The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-01-31
THE BLOODY GARMENT.
II n WAVED ALofT ny SENATOR
SHERMAN, THE IMMACULATE.

II m WAVED ALoTr ny SENATOR
SHERMAN, THE IMMACULATE.
lie Puts CopIah Down ~ Very bad
County. aud Wants Her Investigated
by A Congressional Committed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Tae follow.
ing preamble aud resolutions were
offered In the Senate by Ar. Sher-
man:
Whereas, among tho expressed
objects OF tho Constitution II the
| United. States were that justice should
be established and domss 10 tranquil.
ity insured; and
Whereas, tho Constitution pro
vidss for securing to all oitizons equal
civil rights and privileges and i'm.
manities that belong to the condi.
ton OF citizenship. and the right OF
citizens OF the United States u vote
shall not be denied by tho United
States or any State on account OF
race, color or previous condition OF
servitude. and farther provides that
no State shall deny any person with.
10 It's jurisdiction equal protection
under its laws: and
Whereas, among the privileges
and immunities inherent In citizen
ship arc the rights 10 poaoably as.
semble in consi deration OF any ques.
ton Of State or National concern,
and to safely discuss the same, and
the right 10 exercise the elective fran.
chise In every State freely without
moles.ation or intimidation; aud
Whereas. the general election was
to and did occur in the State Of Mis-
sissippi on the 9Th day OF November
1883: and
Whereas, It Is alleged and current
ly reported by the public press, that
prior to said election In the county
Of Copish, Mississippi, that there was
an organized movement by members
Of one party to prevent the members
OF another party from voting, and to
prevent o free and open discussion
and expression of public opinions;
that this purpose was carried into
execution by organized plans OF ter
ror and violence; that the means used
for that purpose were by lawless, or.
ganized mobs, moving by night and
BY day, assaulting and In some cases,
killing lawful voters, with 0 view,
by terror and violence, to doter 9th
ers from voting; that this violence
committed by one party upon anoth'
or party, with o view to deprive the
latter OF their constitutional rights,
extended throughout tho said county
Of Copiah and into portions OF other
counties Of that state; that "a o part
Of this general plan and conspiracy,
one J. P. Matthews, peaceful, law
abiding citizen Of Copiah county was
warned not to vote. and upon the
day OF election was murdered ct the
place Of election by those selected for
that purpose, with the approval, OK.
press or implied, Of the officers OF
election; aud that no effort was made
IN punish the murderer; that his XII
ling was subsequently approved by
a public meeting. 10 tho said town,
composed entirely oil members OF one
party, and by such public meeting u
was justified, approved. and the fol-
lowing resolutions adopted: Here
follows preamble and resolutions
adopted by the people OF Copiah
county Mississippi. Immediately fol.
lowing tho killing OF Matthews, and
published at tho time, warning tho
relatives OF Matthews against injur.
ipg Democrats, and expressing the
opinion that II was necessary that
Matthew'S and his family should keep
ont Of politics, etc.,l;
And whereas, Il 10 alleged that the
State Of Mississippi utterly failed aud
DegieCtou W pEOSoC' auu ptoosA'o soo
citizens Ia tho equal enjoyment OF
their civil and political rights, but
kavo in some cases contributed to
their overthrow, and failed 10 punish
o, bring to trial persons alleged to
be gnilty OF conspiracies Tor the vio-
len CO and homicides stated. in disrc-
gard Of tho equal rights Of citizen
ship, and in the equal protection
BY law guaranteed 10 all people Of
that State; tbaeeforo be 1t
RESOLVED, That the committee on
privileges and elections be instructed
to inquire into all the circumstances
connected with tho said alleged
events, and into tho condition OF the
constitutional rights and securities
before named Of the people Of Vir-
ginis and Mississippi; that they 70.
port by bill or otherwise AZ soon Al
practicable, and have power to send
for persons and papers; to sit during
the sittings Of the Senate, and en-
ploy a stenographor.