The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-28
Report Of the Senate Committee.


piah branch of the investigations which
that Committee has heen making, has
submitted report which bears the
signatures Of the five Republican men,
bers.
The report says the Committee en-
tered upon its task with almost mex
pressible repugnance. Nothing could
be more Justly odious than TO use such
investigations and disclosures rs parti-
san instruments unless it be to commit,
profit, by, or screen crimes which are
investigated. But the rights invaded
were rights. declared. by the National
Constitution and which the National
Congress was bound to secure by ap-
propriato legislation against infringe
inent or violation by any State. 'lfithe
powers already conferred upon Con-
gress by the Constitution were not am
Pile for their protection, 1t would be-
come duty to propose granting
further powers that the blessings of
liberty and the right to vote without
distinction OF raceio, color might not
fail through the neglect OF any State in
its duty. The proposition that the pro-
tcCblOu vi lllc ~ WV SbShApb'
by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments TO the Constitution is of
concern to the whole people needed no
argument u l i'iB vdr |
The report points out the number Of
memters of tho House and Electors
given by former slave States by the col
ored population, and quotes the provis-
ion of the Constitution relating to the
reduction of the basis of representation
when the rights of suffrage are
abridged, arl declares It TO be tho duty
of Congress and not matter of discre-
ton to take action in tho premises
whenever the conditions warrant IL, and
adds; at is TO boahoped that the re-
turning conscience OF Mississippi, or
such laws as Congress may enact, may
prevent such cond ton OF things from
becoming permanent in that. State as
shall compel Congress to enterupon
discussion whether her representatives
in Congress must be diminished. The
Committee can not doubt that the
methodswhich determined the election
Of county officers in Copiah in 1888 will
be in full operation so far as they may
be needed in determining tho vote Of
Mississippi for Presidential Electors and
mombers of Congress in 1884. w. s-
The Committee then review the testi-
mony of alleged outrages in Coplah
County. From the facts presented
them they conclude that conspiracy
organized by representative young
Democrats, with the countenance gof
that party In Copiah, was entered into
10 drive their opponents from the polls.
To that end q mob was gathered, sys-
tematic outrages perpetratcd ending in
murder, one OF tho victims being n
wealthy and generally respected white
man. Dnring the whole time these out
RACES were going on the Democratic
State and county officers remained pas
siye, and thus allowed the election to
be turned into mockery. N
In conclusion the report says the
Committee had not the time TO 20 into
the investigation Of the security of con-
stitutional rights in Mississippi. 1t can
only refer to the evidence Of witnesses
who think Copiah favorable specimen
of the counties of that State, TO doeu-
mentary matter brought to its atten-
ton, to the evidence taken by the Sem
ate Committee in 1876, to the testimony
in election cases in the House of Repre-
sentatives, TO numerous declarations in
the Democratic press, and TO crimes
well known. and unpunished, such us
the murder of Chisholm, Of Dixon; of
Foote, United States Collector Of In
ternal Revenue, and three others in
Yazoo, whose blood-stained hands Co
piah is SO eager TO grasp. No legisls-
tlon dealing with Mississippi alone
should be enacted without an investiga-
tion which should cover all parts of the
State. Before such an investigation Q
National election would have taken
place, at which the temper and respect
for law of the people of Mississippi will
undoubtedly be made fully manifest
II tho Constitution has not power
enough in its arsenal for the protection
Of all the rights it confers or recognizes,
the people. on being satisfied Of the
fact, will confer Others. Each house OF
Congress is imperativcly required by
It's duty to refuse seats TO persons whose
election is directly or indirectly due to
crime, either of violence or fraud.
The Committee recommends the pub
lication, for the use Of the American
people, of the testimony taken. They
further recommend the passage of Sen.
ate bill No. IS, which is designed to
furnish remedy for some Of the evil
disclosed. They further recommended
that after the next election in Missis-
slppi, unless the same shall be unques-
tionably fair and free, there shall be o
full investigation of the condition Of
things in that State with a view to de-
termining the question whether Repub-
lican Government exist there and
whether IL is entitled to It's existing rep
resentation or has forfeited 1t in whole
or in part by reason Of denial or in
fringement on the right to vote OF any
Of its people. The question OF future
Legislation the Committee reserves for
further consideration. 3 i''
MI. CHEERING Prospects.