The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-03-06
THE LOUISIANA REPORTS.


Wheeler, Frye, Foster, Phelps, Potter
and Marshall, to whom was referred
that portion of the Presidents mes
sage relative to the condition of the
South, and who undertook the task oil
investigating the affairs Of Louisiana,
have submitted two reports. One oil
these, called the majority report, is
aligned BY Messrs. Foster, Phelps, Pot.
ter and Marshall, the. two first named
being classed as Republicans, the 9th
ers Democrats. The second or minor
ity report, is made by Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye, all Republicans,
and is the most lengthy, elaborate,
and, in our opinion, the most correct
document of the two. We have not
space for the reproduction of the full
text Of these reports, but brief re-
sumo of the conclusions arrived at by
the majority and minority Of the COM
mittee is due to our readers.
The former are unanimous in the
opinion that the recent election in
this State was Us, quiet, fair and free
as such contests generally are in other
portions of the Union. They admit
that there might have been occasional
instances Of intimidation of colored
voters, such as threats to discharge
from employment, refusal to employ,
ETC., but that such practices were gen.
eral, or were sufficiently SO to influence
the result Of the election, is denied.
The interests of the Conservatives
demanded acquisitions from the col
ored vote, and it is assumed from the
evidence that these were sought rather
by kindness and fair Treatments than
by intimidation. Extensive frauds in
the registration are alleged to have
been perpetrated by Republican Su-
pervisors, but by the efforts Of the
Conservatives these frauds were dis
covered before the election and hence
prevented from influencing the con-
test at the polls. The majority are
unanimous in the conclusion, as stated
above, that in November last there
was full registration, a fair, free and
peaeeable election, and that the Con-
servatives elected clear majority of
members of the lower house of the
General Asse mbly, Of which they were
deprived by the "upjust, illegal and
arbitrary action of the Returning
Board" Messrs. Foster and Phelps
express the opinion that the popular
belief in both Republican and Conser-
vatiye circles..here inclines to justify
the claims of Gov. kellogg and Mr..
Penn to election in 1872, and they are
willing to join the minority in recon-
mending the adoption of resolutions
recognizing the Kellogg government
and restoring the control of the House
Of Representatives to the Conserva-
tives. Messrs. Potter and Marshall
are utterly opposed to any recogni-
ton of Gov. Kellogg, and declare that
they find nothing to justify the belief
that he was elected. In the Judgment
Of these two gentlemen, call that is
needed in Louisiana is to withdraw
the Federal troops and leave the peo-
pie Of that State to govern them
selves" ........... -.
The conclusions of Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye, briefly stated, are
as follows: There is and has been
on the part of the so-called white
mans party in Louisiana, purpose
to take possession Of the State govern
ment, without regard to the question
Of who may have the numerical ma
jority at a fair election and to ac-
complish this object, they have not
hesitated to employ murder, fraud
and coercion of laborers by threats of
discharge or unemployment. Many
belonging to the party hold moderate
views, and although they desire the
same end, do not approve the unlaw-
full means employed, but are power
less to restrain their more violent as
sociates. Three causes have made it
easier to unite so large a number of
the whites of the State in these prac-
tees: l. The fact that the admins
tration party is made up almost wholly
Of the entire negro population and a
few whites, generally from other States.
?. The fact that there has been NAL
l.. \.