New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-25

visited, the residences of the officers
searched and the flags and banners OF
the clubs taken away and destroyed. l
was member of club called the Grant
Invincibles. numbering seven hundred men.
The treasurer of the club took the banner
of his club to his private room, and Dem
ocratic mob broke in fOrcibly, invaded the
room of lady, and took away the banner,
which had been presented to the clab by
number of LADIES' of the city. | know it,
because it was afterward paraded by
Democratic club along Canal street, turned
upside down. l thank the gentleman for
now showing me this paragraph.
Mr.. Ingraham read the paragraph
And here is what the report of the commit
tee investigating the outrages OF that year
say or this same subject:
Terrorism prevented voting; not pre-
concerted policy"
Now, Mr.. President, you and l and every
man in this State knows that the Demo-
cratic clubs had orders on that day TO APP
pear in their different clubrooms, to assem-
ble in large bodies, and to march to the
polls. Had the cOlored men of Nav Or
leans attempted to meet them there, many
of them would have bitten the dust. 1
have voted thus far for every reform be-
lieve needed to secure an honest registra-
ton of the voters, ard an honest election,
but l am not willing to give my vote either
at the dictaton of the gentleman from
Carroll (Mr. McMillenl, or any other Sena-
tor on this floor, to once more put on my
people the chain of slavery; and it will be
virtually doing it if we strike out this
section. 1t will virtually place us under
the heels OF the Democratic party Of this
State | have voted for such amend
ments to the election and registration laws
as in my opinion have taken the heel OF
despotism, as they choose to term 1T, OH
their necks; but | am not willing to go so tar
as to put it on the necks of the people re-
present. l. as colored man, believe
honestly that a State board OF returning
officers is absolutely necessary. from the
simple fact that in those parishes remote
from the city of New Orleans, where no
colored man can go and thoroughly or
ganize the Republican party, colored men
will be unable to vote without this pro-
vision, and if they are unable to vote, DO
not wish the votes Of their opponents to be
counted.
Mr.. OHara-Testerday the introduccr OF
this measure promised us If we would
guarantee them against the scenes OF leoo,
he would guarantee us against the scenes OF
1870 lido not think have any reason to
complain of 1868. The election in my dis
trict was fair, and we carried the district
for Grant, but for some reason unknown to
me- INV parish and the parish OF Terre-
bonnie. which gave $50 votes III the spring,
were thrown out; why it was done cannot
say.
Mr.. Campbell-That was before this law
was passed.
Mr.. OHara-Yes, sir. want the voters of
my district to be protected. do not agree
with the Senator firm Carroll (Mr. Nc
Millen) that where violence and lntimida-
Is
90 and vote. There are hundreds OF men
who value the peace of their families and
their lives more than their ballots, and do
not wish to cast their votes where they
have to do it under fear of being crippled.
MANNED, or of losing their lives. While L
wish to throw a protection around the
voters in this respect, l likewise wish to
protect them after having voted. The tact
can not be disguised-every one knows IT
here; it is known so well that it is the talk
of the entire country-that the elections of
1870 were one monument of fraud. 1t is to
protect against this that desire the present
bill, but do not want that five gentlemen.
knowing nothing about the parishes, shall
sit down here and completely revolutionlze
the result
Mr.. Lynch-Do | understand the gentle
man to say that the returning board did
anything OF this kind ia 1870.
Mr.. OHara-I do not know who did it.
It has been stated, and is the general be-
| lief that frauds were committed. 1t may
| be the frauds were committed by the super
visors can not say who killed those PEG
pie IN 1868, but know they were killed.
Mr. Blackman asked how it was IN tie
| city OF New Orleans.
Mr. O'Hara-I have very little to do with
| the city of New Orleans. ldO not know OF
any good thing particularly that ever did
! H.. llrIn a
| have been political speeches made to-day;
but | charge the differences that exist in
the Republican party, and all the trouble
! and the turmoil. TO series OF blijs ike
| this, TO give a certain body of men certain
advantages over others This is what they
are passed fer. and they are passed under
! the whip and spur of the party. L and
! other members OF the Legislature are con
| tiuualy told if we do not vote for this
thing or that thing that we are going
back on the colored people, because We
will not vote to make some person our mas
ter. | agree with the Senator from Car
roll in this respect, that if such Legislation
! as this is necessary to bolster up the Ike
publican party in Louisiana. | say its defeat
| would be more creditable than Its success
| 1t is a curious rule. which have not vet
learned, that $4,000 Republicans can be
whipped by $1,000 Democrats. We have
W
intelligence. although l have heard Repub,
licans ascribe all the intelligence of Loui
siana to the Democratic party. l think
| therefore, we require no unjust or unequal
legislation. The only thing we do require
Is a law which will prevent any voter be
ing deprived of his rights, or anybody be-
ing inundated. Make it a penal oifense
if YOU will, to intimidate any voter, but &c
not leave it in the power of any five men tC
! no
vote of that precinct can not be
counted, in order to make up ma. ority fol
| any individual. A great deal OF stress Is
! laid upon this board OF revision as being 8
| protection to the colored men. Let that
question have what weight it will on the
gentlemen who have listened to it. but
would remind them that this board was in
existence in 1870, and l notice that the Sen
ate was pretty we'll whitewashed at tina,
election. This is question which does not
come properly into a discussion of the diff
! terent bills we are proposing. do not set
| how the question OF color, white or black
can properly arise. The only question thai
should be discussed is whether this law il
fair 10 all; whether ALL under this law have
equal chances, equal rights amt equal pro
lection. That is the only question that car
engage any man except he undertakes t(
| play the demagOgue. Let us see what the
| practical result will be of this board of five
returning officers. We will suppose 10,
what they will do, but what they can do
Five gentlemen in the city of New Orlean:
are appointed returning officers. Perhaps
may he very Objectionable to the people o
New Orleans. and may be very popular il
my parish. There, is but one way to de
priye me of my election, for the decree has
gone forth that | must be beaten. How
must it be done! 1t can not be by tn.
voters. Four or five men come to my par
ish on the day of the election and fire off
couple of revolvers, or they knock some