Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-23
LOUISIANA.
THE LONG-ExPECTED REPORTS.
GOuelustors of the Couyr.:ffoc


mittee, signed by Charles Foster, VIM. Wal
ter Phelps, ClarksOn \. Potter, and Samuel
Marshall, was presented to the House to-day.
The commit ttee say:
1st. The late registration shows 9O,7sl col
cred votes and I6.S23 white; that the regiStra-
tiOn was incorrect and exceeded the true col
Ored vote; that il was wholly in the hands of
Kellogg officials, with whom republican
committee. with ~. s. Marshal Packard at
their head. co operated: that the conserva-
tiveS specified with proof 500 cases of con-
ceded false registration i'm New Orleans alone.
The committee conclude by setting forth
that in November, 1874. the people of Loui-
siana did fairly have a free, peaceable and
full registration and election, in which q
clear conservative majority was elected to
the lower house of the Legislature, of which
majority the conservatives were deprived by
the unjust, Illegal, and arbitrary action OF
returning board.
To the resolution reported to the House
from the committee as TO the action of the
returning board all are agreed; that the ac-
tiOn OF the board has defeated the will of the
people as expressed by them at the polls.
The committee say kellogg may or not have
been elected in 1872, Jut there is no evidence
to show the fact. Messrs. Foster and Phelps
think thai the popular belief, taking both
conservative and radical circles, inclines on
the whole TO fortify Kellogg and Penn's
claims. and that as kellogg is and has been
the acting governor for the past two years. to
deny his right and install another in his
place after this lapse of time might involve
incalcplable mischief to the legal and
DOlllICdl %
this MessTs. Foster and Phelps do
not wish to oppose the recommendation that
the administration of Gov. Kellogg he recog-
nized; neither do they. wish To be understood
as urging ii. They only wish to record their
agreement with those of their associates who
believe that such compromise might, by
making a termination of the uncertainty i'm
Louisiana, be ON the whole less intOlerable
than the present distress. To any resolution
recognizing Kellogg, MesSrS. Potter and
Marshall are utterly opposed. They fiud
Hrrgr asAF
elected. In their judgment all that is needed
i'm Louisiana is to withdraw the fe leral
troops and leave the people of that state -
MINORITY REPORT.
The following are the conclusions of
MessrS. HOar, Wheeler and Frye:
In the whole case we are of the opinion -
First. That there has been and is, on the
part of the party calling themselves the
white mans party, in Louisiana. q purpose
To take possession by force and fraud of the
state government, without regatd to the
question of who may have the numerical
majority at fair election.
Second That in the execution OF this pur-
pose the white mans party have refrainel
ard will refrain from the use of no instru-
ments which they think designed to accom-
p!ish IL, whether those instruments be muir
der, fraud, civil war, or coercion of labOrerS
by employers.
Third. While there are many men in their
party of more moderate views, who do not
themselves use or approve these unlawful
of the same end, and are pOwerless TO restrain
their more violent associates.
Fourth. Three causes have made il easier 10
unite so large number of the whites of
Louisiana in these purposes, and have rem
dered more difficult To unite the best men
among them i'll Opposition-the fact that the
administration party of Louisiana is made
up by masSing together almost the whole
negro vote with few whites, largely from
other states; the fact that there has been
great maladministratiOn by republican
officials; the belief, honestly entertained ny
large numbers of the white people of Louisi-
ana, that they have been twiced defrauded out
of the results of election in which they have
been successful.
FCh. While all these things are great evils
much TO be deplOred and likely to exaSperate
any people, the course of the whites them
selves has tended to bring them about and in
flame them. The simple and peaceful rem
dies of obedience to law. argument, decent
treatment of their opponents, would, if they
had pursued them, have proved etlectual
long ago.
Sicth. While we believe Governor kellogg
to have received a majority of the votes in
1S12, and while we believe there was violence
and fraud, which frustrated the will OF the
people in many parishes in 1874, he Illegal
order of Judge Durell and the Illegal conduct
of the returning board in attempting To cure
one wrong by another. naturally infiame1
the popular discomfort and lent piausibility
TO the complaints.
Sererlth. There has been mach dishonesty,
much corruption III state and local atminiS-
tratiOn in Louisiana. For this the republic
cans, especially under WarmOuth'S rule, are
largely responsible, although in numerous
instances their opponents have been equally
to blame.
Ejql3'h. The effect Of all this has been to put
an end To the authority OF law over a large
portion of Louisiana. TO deprive the negro of
his freedom. of suffrage, and wholly 10 de-
stroy the value Of the methOIS provided by
law for securing fairness in elections or as
certaining their result. This state OF things
OverthrOWS republican government i'm IOui-
F1 rin N fAF4E rIn0f
country.
N,uf y new election held at this time is
not desirable. IL is not asked for BY either
side. and would inflame and aggraYate the
evils now existing.
Tenth. 1t is the duty of Congress to use
such power as are vested in il by the cOnsti-
tuition. III should recognize the lawful gov
err ment of Louisiana by express resolution.
We think VIM. Pitt kellogg the choice OF
majority of the voters OF Louisiana, and that
he should be recognized accordingly. 1t
should provide further safeguards for hold
ing elections and ascertaining the result, ii
any can be devised.
Elere1lth. But these remedies are at best
temporary and superficial, curing the symp-
toms, not the disease. Efficient aid to the
state 70 establish public education would
nave gone far 10 preyen! the evil, and may
yet do much to effect cttre. The pubic
sentiment Of the rest of the community.
without distinction Of party, may do much
TO remove, as IL has already unfortunately
done much to aggravate, the evil in Louis
itthd IhuJ ptOplC SllDliU " llltllt 10 Il itIcl-
stand that all the authority lodged in the ma
ional government to preserve republican
government and to protect the rights of all
its citizens will be kindly but fearleSsly and
steadily exerted, and that no party in this
country will accept the alliance OF men who
are seeking power by such methods as we
nave been compelled to describe. Unless this
can be done the free institutions of the whole
United States will not long survive the de
structiOn Of those in the south
(Signed,) G. F. HOAR
w. a. WHEELER.
w. p. FRYE.
PERS0N Al Grann (.rnnnNunnd nnd NJ.