The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-02-26
THE LOUISIANA REPORT.

Inc majority report oil the Louisiana
investigating committee was submitted
the 23d inst. The main points of the re-
port are: the registration of votes was en-
tirely in the hands Of Kellogg and his
party, and therefore the complaint that it
was inimical to the Republican
party is manifestly unfounded: an
examination of statistics and evidence
showed no change in the proportion of
white and colored voters since the census
of $50, yet the registration of white vot-
ers exceeded by four thousand the total
number of adult colored males returned
by the census, while the legislation of
white voters was ten thousand less; it
was the interest OF the conservatives. at
the last election, not 10 intimidate but 10
acquire the colorcd vote, for obvious rea-
sons; no evidence exists that there was
any intimidation on the part of the con-
servatives toward the blacks. all the indi-
cations showing rather that the intimida-
ton came from the other side and was
exercised by United States marshals and
Federal soldiers in the interest OF the Re
publican party; the oversight OF the cleo
ton and Of the returns were all in the
hands of Gov. kellogg's officials;
these returns show a clear majority for
the conservatives, and the kellogg
party, with all their machinery for col
Letting evidence, were unable TO produce.
in the en.ire state, more than half q dozen
persons to testify to anything impeach-
ing the freedom and fairness of the late
elections, who were not ofiiceholders or
connected with ofiiceholders."
The committee "hold therefore that in
November, 1874, the people of the state Of
Louisiana didfairly have free, peaceable,
and full registration anil election, in
which a clear conservative majority was
elected to the lower house of the legi.la-
ture, of which majority the conservatives
were deprived by the unjust, illegal, and
arbitrary action ofthe returning board"
This report is signed by Messrs. Foster,
Phelps, Potter and Marshall.
| In the body OF the report for the rca-
son that ITO avoid mischief and the con-
fusion Of change, the majority OF the
citizens of Louisiana seem willing 10 ac-
cept, as a compromise, Kellogg's recog-
milton and the restoration to the conser-
vatlves OF the control of the lower house"
Messrs. Foster and Phelps record their
wish not 10 oppose the recommendation
that the administration of the Governor,
Kellogg, be recognized. Neither. in view
of the fact that they know nothing OF its
merits as judged by competent evidence,
do they wish to be understood as urging
II, and Messrs. Potter aud Marshall are
utterly opposed TO any resolution recog-
nizlng Kellogg. In their judgment all
that is needed in Louisiana is TO with
draw the federal troops and leave the peo-
pie of that State 10 govern themselves.
The minority report was signed by
Messrs. Hoar, Wheeler and FRYE. in
which the action of the returning board l.
condemned as Illegal and as defeating the
VIII OF the people, aud recommending
that Kellogg be recognized as the lawful
governor Of the State until the present
term expires. Upon the comparison of
the two reports it is found that all the
members ofthe committee report against
the action of the returning board, that
Messrs. Foster, Phelps, Potter and Mar
shall unite In the majority report that
there was no general intimidation in the
State, but free and fair election, which
resulted in favor OF the conservatives
who were deprived of the result by the
wrongful action of the returning board;
that Messrs. Hoar, Wheeler and FRYE
unite in minority report, and that MIR.
Foster assents, with Messrs. Hoar, Wheel
er, and Frye, to a compromise recogniz-
ing Kellogg as governor, and giving a
majority in the House to the conserya-
tive delegates"