The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-13
THE FIFTIErH CONGRESS.
Crimes Against Suffrage To BE Investigated
-Denunciation of the Chinese

Crimes Against Suffrage To BE Investigated
-Denuuciation Of the Chinese
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 12-Mr. Vest, from the
committee on commerce, reported bills author
izing the construction of bridge across the
Columbia river at Dalles City, Ore. and a rail
road bridge across the Wichita river, in Arkan-
sas. Placed on the calendar. Also bill au-
thorizng the construction of railroad bridge
across the Missouri river at some accessible
point in ST. Charles county. Missouri. below the
city of St Charles. He asked Immediate con-
sideration for this bill, and it was read and
passed.
Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on Indian af-
fairs. reported bills authorizing the appoint
ment of a superintendent of Indian schools, and
authorizing the sale of timber the lands of
the Menomonee Indians in Wisconsin Placed
the calendar.
The resolution offered by Mr. Chandler, on
Jan. 10. instructing the committee on judiciary
to inquire into the suppression of the votes of
the colored citizens of Jackson, Miss. at the re-
cent municipal election in that city, aud into the
alleged participation in such suppression by the
United States district attorney, deputy col
lector of internal revenue, and deputy United
States marshal, was taken up, and Mr.. Chandler
addressed the Senate in explanation and sup
port of it. He said he had communications from
jackson asking for such an investigation, and
asserting that the facts stated could be proved
by the testimony of the best men Of both poli.i-
cal parties. He had not, in the resolution, pro-
vided for power to send for persons and papers,
because he apprehended that the facts W ould be
all found on file in the Department Of Justice.
If that, however, should not prove to be
so. he would desire to have power given to make
a complete investigation. He sent to the clerks
desk and bad read several letters and telegrams
received by him; also. manifesto which, he
said displayed at it's head engraving of a
couple of pistols. couple of shotguns and a
powder flask. In it the young men of Jackson
announced their ultimatum." It declared that,
having seen one of their number 'hellishly
murdered in the dark by a negro bully, set on
by a negro policeman of negro-cursed city, that
corrupt radical negro government should and
must be wiped out at any cost; that II negroes
are to use force they should do so at EXTREMIST
peril" and it warned all negroes against at
tempting to foist upon us this black and damna-
BILE machinery called government" Ths colored
citizens, under all the circums tances sur
rounding them, had met in convention,
had resolved that it would be unsafe
for them to attempt to vote. and
had consequently abstained from voting so that
engaged in that business were Mr. Harris the
district attorney; Mr.. Wilson, the deputy col
1ector of internal revenue, and Mr. Living
stone deputy United States marshal He SUBJ
mitted that the question, although it affected
only for the time being municipal election IN
the city of jackson, was one of national i'm
portance. The country this year to enter
on a presidential electon-an election which
was to decide the presidency, and also to decide
the complexion Of the National House of Repre-
sentatives. In that election at least
II UUU voters TeDreSenJD2
00o of American people, would
participate. Among those voters were proba-
bly, one and half millions of black men, repre-
senting G, 900. 600 1000. 900 of their race
and it important question whether those
1,500. 600 black men were or were not to be al
lowed to vote. 1t was question whether that
matter should be settled by fair vote of all
who ara voters under the Constitution. or be set
tied with / 800 600 of those voters dsfranchised
in pursuance of that policy which had been de-
liberately adopted in the capital of the State of
Mississippi, which state seeking today to
have Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
to aid in passing on the validity or the constltu
tionai amendments.
Mr. Riddleberger remarked that there was no
concealment of the fact that the resolution was
intended to affect matters that ought to be con-
sidered in executive session; and he gave notice
that to himself he would vote for the con-
frmation of Mr.. Lamar.
Mr. Walthan said he had not risen to offer
any opposition to the proposed investigation.
On the contrary, he was anxious that the reso-
luton should be adopted by the votes OF the
power of the Senate differed from bis own IL
the proposition were to investigate a town elec-
tion in New Hampshire he should yigously OPP
pose it. He courted the fullest investigation of
the occurrences at Jackson, but he protested
against any prejudgment of the case Instead
of mere anonymous communications, he desired
that the motives, provocations. grievances and
surroundings of the people Of that city, together
with their actions, should be laid bare before the
country. and that the verdict of the country
should be had upon them.
Mr. Jones of Arkansas, sent to the clerks desk
and had read telegram sent the Sd of Jan
uary by Attorney general Garland to District
Attorney Harris. of jackson. in these words:
notice in the papers that you mentioned per-
sonally participating IN political meetings recently