New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-09
ON THEIR GUARD.

Both the speech OF Mr.. Packard and
the appointment of committee to inves-
tigate the White Camelia organizations
show the Republicans on their guard
against the adoption of shotgun suffrage
as qualification at the next election. 1t
is prudent that they should do SO. Every
incident points to the fact that an organ
ICED intimidation will be brought to bear,
and that the colored. voter may choose be-
tween casting his vote as directed by the
League of the Camelias, or not casting it
at all. We infer that the committee ap-
pointed by the convention will continue
in session and will collect all the current
evidence necessary to justify demand for
federal protection, if it shall become nec-
essary, under the terms of the constitu-
ton.
The non-interference of the federal gov
eminent in the Vicksburg election is
greatly relied on to prove that the govern
ment will in no case intervene. That
part of the inhabitants of Louisiana who,
not comprehending the language of the
country, are addressed exclusively in
French, are informed that General Grant
is electioneering for third term by ob-
serving an exalted neutrality, and with
that prescience Of political motives only
possessed BY those educated to the haute
politique of Paris the Gallo element is told:
''We may be assured that Grant will nei-
ther interfere with the elections nor with
their results" The inference from this
clairvoyant knowledge is that shotgun suf-
frage may be made the qualification at the
election, and that whatever may be the
violence or fraud employed in securing
the success of the Camelias, the President
of the United States is too ambitious to
''interfere with elections or with their re-
suits"
If we were speaking to those who I'M
derstand the mother tongue Of the Union
We would remind them-though such citi-
zens are too familiar with the constitution
of their country to require it-that the
Intervention of the President is not vol
untary act, but duty imposed upon him
by the constitution, and further that it is
the province of Congress to consider the
results of the election as it has been doing
for the last year or So. But these unfor-
tunate persons who can not read the Re-
PUBLICAN must take their chances, if they
are compelled to employ counsel to defend
them against the mistaken advice which
has been given them, we have done the
best we could to keep them out of an as
sured trouble.
In the Vicksburg conflict the White
League gave the most plausible assurance
that they "wan't dom of nothing" and
gave pledges of pacific intentions which
satisfied the government. But the gov
eminent expressly told Governor Ames
that he might make requisition in due
constitutional form, if he wished the pro-
lection given by the constitution.
There must be some secret of persua-
sion or intimidation possessed by the
White League CT Vicksburg, which will,
sooner or later, be discovered.
The Picayuae says: "The negro popula-
ton of Vicksburg exceeds that of the
whites by several thousand" ''But four
white men voted against the White League
ticket" while ''ten times that number"
voted for it.
The White League having carried the
election by several hundred majority, the
negro voters being several thousand in
excess of the whites, and only forty ne
groes voting for the White Leaguers, the
question arises, what became of all the
rest of the colored majority of several
thousand? This, the committee on the
White League will probably ascertain by
correspondence.
We prefer fair State election. Every
man should come forward and vote his
sentiments without fear for the act or it's
consequences. 1t will be proper, how
ever, that all the incidents which precede
and are connected with the election and
which tend to impede fair election
should be put in the shape Of evidence to
sustain any constitutional application
which may be made for protective inter-
vention or for vindication of the rights
which Congress is bound to guarantee.
This record, we presume, the committee
will prepare. Possibly it may become its
duty to accompany it to Washington.