New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-12
THE REPORT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL CON
MITTEE.

NlTTEE.
some OF THE IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE DOCUMENT
REPUBLICAN VOTERS NOT INTIMIDATED-AN
UNDoUBTED CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY IN THE
srATE-TIIE ACTION or TIE RETURNING BOARD
COMMUNICATIVE CHARACTER OF THE WHITE
LEAGUE MISUNDERSTOOD IN TIE NORTH-EF-
PORTS TO DIsCREDIT THE REPORT. OF THE COM
MITIER BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE report OF the Louis-
ana investigation will be made to the House on
Wednesday, Mr.. Potters absence in New-York bav-
ing caused postponement of one day. At the
meeting OF the Committee this morning, Messrs
Poster, Phelps and Potter submitted unanimous
report which was read and recOmmitted IN order to
have some points in it fully elaborated. There
was a general agreement that no information in re-
gard to it should be given to the press but as its
general character has been the subject of extensive
comment among members of Congress and Others
with whom the Committee have cOnversed, the lead
ING points of it have become widely known.
One of the first and most important points of the
report will be that the Committee were not enabled
to find any evidence that the Republican cOlOred
voters were intimidated during the last campaign in
louisiana or that their civil or political rights were
IL any way nterfered with, and that, 80 far as the
Committee could learn from the evidence that was
submitted to them, the election was an ex-
ceptionally fair and honest one The con-
clusion is the ono eoncurred in by all the
members of the Committee. Had Messrs. Phelps
and Potter been alone on the Committee they would
have reported that instead of Republicans being in
Inundated by Democrats, the reverse was the fact;
that white Conservative voters were frightened
away from the polls by the appearance of United
States Marshals, accompanied by Federal cavalry
men, few days before the election, and on the day
of election who caused great alarm among the
ignorant people in the country parishes, and pre-
vented scores of them from voting
The Committee report that the Conservatives IN
doubtedly carried the State by considerable ma
jority, and that they elected a majority of the
Legislature.
Individual members Of the Committee say that of
this there can be no question. The failure Of the
Freedmans Bank and the collection of a pOll-tax
from the negroes, which had never been done before
since the war; caused thousands of cOlOred Repubh-
cans to stay away from the polls. Besides this the
planters for tue first time tied the effect Of persua-
sion upon the negroes they employed They did not
threaten to discharge their hands, but argued with
them and demonstrated to them that the interests
Of the two races were common, and that therefore
they should support the same men and measures.
The result of this policy was that many of the
eolored people induced to vote the White
League ticket" as it was called, and many Of them
SO testified before the Committee
The Committee condemn in the strongest language
the action of the Returning Board being illegal
and indefensbe. The Returning Board had no able
defenders before the Committee. The Chairman OF
it, ex-Goy Wells did not appear, and his attendance
could not be secured. The remaining members were
comparatively ignorant, and their defense of the
action of the Board very weak.
The Committee will report that the character of
the White League has been very much misunder-
stood throughout the North. 1t Is not O secret
organization, and numbers among its members
scores and hundreds of the very best men in the
Ciy of New-0Tleans-the men who are most promi-
neut in business, and who would not countenance
hwlessness Of any kind.
majority of the full Committee will sign the
Subcommittee report. They will be Messrs Eos
Sc: helps. Potter. and Robinson. MIR. Wheeler is
incl ed TO be neutral and MeSsrs g. +. HOar and
fiyt will not approve Of IT, Several of the Admins
ration newspapers have reported within the past
few Jays that the subcommittee had entirely ex-
eeeded its urisdiction that it not authorized to
take any testimony, but that it was to 90 to New
Orleans, and if it was found tkat invest
CATION was necessary, to sead for tho re-
matnder Of the Committee. Nessrs H0ar
ana Fry suggested something of this kind
IN the meeting of the Committee this morning, but
the sbsurdity Of it was 80 apparent that they did
not press their ideas Of the functions of the Sub
committee very vigorously The fact is. that mono
Oh tae members Of the Committee were anxious to
20 ~ New-orleans, aud that it was only after the
most urgent entreaties on the part Of other men,
sers OF the Committee that the three gentlemen
We wont consaptad "a eo Thara waa M undor.