The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-24
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UP GOES THE RED SHIRT.
THE JACKSON ELECTION USED AS
CAMPAIGN CLAPTRAP.

ence the Tune
WASHINGTON, July 23 Senator Wilson
to-day submitted to the senate the majority
report of the Judiciary committee ON tLs
jackson, Miss, election votes. Two sub
iects, the committee says, were submitted
for inquiry. The first, alleged suppression
of the votes of colored citizens of Jackson,
Miss, at the recent municipal election in
Jackson, and the second, alleged particle
patton in such suppression by
the United States district attorney
and by the deputy collector of Internal
revenue and deputy United States marshal.
The conclusions Of the committee" tho
report saws. ''iR respect TO the two subjects
committed to 1t for Investigation, are at-
trmative in both branches of the inquiry.
There was suppression OF the votes of ulorod
citizens at the recent municipal election
of Jackson Miss, The suppression
was not partial but total No colored citi-
zen voted at said election. This was excep-
tionaL For years the colored voters of
jackson had voted without obstruction.
This is an admitted fact There is nothing
IN all of the testimony taken by the conn
mittee that tends TO controvert it,"
ALLEGED IMPROVEMENT.
The report sketches the improvement in
the condition of local affairs in Jackson
during the fourteen years of Mayor Nc
Gll's administration, IA debt of s., ,O0J hav-
ing been wiped out, taxation having been
reduced from % mills to 10 mills, streets
having been graded and lighted and affairs
generally having assumed much more in
vitng aspect. One week prior to the city
election movement was started
to nominate candidate in oppo-
sition to Mayor McGill '"fhe
alleged cause of the movement" the report
says, was certain disorderly happenings
ON the evening of Dec. "a, 1887 In which q
white man and negro were killed. The
result was the organization of Il White
league, whose first act was the promulga.
ton of a manifesto declaring in awful ear
nestness that the corrupt radical negro
government of our city should, must and
shall be wiped out, cost what it may
Attached TO subsequent issues of thq
League with other names, were those Of
Deputy Collector Wilson and Deputy Mar.
shal Livingston. One or these issues embodied
a resolution that the chairman of this
meeting appoint committee of 100 to seq
that the ticket is elected"
THE MEETINGS. CHAIRMAN.
The chairman of the meeting, the report
says, twas j. b. Harris, then United States
District Attorney"
''It was the purpose of the movement"
White league and the committee Of 100 to
secure the election of n city government
that would operate on the color hne here
indicated. This could be secured by the
suppression Of the colored men in Jackson
and in no other way could it be effected All
Of the white votes could not be brought
up to this line of action. Many of them be-
lieved in and respected the right of Colored
men to vote notwithstanding the intense ex-
citement that prevailed in jackson during
tine week preceding the election. The vote
Tor mayor stood: For Horny 220, and for
McGill l27 The testimony abundantly
shows that tho result would have been
different had the votes of the colored men
been cast' The report reviews
tho testimony at considerable length and
makes extracts from it in support of its
arguments and conclusions 1t finds that
the resolution OF the colored men
to abs ain from voting was due
to terrorism inspired by the action
Of the White league and of the committee
appointed by it. 1t quotes District Attor-
neY Harris as saying that the result of his
ris9 resignation, which resignation, how
ever, was understood to be voluntary.
NOT SATISFIED.
'It would have been becoming" the
report continues, "to a proper admlnistra-
tion of public affairs if corresponding action
had been taken in respect to Others of tho
implicated officers; but no action has been
taken in the case of Samuel Living ston,
who continues to act as deputy United
States marshal ana no notice has been
taken Of the misconduct of Rot ert +.
Wilson, deputy collector of internal venue.
The committee can but regard a continu-
anCe of these men III he official positions
which they respectively hold AZ evidence Of
want Of right appreciation of duty on the
part Of tho executive department of the
government. No more sacred right
belongs TO citizon than the one which
gives him a voice in the affairs
of the country through the medium of a
free ballot. To exercise it is a duty. To
obstruct it is an offense. When obstruc-
tion Is interDosed by a public officer, his
dismissal from the public service cannot be-
too swift. If such conduct az that of the
officers named in the resolution of the SEN
ate directing this investigation to be made.
be not offensive partisanship of the most
reprehensble character, then would it be-
most difficult to define what would consti-
tute that offense.
AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS.
"If these public officers are not to be dis
missed from the service, then will others
take courage to do evil deeds Of whatsoever
character partisan zeal may suggest. The
testimony taken by the committee shows
that two other persons engaged In the civil
service of the United States were
active partisans in proceedings which
resulted in the suppression Of
the colored vote, Fitzgerald, chief clerk Of
the railway mail service for the division in
which Jackson is located, and e. A. Fitz-
gerald, a railway mall clerk. II further
appears thut one Byron Lemley was treas
urer of the committee of one hundred He
has recently been nominated by the Presi-
dent 10 the senate TO be postmaster at Jack
son, Miss. 1t is far 20 presume that the
President was not informed of Lemley's
connection with the committee of one hum
dred when he nominated him 20 the senate
for the official position indicated"
The committee, IN conclusion, submits q
resolution for adoption, as follows:
ResoiUed, That the Senate. in view OF the re
port made To IL in obedience TO its resolution Of
Jan. Z, 1885 In respect 10 the suppression Of tue
votes Of cOlored citizens Of the city Of jackson,
Miss and the participation in such suppression
by certain United States officers as set forth and
described in said report, does hereby express
~ strong condemnation OF the conduct Of said
judgment that every officer Of the United
promptly dismissed from the public service az
soon as authentic knowledge Of such engage
mont or participation rs brought 70 the atten
tion Of The appointing power.
RESOLVED, That copy Of this report and ot
the testimony ON winch II s based be cOniflus
Dicatod 10 the President Of the Unites States.