New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-14
THE WEEKLY REPUBLICAN
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THE LEGAL BEARINGS OF THE
sLOUISIANA CASE.o


By the Louisiana case" is meant moi
only the question pending in Congress al
to the admission of certain Senators and
Representatives, and what legislation, Il
any, is necessary, arising out of the late
election, but, what is of equal importance
the status it shall take in history as a legal
and political precedent.
Great efforts have been made to influence
public opinion both in the North and Louisi.
ana. BY one party it is believed that a
great political wrong has been accom-
plished; that usurpation has been estab-
lished in lieu of a lawful government
elected by the people, and that this has
been effected by improper interference of
the judicial and executive departments of
the United States government, acting
through the military arm.
By another party it is as firmly be-
lieved that great political wrong has
been defeated; but SO skillful and
active have been the representatives
of the defeated candidates and their
friends that a large sympathy for them has
arisen in the ranks of the Republican party;
number of Senators of that political faith
have reported in favor of new election;
and a prominent administration Senator,
while opposing this, and sustaining nonin-
reference, comedies that the Circuit Court
of the United States has exceeded its juris-
dictIon in interfering in the matter.
The Congressional report shows the evil
dence taken on both sides, and is very
prOlix and full of documents; its statement
of facts is circumstantial, embracing much
that is unnecessary, rendering it difficult to
arrive at logical solution Of the case.
THE CENSUS.
By the census of 1870 the total pOpula-
ton is, whites 362, 065 and colored 364. 2l0
The classification and statistics of popula-
49, l. - n a
colored. The number and relative power
of the colored vote were increased between
1870 and 1872. These statistics we must
take ss approximately correct. There could
have been in 1870 no purpose in classifying
nor is the preponderance of the resulting
cOlOred vote to be reasonably doubted
The same number of colored persons aver
age more of voters than with the whites.
There is no Indifference among them; every
man registers and polls his vote if he can.
But few require naturalization. The num-
Der of West India or African born is ex-
ceedingly small in comparison with the
foreign born whites. On the other hand,
there is an aversion to politics among many
of the American whites, and an aversion to
naturalizing among the foreign born. We
are forced to the conclusion, then, that
there is at least majority OF $4,000 colored
voters in Louisiana.
nltucEtU lilo COloiCu cuppoIu VI tut 1Se-
publican ticket, federal, State and local,
has shown the greatest unanimity. All
the arts and pereuasions to get portion of
their vote by other parties have resulted
in failure. Neither argument nor corrupt
influences have had any effect. Showing
fully, as they doubtless do. all the weak
nesses and vices of mankind, on the single
subject of the interests of their race they
are unbribable. The Liberal Republican
t,rNv 10 I'M DO ipf hn,r
its fusion with other parties lost 1.-THE few
colored stragglers it boosted, and these, in
any parish where they existed, could have
been counted on ones fingers. The entire
colOred vote, except those deprived of their
right contrary to law, was east for the reg
ular Republican candidates, and if, as to
every sweeping rule, there must be con-
ceded some exceptions, nobody believed
they averaged one in a precinct throughout
the State.
THE ELECTION.
The opposition claim by the returns of
the Forman board that out of l53, 793 voters
in the State but l2i ,552 cast their votes; and
il NAV be conceded that, according to the
returns of the Lynch board, there was at
the time satisfactory evidence only to the
effect that 12S l39 had cast their votes, or
attempted TO register or cast their votes &C
cording to law.
There must have been a neglect to vote
or failure 10 be counted of $4,000 voters in
the State. Now, let the candid reader in
quire of himself whether the neglect to
vote was not entirely on the part of the
whites, and whether the fraudulent depriya-
ton OF votes (every commissioner and reg |
lstrar being of the OppOsitionl was not |
against the Republican party.
Now II is claimed by the Republicans that |
at least 10000 colored voters were deprived
of their votes by refusal 10 register them. |
or denial OF their votes after being regis
tered either by direct refusal OF opening
polls secretly and at distant places without
due notice, and thus cheating them out of
every opportunity of voting. Affidavits
taken according TO law fully prove this pre-
tension, which of itself would overturn the
McEnerv majority according to lis own re-
.urns. But il is further claimed and shown
1y the Lynch returns that at least 10000
rotes of the canvass made by the illegal
board as for McEnery were cast and re-
urned, or should nave 6een returned,
against him; the proofs OF this, though en-
rely unnecessary 10 the result, are very
nipple, and Will be found scattered through
he Congressional report.
We are asked TO believe that OF the Sb.9l3
olored voters of Louisiana over SU,0UO
allied to vote or voted against Kellogg,
ven if the latter received no white votes
{ all, or an equal number more, as he may
ave received white votes, of which it
Till not be seriously doubted that he re-
eiyed several thousand. But this is un-
ecessary TO the present argument; 1T is
Efficient if it be based entirely on the
olored vote.
THE MODUs oPERANDI
The first suggestion that will be naturally
AIDE is that It must have been bold con-
.nrion 70 attempt the defeat of the Repub-