New-York tribune., 1876-12-07
THE MESSAGE AND THE REPORT.

the honor to transmit herewith a letter. acconpa-
MED by testimony, addressed to me by the Hon
John sherman and other distinguished citizens, in
regard to the canvass of the vote for electors IN the
State Of Louisiana. u. .. URANI.
Ere tdiUe Mdnsi0n, Dec. 6, 1876.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF TIE REPORT.
The report is addressed TO the President of the
United States. The first portion of it deals with the
courtesy of tho Returning Board in aflording the
visiting committee opportunity to attend the
proceedings and secure for them the widest publicity
1t then speaks of the horrors of the election of lS6o
and says:
1t may be we'll to state briefly the causes which led 70
the creation Of such board louisiana and to call
attention To the statute which dcvoves on 1t powers
and duties OF great public Importance
The white people Of that and otner
Southern States had by their rebellion
forfeited all right to representation in Congress- or 10
any participation in the Government of the union ana
had been compelled as a condition OF resuming their
former political rights assent TO the constitutional
amendments, by which, in hostility to their WILL
those who had been their slaves were made
citizens; and although it their duty to submit 10
this political reorganization, the annals OF the sOuh' anu
especially OF louisiana disclose widespread and per-
sstent determination of its ruling white people to pre-
vent exercise OF the elective franchise by the coored
race, except subject to their will.
This was manifested by the violence outrages ana
murders perpetrated in that State just preceding the
Presidential election OF 1868 They will be found stated
in various Congressional reports From these 1t appears
that over GOO persons killed. wounded and other
wise injured in that state within few weeks of the
Presidential election OF that year; that hall the
State overrun by Violence midnight
raids, secret murders, and open riots,
which kept the people in constant terror until the Re
pu5licans surrendered all claims; and then the election
was carried by the Democracy. The Parish OF orleans
which contained 901O votes, 5000 Of which were
l4,b9 Tho had friy
publican in the Fail cast for Gen Grant but LIS
falling of Of ,795 Riots prevailed for weeks,
filing New Orleans with scenes Of blood; and kukx
notices were scattered throughout the CITY, warning COL
ored men to vote. In the Parish OF Caldo there
were 293 Republicans who IN the Spring Of 1868 carried
the parish which In the Fail TO Gen. Grant but one
vote There also bloody rots occurred In the Parish
Of ST. Landry the Republicans had registered majority
OF O7l votes and in the Spring OF that year carried II
by 67s votes while in the Fall not vote was cast Tor
Cen Grant the Democrats casting the full vote of the
parish 7s7 voes-for Seymour and Blair In that par
ish occurred Of the bOodest riots record in which
the KuKux killed and wounded over 200 Republicans
hunting and chasing them for two days and nights
through fields and swamps. Thirteen eaptVes Wrro
taken from the Jail and shot, and pile OF p dead bodies
was found buried In the woods Having thus conquered
the Republicans and killed driven off their white lead
ers the masses captured by the KEkldx, marked
with badges OF red flannel enrolled IN cldbs led To the
polls and compelled O vote the Democratic Ticket aitor
w they certificates OF fhat taci.
These are Of the Outfagcs which marked Inc
pathway 20 political supremacy Of those who hut lew
years before had obtained the mercy o Government
under laws the black Republican ana the whlte
Democrat were entitled to equal protection.
and purpOsco those who had been their owners. and
VINO rcpudaled the idea Of being placed upon terms OF
equality with them 10 evident that ihr tcc
ton could not DC had in parishes containing any c0n.d
erabo majority coloed voters, and hence the act o
1870 acqucsccd in by both political parties and amend
cd in ls72, was passed crratiGG returning bonIh h
thOriZed 10 sit IN NcwOrlcans' hhNlhE supreme
authority 20 canvass the votes cast throughout
the entire State, and authorized, II convinced.
that riot tImut acts of violence. intimidation armed
disturbance. bribery corrupt ufdcucc had prevented
voters registering, or had materially intefercd
with the purity or freedom OF election al any pol OF
voting place, had materially changed the result OF
the election TO exclude votes cast at such poll or voting
place from the final count Ihis la" with some am' no
enis materially changing its nature. l. that under
which the present Returning Board Oi Louisiana N now
organized and sits.
The report then states that the law even yet is in
adequate for it does not provide for the admission
OF votes which would have been cast except for in
timidation In illustration it refers TO the five bull
dozed parishes of this year, where there
are 5,134 white and 1921 coored voters,
and where, by intimidation, such remarkable
results were effected by keeping from the polls
Republican voters 1t says the fact Of the imper-
fections of the law should constantly be borne in
mind. as it will reveal the proprioty Of what the
Returning Board did. II goes on TO say:
POWERS OF The BOARD.
The statute under which this board acts is so
framed as 10 prohibit the rejection OF votes
cast at any poll voting place unless certain
solemn foInal!ties first complied with, which must
be sl upementod by the testimony Of witnesses. The
statute organizing board declared in substance that
whenever from any poll voting place there shall bo
received by the board the statement Of any supervisors
OF registration or commissioner Of election, confirmed
by tho afldayits OF three more citizens, OF any
riot, tumut acts OF violence. intimidation, armed
disturbance. bribery corrupt Influences which
prevent tend to prevent, a fair, free. ana
peaceaOle vote of all qualified electors entitled to vote at
such polls the board shall proceed TO investigate the
facts; and II from such statements and aidayits they
shall be convinced that such causes did not materially
interfere with the purity and freedom Of such election
or prevent sufficient number Of qualified voters from
voting TO materially change the result Of the cleo
ton then such vote shall be canyassed and
complled but II they are not thus fully
convipced It shall DO their duty 70
examine further testimony In regard thereto and 10 that
end shall have power send for persons and papers
and IT, after examination the board shall be convinced
that such acts Of violence intimidation, &c, did
materially interfere with the purity and freedom Of the
election such poll, did prevent sufficient number
of qualified voters from registering voting, to
materially change the result Of the election then the
board shall not or compile the votes OF such
poll, but shall exclude II from their returns.
Nothing be SIMPLE, more JUST than these pro
visions They ae, for the reason before sal' lhtdc
duate the administration Of complete remedy
Tor may be fairly said that H. by reason OF violence and
intimidation committed IN The interest OF one polItcttI
party the adherents of another are restrained from v9t
ing through fear, an equitable remedy II praccaple,
for the outage would be To count III ma,
Of the injured every vote they lost; Inc Inc
statute Ol Louisiana has provided only Tor the rj'co.
OF votes, aud IL il worthy or renrK that thu lhost
occurred In parishes where the Republican reg slcred
vote which would undoubtedly have been east but for
the intimidation and violence, largely exceeded tne
registered vote OF the Democratic party.
We have thus alluded to some OF tue causes %he iuu