, 1884-01-24
The Recent Election Riots
Brought to the Front.
And the Question of Color
Franchise Discussed.
The Indians Receive Attention,
Also MexicanS.
XVIII. CONGRESS-.
The Senate.

ported and recommended the repeal Of
the timber culture act,
Senator ingalls, bill to promote the
efficiency of the general land office
was ordered to be reported favorably.
The senate committee on foreign re-
lations ordered an adverse report on
the resolutions introduced by Senators
Jones and Gibson requesting the presi-
dent to take steps to terminate the re-
ciprocity treaty with the HawaiIn gov
eminent. The minority committee
will report in favor of the resolutions.
Senator Sewell, of the committee on
military affairs, reported iavorably on
the bill for the relief of Fitz John
Porter.
Harrison, in Logan's absence, said
that the minority report Of the COM
mittee would be the same.
Sherman introduced a long preamble
and resolution reciting the circum-
stances connected with the election
riots in Danville, Va, and the killing
Of Matthews in Copiah county Misslss-
ippi, and instructing the committee on
election privileges to make a full inyes-
tigation, the whole subject to be re-
ported by bill or otheowise. Sherman
asked that the resolution receive i'm
mediate consideration under objection
ton. Cockrell wanted 1t to go over
until tomorrow. He thought that the
gentleman offering it might want to
add a few more whereases.
Senator Sherman offered in the
senate this afternoon a lengthy pre-
amble and resolution setting forth that
the constitution of the United States
guarantees the establishment of JUS
tice, tranquility and security to all
citizens, and equal civil rights and i'm
munities and privileges, including the
right to vote regardless of race, color,
or previous condition Of servitude, that
no state shall deny any person within
its jurisdiction equal protection of the
laws, among which is the right to as
semble for the consideration Of Ques-
lions of state or national interest, and
in safety to discuss the same, and to
exercise the elective franchise without
molestation or intimidation, and that
a general election occurred in the state
Of Virginia November g., 1888, and
that a violent riot occurred at Danville,
Va, on said date which was created for
political purposes. The victims were
Of mi race and one political party and
that the authorities of the state of
Virginia had not brought the alleged
aggressors before the courts for trial
whereby equal protection laws was not
secured to all citizens and that the
election occurred in the state of Mis-
sissippi on November 6, 1888, at which,
it is currently reported that the public
press, prior to said election, in Copiah
county was organized by a mob and a
political party, to prevent the men,
bers Of the other party from voting and
preventing free open discussion, that
by means of organized bands, resorting
to violence, causing terror by night and
day, assaulting and in some cases kill
ing lawful voters whom they sought to
prevent from voting; that this violence
was committed by members of one
party upon members of another party
with a view to deprive the latter of
their constitutional rights, that ex-
tended throughout Copiah county and
into portions of other counties, that as
a party to this plan, n j. P. Mathews,
a peaceable, law-abiding citizen of Co.
piah county was warned not to vote,
and upon voting on the day of election,
was murdered at the place of election
by a person selected for that purpose,
with the approval, expressed or implied.
of the officers Of that section, and no
effort was made to punish the muir
derer; that his killing wal subsequently
approved at a public meeting held in
said town, which was composed entire
ly of members of n party, Here fol
lowed the preamble and resolutions
passed by that meeting, already pub
lished); that in view of these facts,
be it
Resolved, That the committee on
privileges Of elections. is hereby in
structed to inquire into all the circum-
stances connected with said alleged
events and into the condition OF TIE
constitutional rights and securities be,
fore named peple of Virginia and Mis-.
sissippi and report by bill or otherwise,
as soon as as may be.
Harrison presented a petitltion from
the assembly of the Knights of Labor
of Indiana. praying for legislation K
prevent the immigration of foreign la
borers under contracts made abroad.