New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-08

MOreys plurality over MCCr8nl0. Is
MOrey's plurality over Kennedy. ............... 81
Total Repubilc8n vote. 90
Total Democratic vote. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A.
Now, MIR. Speaker, I believe have showI
conclusively that there was large Repub
Iican majority in the peaceable parishes o
more than two-thirds vote for Grant anC
| COlfax, which it is true was unfortunately
divided between myself aud another caDdi
date; technically. however, that is of no con
sequence in considering this case, for it has
always been held by this House that a plu
ralIty vote affects the recipient thereof.
hold, sir, that if the principle laid down in
| the case of Hunt vs.. Sheldon is worth any.
| thing rs precedent, aud il it ls applied to
this case, | am entitled to the seat from the
Filth Louisiana District. The logic is con.
elusive to that result, and can not be escaped.
| Now. sir, as my time is short-and had
the opportunity could speak all day on this
subject, for | have studied it closely 81 wish
to refer briefly to the effect Of the applica.
ton of the principle which l hold should
| govern this and all other cases from our Sec
ton or the country, namely, that the votes
| OF parishes aud precincts where law and
| order prevailed should alone be counted in
ascertainiDg,r ats. When you establish this
principle you say to the Ku-kiuX Democra-
cy, You Can accomplish nothing but your
| own defeat by this policy. for we refuse to
recognize lawlessness, rutfianism, assassina-
ton and intimidation If you do not now
and in future adhere to this principle, you
then encourage this lawless element, in
| case they are in the minority, 10 commit
Just such excuses as they did in 1868, and
bNhaving. the election declared null and
void defeat the will of the peaceable, law
abiding majority of the people and deprive
them of representation.
If the report OF the committee in this case
is sustained, and the case referred back to
the people, l earnestly hope that the prin-
cipie for which l contend may maintain in
the cases from the Third and Fifth Districts
of my State. The establishment of this
principle is of more Importance to me and
to every lover of peace and good govern
ment than any result which is merely per-
sonal to myself. | make this appeal, MIR.
Speaker. in the name of an outraged and q
long suffering cons ituency, in the name
and ON behalf of $1,000 voters, with as loyal
hearts as ever beat, and although most of
them have dark skins, l would to
God that the hearts of their white breth-
rem were as loyal and as true to the
principles of a Republican Government
l make this appeal on behalf of free citizens
entitled to the protection of this great gov
eminent. for without its protection the ex
ercise of the ballot, that priceless privilege
of free man, one who is free indeed, will
ment in some cases, and in other cases to
their moral and political degradation by
being forced to sucCumb to this helish sys-
TEN Of intimidation and coercion inaugur-
ated by the Ku-klux and the Knights of the
White Cameia, both of which. rs the evil
dence taken in these cases conclusively
proves, are organizations within the
Democratic party. Without protection
in its exercise you could not give to
the loyal colored men Of the South
greater curse than the ballot, for under the
reign of terror which existed in 1868, and
which predict will exist in 1870, these loyal
colored men will be forced, aye forced, to
vote against the party which they love, and
to which party the most ignorant voter In
the State of Louisiana knows lie owes his
freedom, his manhood, and his right to
make for himself name, for his family
home, and for his children an Inheritance of
an education, which will enable them in
greater degree than himself to appreciate
the blessings of liberty. The party refer
to is the one which conquered the rebellion,
which has established manhood suffrage,
and whose greatest enemies are ignorance,
bigotrY, and the intolerance and hate which
are the legacies left by the rebellion to its
and fnrepentanr followers.