New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-08

| passes or tickets Of safety to freedmen
| Now, just think of the fairness and honor
| ableness of this thing-free men in free
country to be compelled to procure passes
from their neighbors in order to be enabled
to live and move in safety among their fel
| lows! But this was Democratic device
| this fair sample of Democratic fairness
These passes were given out to such freed
| men as could be induced to say they would
rather vote the Democratic ticket than die
| the death of dog at the hands of the as
| sassin. The members of the ''clan" were
thus instructed by these tickets of safety
| not to kill these poor freedmen, because
they had promised to vote the Democratic
ticket, and were completely cowed and I'M
der Democratic control. And it was SO;
for nearly every freeman throughout North
Louisiana did so vote, DIS matter of course,
through degree of terror and fraud never
before exercised or known at the ballot
box to any civilized or uncivilized land OR
country upon earth.
Some of these tickets Of safety are still,
extant, and could be produced. with the
| official signatures of prominent citizens.
whose cheeks would now tinge a. their
sight: for. verify, I suppose they are now
indeed heartily ashamed of their foul and
most infamous work: and, trust. have
thoroughly repented OF their folly and
wickedness, in sackcloth and ashes. Until
they do so, they will never receive forgive.
ness. either of God or Just men.
And yet, with all these facts before the
country, about as we'll known then as now,
Congress counted the electoral vote of Lou.
isiana for Seymour and Blair. I was in
Congress at the time, and remember most
distinctly and wildly. what occurred when
Louisiana was called in the count. There
was moments pause for consultation.
Prominent and leading Republican mem.
bers came to my desk to consult what to do.
related to them. in a moment. the
true status of the case-to:d them that
when they voted to count the electoral
vote OF Louisiana for Seymour and Blair.
they would vote to cOuntenance murder
and fraud most foul. and would aid and
abet crime as black as hell. They all
agreed that it was bad case-acknowledg.
ed that they knew it was just as stated
but as no official investigation had been
had many of them hardly kne what else
to do but to vote to count for the Democ.
racy, as the returns had 80 come I'D.
shall never forget the scornful and just re.
ply of General Butler: "When a man
knocks me down. said he. ~ do not think
1t my duty to stop TO enquire as to legal
FORMS | thought SO too, and accordingly
voted, with some sixty others, not to count
the electoral vote of Louisiana for Seymour
and Blair, as knew such a count to be
swindle and he.
Another excuse for this count which
some Republican members gave, was the
fact that it would not change the general
result, as General Grant was uverwhelm.
ingly elected anyway. But l thought then,
and still think such reason or excuse not
only not tenabIe. but positively criminal
and debaslng. and l do positively believe
that this very act Of the Fortieth Congress
in thus unjustly counting the electoral vote
of Louisiana for the rotten and murferous
many good and true men in our State since
that time. for such acts encourage assas.
sins and lead them 10 hope for and really
and very naturally expect sympathy and
succor from the federal arm. And such
acts do amount to sympathy and succor to
and murderers: just as at this mo.
ment the conduc: Of such men in Congress
as Carpenter is lending aid and comfort |
and direct inspiration to those in Louisiana |
who still would delight 20 murder men for |
a political difference OF opinion and would |
hasten 20 do SO if the way was JUS. a little |
more clear and safe.
Now I know many leading Democrats !
throughout the State who testified under !
oath. with all the light. 20 winch / have
alluded to ''tlitting palpabiy before them.'
hat this presidential campaign of 1865 was |
''peaceab.e and fair .hron ghout !
North Louisiana and the entire State. They
wore this with the fact glaring them in the
ace That in many parishes between the
Duachita and Red rivers. where the parties
we're about equally divided. in a fair cleo.
ion, on this occasion there was scarcely
'ote cast for the Republican :icket-iu some
instances not single one.
All which and singular proves. in nv
tumble estimation at least. that the Dem
&c ratio conscience is not very tender nor
cry sound. but very decidedly elastic. and
hat the romance OF politics in the back.
7oods is far more real than Imaginary. "If
were not so would have told you"