Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-02-05
Debate on Louisiana.

Debate on Louisiana.
During the debate on Louisiana, on
Friday, Senator Conkling of New York,
said that the plea was heard that KEEL
logg was not in truth elected governor,
but was falsely counted in. Suppose he
was. Did that justify the nameless hor-
rors which have stained the annals OF
the state2 Other states have known
deeper wrongs than those of Louisiana.
New York had known deeper wrong. 1t
is an open secret now that in 1868 John
I. Hoffman was counted into the office
of governor when the people had elected
John Griswold The count was falsi-
fed more than 10000 in two counties.
John T. Hoffman was falsely counted in.
Who did it The managers OF the DEM
ocratic party, and they seated in the leg
islature, year after year, men whom the
people had voted down at the ballot box.
the same regime made the courts and
made them corrupt. They issued fraud
ulent naturalization papers by tens of
thousands. They appointed returning
boards, and made them corrupt. They
appointed inspectors Of election who pol
luted and debauched the ballot box
They so divided the chief city of the
state as to bisect blocks and houses, so
that men domiciled in the same house
could vote and repeat in different cleo
ton districts. They held a state of five
millions of people by the throat for years
BY such astounding means political
party dominated that great state, usurp-
ed the power and plundered her treasury
by the most colossal robberies of modern
times. What did the republicans do
They did not resort to ruthless violence
They did not resort to the blade the
bullet and the torch. They did not butch
er men, women and children. They did
not seize the chief city of the state, bar
ricade its streets, shoot down its police.
No, they persevered 10 peaceful efforts.
They asked Congress to break the hold
of organized fraud on the ballot box
that the citizens of New York might
vote, and how was the prayer received
in this chamber by the democrats? The
people of New York were blasted witt
all the constitutional anathemas of The
democracy. Those who remained in this
chamber mute while they were pelted
with storms of denunciation have no
forgotten the history or the cost of thi
legislation. But the law was passed, ant
for the first time for years there was al
election in New York approaching fair
ness. A leading democratic paper call
ed upon the populace to arm and pitcl
the officers of election into the river
but rioters have wholesome dread G
the claw and beak of the federal power
They did not arm themselves How dii
ferent was the course of the men i
Louisiana who complained of fraud an
dishonest elections Thirty-6ye hundre
murders and woundings in eight years
says Gen. Sheridan, "for political pul
poses" Search the annals of history
search the fearful story of mans inhI
mainly to man, and where in moder
times can you find the picture of sue
God-daring and man-hating monstrosity
Finally, in September, under the forms
proclamation of Penn, the governmel
was seized with open revolution, and h'
citizens shot down. Was it any wond
her securities had lessened in value
Show him a mode of pacifying the Sou
and, no matter what party opposed
his vote it should have. No party cou
live to stand in the way of pacificati'
of the South. Bluster and revoluti,
will not pacify the Southern people.
Bloodshed will not make friends n
wealth. If he had the power to ma
his voice heard and believed in eve
Southern hamlet, in the sincerity of |
heart he would say, Build, mend, he
SOW, plant, in short, GO to work lei
fair days wages be paid for fair da,
work dwell together in fraternity, a
all will be we'll" He declared that t
negroes were citizens and that they W,
to be and must be protected in their
izenship, and that peace would come
that way and no other.