The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-12-20

} OF q government unuer Wnose law
2 the black Republican and the wbitt
Democrat we're entitled to equal pro
: lection
? IL was bat natural and jus; that tht
colored race should unite with anC
cling to the party to whose principles
: they owed freedom and protection
aud this seems 20 hare marked theii
political course from the time they
were given the elective franchise, and
their history in Louisiana has but
illustrated this whenever they have
been left free to vote as they please
untH radical change could De eneet
ed in the nature aud purpose of those
who had been their owners. and who
repudiated the idea Of being pl laced
upon terms Of civil equality with
them.
II was evident that fair election
eouid not be held in parishes co"tain-
ing anv considerable quantity of col
ored votes. and hence the act Of 1870,
acquiesced in bv both political par
ties. and amended in 1872, was pass
ed. creating Returning Board au-
thorized to lit 10 New Orleans, bav-
7 ing supreme authority n canvass the
votes cas9 throughout the entire State.
and authorized. If convinced that
riot. tumulf. acts Of violence. intimi-
dation. armed disturbance, bribery or
corrupt Influences haG prevented
voters from registering. or bad mate
rally interfered with the Ouritv or
freedom nf the election at snv poll or
voting place. or had materially
changed the result Of the election. tn
exclude the votes csst at such polls
or voting places from the 6nal count
This law. with some amendments not
materially changing its nature. ia that
under which the present Returning
Board Of Louisiana Is now organized
and sits.
rhe committee links this law still
inadequate for the protection Of the
colored people. "a Democrats might
10 Republican parishes. intimidate the
Republicans and thus prevent them
from voting. and If the Board threw
on, the parish it would still be a Dem
ocratic gain. To illustrate this the
report refers % the FIVE parishes n
East ana West Feliciaua. East Baton
Rauye. Norehouse and Onacbi,a
which appear, az the evidence dis
closes, 70 have been especially selec-
ted Tor the perpetration of such vio-
lence aud intimidation as should be
necessary TO prevent the Republicans
from casting snY considerable vote in
either. Ia each and all Of these there
Is g large Republican majority. In
al oi them the white voters regis
tered ibis year numbered j.I34. the
eoioTed 32f4. a majority Of S.1l0.
II. by Intimidation aud violence.
the Democrats could secure in each of
these parishes q majority. al immense
gain would thus be achieved; for. if
the bosfd should, upon the canvass.
rejec, the votes Of al, it would be
p0wsFless to administer that complete
Justice. which would cnnsisl onlv 10
declaring for the Republicans sneh a
majority in each parish as but for in
tim.datioa ard violence. would have
been cast for their candidates.
10 considering its powers aud du-
Ties this important feature Of the law
should be borne constantly in mind,
fJ- while that tribunal NAV, upon
proof and 10 the exescise Of Judicial
discretion, reject votes for the causes
mentioned, il canno. return sny not
actually cas-
Il will, therefore, readily aecur 70
auv one that g careful selection By
political managers Of certain parishes
known to bave large Republican ma
i0rities. for scenes Of intimidation and
violence, 10 the belief that other par
:sGes witLia the State would enable
them to carry ia for their party, even
should their mejorities in parishes
thus selected be rejected, might well
be 6 favorite method for achieving
success
TIE report then argues that the ac-
ticn of tie Board j. hnsl, as appears
from q decision Of the Supreme Court
Of that State, reported in the 18th
volume Of The louisiana annual re-
ports, where The court. at page 2S6,
ssy-. No statute conferring upon
;he courts the power to Try cases
. Of contested elections, or tile 10 Of
fee. authorizes them 10 revise the &C.
tioa Of tbe Returning Board"
Il He were to assume that prerog-
alive we should have 20 90 still fur
ther anj revise the returns Of super
yi~1.s Of elections, examine the right
ot voters 70 vote, aud 10 short, the
cJurt would become in regard TO such
ca es mere Cficers Tor coGuting, con-
p ing aud reporting election FetgsHs
The Legislature has seen proper 70
iodge the power to decide who has
OF - 30 has aot hesG elee'ed IN the
Returning Board l. might have
conferred tbat power % tee courts,
but /. did uo-. Whether the law i
good Or bad, it i our duty to obey IL
provisions and not 10 legislste
Tae lives and characters Of the
members Of the board are briefly
sketched. AL Of then are affirmed
20 be men of nigb character and weIl
educated Tue report then cor
ri8Ues.
We will nOw prezsai sseb "a oat-
line 0s jae proofs IS disci0se not only
s1ca violence aGd Intimidation a. pre-
vented Z fair election in several par
ishsz and al many polls, but as dis
close. sls1, that these grave odeuses
we're committed 10 pursuance of a
p-ecoaeerted and settled plsn formed
or the Democrats leaders - preTeoI
Republican voters from attending The
polls, and that sgeh unlawful purpose
vas 50 eiectasIly accomplished a.
{ not oaIy 70 interfere EIIb the purity
snd freedom o. the election, but ms-
ierialiy - change iIs results
After referring 10 3 Democratic po-
liucal circular, marked confidential.
Issued st tie beginning q Ibe cam
pa;zn, i eo1tiaues:
There were 10 the state OF Louisi-
ans % tee G-y of election g, 996