The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-30

WASHINGTON. January 20, 1884
SENATE.

ported favorably the bill repeating III
timber-culture laws. Placed on calendar
: Mr.. Cameron OF Wisconsin introduced
bill to establish the Territory OF North Da
; kota.
. Mr.. PIatt offered resolution, Tor whlc
he asked immediate consideration, direct
ing the Committee on Post-Offices and Post
Roads to inquire whether telegraph
charges have been injuriousIy affected b,
the large stock dividends OF the West
ern Union Company, or consultations o
contracts with competing or other com
panies. and whether through the Gold an,
Stock Telegraph Company or otherwis
the Western Union Company has pre-
scribed rules or regulations for the trans
mission OF press news. The resolution
authorizes the committee to send for per
sons and papers.
Mr.. Sherman objected, and it went owe
till tomorrow.
Mr.. voorhees, offered the following res
Olution. which was agreed to:
RESOLVED. That the Committee on Post
Offices and Post-Roads be instructed tC
inquire into the propriety and cxpediency
OF admitting all newspapers, periodicals
and other printed reading matter to the
United States mail free OF postage; said
committee to report by bill or otherwise.
The preamble and resolution OF Mt
Sherman relating to the election In Firgi,
mia were then laid before the Senate, and
Mr.. Sherman spoke in their support. He
said since the beginning OF the present
session he had felt that recent events in the
States OF Virginia and Mississippi were OF
such importance as to demand full and
impartial Investigation OF the causes which
led to them, OF the real facts involved, and
Of the proper constitutional remedy to
prevent their recurrence. and. IL ne
cessary, TO further secure to all Amer.
lean citizens freedom OF speech I'm
the open assertion OF their political Opin-
ions and in the peaceful exercise OF thei,
right to vote. Now that sufficient time
had elapsed to allay to some extent the eX-
citement caused by these events, he hoped
the Senate would make this investigation
so that our citizens in every State might
understand how far the National Govern
ment would protect them in the enjoyment
OF their rights; or, IL it was helpless or
Iistless. that, no longer relying upon the
| barren declarations Of the Constitution,
each man for himself might appeal to the
right OF self-defence or to the boosted
American right OF migration to more
friendly regions. The allegations in this
resolution as to the DanviIle riot or massa-
ere were, he said, founded upon statements
in the public prints, supported by oaths Of
witnesses, and their substantial truth was
also verified by the published statement OF
a member OF this body, the Senator from
Virginia. The allegations as to Mis-
sEsipi were founded upon copious
narratives in the public prints, pro-
ceedings OF public meetings. and
the act and failure to act OF officers OF the
State government. including the Cover
nor, judges, courts, and iuries. III these
statements were true. then in both those
States there had been organized conspira-
cies to subvert the freedom Of elections,
accompanied by murder and violence in
many forms. The crimes depicted were
not ordinary lines, but those OF the pre-
vailng majority to subvert by violence the
highest constitutional privileges OF citizens,
and could not from their nature be in
qured OF or punished by ordinary tribu-
mails. "If," he said, they are true, then
In those communities the members OF one
party and one race have no rights which
the prevailing majority is bound to re-
spect." He had no desire to open up Sec
tiona questions or renew old strifes still,
il these allegations were true, 1t would be
q cowardly shrinking from the gravest
public duty to allow such events to deepen
into precedents which would sub
vert the foundation OF republican
institutions and convert our elections
into organized crimes. Ii the events at
Danville were the result OF chance, out
break. or riot between opposing parties or
different races OF men, they might properly
be left to be dealt with by local authorities;
but il riot and massacre were part OF the
machinery devised by party to deter an
other party or race from the freedom OF
elections or the free and open expression
Of political opinions, then they constituted
a crime against the National Government,
and the highest duty OF the Government
was to maintain at every hazard the equal
rights and privileges OF citizens. II the
events in Copiah county. Miss, were
merely lawless invasions OF individual
rights, then, though they involved murder
as well as other crimes, they should be left
to the local authority, and il justice could
not be administered by the courts. and a
citizen was without remedy from law
less violence, then he must fall back
upon his right OF self-defence, or,
falling i'm that, he must seek Il
home where his rights would be
respected and observed. But il these liz
diyidual crimes involved the greater one
OF organized conspiracy OF party or race
to deprive another party or race OF citizens
of the enjoyment OF their unquestioned
rights, accompanied with overt acts with
physical power sufficient to accomplish
hns a al
question, which must be dealt with by the
National Government. He quoted literally
from the Constitution, and argued the con-
right Of Congress to enact le-
gislation 10 correct the evils which were
suggested in these resolutions. lie could
pardon the prejudices OF races, OF caste.
people, he thought, had waited with great
iorbearance for the time when constitu-
tional rights would be respected with re-
gard to race or color, creed or party.
II the time had come when MEN,
bers OF the Republican party, through
whose agency largely the existence
OF the Government had been maintained,
could not enjoy their constitutional rights.
were murdered at the ballot-boX without
fear on the part OF their murderers OF pun
were driven from their homes by |
outrage and terror. and that black and !
white alike were subjected to ostracism and |
injustice, and as party were DISTINGUISHED,
then, indeed, was patient inquiry demand
ed, and a full, open, and manly assertion !
that the rights and CAPABILITIES OF citizens !
should be maintained and enforced at |
every hazard. ii the Copiah resolutions
were the creed OF the Democratic party in |
the South, then indeed was the war fail |
ure. They seemed to him the very germ
Of despotism and barbarity, and yet he was !
assured by gentleman friendly to them
that they were the creed Of nine tenths Of
the party in power in Mississippi. 1t was
right that the groundwork OF opinions so |
rcnnt,lipln incftfrt-