The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-08
The COMM OatraEes.

q very valuable one, was entirely con-
sumed by the flames.
The COpIah OatraEes.
WASHINGTON, MAY 6.-The report of
the senate committee on privileges aud
elections in relation 20 the Copiah out
rage Investigations, which that COM
mittee had been making, bearing the
signatures of five republican members
of the committee, was LAID before the
senate this afternoon. The democratic
members Of the committee will make 9
minority report. The report says the
commute entered upon its task with al
most inexpressible repugnance, the
rights to invade were rights declared by
the national constitution and which the
national congress was bound to secure
by appropriate legislation against the
Infringement or violation by any state
The report points out the number of
members of the house and electors given
the former slave states by the cOlOred
population, and quotes the provision of
the constitution relating to q reduction
of the basis of representation when
the rights Of suffrage are abridged, and
declares it TO be the duty of the congress
aud not a matter of discretion to take
action in the premises whenever the con-
dltions warrant it, and adds, sit is hoped
the returning conscience of Mississippi,
or such laws as congress may enact, may
prevent such q condition of things from
becoming permanent in that state, as
shall compel congress to enter upon a
discussion of whether her representation
in congress must be diminished. The
committee cannot doubt that the meth
DDS which determined the election of
county officers of Copiah ia 1882 will be
IN full operation, so far as they may be
needed in determining the vote OF Mis-
sisissippi for presidential electors and
members of congress in 1884. The
committe then reviewed the testimony
of alleged outrsgCs in Copiah county.
From the facts presented them they
concluded that q conspiracy organ
lied by reprt sentative young Democrats,
with the counters nce of that party in
Coplab, was entered in to drive their OPP
ponents from the polls. To that end a
mob was gathered, systematic outrages
perpetrated, ending in murder, one of
the victims being wealthy aud general
ly respected white man. During the
whole time these oUtrages were going
on the Democratic state and county or
flcers remained passive, and thus allow
ed the election to be turned into mock
cry. In conclusion the report says the
cOmmiItSe EaO NOT time 10 go INTO an
Investigation of the security of constitu-
tional rights IN Mississippi. It can only
refer to the evidence of witnesses who
think Coplah q favorable specimen OF
the counties of that state, tO the docu-
mentary matter, TO the testimony IN the
election cases in the house of represent
atives, to the numerous declarations of
the Democratic press and to the crimes
well known and unpunIshed.
Legislation dealing with Mississippi
alone should be enacted without inves-
tigatIon which should cover all parts OF
the state. The committee recommend
ed the publication for the use of the
American people of the testimony of the
latter. They further recommend the
passage by the senate of bill number 10,
which Is designed to furnish remedy
fer some of the evils exposed. They
further recommend that after the next
election in Mississippi. unless the same
shall be uEquestionablY fair and free
there shall be full investigation of the
condition of things in that state, with a
view of determining the question
whether a Republican government ex-
lists there and whether it is entitled TO
existing representation or has forfeited
it in whole or in part by reason of de-
NAL or infringement of the right to vote
of any of its people The question of
further legislation the committee re-
serves for further consideration.