The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-03-04
THE MINORITY REPORT.

THE MINORITY REPORT.
G.. F. Hoar, Chairman of the commit
tee, made the minority report, closing
with the following resolution;
WHEREAS, Both branches of the Legislature ef
Louisiana have requested the Select Committee
ofrhe House to investigate the ciren nmstances at
tending the election and returns thereof IN that
State for the year 1913; and
WHEREAs, Said committee has unanimously
reported that the Returning Board OF that State.
in canvassing and compiling said returns and
mitigating the results, wrongfully app'ied an
erroneous rule of law. by reason VIII reof persons
were awarded in the House of Represen atiVes
seats 10 which they were not entitled ana per
sons entitled to seats were deprived Of them;
Resetyed- That it Is recommended to the House
~ Representatives OF Louisiana TO take immediate
persons rghtfuliy entitled in their seats.
ResofCed, That William p. Kellogg be recog,
nized as the Governor of Louisiana until the end
of the term Of Office fixed 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 anc which
the minority report, it may be stated
that all the members of the committee
report against the action of the Return
ing Board; that Messrs. Foster, Phelps
Potter and Marshall Unite in the maiorl-
ty report that there was no general In
timidation in the State, but free and
fair election, which resulted in favor of
the Conservatives, who were deptived of
the result by the wrongful action of the
Returning Board; that Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye unite in minority re-
port, and that Foster assents with Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye to a compromise
recognizing Kellogg as Governor, and
giving the majority in the House 10 the
Cons n>ervative delegates.
The report signed by Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye is summarized under
eleven heads, which are briefly as fol
lows:
First-That there exists in the White Mems
party purpose To take possession by force or
fraud, of the State Government, without regard TO
the question who may have numerical majority at
any fair election.
lSec0Bd-That i'll the execution of this purpose,
they will not hesitate 10 any instrumeD tailtes
which they think designed to accomplish their
end, whether the same be murder, fraud civil war
coercion of laborers by their employers
Third-Whle there 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 more lnnuen-
tal associates.
Fospth-Three causes have made it easy for the
white men to unite: The fact that the Admin
istration party in Louisiana Is made up almost
altogether Of negro totes. with few white votes,
largely from other States the fact that there has
been maadminstration by Republican officials;
the belief b. large number OF the white people
thar they have been twice defrauded of the re-
suits OF the successful election.
FJM-While these things are deplorablc. 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, if they had pursued
them, have proven effective long ago.
SLrth-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 par
shes in 1874 the illegal order of Judge Durell and
the Illegal conduct OF TIE Returning Board in at
tempting to cure one wrong by another have
furnished substantial basis for complaints.
SereHth-Thcre has been much dishonesty and
corruption in Louisiana. For these the Republl-
can officials under Warmoths rule are la gely re-
sponsible. although many of their opponents
have been equally guilty.
F,ghth-The effect of all this has been to put
an end TO the authority of law Throughout large
portion of Louisiana, deprive the negro OF freet
dom ard suffrage and destroy the safeguards
provided by law to secure fairness in elections
This state OF things overthrows republican gov
ernment i'll Louisiana and seriously menaces the
whole country.
Ninth-A new election under national authority
is desired by neither side.
TeBth-Congress should exercise its constitu-
tiona powers. We think " illiam Pitt Kellogg
was the choice Of the majority of the voters of
1872 and should be recognized.
Fkegentb-These remedies are but superficial.
Efficient educational aid would have done much
TO prevent the evil, and may DO much 10 enect me
cure. The public sentiment of the rest OF the
country. without distinction of party, may do much
10 remove, as il has already unfortunately done
much to aggravale, the evils OF Louisiana The
people should be made to understand that the
authority lodged in the National Government to
preserve republican form of government and
to protect the rights of all ci izens Will be kindly
but fearlessy and steadily exercised, and that no
party in this country VIII accept the alliance OF
men who are seeking power by such methods as
we have been compelled to describe. Unioss this
can be done the overthrow of the free institutions
of the whole United States will not long survive
the destruction of those in tie South.