Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-01-18

81 In Governor kellogg'sinaugu-
gal address which we win publish
III fnli next week, he thus speaks Of
the late election:
THE LATE ELECTION.
! The late general election In this
this State is likely 10 become mat
ter OF public investigation, and I
have therefore but few words 10
say on the subject.
Briefly, charge that the pre-
tended election claimed Tor the fu-
sion ticket is utterly without foun-
datlon III truth or justice. Icharge
this, although the late Governor of
this State, through the instrument
ality of registrars and commission
ers OF election specially selected and
designated By him for that purpose
prevented, by previously concocted
stratagems, many of the Republican
voters of the State from registering
and voting. The various strata
gems and eyaSions resorted TO am
prepared to establish by the fullest
proof. charge that prom ises of
offices were mad to secure traudu-
lent returns, and that ballot boxes
in numerous instances were opened
and tickets changed. l affirm that
the Republican party carried the
State hy the actual vote cast, and
that an attempt to show a different
result was made even after the elec-
tion by means of robbing and stuff
fing ballot boxes. 1t can and viii
be proven that the canvass was en-
tered into by the fusion party, head
ed by the late Governor, with the
avowed purpose of carrying the
election against General Grant and
the Republican party, by the adop-
ton OF any means necessary for the
purpose. | am prepared TO show
that partisans supporting the fusion
ticket frequently declared during
the canvass that the success of that
ticket was certain, irrespective of
the ballot cast, declaring that the
Governor had the election all in his
own hands that he could elect or
"count in" any candidate he pleas
ed. | am prepared to show that
the obstacles thrown in the Way of
the Republican voters OF every class
were especially directed against one
class of them, on account of their
color and previous condition, it be-
ing notorious that, with very rare
exceptions, the voters of that class
favored very decidedly the ,Repub1
lican ticket. AL these charges I
am prepared to maintain. My OPP
ponents failing to receive any
countenance from the different legal
tribunals, beth State and federal,
that have been appealed to, have
resorted To the novel experiment of
sending abroad travelling commit
tee, aided by eminent counsel, to
exhibit indignation before the peo-
| pie and, il possible, obtain their
sympathy By ex-parte statements
and concealment of the real facts of
the case. They indicate a desire
that an investigation be had. /
have at all times expressed my
readiness to join them in this. /
would not hold an Office to which l
did not believe myself to be elected.
| desire that the fullest investiga-
ton NJ ay be gone into of this whole
controversy, to the end that the &C.
tion taken by the courts and by the
national administration may be vim
dicatA I. 50 ~
InSnki1g the solemn oath of chief
magistrate it is with sincere de-
sire to do ali in my power essential
to secure the peace, prosperity aud
fullest development Of the State.
TO this end l ask the aid and SYM
pathy Of all citizens; l demand, as
have right to expect, your ear
nest co operation, and L invoke the
generous smiles of an oyerruling
Providence.
After Governor Kellogg had con-
cluded his address Chief Justice
Ludeling administered to him the
oath of Office, and lie received the
congratulations OF many friends,
while the band continued to dis,
course good music.