The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-30
THE SHERMAN RESOLUTIONS.
The Democratic Senators Decline Debate,
and the Resolutions are Passed.


+ Mr.. Sherman's resolutions on the Virginia and
Mississippi elections were taken up.
Mr.. Sherman said that since the beginning of
the present session he had felt that recent events
in the States of Virginia and Mississippi We're of
such Importance as to demand full and impair
tial investigation of the causes which led to
them, the real facts involved, and a proper con-
stitutional remedy to prevents recurrence, and if
necessary, to further secure to all American citi
zens freedom of speech in the open assertion of
political opinions and peaceful exercise of the
right to vote. Now that sufficient time had
elapsed to allay, to some extent, the excitement
caused by these events he hoped the Senate
would make this investigation, so that our citi-
zens of every State might understand how far
the national government would pro
tect them in the enjoyment of
their rights, or if it was helpless or listess,
that, no longer relying upon the barren declara-
tons of the Constitution, each man for himself
might appeal to the right of self-defense or to
the boosted American right of migration to more
friendly regions. The allegations IN this resolu-
tion as to the Danvilie riot or massacre. were,
he said founded upon statements in public prints,
supported by the Oaths of witnesses, and their
substantial truth was also verified by the pub
lished statement of a member of this body,
senator from the State of Virginia. The alega-
tons as to Mississippi were founded upon eopious
narratives in the public prints. proceedings in
public meetings, and the failure to act of the Of
iieers of the State government, including the
Governor, judges of the courts, and juries If
these statements were true, then in both of
those States there had been organized eonspir
acies to subvert the freedom Of election,
accompanied by murder and violence in many
forms. The crimes depicted were not ordinary
crimes, but those of the prevailing majority to
subvert by violence the highest constitutional
privileges of citizens and could not from their
nature be inquired of inspired by an ordi-
nary tribunal If he said. these are true
then in those communities members of one party
and one race have no rights which the prevailing
majority is bound TO respect" He did not de-
sire to open up sectional questions renew old
strifes, still if these allegations were true, it
would be cowardly and shrinking from the
gTavest public duty to allow such events to
deepen into preeedents which would subveIt the
foundation of republican institutions and con
VERT ,ou' elections into orgaIi7ed crimes.
If the events at Danville were the resullt sae d
chance outbreak or not, between opposing par
ties or different of Inels, they might prop
erly be left to be dealt with by the local author
tiles; but if not, and the massacre was part of
the machinery devised by party to deter an
other party race from the freedom of the fall
elections, or full. open expressions of political
opinions, then they constituted crimes against
the national government, and the highest duty
of the government was to maintain, at every
hazard, the equal rights and privileges of its cit
liens
If the events in Cepiah county, Mississippi,
were merely lawless invasions of individual
rights, then, though they involved murder, as
well as other crimes, they should be left to the
local authority, and if justice could not be adj
ministered by the courts, and the citi-
zen was without remedy from lawess
violence, then he must fall back upon his right
of selfdefense, or, failing in that must seek
home where his rights would be respected and OBJ
served But if these individual crimes involved
the great of an organized conspiracy of
party or race to deprive another party race of
citizens from the enjoyment of unquestioned
rights accompanied with overt acts which phys
ical power was sufficient to accomplish the pur-
pose then became national question which
must be dealt with by the national government
The emancipated and made citizens of
five million people who had been slaves. No
court ever denied the power of the national gov
eminent to protect its citizens in the essential
rights of freemen No man should
be allowed to hold a seat in either
house of Congress whose election was
secured by crimes such depicted here nor
was it sufficient to say the elections referred to
not national elections in the sense that they
did not involve the election of a President or
member of Congress. While the power of Con
gress over the election of senators, representa-
tives, and the President extended to the making
and altering of laws and regulations passed by
the respective States. and therefore was fuller
than in respect to State elections. yet the Con
stitution provided that 1.-THE right of the people to
be secure in persons houses, papers and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated that ''all persons born
naturalized in the United States and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof are citizens
of the United Srates;" that mo State
shall make enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or immunties
Of the citizens of the United States, nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or
Aroperty without due process of law, nor deny
any person within its jurisdiction the equal pro
lection of the law, and that the right of citi-
zens Of the United States to vote shall not be de-
MED or abridged by the United States or by any
State on account of race, color previous CON
dition or servitude" 1t also declared that Con-
gress shall have the power to make all laws nee
essary and proper for carryingin into execution the
foregoing powers and all ether powers vested by
this Constitution in the government of the United
States, or in any department or officer thereof.
Power is also given to Congress to enforce the
recent amendments by appropriate legislation.
If essential rights of citizenship were overthrown
by the State or by the people of the State, with
the sanction of the local authorities within the
limits of the State, then Congress, as the legis-
lative power of the United States, is bound to
provide additional safeguards, and should eX-
haust all the powers of the national government
to maintain these essential rights of citizenship
within the limits of all States in full and com
plete manner as it would guard and protect the
unduestioned rights of citizenship of the United
States within the domains of the most powerful
nations in the world. He could appreciate the
changes which had occurred in the Southern
States and the natural antagonism that would
arise by emancipated slaves mingling in the
same community with former masters. He
could pardon the prejudice of race, caste, and
even local ties, and the American people, he
thought he had waited with great forbearance
for the time when constitutional rights would
be respected, without regard to race color,
creed or party. If the time had come when
members of the Republican party through
whOseagency at large the existence OF the govern
ment had been maintained, could not enjoy
constitutional rights, murdered at the
ballot box without fear of punishment, were
driven from their homes by outrage and terror;
and that black and white alike were subjected
to ostracism and injustice and as a party, dis
franchsed, then, indeed. it was time to demand
that the rights and capabilities of citizens should
be maintained and enforced at every hazard
If the Copiah resolutions were the creed of the