The Republican journal., 1875-01-21

was no evidence of any intimidation OF voters
practiced on the day of election, although 1t
was asserted that intimidation Of colored men,
before election, had been effected by threats Of
refusal to employ them, or discharge them if
they voted the Republican ticket. No evidence
either of refusal to employ to discharge was
produced. Certain witnesses, themselves every
one officehoders, testified generally to such
action. but hardly any one was able to specify
q single instance in which he heard any employ
er so threaten, or discharge any voter, or knew
Of any employe being 50 threatened or discharg-
ed. Not one single colored man throughout the
parish was produced to testify either to such
a threat or to the execution of such purpose
before or after election. The action of the re-
turning board in the parish of Rapides alone
changed the political complexion of the lower
house. and their action in the other parishes
was equally Objectionable.
The committee further reports
The alleged wrongs to colored citizens for po-
ltcal offences are unreal, or were asserted with
out due foundation. Your committee took such
proof as the opportunity offered. Both parties
agreed upon four parishes as samples Of the
condition of affairs in that respect in the state.
| Ofthese, owing to the inapossblities Of procur-
| ing witnesses from the locality in time, your
committee were obliged to contne their especial
| examination to two parishes. They received
| all the testimony that was offered, and in adj
tiiion they received ali the testimony that was
| then on hand in New Orleans offered by the
other party as to the condition of affairs in 9th
! er parts of the state. AS whole they are con-
strained to say that the intention charged is moi
| borne out by the facts before them. No general
| intimidation of Republican voters was estab
| lished. No colored man was produced who
| had been threatened or assaulted by any Con
! sentative because Of political opinion or dis
| charged from employment or refused employ
| ment. OF all those who testified to intimida
ton there was hardly any one who, of his OWL
| knowledge, could specify a rel able instance O.
| such acts /: ana Of the white men who were pro
duced to testify generally on such subjects, very
nearly all, if not every single one, was the hold
or Of an office.
In conclusion the committee say that The
state is in most deplorable condition
Business is paralyzed, the value Of propes-
ty destroyed, and the state is borne down
py enormous taxation. As q consequence,
idleness, robbery aud all descriptions d
crime abound
The report concludes with tbs emplat
ic declaration
An effort WAS made by the Cor~cry atiyes L
| acquire part of the negro vote. " 18th thai
view, it WAS sought in many quarters to prop
tiatc them. The frequent arrests by the Unltet
| States marShal., for intim idatiOn and threats o
non-employment and the apprehension that WA
felt that the returning board would count on
| these men il an excuse for such course were
offered All combined. especially after the 14tt
| of September, to put the Conservatives on then
| good behavior, and the result was that in NOV
ember, 1874, the people Of the state Of LouiSi
ana did fairly have a free, peaceable and fnl
registration and election, in which q clear Con
| strratiye majority was elected to the lower
house of the legislature, OF which majority thu
Conservatives were deprived by the unjust, lille
gal and arbitrary action OF the returning board