The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-31
"WHEREAs, AND WHEREAS
DodginR Tho Tariff Issue BehiEd Tho
Bloody Shirt.


Bloody Shirt.
WAsHsNGToN, January Ex-senator
Sewell, from the committee on military
affairs, reported favorably the bill for
the relief Of Fizs.John Porter. Senator
Harrison, in Senator Logan's absence,
said there would be minority report.
Senator Sherman offered the following
preamble and resolutions:
Whereas, among the expressed objects
for which the Constitution of the United
States was established were those TO es-
tablish Justice and ensure domestic tran.
quillity;
And, whereas, the Constitution pro-
vides for the security to all citizens of
equal civil rights and to all citizens the
privileges and immunities that belong TO
the condition Of citizenship, and that
the right of the citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied by the
United States or any State on account Of
race, color or previous condition of ser.
vitude, and further provides that no
State shall deny to any person within its
Jurisdiction the equal protection Of the
laws;
And, whereas, among the privileges
aud inuiunities inherent in citizenship
are the right peaceably to assemble for
the consideration of questions of State
and National concern, and in safety TO
discuss the same, and the right to exer.
cise the franchise in every State freely
and without molestation or intimidation
And, whereas, general election was
to occur and did occur in the State of
Virginia on the 9th day of November
1888;
and, whereas, it is alleged and current
ly reported in the public press that, on OF
about the Sd day Of November, 1893, at
Danville, in said State, large number
of peaceable citizens Of the United States
and of said State, were violently assailed
by an organized body Of men and fred
upon, and several Of them killed, by
said armed men, conspiring to affect, and
with the purnoae Of affecting, the result
Of Gait, -, 80 about to occur by
creating, by means Of such unlawful
violence and homicide, o state of alarm
on the part Of the peaceable citizens
throughout said State which should in.
duce them to refrain from voting, or vote
differently from their previoue inten.
tions;
And, whereas, il 10 alleged that all tho
victims of said attack were of one race
and OF one political party and all their
aBsailsnts Of another;
And, whereas, it is alleged that the
authorities of the said State of Virginia
have not brought any of the persons con-
nected with said conspiracies, violence
and homicides before the courts of justice
for examination or trial, whereby the
equal rights of citizenship and the equal
protection of the laws have not been Sc.
cured to all the people Of said State;
And, whereas, a general election was
to occur and did occur in the State OF
Mississippi on the 9th day Of November.
1888;
And, whereas, it is alleged and cur
rently reported in the public press that
prior to the said election in tho county
of Copiah, State of Mississippi, there
was an organized movement by the mem
bers of one party to prevent the membero
Of another party from voting at that
election, and to preven. the free and
open discussion and expression of politi-
cal opinions, and this purpose was carri-
ed into execution by organized plans OF
terror and violence; and the means used
for that purpose were by laHless and Or
ganized mobs moving by night and day
assaulting and, in some cases, killing
lawful voters with the view, by terror
and fear of violence, to deter others from
voting. That this violence was commit
ted by one party upon the members OF
another party with the view to deprive
tho latter of their constitutional rights,
and extended throughout said County OF
Copiah and into portions of other coun.
ties of that State. That, rs part of this
general plan and conspiracy, ono J. p.
Matthews, peaceable and law abiding
citizen of Copiah County, was warned
not to vote, and upon his voting on the
day Of election was murdered at the
place Of election by person selected fol-
that purpose with the approval, express
or implied, Of the officers of election,
and no effort wes made to punish the
murderer. This, his killing, was subse.
Gucntly spr.oyed by public meeting in
oaid town, composed entirely of membe
of one party, and by such public meeting
it was justified and approved and the
following resolutions 1ere adopted:
"Whereas certain rumors are current
that the relatives of the late j. P. Mat.
:hsws have threatened the peace of so.
ciety in order to avenge his death by
killing Democrats and destroying their
property now, therefore be it
Resolved by the people of Copiah
County in mass meeting assembled this
day at the courthouse of said county
that If any person shall be injured or an
attempt made to injure him either in
person or property in any manner by
said relatives or friends Of said ), p,
Matthews, that We hereby declare that
We will hold his said relatives and friends
who participate accountable for the same,
and that We will regard them as without
the pale and protection of tho law and
common enemies of society, and that We
will sisi. upon them certain and swim
retribution.
"Be 1t further resolved, that 30 long "A
the friends and relatives of said ]. P.
Matthews obey the lava and become
good citiZens We hereby pledge them the
protection of the Law.
Resolved further, that In the opinion
of this meeting 1t 10 necessary to the
safety of society and the welfare of all
races and classes in this county that the
Matthews family shall keep out of poll.
tics in Copiah County.
Resolved further, that from hencsforth
no man or set of men shall organize the
negro race against tho. whites in this
county, and If It shall be attempted in
future we hereby give notice that 1t shall
be at the peril of tho person attempting
to do 80.
Resolved. that We do hereby pledge