The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-04
The Report of the Alabama Committee.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1875.

iority report is signed by Messrs. Cohen, Al
bright and Cannon They believe that but, fol
the timely interference of the administration II
Louisiana, revolution would have been pre-
cipitated upon the people of Alabama. Ihe
committee further report that members of the
Republican party were subjected to a series Of
indirnities and such matreatment as has
heretofore been witnessed only in savage war
fare. The principal object or point, however
of the Democracy seem to be to crush out the
white leaders, and to this end a new feature OF
American politics, viz: social and business
ostracism, was introduced. The committee de.
clare that the Democratic victory IN the State
was won by fraud, violence, prescription, in
timidation and murder. The law officers were
in league with law breakers. The courts OF
Justice were powerless to make arrests, and the
governor had no militia to aid unwilling Off
GERS The committee say our only regret is
that there were not more United States soldiers
in the State than there were for the purpose OF
aiding in the enforcement of law. The report
then treats of the ballot-box stufing and burn
ing of ballot-boxes which was indulged in, and
gives full review of the riots at Mobile, Eu-
faula, Spring Hill, Falkland Gainesville and
other places. The opinion is expressed by the
committee that, had full, fair and free election
taken place, the entire Republican State ticket,
with a majority of the members of the General
Assembly and six out of eight Republican Con-
gressmen, would have been elected, and they
Recommend the passage of the force bill.
The minority of the Congressional committee
make very long report They begin, by pro-
testing against the indecent haste with which
the investigation was conducted, but say that
the evidence taken by the committee cstab-
fishes that Alabama was as peaceful, quiet and
law-abding as either Georgia, Tennessee or
Mississippi, prior to and during the late can
vass that there was no greater necessity tor
the presence of the United States troops in
Alabama than there was in the States Of Mis-
souri, or California; that the few acts of vio-
lence which had occurred prior to the demand
made for troops were not proved then, nor has
there been any proof since, that they were in
stigated from political motives. That it was
party necessity of the Radical leaders to create
real or apparent disorder in the State, and that
the use Of the bacon donated by Congress to
the sufferers by the overflow as a corruption
fund the appointment of special deputy mar
shals by scores in the counties and districts
within the Black Belt, if not under instructions
from the head of the department. of justice, at
least with his assent and connivance, and the
false and unfounded charges of murder, vio-
lence and insecurity of person and property
made for the purpose of obtaining the introduc..
ton of military into the State, were part and
parcel of the scheme concocted by Republican
congressman to carry the election in November
last per 'Jas ct mefas." The minority then call
attention to the fact that the investigation was
diverted to many subjects not covered by the
resolution raising the committee, such as the
use of the terms carpet-baggers and scalawags,
frauds by either party in the election, the char
acter of the public schools, and whether they
were taught by Democrats or Republicans,
males or females, natives or foreigners. The
distribution of the government bacon, the mi
nority think, was within scope OF their inquiry,
but the majority thought otherwise, and while
prescription and ostracism, carpet-baggery and
scalawagery and subjects of like character
were most thoroughly ventilated, full and
thorough examination of the manner and pur-
pose of the distribution of the overhowed bacon
was not permitted. Enough, however, was
picked up, the minority say during the investl-
CATION, together with the report of the secretary
of war already given 10 the House, to show con-
clusively that this benefaction of the govern
ment was diverted from the object for which it
was given, and that large part of it was used
for the same purpose. That the troops OF the
United States were asked for to carry the elec-
tions by consolidating and massing the negro
vote for the Radical ticket. The minority next
difect attention to the marked difference in the
condition of the adj Joining States of Georgia and
Alabama the one peaceable and prosperous,
the other depressed, and, according to Radical
testimony, disturbed. In regard to Alabama
the minority say: "Without quoting their
recognized and approved organs of public opin-
ion. or culling extracts from leading exponents
of Northern Conservative opinion, it is unde-
niable that peace and quiet, obedience to law,
and respect for the rights of all were enjoined
upon the Democrats of the State, not only from
considerations applicative to Alabama, but to
the entire Democratic party of the Union. 10
bear and forbear, to submit to wrong rather
than to resort to resistance, was necessity to
their own success as well as a necessity to the
success of their friends. Elsewhere their expe-
rience since the days of reconstruction had inn
pressed them with the conviction that the in
huence which the whites have with the freed
men as to everything else except politics would
never effect the political action of the colored
masses. as long as that natural influence was
neutralized and destroyed by the presence of
Federal soldiers. They had reason to hope at
least, that if all violence growing out of race
conflicts could be avoided, and the rights of all
were respected, even the necessities OF party
would not fill their State with armed men.
Hence peace in all her borders was necessity
to the success of the Democratic party 1t was
less a necessity to the canvassers OF the party
in the North. 1t was dictated by every consid.
Grafton of policy if not Of humanity, Justice and
obedience to law. Violence and disorder
brought Federal troops M in their midst, and
Federal troops were standing reminders to the
negroes that they were sent among them as
their friends and their protectors against the
whites On the contrary, the very reverse was
the policy of their opponents: They desired re
the influence of the military in carrying the
elections, and they had reason to fear that the
army would not come to their assistance as
LONG as the State was peaceful, quiet and order
ly. Disorder, real or pretended, was to them
the one thing needful for success. Outrage and
violence must be manifested, and if it had no
real existence, their necessity required its man;
ufacturc. Success was hopeless without it, and
with it came the army and victory at the
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