Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-25
THE LOUISIANA REPORTS.

The Investigating Committee sent 10
Louisiana have laid before Congress The
result of their work and the conclusions
at which they have arrived. Messrs. Eos
ter, Phelps, Potter. Marshall. the majority
of the committee. make one report, and
Messrs. Hoar. Frye and Wheeler make
another. The majority report is substan-
TALLY like that prepared by the snb-eom-
mite and published sometime since, TAX
ing the ground that there was no intimi-
dation at the late election, that The cleo
ton was fairly conducted, aid the action
of the Returning Board in relation to GER
tain districts and candidates is held to be
Illegal and unjustifiable. The report rec
ommends seating the conservative MEM
bers refused seats by the action Of the Re-
turning Board. but makes no recommen-
dation for the recognition Of Kellogg as
Governor. 1t is understood, however,
that Foster and Phelps. of the majority,
favor the recognition of Kellogg.
The minority report goes mere extcn-
sively and thoroughly into the political af-
fairs of the State than that Of the MAORI
IT, The majority did not carry their in
vestigations beyond the last election. but
the minority went back to the beginning
of difficulties, traced out their causes and
followed them down to the present time.
To this Difference in the methods and
scope of the two reports is attributable in
a large degree the difference between
them in the conclusions. For some rea-
son the majority did not care to search
the past. while the minority by exploring
that field brought forth facts Of great i'm
portance to the understanding Of the pres
ent situation. The minority report agrees
with the majority in pronouncing the ac.
ton of the Returning Board Illegal, but at
81 the same time they believe Kellogg should
be recognized as Governor, and so recon-
mend. Impartial judges in deciding up
ON the merits of the two reports would
not fail to give the minority report the pre-
ference, because it is the most thorough
and searching, and to this conclusion the
candid public will arrive. An abstract OF
the minority report signed by Messrs.
Hoar Frye and Wheeler with the final con-
illusions and resolutions is as follows:
The first part is narrative of the affairs of that
State from the close of the war up to the events oil
last September, and is introduced az necessary to
complete understanding Of the case. 1t shows
that the condition Of political affairs in that State
is the natural consequence OF the state of society
that existed under the rule of the slave power. j
does not excuse but explains The report shows
that while there was intimidation practised on the
day Of election, the events preceding that day had
fairfield the negroes and white republican voter.
and probably changed the result of the election.
summary OF this branch of the report is in the fol
lowing words:
We cannot doubt that the effect of all these
things was to prevent full and free election anG
to intimidate the colored voters and the white re-
publicans. The very formation of white mans
party was . menace of terrible import to those who
remembered Colfax and Bosier and the conven-
ton. The press was filled with threats of VIC
lence. The agreement to discharge laborers, the
suggestion that wild beasts tanned by hunger,
was evidence of the same spirit. The overthrow
of the State government by the White League on
the l4th of September the turning out Of large
numbers Of parish officers in the country, compel
ling them to fly for their lives; the fearful lesson
the White League the natural succession of the
White Camelia,-these things, in a community
where there is no legal punishment for political
murders, must in the nature of things have filed
with terror people timid and gentle like the col
ored population of Louisiana, even if We had rot
taken abundant evidence as to special acts Of vo-
lence and crime, and their effects on particular
neighborhoods.
Mr.. Monciur, the Conservative candidate foi
State Treasurer, claims q majority in the whole
State Of about 5000. A far greater number of re-
publicans than enough to overcome this majority
must have been prevented from registration OF
driven from the polls. In view Of these facts we
do not hesitate to find that the election OF 1874
neither full free fair that in large portions Of
the State the usual means of instructing and per-
suading the people, Of organizing and conducting
a campaign, could not be carried on by the repub-
icsns without danger TO their lives and that ma
ny more voters than were needed to give the re-
publican party q complete victory were prevented
from voting at all or even coerced into voting the
white mans ticket"
The final conclusions and resolutions of the Ie-
port are as follows:
son the whole case, We are of the opinion
First, That there has been and is on the part OF
the party calling themselves the white mans par
ty in Louisiana, purpose to take possession by
force and fraud Of the State government, without
regard to who may have numerical majority at u
fair election.
Second, That in the execution of this purpose
they have refrained and will refrain from The use
of no instruments which are designed to accom-
plish Il, whether those instruments be murder,
fraud, civil war or coercion Of laboiers by employ
era. assse.EE'A rl
Third, While there are many men in their par
ty Of more moderate views, who do not themselves
use nor approve these unlawful means, such men
desire the accomplishment Of the same end, and
are powerless to restrain their more violent asso-
ciates.
Fourth Three causes have made it easier to
unite SO large number Of the whites Of Louisiana
in this purpose, and have rendered it more difficult
70 unite the best men among them iu opposition
the TACT that the administration party of Louisi
ana Is made up by massing together almost the
whole negro vote with few whites largely from
other States; the fact that there has been great
maladmnstration by republican officials the be-
lief honestly entertained by large numbers of the
white people of Louisiana, that they have been
twice defrauded Of the result Of elections in which
they had been successful
Fifth, While all these things are great evils,
much to be deplored and likely TO exasperate any
people, the course OF the whites themselves has
tened to bring them about and in6ame them The
simple and peaceful remedies Of obedience TO law,
argument and decent treatment for their oppo-
nents, would If they had pursued them have proved
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