Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-30
STA TEKENT OF THE LOUISIANA RE.
TURNING BOARD.

The Louisiana Returning Board having closed
it, labors submits statement to the public. They
say the forms of law were very loosely observed
in the late election, not tenth part of the polling
places observing them. 1t was made the duty of
the Board to examine first all the returns about
which there was no doubt or dispute, and then
take up those about which there were informali-
ties and charges of unfairness. ain the progress
Of the examination" says the statement of the
Board, 20 large number of polls were objected to,
including some in q Of the parishes and in some
of these parishes all of the polls then object
ed to. The grounds of objection to some Of the
polls were the failure of substantial compliance
with the law in conducting the election and max
ing the returns to the Supervisors; to some that
the returns oft Commissioners had been changed
after they had been made to the Supervisors and
to the far greater number that the voters had been
inundated so that they did not register vote,
or were compelled to vote differently from what
they desired. Had the Board decided that any
thing like a strict compliance with the forms of
law in holding the election and making the returns
to the Supervisors would be required, the effect
would have been that so many of the polls would
no election in the State. The Board then adopted
a rule that when the Supervisor had returned any
evidence showing an election was held, although
it only be tally-sheet, unsigned or sworn to, that
in the absence of fraud or intimidation, it would
compile the vote as shown by such evidence or
document, if it may be called evidence. This de-
esion disposed Of good many protests to the re-
ception of polls, but when substantial forms Of
law had not been observed, and evidence Of fraud
or intimidation was produced, the failure Of sub
stantial compliance with the forms of law was con-
sidered badge of fraud, and the poll was rejected
They believe this to be just and reasonable rule,
and the Board strictly adhered to it.
In the case of Carroll, St. Helena and St. James
Parishes, where it was charged and proved that
the returns made by the Commissioners to the SUI
pervsors had been changed after they came into
the hands of the Supervisors, the Board took evil
dence to ascertain the true state of the vote and
made the compilation accordingly. The question
raised against the greater number of the polls
on the charge Of intimidation to prevent voters
from voting and forcing them to vote against theii
wishes. To establish this charge great mass OF
s6idavits was taken, some applicable to the whole
of the parishes and some to particular polls and
mass Of ter-afidavts were also filed. The
general facts proved on this point establish that
about May, 1874, q military organization known
Is the White League was established in this State
and permested every neighborhood; that the oh.
iect of this organization was to prevent colored
men from voting unless they could be controlled
10 vote the Democratic ticket, and to prevent them
from holding office; and further, to compel the
Republicans holding Office under the present State
Government to abdicate their offices, and to pre-
cent the Republican party in this State from Or
panizng, with q view of concentrating their party
Ct the late election, and expe the white Republi-
cans from the State unless they would desist from
organizing the Republican party in this State and
withdraw from the active support Of that party
The means taken by the White League organize
ton TO accomplish the above purposes are shown
TO have been by threats that, II the colored voters
AID not vote the Democratic ticket, they
should be expelled from the plantations on
which they were farming, be deprived
of their crops, be excluded from renting
lands hereafter or of being employed, and de-
rived OF their rahons, credit to obtain them,
and leading colored men were threatened with
desth II they persisted in organizing the Republi-
can psrty; and white Republicans were threat
ened with personal violence, prescription in bust
me- and socially of themselves and families, and
Nth hanging II they persisted in organizing the
marty with q view to the late elections. This Or
rrsnixafion in armed bands, in many parishes in