Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-27
NASHVILLE. TENN, TEUsDAY, JANUARY q. 1874

court before it was a government. He
contended that the fifteenth amendment
TO the Constitution had been violated in
the Louisiana election. The examination
and cross-examinatiOu Of witnesses before
the committee has laid the facts before the
Senate. To give some idea OF the search
Ing character of that investigation, he
would mention that the Chairman asked
Hon. Samuel Armstead if he could read
and write. and that question was IN view
of the fact that 4ArmStead bad recelSed
considerable number Of votes cast for Seci'e-
tary Of State, of Louisiana. That was
nice question to ask an eminent divine and
Christian politician. daughter ON the
floor and in the galleries). Had Federal
court exclusive power over all questions
belonging to State? By the law OF May
%, 1870, the right to institute suit IN a
Federal court or district court had been
given, providing the question was
one Of the denial of the
right to vote on account of race, color, etc.
The denial of suffrage to the black man
would defeat an election, but a denial OF
the same right to a white man would lead
to no such consequences. (Sensatlon.)
The campaign of 1870 in Louisiana opened
auspiciously for those making efforts TO
overthrow the Republican party in Louisi-
ana. They were encouraged to stand up
to save their homes, their affairs and their
firesides from the earpet-bag beggars who
were driving commerce and prosperity from
their doors. The Republican party was
inhamed by discussions. They had two
conventions and two tickets and defeat was
inevitable. The United States Marshal for
the State chartered steamboat and after
taking ON board several barrels of whisky,
hams and choice edibleS, calamity steamed
up the Mississippi on his electioneerinS
tour.
Then followed the grand receptions that
gushing character only found among high
pressure politicians in very doubt
full districts. Renewed laughter A
boat load of orators had never appeared on
these waters before. But that did not sue
coed. The craft soon began to wear a
disheveled appearance. The orators began
to look like Buccaneers, [great laughter
and after retrospect of the canvass as far
as it had gone, they decided to turn back.
Why this sudden change in tactics? 1t
was to obtain these false and fraudulent
affidavits to overcome legal election, and
it was after the returns of the steamer that
they sailed forth with blank affidayits to
obtain by bribery and forgery the state
ments required. From the day that Mar
shall Pack2rd's magnificent propeller re-
turned to New Orleans, those orators who
had made the fOrecaStle sound with their
elOquenee, wandered off in places to obtain
these fraudulent affidavits. If a man
heard pistol shot, it was argued that the
niggers were TO be defrauded. He quoted
from the testimony before the committee
at length, and cOntended that there was no
settled plan to burden and .obstruct regis
tratiOn; on the other hand the object was
TO make it as general as possible. The
election in Louisiana was probably the
most orderly, fair and quiet election held
there for twenty years. Again, reading
from the testimony, he argued that it was
attempted to show that negroes had to 60
so far to vote. He would give an illustra-
tion: A portion of Red river, where the
great bend, some forty miles around, comes
back 10 withinfO four miles of the point where
it commenced, the neck of land being
but four miles across, the negroes, to
vote, must 90 all the way round by
water, and therefore lost five days in going
to and from the polls, it being located al
the upper side Of this neck Of land. Were
white men subjected to the same incOn-
yeniences? Certainly not; they took d.
rect line across the neck of land, voted, and
were home again before dinner. IGreat
laughter on the floor and in the galleries. ]
Mr.. McCreery quoted from the testimony
as to Carter folding Jacques to his bosom
when he came with the forged afidavits,
and exclaiming, Jacques, you are hell OF
2 IellOw,r IIaUghter.1
'Ti-. ni.siF tOo4 rcAlt<41 ssafaS that any
manifestations by persons in the gallery,
either Of approval or disapproval, was aviO-
latiOn of the rules of the Senate, and on its
repetition he would order the galleries
cleared.
Mr.. McCreeTy resumed. He said the
constitution guarantees to every State a
republican form Of government, snd the
people should not be disturbed in their re-
publican Institutions; whether the enemy
come from abroad or from within the Dor
ders Of State, he must be met and put
down by the Federal government.
In conclusion he denied that the State
of Louisiana had republican form Of gov
ernment, and argued that steps should be
taken to protect her against fraud and
usurpatiOn.
At the conclusion of Mr.. McCreery's
speech Mr.. Sherman moved that further
consideration Of the motion TO recOmmit
be laid over till Wednesday, and the Sen
ate resume consideration of the resolution
from the Finance Committee, So ordered.
Senate went into executive session. After
some time the doors were reopened and the
Senate adjourned.