The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-04-10
CONGREssMAN BARKsDALE
BEFORE THR COPIAH INVESTIGATION COM
MITTEE-INTERE5TING QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS.

WAsHINGToN, March 22.-MaiOr f..
B2rksdae, member of Congress from
Mississippi, according to the testimony
taken by the Copiah county sub commit
tee of the Senate, made a speech at
Huz' ehurst advising the Democrats to
carry Copiah county by the shot~gpn if
necessary, and to hang Bufkih, the Re-
publican candidate. He was before the
Senate sub-commlt yesterday, and
made statement under oath in his own
yindication. He denied il i'll toto. He
said the history of Copiah county always
has been characterized with love OF law
and order, and in the events of the last
election there was nothing Inconsistent
with that record. He made two speeches
in Huzlehurst on one day before the last
election. One in the afternoon to "A pros
cesslon of country people on horseback,
and one in the evening to local Demo
cratic club. He could not remember
whether the mounted men in the after
noon procession We're armed with shot
guns. His attention was called to the
statement of witnesses about his speech,
and he pronounced all assertions that he
had encouraged violence, false.
Senator Hoar asked il in witnesses al
lusiol to the peaceable and law>abiding
conduct OF Copiah comfy, he included
the killing of Matthews.
81 have nothing to say in reference to
that That was personal difficulty be-
tween those two parties. 1t is before
the courts there and express DO opin-
ion.
"You have said the people of Copiah
stand high in their general character, and
You have announced that there was no~
thing i'll the conduct inconsistent with
their past history. Now | wish to ask
whether, if it should turn out that this
mounted crowd went about to the houses
of colored men, whipping them, shooting
Que of them, declaring as they did so
that they did it TO compel the negroes 10
flee to the woods in large numbers, and
that Matthews was shot because of his
Influence as Republican leader, whetE~
er that would change your mind as to
the character of the people ?"
"Well, now, | object. Yonr inquiry
has been accomplished by your statement
You are yourself giving testimony in a
matter which is propounded TO me.
think that after the trial of Wheeler for
the killing of Matthews aud the facts are
brought to light, then l will answer the
question:"
Senator Salisbury asked iii was right
! and fair when a person was likely to be
placed upon trial for his life to ask Il
witness of Maj. Barksdale's prominence
TO express an opinion of the guilt or In
nocence of the party, and to give an
opinion upon the supposltion OF the case,
assuming he case should be so and so,
Senator Hoar reioined that Major
Barksdale had testified in regard to the
character of the elections; that the Com
mittee had evidence which he supposed
was overwhelmingly in support OF the
prescriptions he had made. He there
fore propounded the inquiry If his opin
ion remained the same in view of that
testimony. Addressing the witness, Sen.
ator Hoar continued: "Did you read
some resolutions supporting to bave been
passed after the election at a public
meeting p
Yes, sir l have them here"
"Well, now, may ! inquire whether
you approve or disapprove the resolu
| tions?"
81 will not answer that question fur
ther than to say the resolutions have moi
been understood by the public and have
been misrepresented. If you will permit
| will refer to them so that my UNDER
standing of the purport of your question
may be clear. Will you permit me, sir?'
''No sir. You have stated you decline
to answer"
1 decline to answer with the explana,
| ton of the reasons which influence my
reply. Witness read the Copiah coun-
tg resolutions).
u regard these resolutions simply MS