Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-03-05

change, the majority of the citizens of Louisiana
seem willing to accept, as compromise, kel
loggs recognition and the restoration to the Con
servatiyes of the control of the lower house.
For these reasons Messrs. Foster and Phelps do
not wish to oppose the recommendation that ne
administration of the Governor, Kellogg, be rec
ognized. Neither, in view of the fact tnat they
know nothing of its merits judged by compe
tent evidence, do they wish to be understood as
urging it. They only wish to accord their agree
ment with those of their associates who be-
lieve such conference might, by making ter
mination to the uncertainty in Louisiana, be, on
the whole, less intolerable than the present sltu-
alton 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 a void and 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.
He 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 mp the meeting of
the Legislature. For Congress to recognize a
usurpation gross so oppressive, lis, they think,
TO establish precedent by which, under prctexts
that can readily be found, any State Government
may be overthrown, the will of the people nulli-
fed, and fraud and violence made permanent. and
republican forms perverted to destroy liberty.
In their judgment all that is needed in Louis
lana is to withdraw the Federal troops, and leave
the people of that State to govern themselves.
CHARLES FOSTER.
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS.
CLARKsoN N. POTTER.
e1s SAMUEL S. MARSHALL.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
G. f. Hoar, Chairman of the commit
tee, made the minority report, closing
with the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, Both branches of the Legislature of
Louisiana nave requested the Select Committee
tending the election and returns thereof in that
State for the year 1875; and
WHEREAS, Said committee has unanimously re-
ported that the Returning Board of that State in
canvassing and compiling said returns, and pro-
mitigating the results, wrongfully applied an er-
roneous rule of law by reason whereof persons
were awarded in the House of Representatives
seats to which they were not entitled, and persons
entitled to seats were deprived of them:
Res0bUed That it is recommended to the House
of Representatives of Louisiana to take imme-
diate steps to remedy said injustice, and to place
the persons rghtfully entitled in their seats.
Resotued, That William P. Kellogg be recog,,
of the term of Office I'D 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 Returning Board ;
that Messrs. Foster, Phelps, Potter and
Marshall 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 Conserva-
tives, who were deprived of the result by
the wrongful action of the Returning
Board; that Messrs. Hoar, Wheeler and
FRYE unite in a minority report and that
Foster assents with Hoar, Wheeler and
Frye to a compromise recognizing Kel-
lOgg as Govern or and giving the majority
in the House to the Conservative dele-
gates.
The report signed by Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and frye is summarized under
eleven heads, which are briefly as follows:
First-That there exists in the White Mems
party purpose to take possession, by force or
the question who may have numerical majority at
any fair election.
Second-That, in the execution of this purpose,
they will not hesitate to use any instrumental
tiles which they think designed to accomplish
their end, whether the same be murder, fraud,
civil war or coercion of laborers by their en-
Third-While there are many white men of
moderate means who do not themselves use or ap-
prove these unlawful means, such men desire the
accomplishment of the same end and are power.
less under the leadership of their influential
associates.
Fouath-Three causes have made it easy for the
white men to so unite: The fact that the Admin
istration party in Louisiana is made up almost al
together of negro votes, with a few white votes,
largely from other States; the fact there has been
maladministratiOn by Republican officials; the
belief by large number of the white people that
they have been twice defrauded OF the results OF
the successful election.
FSfth-While these things are deplorabe, 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, II they had pursued
them. have proven effective long ago.
SiGtb-While we believe Gov. Kellogg received
a majority of votes in 1872, and while we believe
there was violence and fraud in many of the
parishes in 1874 the illegal order of Judge Durel
and the illegal conduct of the Returning Board in
attempting to cure wrong by another have
furnished substantial basis for complaints.
Seyenth-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.
an end to the authority of law throughout large
portion of Louisiana, to deprive the negro or
| freedom and suffrage and to destroy the safe
guards provided by law to secure fairness IN elec-
| fions. This state of things overthrows republl-
| can government in Louisiana and seriously men-
aces the whole country.
| INinth-A newelectl0n under natlohai autnorlty
| is desired by neither slde
| Tenth-C0ngress should exercise it's constitu-
tional powers. we tnlnk N!lllan flt1 heIogS
| was the choice of the majority of the voters IN
| 1872 and should be recognized
| ELegenth-These remedies are brit 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 coun-
try, without distinction OF party, may 90 much 10
| remove as it has already unfortunately done
much to aggravate the evils of Louisiana. The
| people should be made to understand .GDaL Inc
authority lodged in the National Government to
| preserve republican form of government and to
protect the rights of all citizens will be kindly
party in this country will accept the alliance of
| men who are seeking power by such methods as
| we have been compelled to describe: Unless
this can be done the overthrow of the free insti-
tutions of the whole United States will not long
| survive the destruction of those in the South.