New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-05
THE ELECTION FRAUDS.
Report of the Committee of Colored Citi-
zens on the Conduct of the Late Eiec-
ton in the state Of Louisiana.

Report of the Committee of COlOred Cit
zens on the Conduct of the Late Ella C
ton in the state of Louisiana.
To the American People:
This committee was called into exstenc
through and by the agency Of the unblush
ing, corrupt and audacious frauds perpe
trated during the recent election upon tn
Republican party of this State. but NOR
especially upon the cOlOred voters, by tn
corrupt Vaccinations of the chief executive
of this State, elected TO that position b.
the Republican party. in 1868, III an inta
nous com bination with the Democratic o.
fusion party, under the guise OF Liberalism
After the difficulties, troubles and out
RACES to which Republican voters were sub
jected prior to and upon election day, tht
colored men of Louisiana became alarmed
at the determined and persistent Efforts o.
this unholy lso-ealled) " Liberal alliance
ostensibly looking 10 the overthrow of the
Republican party, and the political exter
mination of the colOred people OF this State
They plainly cav that the real intention OF
their political antagonists meant nothing
lees than the selling Of the State Eovern
ment for the sole purpOse--ln their ludg
ment-uf rendering null and VOID the re-
construction acts Of Congress, and of abrO
eating the wise and equitable enactments OF
the national Congress looking TO an unques'
tionable securing of the rights and PRIV.
ieges of American citizens, regardless OF
race, color or previous condition. 1t 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 molten
sive victims of political outrages, wrongs
and frauds that have been perpetrated, ana
of which we complain, we naturally feel
the more directly interested, and acknowi-
edge the possible influence of an antago-
nistic interruptions and powerful press,
which has unsparingly villifed and depre-
ciated the colored 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 and
unequiyOcally charges Governor Warmoth
as being principal, and the proof OF the
charge is, that wherever practicable, he
corruptly made free use of his vast ap-
pointing power and joined in the machina-
tons of willy, reckless and INSCRIPTIONS
Democrats, and fostered the prejudices of
the wicked, hereditary, negotiating por-
ton of the community-houEd on by the
most OPP and intammat)ry appeals to the
Democracy by partisan prtss, which, the
better to Incite war of races, made use of
tae absurd and unwarrantable cry of
AFRICAN ltion," NEGRO rule" social
equality" "venal corruption and ignorant
negro legislation" etc, simply because the
colored voters exhibit fortitude and manli
illness enough to assert and maintain their
rights as granted them by the constitu-
tiOnal amendments.
After anxious consultation on the sub
ject il was decided that meeting
of colOred citizens be held tor
the purpose of laying a statement of
our grievances before the American public,
and accordingly a 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 now attempt,
in plain statement of facts and figures, TO
sho " the manner and means employed by
our political opponents in their recent eff
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,
snch action being based as we firmly and
tincel ely 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 qualification to the fact that
but one colored man in Louisiana could be
found in the ranks of the enemies of his
race to assist them in their nefarious de-
signs. We refer to j. Sella Martin, who ac-
companied the Democratic committee to
Washington in hired capacity,
The results OF the labors Of this commit |
tee, as cleaned from information presented |
before it at its sessions frOm.the time since |
ats organization until the present, are here
with set forth for the information and for |
the candid, sober and earnest Judgment OF |
the American people. The facts and state |
ments herewith presented are sworn and |
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 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: