Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-02-25
The Louisiana Outrages.

The Louisiana Outrages.
REroRr or THE CONGRESSIONAL coMMrrrEE-ro-
LITICAL COND1TIoN--THE FRUIT or SLAVERY M
TIMbATIoN OF CoLoRED MEN AND WHITE RErUB-
LICANB
Especial Dispatch to the Ne York Tlmes.l
WAsHfSaToN, Feb. %.
The report OF the committee which has invest
igated the condition Of affairs IN Louisiana will
DO submitted tomorrow. The first part is ansr-
rAtive OF affairs in that State from tho close OF
the war up to the events Of last September, and
it is introduced as necessary to complete un-
Outstanding Of the whole case. 1t shows that
the condition of political affairs in that State is
the natural sequence of the state Of society that
existed under the rule of the slave power. 1t |
does not excuse, but explains The report |
shows that, wlie there was intimidation prac-
ticed on tho day of election. the events prece- |
ding that day had terrified the negroes and vo.
tiers, and probably changed the result of the
election. The summary OF this branch of tho |
report il in the following words
"We cannot doubt that the effect Of all these
things was to prevent full, free election, and
to intmdate the colored voters and the white
Republicans. The very formation of IA White
Mans Party was menace OF terrible import to
those who remembered Colfax and Boser and
the Convention. The press was iilled with
threats Of violence. The agreement to dir charge
laborers-the suggestion that wild beasts are
tanned by hunger-was evidence Of the same
spirit. The overthrow of the State Government
by the White League on the 1ith of September
tho turning out of large numbers of parish
officers in the country, compelling them to fly
for their lives the fearful lesson of Cousliatta
tho formation, array, and drilling of the
White League. the natural successors
Of the knights of the White Camea-
these things, in II community where thore is no
legal punishment for political murders, must in
| the nature OF things, have filed with terror a
people timd and gentle like the colored popula-
ton of Louisiana even it we had not taken
abundant evidence as to special acts of violence
| aud crime, and their effects OH particular neigh
borhoods. Mr. Moncure, the Conservative can
| didate for State Treasurer, claims majority in
| tho whole State Of about 5000. far greater
number of Republicans than enough to overcome
| this majority must have been prevented from
| registration or driven by terror from the polls
| In view OF these facts, we do not
| hesitate to find that the election Of 1874 was
neither full, free, nor fair; that in large portions
| OF the State, the usual means of instructng and
pcrsuadng the people, Of organizing aud con-
Quoting campaign, could not be carried on by
Republicans without danger to their lives, and
that many more voters than were needed to give
the Republican Party complete victory were
prevented from voting at all, Or even coerced
| into voting the white mans ticket"
The final conclusions aud resolutions Of the
report follows:
| son the whole case we are OF opinion:
Fbst-T'hst there has been and is on the part
| Of the party calling Themselves "The White
Mans Party in Louisiana" a purpose to take
| possession by force and fraud OF the State Gov
eminent, without regard to the question of who
may have the numerical majority at u fair cleo
ton.
Second-That in the execution Of this purpose
| they have RETAINED and will refrain from the
| Use OF no Instruments which are designed to ac-
complish it, whether those instruments be muir
der, fraud, civil war, or coercion of laborers by
| employers.
| Third-While there arc many men in their
| party OF more moderate views who do not them
selves use or approve these unlawful means,
such men desire the accomplishment OF the same
| end, and are powerless to restrain their more
| violent associates.
Fourth -Three causes have made it easier to
| unite 30 large anumberof whites OF Louisiana in
this purpose, aud have rendered 1t more d ilicult
| to unite tho best men among them in opposi.
ton The fact that the Administration Party of
Louisiana il made up by massng together al
most the whole negro vote with fow whites,
| largely from other states the fact tina. there
| has been great maladministraiion by Republic
can officials the belief honestly eutei tanned by
| large numbers of the white people Of Louisiana
| that they have been twice deirauded of the re-.
suit Of elections in which they had been success
| full.
| FifM-Whle all those things are great evils.
much to be depored, and likely to exasperate
| any people, the course of the whites themselves
them. The simple and peaceful remedies of
obedience to law, argument, and decent treat
ment for their opponents, would il they had
pursued them, have proved eflectual long ago.
r.s snmIWhile We eye Coy. Kellogg to have
while We believe there was violence and fraud
which frustrated the will of the people in many
of the parishes in 1874 the Illegal order of Judge
Dnrell, aud the illega! conduct of the Returning
Board in attempting to cure one wrong by anotll.
or, naturally inllamed the popular discomfort,
and lent plausiDility to the complaints
Serenh-There has been indisputably much
corruption in State and local administration in
Louisiana. For this the Republicans, especially
under Warmotl's rule are largely responsible,
although in numerous instances their opponents
have been equally to blame.
EigM-The effect of all this has been to put
an end to the authority of law in large portion
OF Louisiana, to deprive the negro of his FREQ.
dom of suffrage, and wholly to destroy the value
OF the methods provided by law for securing fair
ness at elections and ascertaining their results.
This state of things oNerthroHs republican gov.
ernmeht IN Louisiana and seriously menaces the
whole country.
NdM-A new election held at this time under |
national authority il not desirable it is not |
wished FOR by ei.hcr side, and would inilime and |
augment the evils now existing.
1enh-lt is the duty of Congress TO use sucb |
powers as are vested in it by the Constitution !: |
u should recognize the lawful Governor of |
Louisiana by express resolution. We tlilk vii |
liam Pitt Kellogg the choice OF the majority of |
the voters of Louisiana, and that he should be |
recognized accordingly. Congress should pro.
vide further safeguards for holding elections |
and ascertaining the result If any eau be de. |
yiscd.
Etere,lN,-lIGt these remedies are at the besl |
temporary aud superficial, curing the symptoms |
and not the disease. Efficient aid to tie State |
10 accomplish public education would have gone |
lar to prevent the evil, aud may vet do much TO |
enect cure, The public sentmen; of the rest
OF the country without distinction Of party may
do much to remove, as it has already unforlui,.
ately done much to aggravate the evils in Iuuj.
siana. The people should understand that all
the authority lodged in the General Government
to preserve Rel nbl!can government and
10 protect the rights of all its citizens will
be kindly but fearlessly and steadily eycrtod.
and that no party in this country will accept the
alliance OF men who are seeking power by such
methods as we have been compelled to tes-
cribe. Unless this can be done tile free instilu
tons OF the whole United States will not long
survive the destruction of those in the South
Hhsreds. Both branches of the Legislature
OF Louisiana have requested the special COM
inlttee OF this house to investigate the circum.
stances attending the election and returns there
OF IN that State for the year 1874 and whereas
SAID committee have unanimously reported that
the Returning Board of that State In Canvass
ing aud compiling saia,returns and promulsatiny
the result wropgfully applied an erroneous rule
OF law; by reason Of which persons were award.
cd seats in the House OF Representative To which
they were not entitled, and persons entitled to
seats were deprived OF them
ResOtted That 1t IL recommended to the
House OF Representatives Of Louisiana to take
the necessary steps to remedy the great iujus-
tice, and place the persons rightfuy entitled in
their seats.
Resolced, That William Pit Kellogg be recog.
nlzel Es the Governor of the State of Tnuisinna