Litchfield enquirer., 1876-12-07

turns They held meetings, organized clubs, had torehlignt processions,. gave out b., ces, and employed pleading and argumeltt with the negroes l see that MT. Redfeld, in letter to the Cincinnati Commercial of last Sunday morning, quotes the United States army officer sta toned in West Feliciana that this is so, and it is what was claimed by persons whom saw. I saw also negro presedents of negro democratic clubs. When asked why they had formed or joined these clubs, they replied that they were sick of the confusion and misery of the country. They thought that the promises made to tbem had not been kept. They com plained especially that they had no schools. and that the school funds were embedded. They said that the democrats made fair promises, and they were dis posed to try them. Colored men made speeches to this effect through the dis the most of this disaffection, and exerted themselves to win the election just as both parties did at the North. 5.57
 On the other hand all means seem to have been used to defeat them. I saw and read an original specimen of 8 circu- lar issued by the republican committee to the state supervisors of election, in which the person addressed is ordered to bring up the republican vote of his parish to a certain figure, and is told that his recog- hilton by the future state administration will depend on the fidelity and success with which he does this. This document was sent by party committee to 8 state officer, who got his pay from the parish in which he served. It is in safe hands and can be produced. It is claimed that polls were established at the last moment; or in out-of-the-way places, and were not opened for the full time. or were opened before the hour appointed. In New Or leans sewing machine circular was sent through the post office to voters who had not registered. These circulars were of ten misdirected in some way or other, so that they were mot found." Each one had registration number on it, and the person who held that number was struck from the list and warrant for his arrest issued, but not served. The cases were recorded in a book, but the evidence cir cular was attached to the warrant. A vol unteer committee indexed the book, and published the names, and after long ex- ertion succeeded in getting back the war rants and circulars so as to bring about a trial and exculpation. There were several thousands of these ensures. Those who did not find out that their names had been erased had to spend several hours on election day to recover registration. Those who would not take this trouble were intimidated from voting. 5f
 New Orleans is to day the most mourn ulcity ever saw. Thecity itself is squalid and wretched in appearance, and the peo, pie are dispirited. 1 saw no probability at all that there could be any use for troops. The grave importance of the election seemed to me to lie in it's nation. al aspects. The federal power has twice intervened in New Orleans to sustain the returning board in setting aside the will of the people as expressed by an election, on the ground that they did not coincide with the will of the people as expressed by the census. Federal interference is the key to the situation. Without it the returning board would have to exercise it's great and dangerous power under re. sponsibility to public opinion ct least. With that interference the returning board-is an engine of tyranny which is the more frightful because it acts under grotesque travesty of republican govern ment. The people of the North have too long neglected the case of Louisiana, as if it were far off and foreign. They have left Louisiana to become, inside of our own republic, an instance of as fragrant oppression and wrong as any which in history or foreign lands has ever enlisted our sympathy. It has, however, been like cancer in our body polite. and, at this moment, when it is eating into a presiden- tial election-the great nerve of our politi- cal system when, too, the federal admin istration and the federal arms are still en- forcing the wrong, we are told that the principles of ''state rights" and "local self-government' command us to let it alone We are told at New Orleans that the returning board must act under the law. So, indeed, it must, for the forms of law are sacred; but there is an appeal which cannot be in vain to the sober req son and honorable will of the American people. The law which commends obedi- ence because it is the will of the governed is one thing. The law which the people who live under it never consented to and never made is another thing; and those who rely upon it's sanction for arbitrary and unjust action bring law under the. most dangerous contempt. When the people of the country appreciate the fact that it is their power which has imposed upon Louisiana this monstrous tyranny thelr power cannot longer be turned in that direction. -.-.-...
 It was this opinion of the national im- portance of the Louisiana election which led me to accept the invitation of the committee thought that the interest at stake went far beyond any question of person to sit in the presidential chair. l thought that it touched the vita1s of the republican system Every thingI saw in Louisiana strengthened this opinion. I hoped that we might avert the danger. In that we did not succeed, but We suc- tceeded at last and after persistent exertion in securing for the northern people a re- port of all which may be done, II came home believing that our institutions are about to be put to test compared with which the war was insignifcant-one which will demand that we gather togeth CT all our patriotism, and all our tradi- tions of civil liberty and self-goyernment.s
 Many learned notices have been written in criticism of the conflict between the North and South. showing that it is Q conflict of aristocracy and democracy, of Puritan and Cavalier, and I know not what. Whatever the cause which the present government of Louisiana repre- sents that cause is unfortunate in it's mis sionaries. By the fac.s of the record, the government there existing IS base, corrupt, and contrary to every sound principle. A year ago no one could be found who dared apologize for 1t. It is baser to- day than then, and do not see how any honest man can side with it, or believe that it can advance any good cause. .ral I found no sentiment of disunion among the, men l. met. They only seemed to despair of being trusted by the North. R~. R. -1s South" and no ambitions to be satisfied. at Washington. The all-absorbing sub iect was the redemption of Louisiana from misrule. I found no hostility to negro suffrage. People did not seem to care aboutIit, or, if they did. they approved of it. They thought that if they could once get self-government for the people of the state, they could manage to live together without trouble. presume that there are many people worse than those I met, but I think those whom saw would be