New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-07

Report OF the Committee OF Colored Clus
,cps ON the Conduct Of the Late Eiec-
lion In the state Of Louisiana.
To the American People;
This committee was called into existence
through and by the agency of the unbiush-
ing. corrupt and audacious frauds perpe-
lrated during the recent election upon the
Republican party of this State, but more
especially upon the colored voters, by the
oorrupt Vaccinations of the chief executive
of this State, elected to that position by
the Republican party in 1868, IN an inia-
nous combination with the Democratic or
fusion party, under the guise OF liberalism.
After the difficulties, troubles and out
RACES to which Republican voters were sub
iected prior TO and upon election day, inc
ooIored men Of Louisiana became alarmed
at the determined and persistent Efforts OF
this unholy (socalled) Liberal alliance,
Ostensibly looking to the overthrow OF the
Republican party, and the political exter-
minatiOn of the colored people OF TINS state.
They plainly saw that the real intention oil
their political antagonists meant nothing
less than the eezing of the State Zovern
ment for the sole purpose-in their luug
ment-of rendering null and void the re-
construction acts of Congress, and OF abro-
eating the wise and equitable enactmentS oil
the national Congress looking to an unques-
tionable securing of the rights and priv
Iepes of American citizens, regardless OF
race, color or previous condition. IL was
therefore, deemed necessary to make known
TO the American people, from our own
standpoint, the real state OF affairs.
Being, in nearly every case, the lnoncn-
sive victims Of POLITICAL outrages, wrongs
and frauds that have been perpetrated, ana
of which we complain, we naturally leel
the more directly interested, and acknowl-
edge the possible influence Of an antago-
nistic, INSCRIPTIONS and powerful press,
which has unbparingly yillited and depre-
ciated the eolored voters for no other rea-
son than a consciousness of their inability
to seduce them from their allegiance and
devotion to the principles of Republicanism.
In this unrighteOus crusade upon the col
ored voters your committee distinctly ana
uneauiyocally charges Governor Warmoth
as being principal, and the proof OF the
charge IL, that wherever practicable, he
corruptly made q free use OF his vast ap-
pointing power and joined IN the machna-
lions of willy, reckless and interruptions
Democrats, and fostered the preiudices OF
tho wicked, hereditary, negotiating por-
ton of the commuuity-houEded on by the
most open and int1ammatory appeals TO the
Democracy by partisan press, which, the
better to incite war of races, made use OF
the absurd and unwarrantabe cry OF
Authorization" negro rule social
equality" "venal corruption and Ignorant
negro legislation" etc, simply because the
illness enough to assert and maintain their
rights as granted them by the cOnstitu-
tional amendments.
After anxious consultation on the sub
jcct it was decided that meeting
of Colorcd citizens be held for
the purpose of laying statement of
our grievances before the American public,
and accordingly call was made by Lieu
tenant Governor Pinchback for such meet
ing, which consequently assembled in his
parlors November, 1872. From that meet
ing arose this committee who spow attempt,
in plain statement of facts and figures, TO
sho the manner and means employed by
our political opponents in their recent eli
forts TO defeat the desires of a majority OF
the voters of this State, as expressed at the
ballot box, on the fourth OF last November,
such action being based, as we firmly and
sincerely believe, on no other reason than
an unjust discrimination on account of race,
color and our previous condition.
In doing SO we may be allowed. to point
with pride and gratificatian to the fact that
but one colored man in Louisiana could be
found in the ranks of the enemies OF IIis
race to assist them in their netarious de-
signs. We refer to j. Sella Martin, who sc-
companied the Democratic committee TO
Washington in u hired capacity.
The results Of the lRboTs of this commit
tee, az cleaned from information presented
before it Mt it's sessions from the time since
its organization until the present, are here
with set forth for the information and tor
the candid, sober and earnest Judgment OF
the American people. The tacts and state
ments herewith presented are sworn and
subscribed TO by persons from different To-
calities in the State, who have voluntarily
presented themselves from day to day and
made these statements. We predicate the
fact that Louisiana is a Republican State
from the tact that the population of Louis
lana, as taken from the official census OF the
United States of 1870, was as follows: