The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-05-28

ulation are nearly all farmers
planters, or business men, acclls
toned to and engaged in actua
personal labor.
There was no riot in that dis
trict. There was no public anG
general disturbance, no interrup
ton in the course of justice anG
in the administration of the law
20, in the common civil affairs OF
the community. All the disturb
ance which transpired during the
canvass, or for three or fou,
months before the election, or at
the polls, was distinctly and al
ways personal in it's charac tel
and not political. 1t had no con-
nection with the politics Of the
hour. It had but little to do with
the conduct Of that canvass
This, 1 believe, is true of every
trouble which took place in that
parish. except possibly in a half
dozen instances. and they were by
persons not at all connected with
the management of local politics.
There were a few murders in this
parish, almost all Of which were
for causes arising out of personal
and not political relations, having
their roots in personal difficulties
dating back in many instances
years oefore the election, and
having no material connection
with. any event which had imme-
diately preceded it, and were not
connected with this Question or
the conduct of this campaign.
Yet, Notwithstanding this, it is
proposed by the majority of the
committee, as l believe with the
most manifest and impressive dis
regard of the law of this case and
of the ri ghts of Mr.. McCranie and
this, constituency, that full three
fourths of this district shall be.
rejected. Rejected for what? Re-
jected for alleged intimidation,
TOR alleged violence. No allega-
ton is made here that there was
fraud at any of the polls. There
is no allegation that by the direct
interposition of any unlawful
power or influence any voter was
prevented from voting as he pleas
Ell and precisely according to the
dictates Of his judgment, his con-
science, or his feelings. There
is no allegation that any of these
returns except from one single
precinct in theparish Of Ouachita
were tampered with, corrupted in
any way, or that we have not to-
day before this House the precise
of the polls at the close
Of the election in the fifth con-
gressional district of Louisiana
on November 3, 1868. These gen.
eral charges are loose, vague, and
reckless; unsustained by any
specific and legal evidence that
should control the House: In
truth the House owes it to it's
own character and honor to re-
Duke the growing and most dan
yerous habit of practical adven-
5urers to bring such stuff here to
impose upon the Judgment or
partisan feelings Of the House.
AS to the one precinct of that
parish in which there was some
Dad conduct, I will not waste
ime to talk about it. It cannot
lhect the result in the interest of
1iO SCllCISL1ttIl w HO SCohS GllS ScdC, !
IL in the estimation Of the gen.
lemen who declare this seat shall
'e vacant and that no one was
,lected.
/ also beg gentlemen to remem-
'er, and 1 state now what I be-
ieve my colleague on the COM
nittee will not contradict, that of
hese thirteen parishes which con-
titute the fifth congressional dis
riot of Louisiana eight were
ylways Democratic parishes, Dem
'aratic in the spring at the April
election, when the present State
Of Louisiana was
lected, and when the present
of the State was rat
fed. They elected then, with
ew exceptions, a full corps of
ivil officers who were in full har-
nony with the Democratic party. /
hey were elected as Conserva-
ives, as the party organization
7as then styled. want here also |
n call ottantinn tn thn fact thot |