The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-02-06
The Truth al Last.


A more crushing answer TO the misrep-
reservations and the pariisanship Of the
Presidents message could not be made
than that furnished in the report OF the
committee which was sent 10 New Or
leans, and composed Of a majority ofhis
own political friends. Ii Is timely, clear.
moderate. and conclusive. without a sign
of political prejudice, and confined, so far
as practicable To a condensed statement Of
facts ana results derived from the testi-
mony.
Mr.. Foster and Mr.. Phelps are both Re-
publicans OF high character and ability,
distinguished for their independence,
fairness, and integrity. Mr.. Potter i a
Democrat of the very best reputation. who
has never allowed considerations Of party
to swerve him from the right course. and
vino is universally respected a a man and
as legislator. This committee went on
their mission without prejudice or par
TALLY. 10 find out he exact 4 9TH and 10
report what they found 10 the House.
They confined the investigation 10 the last
election. 10 the action OF the Returning
Board, 10 the condition Of the State. and 10
the events which happened in their pres
ence in the Legislature. They acoeptedno
hospitality, aud devoted themselves ex-
clusively 10 the important duty with
which they were charged. They declare
unanimously that the action Of the Re
turning Board. on the whole. was arbi-
trary. unjust, and. in our opinion. Illegal.
and that this arbitrary. unjust. and illegal
action alone prevented the return by the
board OF a majority Of Conservative men,
bers 10 the lower House."
That i the whole ease summed up in a
few words. though the committee 90 into
details citing the different parishes 10 es-
tablish the justice of their conclusion, and
TO show how fragrant were the frauds per-
petrated by keliogg's tools in iabricating
a Legislature to order. They demonstrate
that the members who were elected by the
Federal troops were fairly and legally
elected. and that the persons returned in
their places had no shadow Of claim TO
seats In the Legislature. SO that this mil
itary intervention is made doubly criminal
by the fact that the troops were used 10
uphold whateyery body knew 10 be mon
strous fraud.
1t is made plain by this report that If
there was any intimidation at all. IL came
from the Kellogg side. who. under the or
ders of Packard. used troops in the rural
districts TO alarm the whites. made arbi-
trary arrests, and instigated violence
against all the colored people who were
inclined TO vote the Conservative ticket.
On this point the language of the cornmit-
tee il explicit, and free from the slightest
misapprehension- They reiterate the con-
viction already cited. and emphasize IL in
these ringing words:
.The result was that in November. is74, the
people Of the state Fl Louisiana did fssrly harsa
rec poacoobic, and full registration Gnd eiecfson.
IN which a clear Conservative majority vas
elected TO the lower House Of the Legislature, 81
which majority the Conservatives were deprived
by the unjust, Illegal. and arbitrary action OF the
Returning Board"
There is no doubt but the testimony
warranted much stronger expressions
than the committee employed. but the ju-
dicial calmness which pervades the report
and the absence of all bias or feeling, enti-
tie il for that reason II no Other 10 the full
est confidence Of the country.
Contrasted with the partisan tone Of the
message which Landaulet Williams wrote,
with It's VIGOROUSLY false statements. eva
sioas, and etaggerations, this report can
not fail to produce an impression on the
public mind. and satisfy every candid man
that the outragein Louisiana Is far worse
than represented. and that the President
deserves impeachment for a willfnl abuse
Of his trusts.
The whole scheme which eliminated on
the 4th of January was concocted at Wash
ington. and the President detailed Gen.
Sheridan secretly for this infamous ser
wise, with full knowledge Of the violent
part he was 10 play. Gen. DE Trobriand
declared he was "obeying orders" when at
the head Of armed soldiers he forced out
five members Of, the Legislature. Those
.sorders- have been suppressed. together
with all the military proceedings OF that
day. except the passionate statements OF
Sheridan derived from kellogg and Pack
ard. and proved by the report Of the Con-
gressional committee TO be destir,:.e Of any
truth whatever.
The issue Is now joined. An impartial
committee have cleared away the obscuri-
~ with which the President and his fol-
lowers have sought 10 invest the naked
truth. Their report deals with the vital
question. and does not attempt TO dodge IL
BY unworthy devices, exploded stores.
petfifogging quikbles, or stale tricks. The
position Of the Republicans who surren-
dered 10 the President and renowned their
manhood was bad enough. even on the
false pretenses OF the message. Now IT'S
deplorable and desperate beyond any form.
er experence.-Aeir Fork Ssn-