Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-02-24
The Louisiana Committee.

and rs will be seen by the abstracts below.
the majority and minority differ very 9eci-
ledly. The minority report Is sigred by
Mcssrs. Geo. F. Hoar, Wheeler. ar Frye.
The majority report is signed by Messrs.
Foster and Phelps republicans, and MessrS.
Potter and Marshall, democrats.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The't part is narrative of the affairs
If that State from the close of the war up
% the events of last September, and is in
reduced It's necessary toa complete under
sanding of the case. 1t shows that the
ondition of political affairs in that state is
he natural consequence of the state of So
Jew tint existed under the rule of the
lave power The report shows that while
h re WAS no intimidation p.';icticed on the
!av of election. the events preceding that
lay had terrified the negroes and voters.
and probai ly changed the result of the
election.
Mr. Munciur, the conservative candidate
for state treasurer. claims ma jolitv in the
whole state of about 80 Q. A far greater
number of republicans than oagh TO
overcome this majority must have been
prevented from registration or driven from
the polls. In view OF. these facts we do
not hesitate to find that the election of
| 1874, w:,s neither full. free nor fair; that
in large portions Of the state the usual
means of instructing and prr>uading the
people of organizing and conducting Il
cstmpai On. could not be carried on by the
republicans without danger to their lives :;
and that many more voters than Were
needed to give The republicans Il complete
victory were prevented from voting at all,
or even coerced into voting the White
Man. ticket.
The final conclusions and resolutions of
the report are rs follows:
On 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 party in Louisiana, i purpose
the state government, without regard to
the question who may have Il numerical
majority in Il fair election.
Sccond-That in the execution of this
purpose they have refraincd, and Will re-
train from the use ofn Instruments which
are designed to accomplish it. whether
those instruments be murder. fraud, civil
war, OF coercion Of lahorers hv employers.
uIlu w llllc lllt'lt ttiC IllstllN IIltI III
their party Of more moderate views. who
do not themselves use nor approve these
unlawful means, such men desire the ac-
complishmenL of the same end, and are
powtrless to restrain their more violent
associates.
Fourth Three causes have made it east
er to unite so large Il number of the whites
of Louisiana in this purpose and have rem
| I,r.,l ]it1i,.,lt th 10. M. No.,
men anon. them in opposition. he fact
that the administration party of Louisiana
is made up by massing together almost tn,
whole negro vutc with Il few whites most
" frcm other states the fact that there
has been great maladministration by re-
publican officials and the belief honestly
entertained by large numbers of the white
people Of Louisiana that they have been
twice defeated Of the result of elections in
which they had been successful
Flflh-Whilc all these things are gieat
evils much to be dcplore,l, and likely TO
eNa>perate any people, the course OF the
whites themselves FASTENED to bring them
about and intlane them. The simple and
peaceful rem, dies of obedience to law. III
yumrnt and decent Treatment for their ol-
punent> would. if obey had pursued them
:, 80
Six h-Whilr we believe GOV. Kellogg
to have received a majority of the votes IL
1872, and wi lie We believe there WIS Vic
lencc and fraud which frustrated the vii
OF the people in many of tn ri>lcS il
1874. the Illegal orutr of JUICE Durrl
and ihe illrg., conduct OF the Returning
Beard in attempting To cure one WI NJ by
another. naturally inllamrd the pnpIlAl
discomfort and ie-t plau>lbllily to com
plans.
Sc. enth-Thrre has been, indispu ably
much corruption in the state ami local al
III 'nI~tr.tt!on i'll Lo .i>ians. For this the
Rrpuhiic.,ns especially Unlrr Wtrnnlh ;
rule, are largely responsible, alth III "a L.
numerous instances their opponents have
been equally t" birmc.
Ei..lh -Inc tiic,'t Of ali this has beer
to lui an cn Ia thu auth r.ty e: ,av in u
In &c portion of Louisiana. t. dep i've tn,
negro Of hi> freedom, AMI VIII l!y To d.
>tr"v the value # the methods provide,
bv law tcr securing fairness at elections
ana a>rtrt;InInT their results. His ia t
OF tn ne "vcrthrow> Republican Govern.
mcnt III Lpui>aua ana seriously mcn;lc,.-
tie " hole country.
Nimlh-A new election held at this tim,
Under The national authority Is MT DIES +
able, it is not wished for by either side
and would inf ,ne and augment Tho evil,
now eXi> lnT.
Tcnth-It is the duty of onrrc>> to Use
such powers as are vested in it by the Con
>titu Ion: it should recognize the lawful
Governor of Louisiana by express rc>olu
ton. We think w liam Pit Kellogg the
choice of the majority OF the voters O
Louisiana, and that he should be recognize,
accordingly. Congress should provide
further safeguards for holding elections
and a>ccrtalning the result if any can b,
devised.
Elevtnth-But these remedies are ut tn,
best temporary md superficial, curin" tn,
, symptoms and not the disease. Efficient
aid TO the state to establish pnblic cduc:,-
ton would have gone far to prevent til,
evil ana may yet do much TO effect i cure
;, The public sentiment of the rest of tn,
country, without distinction of party. may
do much to remove. us it has already un
fortunately done much to argrlvatc. III,
evils in Louisiana.
1t is necessary that the people shoul,
understand that all the authority lodge,
in he General Government to preserve :
} Republican Government and to lrotcc
the yhts Of all its citizens, will be Kin ily
and iearles>ly and steadily exertel, an,
that no party in this country will accrp
the alliance Of men who wee chin.
power by such methods rs we have bccl
compelled 10 describe. Unless this c:,l
be done the free institutions of the Who'll,
United States will not long survive tn,
destruction of those in the South
Whereas, both branches of the Legisla
, ture of Louisiana have requested the sl,ecla
committee of this House to investigate tn,
circumstances attending the election, an,
said committee have unanimously reportp,
that tie Returning Board of that state il
canvas>ing and compiling said returns an,
, promul eating the result wrongtuly aprlie,
, an erroneous rule of law, 10y reason o
which persons were awarded seats in tn
House of Representatives to which the,
We're not emit led, and persons entitled t,
seats We're deprived of them.
ReSolrcd. That it is recommcn led to til,
| house Of Representatives of Louisiana t,