The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16

tore constrained to declare that the action OF the
kesnaniag soard IN the rejection OF these returns
that parish to the republican candidates are arbl-
srary, UNFAIR ana without warrant OF law.
THE CHARGES OF INTIMIDATION UNsUsTAINED.
u tne committee were to go behind the papers
before the Board and consider the alleged charge
OF in,lmlaation upon the proofs before the com.
mlttee, their finding would necessarily be the
same. IL was asserted IN Governor wells anl-
davlt That the McEnery officials had usurped the
oihces OF the parish. aud thereby intim-
dated voters. Immediately alter the l4th OF
septem a when the Kellogg auth rites in
ties certain changes took place In OF the
reached these parishes the McEnery oiiicers de
mdnded tLeir places OF the Kellogg ofncals.
ross When the M
m ma, and received back their places
Tore the Kellogg officias took their places
BACK; indeed, the McEnery Register OF Deeds was
New Orleans. the Kellogg Register never having
come TO reclaim the place, which was said to be
logg Clerk was Mr. Wells son, who, having
welded bis place TO the McEnery competitor in
and ne was accordingly sent for alter the election
TO come rom his residence some miles distant, to
slgn the returns OF the elections, which he ala.
Your committee are at loss to see Ia their action
any intimidation OF MIR. Wells, still less OF the
electors or the parish. 1t so happens that this
parish was taken as sample parish OF intimida-
tlon, many witnesses rom which, OF both parties
were examined with reference to 1t. They show
beyond question that there was
FREE FULL, FAIR AND PEACEABLE ELECTION
ana registration there; there Was no evidence OF
any Intimidation OF voters practtsed on the day OF
election. although IL was asserted that intimida-
ton OF colored men before the election had been
effected by threats OF refusal to employ them, or
TO discharge them II they voted the republican
TICKET. No evidence, either OF discharge or re-
iusal to employ was produced. Certain witnesses
orally TO such action; but hardly any one was able
to specify a single instance IN which he heard any
IN so thTaa n ArTA or
knew OF any employee being so threatened or dis
charged. Not one single colored man throughout
the entlre parish was produced 70 TESTIFY either
to such q threat or TO the execution OF such
purpose, whether before or after the election.
ILLEGAL ACTION OF SUPERVISORS.
The action OF the Returning Board in the parish
OF kapides alone changed the political compile xOn
0s te ower ahd acon For 10 Inc otnet
In Iberia parish 1t was claimed before your COM
mittee that the vote of Poll No in that parish
had been rejected on account OF intimidation, but
the papers produced by the Clerk OF the Board
Showed no sOcn proof whatever. One Of the coun-
sel-Mr. Ray-produced some afIldavts, which he
declared had been submitted TO the Board by
another OF the counsel, General Campbel. The
conservative counsel insisted that these papers
had never been before the Board when opportu-
nifty was given to the republican counsel to show
that the paper had been submitted, but the testi-
mony offered for that purpose by them. so far,
however. rom establishing that tact established
1t was then asserted that the returns were re.
jecteo because the accounts OF the election were
not delivered to the supervisor OF Registration
election, which was six O'Clock on the Sd day OF
November: whereas II appeared that both In the
search was made Tor this Supervisor OF Regis
lratlon for that parish IN order to de-
er 70 MIN u t1ese sT d he
as soon as he could be found on the evening OF
that day they were offered to him and again reap
peared the next morning, but were refused TO be
received. Yet this same Supervisor OF Registration
received other republican returns alter he had re-
fused to receive these conservative ones, on the
ground that they were too late, and the Returning
Board, although it had held as to other polls
be rejected merely because they were sent too
late, rejecting the returns from his poll thereby
changed the representation OF the parish IRON
conservative to republican. &c. in the parish OF
De Soto the returns showed conservative
elected by over one thousand majority 1t was
alleged that the supervisor OF Registration had
brought he returns to New Orleans and had lett
them with
WOMAN OF BAD CHARACTER.
who onered to produce them on payment OF
$1,000. The Conservative Committee TOOK legal
proceedings to compel their production, but the
They then caused to be produced before tue
Board the duplicates OF those returns rom the
With the tally sheets, poll lists 1c.,
flied there according to law. These duplicates
the compiled returns which the said woman had
produced, and OF these alleged facts undisputed
proof was submitted to the Board. Nevertheless,
! the Board refused to count the vote for that
parish.
ARBITRARY REJECTION OF HEAVY CONSERVATIVE
MAJoRITIEs.
So. in VIM parish where 4O4 conservative and
l64 republican votes were cast upon a verbal
only proof was tnat he had failed
State Although there no pretence tnat the
election was not lair represen tatlon OF the Will
OF the people the Whole vote OF the parish was re-
! jected and the case referred to the Legislature.
! so 10 Ierreoonne parish, where there was
conservative Ise majorty It was proved
mlsapprehension OF their duties, enclosed
all the returns in the ballot boxes and
/ whom the law required the boxes to be left. The
Judge VI the Court thereupOn issued mandamus
! commanding the Clerk TO take the returns from
/ state which was done. Nevertheless the Board
/ rejected the retsrns from these polls thereby CIV
ing the parish to the republicans with the result
OF choosing republican senator, two republican
members OF the Legislature and the republican
Without now referring TO other instances we
are constrained to declare that the action OF the
just, ana, IN our opinion, Illegal and that this
arbitrary, unjust aud illegal action alone pre-
vented the return by the Board OF a majority OF
conservative members to the lower house.
NO OPPRESSION OF NEGRO VOTERS.
Wien the general subject Of the state OF AFFAIRS
In the south and as to whether tue alleged wrongs
10 coiored CITIZENS ior political oences are real or
were asserted without que foundation your COM
mitee took such proof as the opportunity offered.
BOth parties agreed upon four parishes as sam
pies OF the condition OF affairs In That respect in
the state. OF these, owing 70 The Impossbllitv OF
pr curing Witnesses from the locality in time,
your committee were obliged to con1ne their
especial examination TO two parishes they
ceyed all the testimony that was offered, ana IN
addition they received all the testimony that was
then on nand IN New Orleans offered by either
party as to the conditioned affatrs In other parts
OF the State. As whole, they are constrained to
say That the intention charged Is not borne out by
the facts before us. No general intimlda-
ton OF republican voters was established.
No coiored man was produced VINO had
been threatened or assaulted by any
conservative because OF political opinion, or DIS
Charged from employment or refused employment.
Oh all those VINO testified to Intimidation there
was hardly one VINO OF his own knowledge could
specify reliable instance OF such acts; and OF the
wnite men VINO were produced 10 testify gen.
orally on such subjects very nearly ALL II not every
single one. was the holder OF an Office.
KELLOGG SUPPORTED MAINLY By OFFICE HOLDERS
throughout the rural districts or the state the
NUMBER OF white republicans Is very few; IL hardly
extends beyond those holding office and those
Dected with them. No witnesses, we believe, sue
ceeded in naming, In any parish five republicans
who supported the Kellogg government VINO were