Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-03-04

to establish . precedent by which, under pretexte
| that can readily be found, any State Gov
| ernment may be overthrown, the will OF the peo-
| pie nuIlifed. and fraAd and violence made per
| manent and republican forms perverted to de-
| In their Judgment all that is needed in Louisi-
ana is to Withdraw the Federal troops and leave
| the people of that State to govern themselves
CHARLES FOSTER
WILLIAM WALTER PHELPS,
CLARKsox n. POTTER,
| SAMUEL s. MARSHALL.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
G.. F. Hoar. Chairman of the commit
tee, made the minority report, closing
| with the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, Both branches of the Legislature OF
Louisiana have requested the Select Committee
Of the House to investigate the circumstances at
tending the election and returns thereof in that
State for the year 1S74-'5; and
WHEREAS, Said committee has unanimously
reported that the Returning Board of that State,
In canyassing and compiling said returns and
promugating the results, wrongfully applied an
erroneous rule Of law, by reason whereof persons
were awarded in the House Of Representatives
seats to which they were not entitled, and per-
sons entitled to seats were deprived of them;
of Representatives of Louisiana TO take immediate
steps to remedy said injustice and to place the
Resoiyea. That William p. Kellogg be recog-
nized as the Governor of Louisiana until the end
of the term of Office fixed by the Constitution of
that State.
The majority and minority reports
were ordered printed. AS the result of
the colloquy between members as to
which was the majority report and which
the minority report, it may be stated
| that all the members of the committee
report against the action of the Return
ing Board; that Messrs. Foster, Phelps,
Potter and Marshall unite in the MAORI
| ty report that there was no general in
timida,ion in the State, but free and
fair election, which resulted in favor of
! the Conservatives, who were deprived of
| the result by the wrongful action of the
Returning Board; that Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye unite in a minority re-
| port, and that Foster assents with Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye to compromise
recognizing Kellogg as Governor, and
giving the majority in the House to the
| Conservative delegates.
The report signed by Messrs. Hoar,
Wheeler and Frye is summarized under
eleven heads, which are briefly as fol
| lows:
| First-That there exists in the White Mems
| party purpose to take possession, by force or
fraud of the State Government. without regard to
| the question who may have numerical majority at
/ any fair election.
| Secondhand in the execution of this purpose,
they will not hesitate to any nstrumentalities
| which they think designed to accomplish their
| end, whether the same be murder, fraud, civil
| war or coercion Of laborers by their employers.
| Third-While there are many white men of
moderate means who DO not themselves use or APP
| prove these unlawful means. such men desire the
| accomplishment of the same end, and are power
| less under the leadership OF their more infuen-
| tial associates.
Fourth-rhree causes have made it easy for the
| white men to so unite: The fact that the Admin
| istration party in Louisiana is made up almost
altogether of negro votes with a few white votes,
largely from other States; the fact that there has
| been maladministration by Republican officials;
| the beliefby large number of the white people
1 that they have been twice defrauded OF the re-
| suits of the successful election.
| Fyfit-While these things are deplorable, the
course of the white people themselves has tended
to bring them about. The simple aDd peaceful
| ment of opponents would, IL they had pursued
| them, have proven effective long ago.
Sirh- While we believe Gov: Kellogg received
q majority Of votes in 1872. and while we believe
| there was violence and fraud in many of the por
ishes in 1874 the illegal order of Judge Durel and
the Illegal conduct Of the Returning Board in at
| furnished substantial basis for complaints.
SeUenh-There has been much dishonesty and
corruption in Louisiana. For these the Republi-
| can officials under Warmoth's rule are largely re-
| sponsible, although many OF their opponents
have been equally guilty.
| EaghtA-The erect OF all this has been to put
| an end TO the authority of law throughout large
portion OF Louisiana. to deprive the negro OF free
| dom and suffrage and to destroy the safeguards
| PROVIDED law 10 secure Idlfuebe IN electlOns
This state of things overthrows republican gov
eminent in Louisiana and seriously menaces the
| whole country.
| Niath-A new election under national authority
4 is desired by neither side.
| Tenth-Congress should exercise its constitu-
tional powers We think William Pitt Kellogg
was the choice of the majority of the voters Of
| 1872, and should be recognized.
| EteUenth-These remedies are 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
| country without distinction of party, may do much
| to remove, 1T has already unfortunately done
| much to aggravate, the evils of Louisiana. The
! people should be made to understand that the
authority lodged In the National Government to
| preserve a republican form of government and
to protect the rights of all citizens will be kindly
but fearlessly and steadily exercised, 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 describe. Unless this
be done the overthrow of the free institutions
| of the whole United States will not long survive
| the destruction OF those in the South.