The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-12
The Minority Report.


The minority report of the Senate
Committee on the Copiah Investigation
dissents entirely from the statements
and conclusions contained in the report
of the majority and presents their own
view of affairs formed from the testi-
mony of reputable and credible wit
nesses examined by the committee.
They express the opinion that the in
vestigation was originated and con-
Quoted for the purpose of aiding the
Republicans in the approaching Presi-
dental canvass by reviving the stories
of outrage and crime which were so eff
fectuaily used in former political cam
paigns, and perhaps to furnish an eY-
cuse if necessary for rejecting the vote
of Mississippi in the Electoral College.
and thereby defeating, as was done in
1876, the clearly expressed will of the
American people in the choice of Presi-
dent. They srefer to Eliza ,Pinkston's
story and ask who believes it to-day,
and assert that this and other such
tales having lost their potency, the Dan
vile and Copiah Investigations were
conceived and brought forth.
They say the majority report levi
IDENTITY ignored and purposely disre-
garded the sworn testimony of the most
intelligent, trustworthy and reliable
citizens of Copiah County and gave
full credence and belief to the state
ments of persons some of whom were
shown to be destitute of character for
veracIty and others apparently too
ignorant to understand and regard the
| obligation of the oaths taken by
them
The report states that the people of
Copiah County are law-abiding, and
that the number of crimes and viola
tons of law committed by the white
people in that county are less in num-
Der and less aggravated in character
than in many portions of New England
and other Northern States that boast
their educational advantages and
superior civilization. They analyze
the testimony before the committee to
show that the crimes investigated were
not political crimes.
With regard to the killing of Mat
thews, the minority quote from the tes-
timony to show that it resulted from a
personal quarrel between Matthews
and Wheeler about politics, and that
Wheeler was acquitted on the plea of
self-defense. Of Matthews they say:
He carried arms upon his person
and was regarded by many as ready.
even eager, for the fray.
He was Just such person as would
be likely to come in collision with
others, sooner or later, that would end
seriously if not fatally
In regard to the investigation pro-
posed by the majority at the next cleo
ton in Mississippi. the minority say
it is threat TO disfranchise the people
of the State of Mississippi in the coming
Presidential election, made with view to
lettering the citizens of that State from
casting its Electoral vote contrary to
the party in power, and that "a more
fragrant and abhorrent attempt to bull
doze an entire State by threatening to
disfranchise its people and destroy its
autonomy can not be found in the an
mails of constitutional government"
In conclusion the minority say:
The duty of the undersigned is per-
haps discharged by exposing the ami
mus of the recommendation, but they
feel justified in saying they little under
stand the spirit or temper of the Ameri-
can people who suppose they will again
submit to the defeat of their will in the
choice of President. as was the case
in 1877. Neither an Electoral Commits
sion nor armed soldiers around this
Capitol will prevent the installation in
the Presidential Office of the man ele-
waited to that position by the votes of
his countrymen. The reproach brought
upon our system of Government by the
occurrences which placed in the Chief
Executive Office of the Government a
man VINO had been defeated at the
polls is too keenly felt by the people of
the country to justify the belief that
they will tolerate for moment the sug-
gestirn of their repetition. And the
minority can but express their surprise
at the temerity that volunteers, how
ever covertly, to avow purpose so de-
struetive to the hopes and honor of the
country"
The report is signed bv Messrs.
Vance, Salisbury, Pugh and Jonas
WaShtnqtOn Press Dtspdtch