Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-12
SENATOR NORTON ON LOUISIANA

SENATOR NORTON ON LOUISIANA
The speech of Senator Morton on Loui.
siana affairs, delivered in indianapolis
near the opening of the campaign in In
diana, is a powerful indictment of the
Conservatives of the South, mastery
portrayal Of the reign of terror and the
bloody acts by which they have en-
deavored to gain political control of that
section. We publish this speech in full.
and recommend to our readers to give it a
careful perusal, and then pass it to their
neighbors who may desire to know the
truth in regard to Louisiana.
The opening chapter mentions briefly
the bloody scenes which have recently oc-
CURED in the State, the riot at New Orleans
and the butchery at Coushatta. But in
order to give full and perfect account Of
the troubles with which the State is at-
ficted, Mr.. Morton presents history of
the Kellogg government, of the election
held in 1872, and of the successive steps
by which Kellogg became the recognized
Governor. In order to make the subject
clear to the understanding of all, he goes
back to 1866, to the massacre in August
OF that year in New Orleans in which two
hundred persons were killed while as
sembled to hold peaceable convention.
From that time to the present the State
has been vast slaughter-house. More
than two thousand republicans, white and
black, were slaughtered during the cam
paign Of 1868. Parishes that had heavy
republican majorities in the spring cleo
tons showed in the fall elections fear
full reduction in the republican vote caused
by murder and terror. Republicans
spared from assassination were afraid to
vote. The reign of terror was complete.
as will be seen by reference to the facts
presented by Mr.. Morton. No person can
examine these and not shudder at the tale
of bloodshed and barbarlty which they
disclose.
OF Governor Warmoth's share in Loui-
siana affairs we get some important reve-
lations. He acted with the republicans
until they were obliged TO cast him of,
and then he made league with the demo.
Gratis and turned against the republicans
hoping by the influence he had acquired
with the latter to give the State over
into democratic hands in the election of
1872. McEncry being the candidate
which the Warmoth faction and the demo-
Gratis supported against Kellogg. Forged
and altered returns were made out in
many parishes by the democrats, which
by the assistance of Yarmouth were re-
lied upon to give the election to McEnery,
but the Kellogg party resisted. the matter
went before the courts and Kellogg was
sustained by them and recognized by the
United States government as the Cover
nor of the State. 1t is over this recogni-
ton of Kellogg as Governor that the loud
complaints of tyranny and usurpation are
made by the democrats of Louisiana. and
which they make an apology for riot,
murder and outrage upon the republicans.
The Colfax massacre in 1873 was one Of
the fruits of the frauds of 1872, in which
about one hundred persons were slain by
a democratic mob. From that time TO the
present blood has never ceased to flow,
but outrages have been more frequent and
bloody recently on account of the ap-
preaching election.
The closing part of Senator Morton's
speech, in which he presents a summary
Of the condition of things in the South.
and shows the necessity of maintaining
the rights of the negroes and white re-
publlcans in that section, is an able and
convincing conclusion of one of the ablest
and most important speeches that has been
delivered this year. 1t is treasury of
facts from which may be drawn salts
factory answers to all the documents that
the democratic State cOmmitte of Loui-
siana have issued or may issue, and all the
appeals that democratic papers make over
poor Louisiana" TO soften the barbarity
and fendishness of the bloody deeds Of
the White League.