, 1875-01-30
THE LOUISIANA TESTIMONY,

aud tho countcr-state,uout Of Col. Henry a.
S1oNAow, before tho Congressional Inyesti-
cation Committee nt New Orleans, together
with tho statements Of other witnesses, al
though thoy clash in many particulars, taken
together confirm the previous several state
ments as to tho miserable and deplprablo con-
lition Of tho people Of that Stato and their
affairs. Both tslcse witnesses aro army Off
GERS, both gro Republicans, both are personal
friends Of the President and sylnpathizors
with the Administration, although thoy differ
materially in their viows Of the stuetiou.
3Iaj. MERRILL is convinced that, without tho
presence Of the troops, tho State wonld be
in condition Of anarchy. The colorel pco-
plo are terrified, aud Rro constantly fearing
violence. White Republicans aro ostraciscd
socially. In the Fed River country, no free
expression of political views is allowed
under tho intinsit1ating control Of tho
Conservatives. There is not only a
feeling Of hostility to tho present State Gov
ernmcnt, bat also to the National Govern
nlent. It is not safo for strangers to travel
through certain districts Of tho State and an-
nouncs themselves NJ Republicans, Even
honest, Republicans i'll office would not DO re-
spcced Murders and 1nagsacres have boen
frequent. Colored men havo been deferred
from voting because Of fenr engeuaerea by
massacre. White men commit crimes and arc
not punished for their otfenses as strictly MS
negroes. The blacks hove frequently been
discharged for refusing to vote rs they wero
| ordered by their employers. Mnj. aIEAR11L,
who certainly cannot bo regarded MS an ol'-
| ponent Of the KE11ooo Government, closes
his testimony with t1le following significant
assertion: " "Taxation has boen unreesonably
high, and the whito people regard tho State
Government as oppressive" Capt. GAGE COLI
frmcd this part Of Maj. alrnn111's testimony
by the statement that tho people in many
cases havo hal to abandon their lauda bo-
causo they were unable to pay their taxes.
Such is the picture which aIaj. MERRILL
draws OF the condition OF Lou.Giana. COL
MoaRow's testimony gives another view Of
tho situation. Ho had mover heard any e1-
precision Of hostility to the General Govern
lnent, but he knew tlsat thepoople Ind adeep-
seated idea that they had been dofrauded At
tLs election Of 1879 Of thoir rights, and TINT
they had bean imposed upon by some Of the
processes Of law. As to the popular ileas
with regard to State Government, Col.
MonRow testified as follows:
Twas told many tiruos by Conservatives and thorough
Republicans that the universal assertion of tho Yooa
was that thoy nEuttey preferred military govsrn.
| nlent to thu present Hta.o Government, for they
thought tllat tllngs woli bo fntry stniniiera1 b.
aru,y olcors II they got coutrol Of ths Goyernneu
they thought they would not hs piunaered. hayo
lcsltat!ou III my inR that "er. csA1ta anxious Il
/ t1k Hfnn{ II
ile Union whara would invest II. ANY una aelualnt
ed With ouElrrn character knuws that they
ntolerant Of difference ef orInou than thuEo rcsao
| who coma from Il more uorthrrn latitude. wouin'
hesitate o talo my reslSouro u uty portion Of Louis!
uuR, or eapresa my Republican ideas. Whe9s wilt
a thought to coaost with ncsroes, thesea alway
feellg against him. Thero IA t3laEuising the fac
tie toratr condition os ths sEro Btfuets tho Minds
the white people. do bollcYo II all election wcta lt
IN loutsaua III perfectly fair aud impartial nane1
without tie prsscuee ct Uhitc Staten troora to lnhi
oucs voters, prl without any af thu ordinary clar-sa
lneaus OF Intimidation tue otler atdo thu Eeopl
Of Ioatssna, from INF knonlolgo of theH, axtendin
from section Of the State to nnohar1 do belias
he people of tlia Stato would submit quietly to 81
l | election, ail abide by tl4o regult,
Y Tho statements Of aIej. MERRILL and Col
o 3IonKow in many regards ere aiamotrical1
, opposed, and yet, combining tho two an
! sif.iug tham down to tile facts it ID not diff
: cult to atrlvo at the trua version Of til
+ troubles Of that State aud thesr cal1se. It /
D impossible TO read the testimony Of eiths
+. officer without arriving ut the conclusion th1
If tho cause Of tho trouble, first, last, and d
:. ways, Is tho fraudulent election Of ls7;
q which impoaed the KElLoda Government q
y tho State, and that tho President Ii justiilo
y In stamping 1t AZ 'ta gigantic fraud" IT
y burden Of testimony thus far goes to sho
ia TINT it has held itsalf In powur by fraud
h that 1t las used t!lo Returning Board as
d nlachlne to defoat the will ot the pe
n pla thai 1t has uaed 4ts pow
10 in an oppressive manner; that 1t Il
q noithor ths yeapsct Of whites II
ss support Of tho blaeks, thas 1t 10 incapable
maintaining !saalt tor . a!ns1s day witlao
=. hs prsasnes aud old Of United 6sassa troop