New-York tribune., 1875-02-23
ALABAMA INVESTIGATED.
REPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE CON-
GRESsIONAL COMMITTEE.

GRESsIONAL COMMITTEE.
| CONGRESSMAN HAYs's STATEMENTS SUSTAINED TO
THEIR Observation-Disclosures BY DEMO-
Gratis UNTIL THE TIMELY ARRIVAL OF TROOPS
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE-PAs-
SAGE OF THE FORCE BILL URGED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Tbe Committee which
went to Alabama to investigate affairs in that State
have agreed upon areport wkich will be presented to
the House tomorrow if the floor can be obtained. IL
is signed by Messrs. Coburn, Albright and Cannon.
The minority. Messrs Luttrell and Buckner, will
make report disaTeeing with the views OF the ma
jority. The majority report first gives the status OF
society and political parties in the State prior to
the election. At the opening of the cam
paign Republicans were denounced as common
enemies of the white race and long before the as
sembling Of the State Convention on either side
Democratic newspapers were filed with appeals to
the white people Of the State to stand as a
unit against the advance of Republican,
ism. These appeals were founded upon
the pretended assumptions of Republican
aggression, as charged by Democratic politicians, in
order to infame white men and arouse the dead
lest of human passions. The Democratic press
of the State was filed with accounts of
negroes armng and drilling 10 order to
ntimdate the whites, aud that negro military COM
panies were being organized for the same unlawful
purpose Pointed inquiry on this subject totally
disprOved every assumption of the character,
and established the further fact that not a
| single negro militia company existed within the
borders Of the State. These incendiary appeals pro-
duced disastrous effect and the wonder is that it
was not more so and the Committee believe that
but for the timely interference of the AdministTa-
ton in Louisiana affairs, revolution would have
nit1 pd ha pQOpla a Alabama,
1t was not long before of intimidation, social
ostracisp, personal violence, and murder was in
augurated, and true men who stood by the
faith Of the Republican party were sub
jected to n series Of indignities and maltreatment
heretofore witnessed only in savage warfare, aud
unworthy Of the Christian age in which we live The
principal objective point, however OF the Denoc-
racy the report says seemed to be to crush out the
white leaders. To this end o new fea-
ture of American politics, CT social and
business ostracism, introduced These arc q
few Of the notorious facts which convinced tue
Committee that the campaign of the Democratic
party in Alabama was made against the
colored man, as such, and his white ally.
All other issues were buried out OF sight.
Appeals were made to passion. PREJUDICE and hate.
Reason principle and law were not invoked; but
the canvass on the part of the Democrats was in
augurated in bitterness and strife, and ended IN
victory won by fraud, violence prescription, IN
limitation. and murder.
Under all the circumstances, the Committee say,
our only regret is that there were not more
United States soldiers in the State than
there was for the purpose of aiding an
enforcement Of law Up to the time when troops
arrived, the Republican party remained dormant,
liberty Of speech was throttled and tho leaders of
the party were unable to take active measures IN
the campaign; but they did so, and the story of
how brayely and how sternly they met the storm
Of obloquy Icproach, and personal danger that en-
yironed them deserve private page IN the annals
of American history. The best evidence that
the Democrats intended to enforce the threats of
carving the election at all hazards, the Committee
continues Is supplied by their actions on the day of
the election. In that portion Of tho State con-
tiQuous TO the Georgia line hundreds of citizens
of that State invaded Alabama. and not
only voted once but repeatedly. Various
statements Of ballotbox stuirg. destruction Of the
ballots of Republican voters and tho burning OF
ballet boxes where the Republicans had majorities,
are given.
As TO the condition of the colored people the Com
mittee say their appearance a silent and powerful
witness of their poverty and want, Of tho hard
ships they have suffered, and tho prosecutions
they have silently endured. The Committee
declare that the statements contained in the letter
of the Hon. Charles Hays to Gen. Hawley are sub
stauiiaily corrobOrated Oy testimony. The Committee
conclude by stating that to secure political freedom
and good order at elections laws should
be punctiousy enforced that additional safeguards
should be thrown around the ballot-box and careful
scrutiny exercised in counting and ccrti-
fying to the results of tho election, and
that to this end supervisors and marshals
in the country districts should have tho sainc power
and be charged with the samc duties as those in
cities of over 900 inhabitants; that the use of fire.
arms at elections prohibited and the strong
est possible legal preventves of inroads from voters
of other States should be established; that United
States Courts should have jurisdiction OF all
oenses against the laws pertaining to Congressional
elections, and that whatever safeguards may he
established shall be provided only to secure peace
and maintain law. TO this end the Committee re-
commend the passage OF the Force bill.
CONCLUSI ONS OF THE MINORITY OF THE
COMMITTEE.