Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-03-04

turning of the votes, should be a standing pre-
sumption against him. when the people, outraged
By tho abuses Of his government, had successfully
reganed the Office which he had usurped, he was
again reseated by the Federal power through forms
Of law by which he had intrenched himself He
once sought to nu,lfy the choice of the people
at the late election, and that end called the
Federal troops to break up the meeting of the Legs
lature. For Congress to recognize usurpation so
gross, oppressive, is they think, to establish a
precedent by which, under pretexts that readily
be found, any State government may be overthrow,
the viii of the people nullihed, and fraud and vo-
lence made permanent and republican forms per-
verted to destroy liberty.
In their Judgment all that is needed in louisiana
is TO withdraw the Federal troops and leave the peo-
pie o: that State to govern themselves.
CHARLIE 8. FOSTER.
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS,
CLARKsoS n. POTTER,
SAMUEL. s. MARSHALL
THE MINORITY REPORT.
G. Z Hoar Chairman of the committee.
made the minority report OF which the follow
ing is the synopsis. 1t is signed by Messrs.
Hoar, Frye and Wheeler:
First-Thst there exists in the White Mems party
purpose to take possession, by force or fraud of
the State government, without regard to the ques-
ton who may have numerical majority at any fair
election.
.Second-That, in The execution of this purpose
they VIII not hesitate to use any instrumentaEtes
which they think designed to accomplish tlieir end
whether the same be murder, fraud, civil war, or
oercion % labor RS &c By their employers
71ird-while there are many white men of mod
crate views who do no. themselves use or approve
of these unlawful means, such desire the ac-
compiishment OF the same end, and are poweriess
under the leadership of their more influential asso-
ciates.
Four.h-Three causes have made it easy for the
white len to so unite: The FAC; that the admins
tration party Louisiana is made up almost alto
gether of negro votes with few white votes large
ly from other States; the fact that there has been
naladmnistration by Republican officials; the be-
lief by large number of the white people that they
have been twice defrauded of the results of the
cessful election.
Fifti-While these things are deplorable the
of the white people themselves has tended to
bring them about The simple and peaceful rene
dies of obedience to law and decent treatment of OPP
ponen.s would. if they had pursued them, have
proven effective long ago.
Sirth-while we believe Gov. Kellogg received a
majority of in 1872 and while believe there
was violence and fraud in many of the parishes in
1874, the Illegal order of Judge Dureil, end the ille
gal conduct of The Returning Board in attempting
to cure one wrong by another, have furnished sub
stantial basis for complaint.
Sereath-There has been much dishonesty and
corruption in Louisiana For this the Republican
officials under warrnoth's rule largely RESPONSE
BILE, although many Of their opponents have been
equally guilty.
Efqhth-The effect Of all this has been TO put an
end to the authority Of law throughout large por-
ton of Louisiana, to deprive the negro Of freedom
and suffrage and to destroy the safeguards provided
by law fairness in elections. This state Of
things overthrows republican government in Louisi-
ana, and seriously menaces the whole country.
Ninth-A new election under national authority is
desired by neither side.
Tsn,h-Congress should exercise its constitutional
powers. We think William Pit. Kellogg was the
choice of the majority of the 7oters in 1872, and
should be recognized.
Elerenth-These remedies ar but superficial
Efficient educational aid would have done much to
prevent the evil, and may do much TO effect the
cure The public sentiment of the rest of the coun-
try, without distinction of party, may do much to
remove, as it has already unfortunately done much
to aggravate, the evils Of Louisiana. The people
should be made to understand TIA. the authority
lodged in the national government to preserve a
republican form of government and to protect the
rights of all citizens viii be kindly but fearicssly
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. Unless this can be DONE the
overthrow OF the free institutions OF the whole United
States VIII not long survive the destruction of those
in the South.
TIE following are the conclusions Of that
portion CT the report which relates to intimi-
dation:
We cannot doubt that the effect of all these things
was to prevent full free and fair election and to
intimidate the colored voters and the white Republ-
cans The very formation of q white mans party
was menace Of terrible import to those who re-
member Colfax and Bousier. The press was filed
with threats of violence. The agreement to dis
charge laborersthe suggestion that wild beasts are
tanned by hunger-was evidence Of the general
spirit. The overthrow of the State government by
the White League on the 14th Of September; the
turning out of large numbers of parish officials in
the county by compelling them to Zee for their lives
the fearful lesson Of Coushatta; the formation,
arnning and drilling of the White League, the natu-
raj successors of the Knights White Camellia
these things in community where there is no legal
punishment for political MURDER must in the nature
of things, have filled with terror people timid
gentle Like the colored population Of Louisiana even
if had not taken abundant evidence to special
acts of violence and crime and their effect on
ticular neighborhoods.
The report is accompanied by a resolution
recommending the recognition of Kellogg and
the return Of the five Conservative members of
the Legislature.
All the members Of the committee report
against the action of the Returning Board !;
Me5srs. Foster, Phelps. Potter and Marshall