Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-20
THE OUTRAGEs In LOUISIANA.
Tie Republican Visitors Submit Their
Report to President Grant. and
He Sends 1t to Congress.
A Terrible Story OF intimidation, Ouraue and
Murder-0rigia and Functions of the
Returning 6oard.
The Justice Of Its Action Shown-A Report
Which Everyone Should Read

leans, and there witness the Canvass Dy Gne
Returning Board Of the Sfata of Louisiana OF
the votes cast in that State for electors Of
President and Vice President OF the United
States, have performed that duty and now
most respectfully report that on our arrival In
that city, we found several gentlemen who
came, representing the Republican State Or
CARNATIONS, who have throughout CO. operated
with those who went at your request, and
whose names are also appended to this coul-
muncation. Between gentlemen representing
the Democratic party and ourselves CORES
pondence In writing ensued. copy of
which is appended hereto. Reference to it
will disclose that conference with us for the
purpose of exercising an influence upon the
Returning Board WAS declined, upon the
ground that the only duty devolved upon us
was to attend before the Rosrd carefully note
it's proceedings and finally to report a faithful
history thereof, with such opinions concerning
the same as truth and justice should demand.
Such report are now able TO present, and
we take pleasure in stating that our ability to
do 80 is due to 81 courtesy and kindness OF the
Returning Board, which entities it's members
not only to our thanks, but that confidence
which a just public extends towards every
tribunal which desires that all it's proceedings
should be duly
PRESENTED TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
It was our earnest wish that this publicity
should be attained but we should have felt a
delicacy III requesting any privileges Lot in
harmony with the usage Of the Board. We
were, however, relieved from all embarraes
ment by the receipt Of a formal invitation,
hereto annexed, delivered to and to the
gentlemen who attended at the request of the
chairman Of the Democratic committee in
yiting the attendance OF five gentlemen from
cash delegation as spectators and Witnesses OF
the proceedings OF the Board, and this invita-
ton WAS accompanied with an offer to furnish
stenographic reporters selected by esch COM
mittee to be present, and make a full report
OF all proceedings and testimony, and refer
the daily publication thereof by the
press. The undersigned made arrange
ments for that purpose with the proprietors
OF one OF tbs daily ne wspapers printed III New
Orleans, and thus perhaps there and elsewhere
have been enabled to give such proceedings
and testimony the widest circulation. In JUS
tice to the Board it should also be stated that
this privilege was freely accorded by its NOM
bers without solicitation, aud that they cor
daily united with Us ia the desire to have all
their proceedings published throughout the
country. The scrutiny invited by the Board
has teen constantly exercised day by day; both
committees have been in attendance before
the Board with their stenographic reporter
and in addition privilege rendered to both
committees CT inviting gentlemen from states
other than the state of Louisiana has been
several times availed OF, as returns were
opened, whether contested or net.
Tho papers enclosed have been freely ten
dered to committees for examination, and
have usually been carefully inspected and as
means OF detecting any possible changes in
the returns after leaving their respective
parishes, both committees were furnished by
the respective parties with statements of the
vote as claimed by them respectively, that by
comparison it might be known if any altera-
ton had been inside IN the returns to be passed
upon by the Board, with which statement the
returns usually agreed Whenever it was
known to the Board that return was to be
contested, the attorneys for candidates
interested were sent for TO be present st the
ceremony of opening, and when such knoWI-
edge attainable only by inspection Of the
inside of the package containing such returns,
these attorneys were
INVITED To BE PRESENT
before any action WAS taken upon it. There
were thus secured in this manner publicity of
all proceedings
The Board gave most careful scrutiny of
every package OF returns they opened, and an
opportunity for candidates insisting upon the
validity of returns to appear personally and by
counsel before the Board III many instances
! before the returns were opened and in every
instance before action was taken upon them
1t has been believed unusual to give such full
and widespread publicity to proceedings
of q Returning Board, nor do We
think e better means for permanently
recording every word and act Of its members
whilst engaged in the discharge Of their duties
could have been afforded than enjoyed. Hav-
ing thus presented d statement of means &C.
well to state briefly the causes which led to
the creation of such d board in Louisiana, and
to call attention to the statute which devolves
on it powers and duties OF great public i'm
portance. The white people Of that and other
Southern States had, by their rebellion, for
feited all right TO representation in Congress,
or to any participation IN the Government of
the Union, and had teen compelled, as con-
dition Of resuning their former political
rights, to
ASSENT TO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
by which, in hostility to their will, they who
had been but late their slaves were made citi-
zens, and although it was their duty to submit
to this political reorganization, the annals of
the South, and especially Louisiana, disclose a
widespread and persistent determination Of it's
ruling white people to prevent the exercise OF
the elective franchise by the colored race, ex-
cept subject to their will. This was manifested
by violence, outrages and murder perpetrased in
= that state just preceding the Presidential cleo
ton of 1868. They will be found stated in
various Congressional reports From these
it appears that ever 1000 persons we're killed,
wounded, and otherwise injured in
that state, within few weeks of
the Presidential election in that year; that
half the state was oVerrun by violence, mid
night raids, secret murders and open riots,
which kept the people in constant terror, until
Republicans surrendered all Claims and then
the election WAS carried by the Democracy.
The parish Of Orleans, which contained %. go
voters, 5000 OF which were colored, and
which in the spring had given 13, 573 Republi-
can votes, in the fall cast for Gen. Grant but
Its, falling off of IL, 795 votes Riots pre-.
vailed for weeks, filling New Orleans with
scenes of blood, and Ku Klux notices were
scattered throughout the city warming coIored
men not to vote In the parish of Caddo
there were 1913 Republicans who in the
spring of 1868, carried the parish, which
in the fall gave to Gen. Grant but
vote, and there also bloody
riots occurred In the parish of st. Sandy
the Republicans had registered majority Of
1,07l votes, and in the spring of that year
carried it by 678 votes, whilst in the fall not
q vote was cast for Grant, whilst Seymour and
Blair the Democrats cast the full vote of the
parish, 4,784 votes, and there occurred one of
the bloodiest riots IN record, ia which Ku
Klux killed and wounded over 200 Republicans
hunting and chasing them for two days and
nights through felds and swamps Thirteen
captives were taken from jail and shot, and a
pile Of
TWENTY FIVE DEAD BODIES
were found buried in the woods. Having thus