Litchfield enquirer., 1875-01-21
The Connittee's Report.

uu0 SOVtEtVIIS00 NOPOfIs
 On Saturday the report of the sub-com- mittee on Louisiana affairs was at last published. It is unanimous, and signed by Messrs. Foster and Phelps, Republi- cans, and Potter, Democrat. after a weeks examination into affairs in New Orleans. If is very emphatic and conclusive as re- gards the doings of the Returning Board. The original returns gave the Conserva- tives a majority of % in House of III. This majority the Board manage to change into a minority of two. The abominable law which throws the entire control of elections returns into the hands of ap- pointees of the Governor, requires that protests for intimidation should in all cases be sent in with the original returns. In only three of the many cases with which the Board meddled was this done. In none were they sustained, say the con- mittee, by, any sufficient evidence. The trickery of Republican Supervisors who failed to make returns from Conservative Districts, and various other pretexts of the himsiest texture, formed the basis of this most remarkable action of the Re- turning Board. The Committee consider their course entirely indefensible
 That the report of the Committee is correct in this particular hardly admits of reasonable doubt. Such small evidence of intimidation as was offered in the pres ent instance could easily be made pre- text for continuing the party Tn possession in power at all future elections. If Con- gress is so unwise as to sanction the do- ings of the present Returning Board, it in effect destroys all hope of legal over throw of the Kellogg dynasty at the polls. The same style of counting that has pre-. vailed this year must continue till it is re- pudiated by Congress or overthrown by revolution. The ballot can afford the peo- pie of that state no relief. In short, all that was predicted by the supporters of Carpenters Election bill at the last ses- sion of Congress has proved true. An
 
 party was fairly beaten, nevertheless his partisans are counted in. If this abom- inable condition of things is not remedied by Republican Congress the further fact will be established that Louisiana cannot have a fair election till the Republican party in the nation IS beaten, and an op- position Congress and President are elect edi Can Republicanism stand this in ad- dition to all it's other burdens?
 The Committee thus find the fact that Kelloggs practical power is not eyep a limited sovereignty; it is despotism as autocratic as that of the Czar of Russia! They further find that the practical effect of that despotism is the material ruin oi the people. State securities have fallen within two years from 75 or 30 to 9; those of the city of New Orleans, from 80 or 90 to 30 or 40. Taxes were in some cases up to the enormous figure of eight per cent. on the assessed value of property. Houses and stores are to be had in New Orleans for rents barely equal to the taxes on them. The Committee find that ''there is general want of confidence in the integ. rity of the existing State and local off cials. Q want of confidence equally in theil persons and in their personnel, which is accompanied by the paralyzation of busl "within the parishes as we'll as within New Orleans taxation has been carried almost literally to the point of confisca. .tion." The overthrow of the present sys tenn in Louisiana is a matter of vital i'm portance to the taxpayer. To him an ad verse decision by Congress means imme diate and heavy pecuniary loss; an ad' verse decision by the American people means destruction. This Congress may refuse him relief, but there is no question in our mind. that. if they do, the peopl, will grant it in 1876.
 So far we have dealt with what seemed to us ipcontrovertible facts. In two par ticulars the report of this committee comes in sharp collision with the view! expressed by President Grant in the mes sage of which we give the most important portions on the first page. The presiden denounces the White Mems Leagues ai revolutionary in design, and full of tn spirit that caused the infamous massacre at Colfax in 1873, and at Coushatta in Au gust last. The committee neither approv nor condemn them. So, too. the presi dent believes that the results of the las election were largely influenced by Con servative intimidation of the blacks, whil the committee find, in effect, that ther was no such intimidation. Our own be lief is that the committee, having been O the ground and examined both parties, ar likely to be much better informed tha the president who believes the statement of Kellogg's officials on disputed points Nevertheless, judgment should perhaps b deferred till after the fuller investigatio now promised by the full committee.
 Granting, however, all that can be fairl claimed regarding the revolutionary an blcod-thirsty spirit of the Loyisian whites, is it not the first duty of Congress to remove the atrocious oppression unde