Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-21
COPIAH COUNTY INVESTIGATION.
Representatives arkxdale Denies Under
Oath the Charges Against Him.

Representative Barkxdale Denies Under
Oath the Charges Against Him.
Major c. Barksdale, member Of Congress from
Mississippi. who, according to some testimony
taken by the Copiah county subcommittee OF the
senate, made speech at Hazlehurst advising the
democrats TO carry Copish county by the shot sun
II necessary and to hang Burton. republican cam
didate, was before the subcommittee OF the SEN
ATE committee on privileges and elections this morn
ing ana made statement under oath In his own
vlndication. He denied the charges In toto He
Salo that the history OF Copiah county
mao always been characterized with love OF law
ana order, and In the events OF the last election
lnere was nothing Inconsistent with that record
he made TWO speeches in HazlehurSt on one day
before the last election-one In the afternoon to
0ther In the evening TO q local democratic club
he could not remember whether the mounted men
U. lhe afternoon procession were armed with shot
guns His attention was called to the statements
OF witnesses about his speech and pronounced all
assertions that he had encouraged violence false.
ne referred TO the opinion OF Justice Miller OF the
supreme court, in the kukuX cases that the public
noerues We're as much 1mperiled by the use OF
money in elections In the north as by violence In
lhe south, and said that the condition OF affairs
su.l!ng from the presence OF large mass or ignor
ant negro voters was not properly understood.
senator hoar asked II in witness allusion TO the
peaceable and aw-abiding conduct OF the people OF
Coplah county he included
THE KILLING OF MATTHEW'S
81 have nothing TO say in reference 10 that That
was personal difficulty between those two par
ties. 1t is before the courts there and express no
opinion
You have said that the people OF Ccp!ah county
nounced that there was nothing in the conduct Of
the election Inconsistent with their pas history
Wish TO ask whether, If 1t should turn out that
this mounted crowd went about to the houses OF
Coiored men, whipping them, shooting one OF them,
declaring. as they did it. that they did II to compel
them TO vote the democratic ticket or compel the
negroes TO Zee TO the woods in large numberS-and
that Mr.. Matthews was shot because of his inriu-
ence as republican leader-whether that would
cnange your mind as TO the character OF the peo-
Wen, now, suppose the object OF your inquiry
mas peen accomplished by your statement You
are yourself giving testimony In the matter which
you PROFOUND TO me. think that after trial OF
MT Wheeler for the killing OF Mr.. Matthews and
.he facts are brought 10 light then will answer
Senator salisbury asked If it was right and fair.
Wnen person was likely to be placed upon trial for
MS lie, 10 ask witness OF Mr. Barksdale'S prOmi-
hence to express opinion upon the guilt or inno-
cence OF the party. and to give opinion upon an
entirely suppostttous case assuming that the facts
should be so and so.
tested In regard TO the character Of the elections
that the committee had evidence which he sup
posed was Overwhelmingly In support OF the as
the inquiry If his opinion remained the same In
view OF that testimony.
Addressing the witness, Senator Hoar continued:
been passed after the election at public meet
ing"
Yves, Sir; have them here.
"Well, now, may inquire whether you approve
or disapprove OF the resolution"
81 Will not answer that question further than to
say that the resolutions have not been properly
sented If you Will permit me, will refer to them
so that my understanding OF the purport OF your
question may be clear. VIM you permit me sir!'
THE COPIAH COUNTY RESOLUTIONS
swer-"
II decline to answer without an explanation OF
the reasons that influence my reply. The resolu-
tionS are IN these words" (WitneSs read the Co
piah county reSolutions) 81 regard these resolu-
tOnS simply as reply to the threats that had been
made by Matthews himself, and the clan that he
was at tue head OF, against the citizens"
Then you mean to say that you do not approve
OF them?"
~ mean to say that they have been misrepre-
Sented, and my understanding
"My question was not whether the pubic had
been properly informed, but whether you approved
OF the resOlutions7'
"Well, my answer has been given.'
Senator Frye asked the witness II he knew OF any
threats made by Mr. Matthews. and he said he had
not, but he had heard OF them from Others.
Mr.. Frye.-Iou have no right, as witness, to
make axe that answer, aud you know ii.
NNness-"ell sir when you say you did not
know 1t, OF you did know IL, then IT not the
manner in which gentlemen address each other
Mr.. hoar-Dld you not know that when you are
tt>htu W TACT, whether KNOW IL not,
} GU are not entitled to tell what you have heard
Others say?
WitneSs-But you asked my opinions When
am called upon to testify to facts
Mr.. hoar. You have no hight to put in hearsay
testimony when you are asked as TO your knowl-
edge OF the 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 means?"
well, no, sir: Will not undertake TO fnternret
that"
''You had no knowledge of the factser
Il had nothing TO do with getting up the resolu-
tons"
'UO you remember any public fact IN the history
OF lazoo which might help interpret that resou-
tion?"
II will not answer that question. 1 will not
undertake to interpret that resolution"
Senator Hoar.-That is all, SIR
The Courts,