New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-11

knife. We pretend to be free government,
and yet there are localities in this State
where man advocates Republican princi-
pies at the risk of his life. wish to see
this state of things at an end, and to have
free ballot independent of thugs, pistols, and
bowie knives.
Let us show that Louisiana is regenerated;
that progressive ideas are in the ascendant,
and oppression at an end. And how do the
men who have used these illegal means in
the election know that an other party may
not wish to use the same means at the
next election. 1t is the interest of both
parties and of all law-abiding citizens that
we should take such measures as will pre-
vent such things in the future.
Mr.. Thompson-I regret exceedingly, Mr..
President, that this resolution should have
been introduced. 1t has a tendency to
arouse feelings which should lie dormant.
We are here to legislate for the good of the
country. Sir, as an honest member of this
body, and one rot actuated by partisan
feelings / must deprecate this measure. 1t
is urged on one side that gross frauds have
been perpetrated by the other. In justice
to the Democratic party, as it is called, let
me point to the city of New Orleans. The
registration shows that the white people of
New Orleans have some 5000 majority. l
confidently believe that there are not 5000
white Radicals in the city. Then, sir, it
5ebulS lntlG nave BCGu llhuu5 ~
other parties than those who claim to be
Democrats. We have already a Committee
on Elections, which is sitting the evidence
of frauds, and that evidence is to be printed.
What more is necessary? Another objection
have to this resolution Is that no time is
expressed when the proposed committee
shall close their labors, A long session of
one hundred and twenty days may ensue,
and they may have to send for evidence to
every parish in the State, thus imposing a
tax hitherto unknown TO the people.
Mr.. Campbell-I desire to say word or
two further upon this resolution in answer
to the objections made. 10
First, as to the cost, that is entirely
within the discretion of the General Assem-
bly,; it is SO worded purposely that the Gen
eral Assembly may cut it short at any time.
The Senator from Claiborne referred to
the labors of the Congressional Committee
OF Investigation. | think he was peculiarly
unfortunate in his illustration. | think
that of all the committees appointed since
the foundation of this government, the one
whose lahors were of more benefit to the
country than any other was that commit
tee which elected the truth will
which occurred within these walls. Not {
single paper in New Orleans published the
truth, but the press and even the bench
were prostituted to conceal the facts.
1t is in evidence before the Committee OF
| Elections that one of the Commissioners a
the recent election distracted one hundred
| votes from the ballotboX. At another the
/ three hundred to the tally list without {
| single ballot to correspond, and when inter
rOgated replied it was upon the order o
| Captain Scott;n that q certain judiciary
officer eXacted q promise from twenty o.
thirty men who had been illegally ARRESTED
at the polls and locked up, that they woulC
90 home and say nothing about the matte.
before he would release them.
Sir, there is no crime NOR
| infamous, none that strikes so fatal,
at the very roots of Republican governmen
than such as have enumerated. Our mos
important duty is to provide for the purit,
of elections, and | am surprised that an.
gentleman, from whatever section he comes
to whatever politics he belongs, who has tn
interests Of the State at heart, should op
pose these Investigations, which will give
basis to this House, and the other for sue
legislation as may be necessary to preven
such fraud and crime in future.
The subject was further debated by AIessr:
Bacon, Braughn, and others.
Mr.. Braughn moved to lay the resolutio
on the table.
Mr.. Lynch called for the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered, with tn
following result:
Yeas: Anderson, Beares, Blackmar
Braughn, Day, Egan, Il. L. Jewell, F. |
Jewell, Thompson, White--l0.
Nays: Bacon, Campbell, Coupland, Dal
rell, Francois, jerks, Kelso, Lynch, Monettt
O'Hara, Packard, POindexter, Pollard, Ra,
Smith, Whitney, Wilcox, Williams, Wittgel
stein-l9. ....r ..#..
50 the motion to lay the resolution on tn
table was lost. ,ruI
Mr.. Coupland-It was my intention, ST
to vote against this resolution, because
did not wish to tax the people with the e,
pense; but since Senator has charge
fraud directly upon the Republican part
and has located it in the Seventh War
which is in the district which l represen
! shall vote for the resolution in order TIL
he may have an opportunity of proving Il
truth Of the charge.
After further remarks by Messrs. Darrel
- wilson, Jeweii, ami 0tileTs,z
MrWison moved to amend by insertiu
! a proviso that the committee investiga
{ only such specific cases as may be rerortt
| to them.
On motion of Mr.. Smith, the amendmel
was laid on the table,
Mr.. Ogden moved an amendment that Il
3 committee receive no extra compensate
} for their labor.
{ Several amendments were propose
/. when -qa.=--.ta
] Mr.. o'Hsra moved to lay all amendmen
on the table. .-..r.
4 Mr.. Ogden called for the yeas and nay
which resulted -s-.#
] Yeas 10, nays 10.
/, The President voted to lay the amen
) ments on the table.
0 Mr.. Blackman moved to amend by inse,
ing
e Provided. That in the examination
all cases OF fraud in any parish, not mo
J. than ten witnesses can be summoned, al
o these equally from the two political parti
e Of the State"
D Mr.. O'Hara moved to amend the amen
# ment by inserting ''fyen instead of ten .
= Mr.. Lynch moved the resolution wi
n the amendment be referred to the Comm
: tee on Judiciary.
r Adopted.
Mr. Jewell offered the following resol
4? ton;
i. WHEREAS, The Committee on Electio
IS appointed by this body on its temporary
II ganization, has accused the General Coz
e manding the Fifth Military District wi
e having improperly and without author
n changed the returns of the late electio
+ be it
i. Resooed, That special committee
n three be appointed to Investigate the matt
!. and report to this body, and that the col
.e mittee so appointed have power to send
Il persons and papers.
e Mr.. Lynch moved the report be referr
o to the Committee on Judiciary.
l. Mr.. Jewell wished to amend that It
% with Instructions to report tomorrow.
Is Mr.. Smith moved to lay the whole subj'
e on the table.
u The yeas and nays were ordered, resu
ing-yeas 5, nays 90.
= NJ Lynch withdrew HIS amendment.
ie The motion to refer to the Committee
o. Judiciary was adopted.
I MV N,Vnfh ratlnh q hill Of Whirh