Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05
Report of the Alabama Investigating
Committee.

WASHINGTON, Feb. %.
| The majority report of the committee who
went to Alabama to investigate the affairs in
that State is signed by Messrs. Coburn, AL
bright and Cannon. 1t first gives the state OF
society and political parties in the State prior
to the election. AT the commencement OF the
campaign the Republicans were denounced
| as common enemies OF the white race, whose
| suppression was necessary to the preserVa-
| tion Of thatrace Long before the assembling
| OF convention on either side Democratic
newspapers were filled with appeals to the
white people Of the State to stand as united
against the advance of the Republicans. These
| appeals were founded on pretended assump-
| tons OF Republican aggression as charged by
Democratic politicians. In order to infame
the white men and arouse the deadliest of
human passions the Democratic press of the
State were filed with accounts of negroes
arming and drilling in order to intimidate the
whites, and that negro military companies
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 q single military company existed
within the borders Of the State. These in
cendlary appeals produced a disastrous effect
and the wonder is that II was not more So
and the committee believe that but for the
timely interference of the Administration in
Louisiana affairs a revolution would have
bama. II was not long before an era of in
timidation, social ostracism, personal violence
and murder was inaugurated, and the true
men who stood by the faith of the Republi-
can party were subjected to a series OF indig-
mites and maltreatment heretofore witnessed
only in savage warfare and unworthy of the
Christian age In which we live. The prinei-
pal objective point, however, of the DemOc-
racy seemed to be to crush out the white
leaders. To this end the new feature Of
American politics, Of social and business
ostracsm, was introduced. These are a few
of the notorious facts which convinced the
committee that the campaign of the Demo-
cratic party In Alabama was made against
the colored man and his white ally, and all
other issues We're buried out Of sight. APP
peals were made to the passion and prejudice,
and principles and law were not invoked, but
the canvass on the part Of the Democrats was
inaugurated in bitterness and strife and
ended In victory won by fraud, violence,
| prescription, intimidation and murder. The
evidence shows that the political meet
| ings Of the colored men were broken up by
armed Democrats, who went among the
negroes, burning their churches because Re-
| publican meetings were held In them. Col
ored men were threatened with a loss Of en-
ployment unless they voted the Democratic
| ticket. Black lists of colored men were pre-
pared for future dismissal. Pledge meetings
! were gotten up, 10 which colored men were
| brought under pain Of dismissal from EN-
ployment. White Republicans were insuted
and maltreated. and business taken from
them. This enumeration embraces some Of
the methods by which the White Mans party
proposed to carry the State OF Alabama. The
State authorities were powerless TO quiet the
disturbance protect its citizens and enforce
the law. Officers were in league with the
breakers. The courts Of Justice were
powerless 10 make arrests, and the Governor
had no militia TO obey willing officers except
| la
tiops. Under all the circumstances, the com
mittee say Our one regret Is that There werI
not more United States soldiers than there
wac ior the purpose Of aiding in the enforce
ment Of law Up 10 the time when tn,
troops arrived the Republican party rs