New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-27

refute one Of the fallacies that are con
| tlnually thrust upon us-we ind that th,
white and black races in Louisiana arr
| divided, counting men, women and children
| within about 1000 difference. There ART
| some 1000 more black inhabitants of the
State of Louisiana than there are white
| Taking that same census and examining
the number OF male adults. you discover
that there are just about 100 more white
male adults than there are black; aud there
| is where the examiners OF this census who
take the other side OF the position from the
one that I assume, choose to stop thei1
investigation. IL q recent reporC that we
! have from the House on this subject, the
gentlemen making the report, contrary to
| the opinions that l hold, use that very
| census. Now let Us see how they use il.
The census of 1870 (the correctness Of
which is unimpeached)-I hold them to
! their own authority and their own testi-
mony-showed 81 ,01G whites and S6,9l3 col
Ored males over twenry-one years OF aga.
All the statistics and evidence before us in
| Dictated no change in this proportion in
favor Of the colored voters"
In previous report these very gentlemen
said that they made no examination into
the political condition of the State gener-
ally; but they expressed their surprise here
that there should have been an increase of
40CG colOred men, and they say it is urac-
customed. The facts are that since some of
the States in our immediate vicinity have
relapsed under control OF a party inimical,
as they consider it, to the black men,
they have largely emigrated from
those States and immigrated to mine
1t is then, in my judgment, easy to
account for the fact that there should
be an increase OF the black vote over
the census. Then they say that the white
registration is 10000 less than the census.
As | took occasion to say to the Senate once
before. had they examined from pages GIG
and G29 of the census report OF 1870, they
would have discovered that in the State
of Louisiana there are II, 600 unnaturalized
foreigners not entitled to vote; they would
have discovered that in the single parish
of Orleans alone, out Of those 1900 there
are 5000 congregated; and yet the Dem
ocrats claim that they shall be legitimate
voters to offset the colored men who are
legal citizens.
So, taking the census, taking their very
authority, taking their own documentary
evidence, we have an admitted majority in
that State of 1900 Republican voters.
know that it will be urged. ''Does it follow
that because man is black he votes the
Republican tcket!' Once more want to
quote their own authority on the subject.
In the testimony taken before this Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections there
was contestant for seat in this
body for the short term, and SUBJ
sequently for a seat Tor the long
term; his name was McMillen, gentleman
for whom l entertain the highest RESPECT;
and when he was examined on oath before
the committee ne testified. as. Senators will
have the opportunity OF realizing If they
will examine his testimony, that there were
as many black men as white men who voted
opposite tickets during that campaign, that
the number was about eGualiZed in other
words, he said that from the best OF his
information there were 5000 white men who
voted the Republican ticket, and he thinks
there were 5000 colored men who voted the
Democratic ticket. So then the vote is left
standing as it was on the color line, with
our ascertained majority in that State Of
$1,000.
know how customary it is to say that
colorea men are not allied to the Iepub-
lcan party. We have had evidence on that
subject here toe, and we have refuted that
idea, and the assertion ie now seldom made.
There was one other witness and the only
witness who gave any testimony on that
subject, and lie was gentleman more
noted for the voiubility Of his utterances
than for the soundness of bis Judgment,
and he thought there were 5000 black men
who voted the Democratic ticket.
Now let me go back to the facts again,
which show presumption as to how these
votes were cast. and show also a corrobor-
alive presumption. Tie Whole election
machinery of that State was III the hands
Of our political opponents, and in mani
prlating the registration Of the State to all
the ultimate advantage that they could
expect that mas been made upon which 50
much reliance is placed to show to derive
from such practices, that yery Democl attic
board OF registration was compelled TO re-
turn a colcred majority OF ii 900 il the
State. ! viii not follow the details of that
election. On one side it is all fraud, and on
the other side it is all guess work. tits not
necessary 10 90 into those facts; but let us
quote now the report that we did not carry
tha State.
The Senator from Michigan tMr. Chris
tjancy) to whom ! listened the other day
with profound respect and great regard in
reference to his law points, although | must
be constrained TO take some exception to
them simply because they leave US without
remedy; to use one OF his own illustrations,
they are 'ent;relv circular. they end where
they begin and begin where they end
warns us OF danger, and lie points ont to us
no path OF safety; but in quoting the facts
he took occasion to say:
'Now, according 10 my reading of the
evidence, and according to the report made
to this Senate in 1873, and those recently
made to the House, the majority Of the
people of Louisiana ara opposed to the
Kellogg government"
According to the report made 10 TIE
Senate in 1873!
Mr.. Christiancy-The Senator viii allow
me to say that that was in reference to this
point which made:
1T has been gravclv urged here that
Louisiana, being entitled TO two Senators
upon this floor. IL is wrong to the people
of that State 10 refuse them the enjoyment
of that right
The question of majority Of the people
one way Or the other, so far as il relates TO
my argument, was cont tined to thu majority
as it now exists, not as Is existed in 1872,
unless the Senator should claim that Mr..
pinchback, il now elected, would be emit
lied TO 20 back and vote upon every meas
ure which has been passed or presented
here since the time Of his election up to this
time. The question was the hardship OF
depriving State OF two Senators upon this
floor. | suppose the Senator will hardly
claim that that hardship can be removed
now SO far as the past is concerned,
but only as to the future. Now,
confess that the reference in that connec-
tior TO the report of the Senate committee
to which / alluded was entirely irrelevant
and iuadyertent, and / should have con-
fined il. entirely to the majority and minor
ty report as recently MADE to the House of
by its committee. But so
Jar as the argument was then making use
IF was concerned l might safely concede to
5he gentleman that there were 10000 or
Is, 900 majority of the people OF Louisiana,
rot as shown by their votes bat OF the pop
llation who are in favor Of the Kellogg
it does not touch this question
,ow, inasmuch as these reports recently
made show that now a majority is opposed
% the Kellogg government, and conse-
Iuently to Mr.. Pinchback's admission here
Mr.. West-Well, Mr.. President, did not
intend 10 ar-aign the Senator. l merely
'eferred TO hun as having illustrated Do-
'ition which / wanted TO con-ruvers. He
states now that he made il inadvertently