Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-10
KELLOGG'S CONSPIRACY.
The Work Of a Bold, Bad Man.
A Fearful FOur Years Clear State
ment of the Louisiana Troubles.
Ernm the New Orleans Times

POLITICAL rights by partisan adventures,
backed by hoarde of ignorant and delu-
ded negro voters. The latter have been
controlled by political influences ard cir
cumstsnces, to which 1t was quite natural,
though, as the result viii prove, very bane-
ful for them to yield. They were led to
believe and fear that the old residents of the
State would never recognize their equal po-
lticsl and civil rights, though their social
and all otsIer ties and relations with that
class Of our citizens were nearer and closer
than those which they bore to the partisan
tricksters for whom they have no respect or
friendly feeling, but in whose political iden-
ti6cation with themselves they have strong
confidence. 1t was this peculiar condition
of our population and affairs which
delivered the government of the State and
city, for the past four years, into the hands
of most untrustworthy aud incompetent
persons, who have grossly abused their
power to the great oppression Of the people.
Another circumstance has increased and
perpetuated this power for evil, this execga-
BILE administration Of our political affairs.
The party holding our State government
has been enabled to call to its aid the sane
ton, sometimes the practical support, and
always the menace Of the Federal power
This has been done on party grounds, on
pretext that our people, whenever they
manifested any restivenesS and discomfort
under plumber and oppression, were in fact
only giving expression to their natural re-
belliousness. Remonstrance, protest or OPP
position to oppression, robbery-to any and
every form of wrong doing on the part Of
those exercising the political powers Of the
State, were always ascrioed to the still
lingering hostility to the Union, and to
the conditions which had resulted from the
war. Instead Of aid, kindly protection and
encouragement in our endeavors to resus-
citate our fallen estate, and re-establish
wise, honest and good government, we have
been constantly threstened with coercion,
Intervention, dictation, and every other de-
vice of partisan tyranny. Ali this, not in
the interest of great political party and
principles, but really with The view of pro-
noting the avarics and ambition of individ-
uals who have stolen the name aud author
ity of great party as the cloak Of their
corrupf, wicked and purely selfish pur-
poses.
These have been the conditions and facts
under which this people, for the last four
years, have groaned and struggled, seeking,
by every concession, compromise and sub
mission, to escape from their pitiable state,
and obtain some semblance of fair and
honest government.
Among other expressions of their sin
cerity in this pursuit have been their zeal
Gus endesvors to bring about relations of
greater amity, good will and mutual conf
dence and cooperation with our recently
eoI nil t.
the most earnest aud jealous endeavors
have been employed TO satisfy Or colored
people of the profound desire of our COLI
sentative white people 10 identify their for
tunes and every interest with them, and
cooperate to effect common ends and mu-
tual benefits. That these endeavors have
been largely thwarted and defeated is no
fault of those who have employed them.
The smallest degree Of justice and intelli-
gence will discover that such defeat has
been due to the arts, cunning and partisan
uuscrupulOusness Of those who have come
among us with pretexts of antecedent de-
vOtion to their liberties and rights, ard with
no other claims to confidence or respect.
We have not been able to triumph over
these obstacles, but we do not yet despair
of eventual victory.
Aud the commencement of this great vic
tory over the prejudices thus incalculated
in the minds Of the colored people was
achieved in our recent State election.
The plan Of that contest was the rein
fOrc5ment Of the conservative elements Of
the State from the ranks Of the opposition.
The basis of this plan was the reform of the
administration of that government, the ex-
pulsion Of dishonest and corrupt men from
office, and the return to q government
wherein perfect equality of rights, Justice to
all, a cordial recognition of al the constitu-
tional changes effected by the war, should
be made to concur with honesty, respecta-
bility, capacity and fidelity OF the persons
to be entrusted with the powers of the gov
erpment. To carry out this plan we agreed to
forget past party divisions, to ignore all pre-
Vious political differences AID distinctions,
and to unite all good and honest men, in a
vigorous effort for reform and a thorough
change of the State administration. In
that behalf we welcomed all aid
we eourted every honest and
available appliance. We put
forward candidates without
regard to past party connections, but all
admitted to be citizens of spotless fame,
emine Mt capacity, tried integrity, and thor
ough Identification with this people and
State. We submitted their names to the
people. We csnvassed the State fairly, and
employed none but the customary and ad-
missibe methods to induce the support of
our ticket. We were compelled to conduct
the election under the laws enacted by our
sGversaries, repulsive as their laws were in
every respect. The opposing party accept
ed the challenge, and confronted the issue
we forced upon them. They cheerfully c.
guessed In all the conditions of the contes t.
They were confident of the victory. They
made no objections or complaints of any of
the terms on which the trial was made.
Even after the election was had, and be-
fore the final result was ascertained, they
were still satisfied with the fairness with
which it had been conducted.
a full vote was polled, the largest ever
polled in the State. The Radical or anti
Reform party polIed within five thousand
OF its vote in 1870. The Reform party poll
ed, however, twenty-one thousand moro
votes than in 1870, showing that a complete
vote was polled, and that the excess of the
Conservatives was due to the five thousand
and over cOlored voters who Joined the
Conservatives and to the largely increased
white vote.
These facts give the lie to all the pretexts
Of the exclusion of large numbers of negro
voters. That was an afterthought of the
custom-house ring, which has assumed the
entire direction and control Of the Radica
party in this State. Il has not the slightest
foundation in fact or in probability
1t is contradicted by the exhibit
OF the largest and fullest vote
ever given by the same total
population. Doubtless, as in all elections,
under SO complex system of registration
and voting and returns, irregularities, even
frauds and violence, may have occurred.
Our laws provide ample remedies for all
these. But We can safely assert that in the
whole history of popular elections in this
State, there was never one in which so few
incidents Of this character occurred. But,
of course the defeated party was not salts
fed. II raised the usual cries of such par
ties. TIE scepter had departed from it. a
CREST revolution had been accomplished By
the peaceful agency of the ballot-box. Cor
ruption, plumber, the reign Of irresponsible
adyantDrers and partisan specuIators and