The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-22
A KNOW-NOTHING WITNESS.
Continuation Of the COpiah Investiga-
ton by the Senate Committee.
Congressman Barksdale, of Mississippi, Rig
idly Examined by Messrs. HOar and
Frye-A Spirited C%OllOquy.

speech at Hazlehurst, advising Democrats to
carry Copiah county by the shotgun, II neces-
sary, and hang Button, the Republican candi'
date, was before the Senate this
morning, and made a statement under oath IN
his own vindication. He denied the charge
in toto. He said that the history of
Copiah county always had been characterized
with a love of law and order, and in the events
of the last election there was nothing inconsist-
emit with that record. He made two speeches in
Hazlehurst on one day before the last election,
one in the afternoon to a procession of country
people on horseback, and the other in the even
ing to the local Democratic club. He could not
remember whether the mounted men in the
afternoon procession were armed with shotguns.
His attention was called to statements of wit
nesses about his speech, and he pronounced all
the assertions that he had encouraged violence
as false.
Senator Hoar asked if, in the witnesses allu-
sion to the peaceableness and law-abiding con
duct of the people of Copiah county, he included
the killing of Matthews.
81 have nothing to say in reference to that.
That was a personal difficulty between those two
parties. 1t is before the courts there and l ex-
press no opinion"
''You have said the people of Copiah county
stand high in general character, and you have
announced there was nothing in the conduct of
the election inconsistent with their past history.
Now, 1 wish to ask whether, if it should turn
out that this mounted crowd went about to the
houses of colored men, whipping them, shooting
one of them, declaring, as they did it, that they
did il to compel the negroes to flee to the woods
in large numbers, and that Matthews was shot
because of his influence as a Republican leader,
whether that would change your mind as to the
character of the people!'
"Well, now, the object of your inquiry has been
accomplished by you statement. You are your
self giving tie 3timony in the matter which you
PROFOUND to me. l think that after the trial of
Wheeler for killing Matthews, and the facts are
brought to light, then l will answer the ques-
tom
Senator Salisbury asked if it was right and
fair, when a person was likely to be placed
upon trial for his life, to ask a witness Of Mr..
Barksdales prominence to express an opinion
as to the guilt or innocence of the party, and
to give an opinion upon an entirely sup
posititious case assuming thatthe facts should be
so and so,
Senator Hoar rejoined that Major Barksdale
had testified IN regard to the character of the cleo
tions, that the committee had evidence which
he supposed was overwhelmingly in support Of
the Prescriptions he had made, therefore he.
propoUnded the inquiry if his opinion remained
the same in view of that testimony.
Addressing the witness Senator Hoar CON
tinued: did you read some resolutions pur-
porting to have been passed after the election at
apublic meeting}'
Eyes, sir, 1 have them here"
We'll, now, may | inquire whether you ap-
prove or diSappr0ve of the resolutions?"
Il will not answer that question further than
to say the resolutions have not been properly
understood by the public, and have been misrep-
resented. If you will permit, l Will refer to
them, so my understanding of the purport of
your question may be clear. Win you permit
me- sN sirrs
swer."
Il decline to answer without an explanation
of the reasons which influence my reply. The
resolutions are in these words: WITNESS read
the Copiah county resolutions l regard these
resolutions simply as q reply to threats which
had been made by Matthews himself, and the
elan he was at the head of, against the citizens"
Then you mean to say you do not approve
them2"
II mean to say they have been misrepresented
and my understanding"
my question was not whether the public had
been properly informed, but whether you ap-
prove of the resolutions
well, my answer has been given"
Senator Frye-Does he know that any threats
were made by Matthews9 1 want to know
whether the witnessin his statement means to
testify that he ever heard Matthews saw any
thing of the kind he has referred to.
The witness said he had not heard Matthews
make any threats, but had heard them from
others.
Mr.. Frye-You have no right as a witness to
make that answer, and you know it
The Witness-Well sir, when you ''say you did
not know it, or you did know it." then it is not
the manner in which gentlemen address each
other.
Mr.. Hoar-Did you not know when Won are
asked as to whether you know it OF not you
are not entitled to tell what you have heard
others say.
The Witness-But you asked my opinions
hon / am aollnH r,poY, r. faofifxr 70 fa.4o
Mr.. Hoar-You have no right to put in hear
say testimony when you are asked as to your
knowledge of facts. You say you are familiar
with the political history of Mississippi. There
Is one resolution to the effect that Copiah shakes
hands. with Yazoo. Do you know what that
means2
"Well, no sir; 1 will not undertake to interpret
that"
"You had no knowledge of the factsqn
81 had nothing to do with getting up the reso-
lutions."
you remember any public fact in the his
tory OF Yazoo which might help you to interpret
that resolution"
81 viii not answer that question. 1 will not
undertake to interpret that resolution"
The witness, in further course of the colloquy,
said the people of Yazoo county were law-abid-
ing people. He knew nothing in the history of
either Yazoo or Copiah which would compare
with the Tewksbury horror.
Mr.. Hoar-Thaty you know all about2
The Witness-I have seen it stated officially.
You are acquainted with Tewksbury and
not well acquainted with Yazool"
Pretty well acquainted with both. and l do
not know anything so much to the discredit of
Yazoo as Tewksbury to Massachusetts,"
Mr.. Hoar expressed hope that the official in
vestigation of affairs in Yazoo county would
show them to be as false as those respecting
Tewksbury.
After some further colloquy, Senator Hoar
said: "You have said the people of Copiah
county were law-abiding people, and at the last
election they did no discredit to history in that
respect. l call your attention to a public meet
ing largely attended on the day after the cleo
ton, at which the people, CONCENTRATING them
selves upon the result, passed resolutions asking
Copiah county to shake hands with Yazoo, and
/ ask you if you can tell us what that means}'
The Witness|I cannot. sir. l cannot inter
pref it. 1t seems to me it is wholly irrelevant,