New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-23
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
Preliminary Meeting Yesterday
WHAT REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC
COUNSEL PROPOSE TO SHOW.

Representatives., the majority of a commit
tee appointed to investigate political affair
in Louisiana, arrived Thursday night an,
took rooms at the st. Charles Hotel.
Their names are: George F. HOar, chair
man, of Massachusetts; William A. Wheeler
of New York; William P. Frye, Of Maine
S. s. Marshall, of Illinois.
The committee held an informal sessio,
in parlor p, St. Charles Hotel, yesterda,
morning, when line of action was agreed
on. Attorney General A. p. Field, Genera
II. j. Campbell and Mr.. John Ray appeared
tor the Republican side and Messrs. +. c
Zacharie, X. II. Mari, D. C. Labatt, Charles
Cavanac, J. H. Kennard and H. D. Ogder
tor the Democrats and White Leaguers
| 1t was evident that the members OF the
committee had posted themselves to con
siderable extent.
| 1t was agreed that counsel for both sides
| be requested to make known their wishes,
o'clock.
About one o'clock the doors were opened.
Judge Hoar made formal explanation to
the counsel on both sides, stating the cause
of this investigation. He said that this
committee, 3 majority being present, was
prepared to hear from gentlemen who ap-
peared for either side. MessIs. Zacharie
and Marr stated that they were prepared to
prove that there was no violence or intimi-
dation in the election. of 1874; also, they in
tended to show that the Returning
Board had falsifed election reports:
could show that there was no
ostracism because a man was Republican;
they were prepared for thorough inyesti-
cation, to show the real condition of affairs
in this State for long time past: they in
vited complete investigation and were
prepared to prove that they were not the
barbarians, some of the press has repre-
sented; they could also show that United
States troops actually intimldated white
people in the country on election day; and
that colored Conservatives have been in
timdated by Republicans.
Colonel Field spoke for the Republicans,
and gave the committee an outline of the
points they expected to bring out. He
would prove that from the time of the Col
fax massacre there has been intimidation
up to the fourth Of November, all directly
chargeable to the Democratic party; they
would be able to produce John McEnery's
speech, which asserted that this was a white
mans government for white men. Many
parish officers have been forcibly driven
from their homes simply because they
were Republicans; others have been
kept in prison. They would produce
newspapers which advise un-
lawful proceedings; officers have been
waited or by MODS who forced them to re
sign their commissions and depart; six
such officials, on their way ont of the State,
were murdered near Ccushatta, and vet
not a single person has beec prosecuted for |
those crimes, and it is not likely they ever
will be: the White League is not chari- |
table association. nor Yet police organiza- |
ton. 1t will he shown that the White |
League is military society and that our
merchants coz tributed money to purchase
firearms.
On the fourteenth Of September the |
White League overthrew the State govern
nent and assumed possession Of the several
,tfces. 1t will be shown that 10000 more
-otes were polled in this city than should
lave been. and nine-tenths of those votes
we're given by the Democrats, etc.
Genera! Campbell read the follow ing out
inc of the proposed line of policy OF Re-
ublican counsel:
kiraf-Dhof or ho lato o1o |
OF less than 10000 Republican voters who
'ere either mtimidated or driven from the
oils, or forced to vote the Democratic |
cket by organized violence, murder and
this intimidation being ex-
rted especially. BY the Col;ax mas
icre :. BY the Coushatta massacre 3. By
10 White League conspiracy. 4. BY the |
EVOLUTION of the fourteenth OF September.
BY tho violent deposal Of parish officials |
lroughout the State by MODS and the in
allatiou of the McEnery officials. 6. BY
le general prescription of Republicans.
Second-That the White League is an
med and organized conspiracy against
IL State government. and is coufederated
lth kindred organizations in other States. }
I'd has for its object the overthrow Of the
State governments and the |
ritual annul llmtnt Of the constitutional | A,
IendnenJs relating to negro suffrage: and ! y
10 OF the dangerous effects of the White :
,ague is the renewa! OF the OlG spirit of p
stility to the government OF the United G
ates.
the pretended Wiltz organi-
ton of the House of Representatives on n
a fourth instant was revolutionary v
,b and entirely destitute of legality, and u
ls part OF a conspiracy to overthrow the
tire State government:
the White League press, in | p
2 planest and most outspoken manner a
vocated assassination, murder, revolution
resistance to the authority of the
ited States.
the pretended intimidation
white people by the United States mil ::
ry was only the fear felt by parties ~
lty OF coMp,icity in the COlfax and e.
ushatta maseacres, or who thought that K
y were suspected of such completely. or r.
arrests under warrants held by United "
ties marshals. The service OF these II
rrants could only be safely made under at
tectiun of the United States military. 10
ixth-TAat the White League campaign W.
to the expulsion by luohs Of colored q.
dren from The public schools. and TO a o
' and rnaccustomed prescription IN ea
atres and other pah!ic places. le
II. Hoar Informed the attorneys that m
aral un;ulpertanJ points ot procedure TIT
not been decided, bnt would be during an
Gay. tn
9th sides were urged to bring forward ar
r witnesses as soon as possible. Colonel pl
Il announced that many Of his were close tn
and. I'll
or ,r,<, II fall <1a |