The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-02-03

ing that intimidation had existed al certain
polls 10 that parish. and tAnt the returns
from those polls shou ID therefore be reject
cd. The counsel for the Democratic COM
mittee testified that they had no opportu-
nifty TO contradict the statements of this pa
per !; that they had never seen or known OF
il before. and that upon an examination Of
the papers before the Board when the
proofs closed it was not auoDg them. The
counsel for the Republican committee re.
served the right to make explanation up-
on this point, but offered none The afli-
davit was dated the--day of December,
1874. 1t appeared that Governor Wells
was not himself in the parish ON the day
Of election, and though at the opening OF
their first session your committee declared
their intention TO examine into the action
Of the Returning Board, Governor Wells
never caine forward IS witness. AT tic
close Of our proceedings leave wsts asked
that his deposition might. be given in.
This was declined. and Mr.. Wells was in
yited TO appear before the committee, but
he never came. Leave was also given for
taking his testimony by commissioner if
he declined, but was not availed Of.
Your committee are therefore constrain-
ell to declare that the action Of the Re-
turning Board in rejecting these returns
in the parish Of Rapides, and giving the
seats for that parish to. the Republican
candidates, was arbitrary, unfair, aud
without warrant Of law. lfike committee
were to 60 behind the papers before the
Board, and consider the alleged charge of
intimidation upon the proofs before the
COMMITTEE, their findings must necessarily
be the same. 1t was asserted in Governor
Wells affidavit that the McEnery officials
had usurped the Offices Of tue parish. and
thereby inundated vo.ers. Immediately
after'the 18th Of September. when the
Kellogg authorities III New Orleans we're
put out BY the Penn authorities. certain
cbangess took place ia some Of the parish
es. When the news from New Orleans
reached these parishes the MeEnery off,
cials demanded their places Of the Kellogg
officials. and they we're at vice given up.
+ When tie Federal Government inter-
vened and nnseated the slcEuery anihori-
ties the kellogg officials demanded and re-
ceiyed eack their Offices; but in Rapides
some time seeuis to have lapsed before tho
Kellogg officials took their places back.
Your committee are at a loss to see any
intimidation Of the electors Of the parish.
1t 70 happens that the parish was taken
Ms sample parish Of intimidation. Ma
ny witnesses from other parishes we're ex-
anined with reference to il. They show
beyond question that there was free.
full. fair aud peaceabe election and regis
tration there. No evidence either ef dis
charge or Of refusal to employ was pro-
duced. Nut one single colorsl mat
throughout the entire parish was produced
to testify either TO such threat or the ex-
ecution Of such purpose, whether before
or after the election. as
The action Of the Returning Roari In
this parish Of Rapides alone changed tie
political complexion OF the Lower House,
but their action In other parishes was
equally Objectionable. Instances ID The
caavtsssing aud compilations u the re-
turns IN other parishes are given by the
committee, and extent to nearly every
prohibition OF the law.
wilhoutnow referring TO other. instances
We are constrained to declare that the ac-
ton ofthe Returning, Board, on the whole,
was arbitrary, unjust, and, IN our opinion,
illegal, and that this arbitrary, unjust and
illegal action aloue prevented the return
by The Board Of 4 majority of Conserva-
tive members Of the Lower House.
Upon the general subject oftlle state OF
ailairs In the SOUTH, aud Us TO whether
the alleged WRONGS tocolored citizens for
political Offences are real, OF were asserted
without procf rs the opportunity offered.
Both parties agreodupcn four parishes as
samples of the condition of affairs In that
respect inthc state. oftliesc, owing "a
the inpUssibility of procuring witnesses
from tile localities Ia time, your committee
were obliged to confine their especial ex-
animation totwo parishes most accessible.
As 10 the parishes, they received ell the
testimony that was offered, aud, Ia ad-
tli.ion. they received all the testimony
thatwa then on hand In New Orleans,
offered by either party, ~ to the con-
,lItion % affairs IN other parts Or the State.
Az whole they Rre constrained 10 say
that the Intention charged Is hot borne out
by the racts before US. No general In
timldatien.ofs Republican voters was cs-
lablIsheJ; no celored man was produced
whu Ind been Threatened or assaulted by
any Conservative because OF political op.
iniun, er discharged from employment OF
refused employment. OF aIl those who
testified naturalization there was hardly
any one who, u hiso knowledge, could
specify reliable instances Of such acts;
aud Of tie white men who were produced
To testify generally ON such subjects very
nearly ali, If not every one, were the
holders cf .officc. Throughout the rural
t.inta .,f fits {tats. tin ntftft,or nf uf,tte