knights Of
the White Camelia, Regulators, Red Shirts, etc.
They went armed, masked and mount d.
Their objects were the butchery Of Radicals, :"
white, the crippling of the federal government
| and restoration Of Southern domination. These
| various bands of Democratic assassins killed or
| seriously wounded about twelve thousand Re.
pnblicans.
Investigations and federal power quieted
| their operations and their organizations have
| been gradually transmogrified into democratic
as the sTaiEho]d Club" Its members go
around to the polls and during campaigns their
| business is to whip negroes, burn houses, as
sassinate white Republicans and carry elections,
in addition, as was informed, to "settling'
any debt or difference that may exist between
its members and the Radicals.
It appeared to the ''Tail-hold Club" last fall
that the independents, or Republicans, joined
| by many whites, who preferred to support the
more decent Matthews ticket, would be elected
they therefore met and thus resolved:
WHEREAS, 1t ID thought that public 1nteres
| will be subserved by Prent Matthews absentine
himself from the polls election day; therefore
belt
| Resolved, That Prent Matthews be ordered tt
| keep within his own enclosures tomorrow, ane
adopted by citizens Of Copiah County this 5tl
! day of November, 1888.
This t'order' was duly served on Matthews
| But as it was known that he was q brave man
they did not believe he would obey 1t. By
''public interest" the ''Tail-hold" fellows mean
the Bourbon party. So, as was informed
three Bourbons were selected to ''take care" Of
Matthews in case be should disobey. Accord
ing to report these three 'fdrew cuts" to see
which should kin Matthews, ''if it should be
necessary" to d'ep0se of him, and it fell tt
the lot Of Ras Wheeler to do it.
Wheeler and Matthews were personal friends
The former was considerably indebted to the
latter, and only few days before had take1
tea with the Matthews family.
In order to avoid q crowd and trouble al
| much as possible Matthews went to the polls
early. Wheeler was present, under arms; thu
election oficers-all members of the "TailholC
Club"-were armed, and armed Democrats pa
raded the streets. As he stepped to the ballot
box, Wheeler said, in an apparently good
natured way: s'You better not vote to-day.
Matthews responded in equal good nature
s'Oh, this will be all right" and offered his bal
lot. Instantly Wheeler raised his gun and blew
Matthew'S head almost from his shoulders, fir
ing at him from behind.
No c0roner's investigation or other pro
ceedings followed. Thus far believe th'
EVENING WISCONSIN, readers are tolerably we'll
informed Of the facts, and will now state .
IN hot ~
has just acquitted Wheeler was supported b.
public sentiment, and no more dared to do any
thing else than they would have dared to fint
the presiding judge guilty of the murder Of
Matthews.
At the next meeting of the Common
Council Of Hazelhurst, after Matthews was as
sassinated, its members unanimously elected
Wheeler city marshal, as 'sreward" for tn
'sbrave and gallant manner in which he hat
performed his s'duty."
II would seem that the infamy of the thin,
would have been sufficiently rank for even tn
most rabid Democrat if Wheeler + , simpl,
been left unmolested in his decorations of hu
from private citizens; but when he was publicl.
and officially rewarded for committing, in tn
interest Of Bourbon supremacy, the highes
crime denounced against mankind by tn
Almighty, civilization was shocked and th'
North was frightened.
| IL was uOUos VI CUuIboS W 0AVOIGtbC4 III dA
official way, that "br&ve and gallant" Demo
Gratis are rewarded for butchering Republican
and that the community stands by them.
However, this does not end the disgrace
The Democrats assembled in the court hous
with brass hand and adopted q series Of reso
ludons. among which we're these:
Resolped, That in the opinion of this meeting
Is necessary to the safety of society and the vel
fare of all races and classes In this country, tha
the Matthews family shaH keep out Of politics Il
RESOLVED, Jssyther, That from henceforth no MAJ
or set of men shall organize the negro race agains
the whites in this county, and, If 1t shall be at
tempted in the future we hereby give notice tina
shall Be at tie peril OF the person or persons al
tempting so TO do.
ResolUed, That We do hereby pledge ourselves
each to the other, our lives and our fortunes an
our sacred honor. that we will, all and tndivtd
ually, from hencef0rth, hold ourselves In read1
ness to enforce the foregoing resoluuons, and
meet at any time upon the call Of the chairma
of this meeting. # y ~ @!.
Resolved, That q committee of twenty four fron
each supervisors district be appointed by tn
Chair to present copy of these resolutions to tn
brothers and sons Of the late J. p. Matthews an
that the same be published in the COpiah Sigma
and the Crystal Spring Meteor. ...- "a -.
These resolutions indicate, still more emphat
ically and formally, the spirit and inten o
the rebel Democrats. Influential Republican
must keep out Of politics ..at the peril Of thei
Saf-~ - ~ So "a ~ R-.H