Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-02-23

igated the condition of affairs IN Louisiana will
be submitted tomorrow. The first part is mar
rative OF affairs in that State from the close o
the war up to the events of last September, AM
| it is introduced as necessary to a complete un
derstanding of the whole case. 1t shows tina
the condition OF political affairs in that State IL
the natural sequence of the state of society tha
| existed under the rule of the slave power Il
| does not excuse, Lut explains. The repor
| shows that, while there was intimidation prac
| ticed on the day of election the eyents prece
ding that day had terrified the negroes and vo.
tors, aud probably changed the result Of the
election. The summary Of this branch of the
report s in the following words
| "We cannot doubt that the effect of all these
| things was to prevent full, free election, and
| to intimidate the colored voters and the white
| Repnbllcans. Tho very formation of White
| Mans Party was menace of terrible import tC
| those who remembered Colfax aud Bosier and
the Convention. The press was filed with
| threats of violence. The agreement to di charge
| laborers-the suggestion that wild boasts are
famed by hunger was evidence of tho same
spirit The overthrow of the State Government
by the White League on the 14th of September
the turning out of large numbers OF parish
officers IN the country, compelling them to fly
for their lives the fearful lesson Of Coushatta
The formation, array, and drilling of the
White League, the natural successora
OF tho knights Of the White Camelia-
these things, in a community whore there is no
legal punishment for political murders, must in
the nature Of things, have filed with terror a
people timid and gentle like the colored popula-
ton OF Louisiana, even it we had not taken
abundant evidence as to special acts OF violence
and crime, and their effects on particular neigh
borhoods. MIR. Moncpre, the Conservative car
didate for State Treasurer, claims majority in
the whole State of about 1900. A far greater
number of Republicans than enough to overcome
this majority must have been prevented from
registration or driven by terror from the polls
In view of these facts, we do not
hesitate to find that the election of 1874 was
neither full, free fair that in large portions
of the State, the usual means of instructing and
persnading the people, of organizing and con-
Quoting campaign, could not be carried on by
Republicans without danger to their lives and
that many more voters than were needed to give
the Republican Party complete victory were
prevented from voting at all, Or even coerced
into voting the white mans ticket"
The final conclusions and resolutions of the
report are as follows
'sOn the whole case we are of opinion
First-That there has been and is on the part
of the party calling thems elves "The White
Mans Party in Louisiana" purpose to take
possession by force and fraud of the State Gov-
ernment, without regard to the question OF who
may have the numerical majority at fair Gle :
ton.
!sec0m-Tiat in the execution of this purpose
they have refrained and will refrain from the
coinplish it, whether those instruments be mur-
der, fraud, civil war, or coercion of laborers by
employers.
ThUd--While there many men in their
party of more moderate views who do not them
selves use or approve these unlawful means,
such men desire the accomplishment of the same
end, and are powerless to restrain their more
violent associates.
FourM-Three causes have made it easier to
unite no large number,of whites of Louisiana in
ig md hay II ypn Il
to unite the best men among them in opposi.
ton The fact that the Administration Party of
Louisiana is made up by massug together al
most the whole negro vote, with few whites,
largely from other states the fact tia. there
has been great maladmnistration by Republi-
can officials the belief honestly enter tanned b.
large numle of the white people Of Louisiana
that they have been twice defrauded of the re-
suit Of elections in which they had been success
full.
FifM-While all these things aie great evils,
much to be deplored, and likely to exasperate
any people, the course of the whites themselves
has tended to bring them about and iniiame
them. The simple and peaceful remedies of
obedience to law, argument, and decent treat
ment for their opponents, would, if they had
pursued them, have proved effeclual long ago.
$ 9TH h--While we believe Gov. Kellogg to have
received majority of the votes in 1872, and
while we believe there was violence and fraud
which frustrated the will of the people in many
of the parishes iii 1874 the illegal order of Judge
Dnrell and the Illegal conduct of the Returning
Board i'll attempting to cure one wrong by anotll-
er naturally inilamed the popular discomfort,
and lent plausibility to the complaints
SeUenat-There has been indisputably much
corruption in State and local administration in
Louisiana. For this the Republicans, especially
under Warmoth's rule, are largely responsible,
although in numerous instances their opponents
have been equally to blame.
Eigl,H-The effect of all this has been to put
an end to the authority of law in large portion
of Louisiana, to deprive the negro of his free
dom of suffrage, and wholly to destroy tho value
of the methods provided by law for securing fair
ness at elections and ascertaning their results.
This state of things overthrows republican gov
ernment in Louisiana and seriously menaces the
whole country.
NinM-A new election held at this time under
national authority is mot desirable it is not
wished for by either side and would indame and
augment the evils now existing.
Ienh-It is the duty of Congress to use such
powers as are vested in it by the Constitution (;
it should recognize the lawful Governor OF
Louisiana by express resolution. We thihk Will
liam Pitt Kellogg the choice of the majority of
the voters of Louisiana, and that he should be
recognized accordingly. Congress should pro-
vide further safeguards for holding elections
and ascertaining the result, If any can be de-
vised.
EleueaM-But these remedies are at the best
temporary and superficial, curing the symptoms
and not the disease. Efficient aid to the State
to accomplish public education would have gone
far to prevent the evil, and may yet do much to
effect cure. The public sentiment of the rost
OF the country without distinction of party may
do much to remove, as it has already untortun-
ately done much to aggravate the evils in Loui-
siana. The people should understand that all
the authority lodged in the General Government
to preserve Republican government and
to protect the rights of all its citizens will
be kindly but feallessly and steadily exerted,
and that 10 party in this country will accept tae
alliance of men who are seeking power by such
methods as we have been compelled to des-
oribe. Unless this can be done tile free institu-
tions of the whole United States will not long
eurvive the destruction of those in the South !:
Whereas. Both branches of the Legislature
of Louisiana have requested the special COM
mittee of this house to investigate tho circum-
stauces attending the election and returns there
of in that State for the year 1874, and whereas
said committee have unanimously reported that
the Returning Board of that State in canvass
ing and compiling saia.returne and promulgating
the result, wrougfully applied an erroneous rule
of law; by reason of which persons were award
ed seats in the House of Representative to which
they were not entitled, and persons entitled to
seats were deprived of them.
ResoiUed, That it is recommended to the
House of Representatives of Louisiana to take
the necessary steps to remedy the great injus-
tice, and place the persons rightfully entitled i'll
their seats.
Resolced, That William PITT Kellogg be recog-
nized as the Governor OF the State of Louisiana
until the end of the term of Office fixed by the
Constitution of that State,