Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-24

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claim the results of the election. Tht
declaration by them of the votes cast in th'
different parishes is as purely fanciful as i
no election whatever had been held. They
have arbitrarily reduced and increased vote.
| on the one side OF the other In the different
parishes to suit their purposes. In severa
parishes, while returning or even adding tC
the votes cast for their candidates, they
| simply have annihilated or stricken out en-.
tirely the votes cast for their opponents. Ir
other parishes they have exactly reversed
the returns, giving to their candidates the
msiorities which had really been returned
for their opponents. They have not pre-
tended to furnish the public with any state
ment of the basis on which they proceeded
or the theory on which they acted. Their
whole conduct is without any kind of rea-
sonable explanation. We submit 10 the
people of the United States that such pro-
ceedings reach a point az which the whole
theory of popular government is reversed
and overthrown.
"The means by which such results have
been reeched are enough to startle the
public mind, but the results themselves are
not less appalling. Aside from the general
Of the State delivered over into the hands of
men who were not elected, and who are
utterly unfit for positions of such RESPONSE
bility. As originally composed at its orgsni-
cation, it comprised 6S persons Of color,
most Of them totally uneducated, with q
very small minority Of whites. Since that
time they have expelled members whose
seats were uucontested; they have un-
seated members returned elected by their
own board, and seated their defeated op-
ponents on the simple ground that tie
former bad not appeared to claim their
seats. The result is that, originally bad as
the Legislature was, it makes itself worse
day by day, and the prospect is that soon
the Conservative element of the State will
have no representation whatever.
-"To those who fatter themselves with q
hope that Mr.. Kellogg would not willingly
abet any scheme of outrageous misgoverD-
ment, IL is now apparent that, even suppos-
ing this to be true, the power of restraining
bas passed entirely beyond his control, and
that, should be attempt to thwart the
schemes Of this Legislature, bis own i'm
peachment would be probable event Of
the future.
SIN conclusion we would state that we
have attempted to perform the duties of our
mission in the purest, bipartisan spirit;
that we have not sought TO furnish capital
to any political party or TO excite popular
camor in the interest OF any faction. We
have laid our case before the President and
bis Attorney General, and we willingly
testify that we have been courteously re-
ceived and listened to. While they have
refused the specific measures of relief for
which We applied, they have given reasons
for such refusal in no manner implying
their indisposition to see justice done.
They have referred US to Congress, and we
feel assured that we shall have the immdi-
ale sanction Of the President so far as We
invite an impartial investigation of the
facts of our case, and that we shall have
his cooperation in any measures of relief
which Congress may adopt after just in
vestigation.
"The people of Louisiana, ignoring party,
are conscious of an honorable effort To
place in Office men of tried probity. They
seek justice, not generosity. They ask Tor
; calm, impartial examination of the recent
events within their borders,
and that there may be a speedy correction OF
he dangerous evils now threatening tbs
very life of their State"
Signed by j. 81. Campbell, J. Al1ridge,
August Bohon, Joseph Bowling, and forty
)thers.