The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-03-05
REPORT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE EONLOCISIANA
AFFAIRS.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-rhe follow
ing are the conclusions of Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye:
| In the whole case VIC are ofthe opinion:
| First-That there has been and is, on
the part of the party calling themselves
tho white mans party, in Louisiana, {,
purpose to take possession by force and
fraud OF the State government, without
regard to the question of who may have
the numerical majority at fair cleo
ton.
Second-That in the execution of this
purpose the white mans party have
! not rcfrained, and will not refrain, from
| the use of the Instruments which they
! think designed to accomplish il, whether
! those instruments be murder or fraud
! civil W2r, ,or coercion of labOrerS by en-
ployers.
Third-While there are many men
| III their party of more moderate views
who do not themselves use or approve
of these unlawful means, such men
desire the accomplishment Of the same
end, and are powerless to restrain their
| more violent associates.
FOurth-TheSc causes have made it
easier to unite SO large number of
poses and have rendered more difficult
to unite the best men among them in
opposition the fact that the admins
tration party of Louisiana is made up
by massing together almost the whole
| negro vote with Il few whites largely
| from other States the fact that there
has been great maladmiuiStratiOu by
| the Republican officials. The belief
| honestly entertained by large numbers
of the white people of Louisiana that
| they have been twice defrauded out of
| the results of the election in which they
have been successful.
Fifth-W hile all these things are
great evils much to be deplored, and
likely to eNasperate any people, the
! course of the whites themselves has
tended to bring them about, and intlamc
them. The simple and peaceful reme-
dies Of obedience to law, argument and
decent treatment Of their opponents
would, if they had pursued them, have
proved eiicctual long ago.
SiXth-Whilc we believe Governor
Kellogg to have received Il majority of
the votes in 1872, and while we believe
there was violence and fraud which
frustrated the will OF the people in
many parishes in 1874, the Illegal order
Of Judge DureIl and the illegal conduct
of the Returning Boart, in attempting
TO cure one wrong by another naturally
intlamcd the popular discomfort and
lent plausbility to the complaints.
SeVcnth-Thcrc has been much dis
honesty, much corruption in the State
and local administrations in louisiana
For this the Republicans, especially
under Warmotli's rule arc largely
rcsponsibic, although in numerous
instances thGir h.,rn lnn,,
equally to blame.
EiEhtil--Thc effect OF all this has been
to put an end to the authority of the
law over q large portion of Louisiana
to deprive the negro nf his freedom Of
suffrage, and wholly to destroy the
value Of the methods provided by law
for securing fairness in elections, or
asccrtaining their result. This state Of
things ovcrthrows republican govern
mcnt in Louisiana, and seriously men
aces it in the whole country.
Ninth-A new election held at this
time is not desirable. 1t is not asked
for by either side, and would innamc
and aggraVatC the evils now existing.
Tcnth-It is the duty of Congress to
use such powcls as arc vested in it by
the constitution. 1t should recognize
the lawful government of Louisiana by
express resolution. We think William
II. Kellogg the choice Ola majority of
the voters of Louisiana, and that he
should be recognized accordingly. 1t
should provide further safeguards for
holding elections and asccrtaining the
result, if they can be devised.
ETcvcnth-I'ut these remedies arc at
best temporary and superficial, curing
the symptoms, not the disease. Elf
ce,t aid to the State to establish public
education would have gone far to pre-
vent the evils, and may yet do much
to effect 4 cure. The public sentiment
OF the respectable portion of the COM
nunity, without distinction of party,
may do much to remove, as it has un-
fortunately done much to aggravatc the
evil in Louisiana. That the people
should be made to understand that all
the authority lodged in the national
government to prcscrvc a republican
government, and protect the rights OF
its citizens, viii Dc kindly but fcarlc-sIy '
and strictly executed, and that no part Y
! in this country Will accept the alliance
of men who arc seeking power by such
! methods as we have been compelled tc
describe. Unless this can be done, tho
! ipS ttlt If l,n IDOL --,it Il