Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-03-04

ministration OF the Governor, Kellogg, be rec.
ognized. Neither. in view OF the fact that they
know nothing of it's merits as Judged by compe.
tent evidence, do they wish to be unders TODD AS
urging it. They only, wish to accord their agree.
| ment with those OF their associates who believe
such a conference might, by making a termina.
ton to the uncertainty in Louisiana, be, on the
whole. less intolerable than the present situation
OF that distracted people, but. to any reso.
luton recognizing Kellogg, Messrs. Potter and
| Marshall are utterly opposed. They find nothing
| to justify the belief that Kellogg was elected
| that he seized the Government by the aid OF the
Federal troops, through void aud fraudulent or.
der. which prevented the counting and returning
| OF the votes should be q standing presumption
against him. When the people, outraged by the
| abuses of his Government, had successfully re-
| gained the office which he had usurped, he was
| again reseated by the Federal power through
| forms OF law by which he had intrenched himself
de once more sought to nullify the choice OF the
people at the late election, and to that end called
IN the Federal troops to break up the meeting OF
| the Legislature. For Congress to recognize a
to establish precedent BY which. under pre-
texts that can readily be found any Sta.e Gov
eminent may be overthrown, the will Of the peo-
pie nnllified, and fraud and violence made per
| manent and republican forms perverted to de-
! stroy liberty.
| In their Judgment all that is needed in Louisi-
ana is 10 withdraw the Federal troops and leave
| the people of that State to govern themselves \
| CHARLES FOSTER t,5 "a,
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS,
CLARKsoN n. POTTER,
SAMuEL ,. MARSHALL.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
&. +. Hoar, Chairman of the commit
tee, made the minority report, closing
with the following resolutions: ~
WHEREAS, Both branches of the Legislature of
Louisiana have requested the Select Committee
of the House to Investigate the circumstances at
tending the election and returns thereof in that
State Tor the year 1s74-5; and 4'@ l
WHEREAS, Said committee has unanimously
| rod hiatt
in canvassing and compiling said returns and
promugating the results, wroAgfully applied an
| erroneous rule OF law. by reason whereof persons
were awarded in the House of Representatives
| seats to which they were not entitled, and per
sons entitled to seats were deprived OF them;
ResoiUed, That 1t Is recommended TO the House
of Representatives Of Louisiana to take immed-
ate steps to remedy said injustice and to place
the persons rightfully entitled in their seats
Resotred, That William T. Kellogg be recog-
mixed as the Governor OF Louisiana until the end
of the term OF office fixed by the Constitution Of
that State.
The majority and minority reports
were ordered printed. AS the result of
the colloquy between members as to
which was the majority report and which
the minority report, it may be stated
that all the members of the committee
| report against the action of the Return
ing Board; that Messrs. Foster, Phelps,
Potter and Marshall unite IN the MAORI.
ty report that there was no general in
timidation in the State, but u free and
lair 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 re-
port, and that Foster assents with Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye to compromise rec
ognizing Kellogg as Governor, and giving
the majority in the House to the Con-
servative delegates.
The report signed by Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye is summarized under
eleven heads, which are briefly as fol.
lows: M
First-That there exists in the White Mems
party purpose to take possession, by force or
fraud, of the State Government, without regard to
the question who may have numerical ajority at
Second-That, in the execution of this pur-
pose, they will not hesitate TO use any instru-
mentalities which they think designed to accom-
plish their end. whether the be murder,
fraud, civil war or coercion of laborers by their
employers. .. .-... 81 ..t
Third-Whilc there are many white men of
moderate means who do not themselves use or
approve these unlawful means, such men desire
the accomplishment of the same end, and are
powerless under the leadership of their more in
huential associates. $40.
Fou9th-Three causes have made it easy for the
white men to so rnite The fact that the Admin
istraton party in Louisiana Is made up almost
altogether of negro votes, with few white votes,
largely from other States the fact that there has
been maladministraton by Republican officials;
the belief by large number of the white people
that they have been twice defrauded OF the re-
suits of the successful election.
Fffh-While these things are deplorable, the
course of the white people themselves has tended
| to bring them about The simple and peaceful
remedies of obedience to law and decent treat
ment OF opponents would, If they had pursued
them. have proven effective long ago.
Sirth While we believe Gov Kellogg received
majority of votes in 1872, and while we believe
there was violence and fraud in many Of the par
ishes in 1874. the illegal order of Judge Durcll
and the illegal conduct Of the Returning Board
in attempting to cure one wrong by another have
furnished substantial basis for complaints.
SeeentA-There has been much dishonesty and
corruption in Louisiana. For these the Republi-
| can officials under Warmoth's rule are largely re-
sponsibe, although many OF their opponents
have been equally guilty.
Eighth-The effect of all this has been TO put
an end to the authority of law throughout Il large
portion of Louisiana, to deprive the negro of free
dom and suffrage and TO destroy the safeguards
provided by law to secure fairness in elections.
THIS state of things overthrows republican gov
ernment in Louisiana and seriously menaces the
whole country.
Nitth-A new election under national authority
is desired by neither side.
Tsath Congress should exercise its constitu-
tional powers. We think William Pitt Kellogg
the choice of the majority of the voters of
1872. and should be recognized.
Eieuehth-The,e remedies are but superficial.
Efficient educational aid would have done much
to prevent the evil and may do much to effect the
cure. The public sentiment Of the rest OF the
country, without distinction Of party. may do
mucn To remove, as il has already unfortunately
done much to aggIavate, the evils of Louisiana
The people should be made to understand that
the authority lodged in the Natioual Government
To preserve republican form of government and
TO protect the rights Of all citizens VIII be kindly
bai iearesely and steadily exercised, and that
party in this country VIII accept the alliance OF
men who are seeking power by such methods As
we have been compelled 10 describe. Unless this