Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1876-11-17
LOUISIANA.
AS Viewed by lei. v. Reaaeld.
From the Cincinpati Commercial.

FROM tue ClnclQQabl comm erclal.
New ORLEANS, Nov. IA. Unless
Florida saves Tilden, his chances are
bad, for Louisiana will almost certain.
ly be counted for Hayes by the highest
legal authority-the Returning Board
A ter thorough investigation and close
observance of the drift of matters, am
satisfied that the Board will give the
State to Hayes by majority of not
less than eleven hundred. They will
throw out the five parishes where the
blacks were so thoroughly intimidated.
| They will likely restore to these par
| ishes the proper Republican majorities
which they had two years ago, or some
thing near it. These parishes in 1874
gave Republican majority of 1919,
| and this Year Democratic majority of
| ,413, showing net Democratic gain
| of over 5000. This was accomplished
| by intimidation by forcing negroes
| to vote the Democratic ticket or not
vote at all Restore to these parishes
I the Republican mT.joritiea they would
| have on free election, and the Dem-
ocratic majority all meIts away, and
| Hayes has the State. From the best
information l can get this will be
done. Thousands of individual affi-
davits from these parishes, set
llBS 1OLIu Iub lHctS OI
datiOn have already been filed. The
Board will consider them, and take all
the facts carefully into consideration.
They will also hear oral testimony,
and go for the bottom facts. The black
registered vote of Louisiana is more
than ten thousand in excess of the
white registered vote. After making
all allowances for errors and black
Democrats, it is plain that the State is
Republican on fair vote. The Demo
Gratis only have the majority because
they revOlutiOniZed five parises by in
timidation. This will be so fully and
cOnclusively set Outbefore the Return
ing Board that there can be no doubt
of the result. The Board is exclu-
sively Republican, no ODemocrats upon
it, but the one existing vacancy may
be filled by Democrat. The present
members are Wells, Anderson, and
two negroes. Charges that Wells and
Anderson are disqualified are freely
made, but there seems to be no legal
way to remove them. There is great
deal of talk on the streets to day
used to influence the Board. The
freedom with which it is discussed
shows the decentralization of the
times. Each side is very Vigilant to
see that nothing of this sort is at
tempted. 1t is reported that the two
cOiOred members of the Board are
closely guarded to protect them from
outside Influences. Attempts are made
to get them to resign, but without sue
cess. The black population are un&n-
imously of the opinion that they must
have representation on the Board in
this extraordinary crisis. Many of
the Northern visitors are astonished
and discouraged at the condition of
things They find here, for instance,
in the five intimidated parishes the
number of white registered votes is
5,074 and black II, ,904, or more than
hesashRle seahlle N9rthsra Sel sgg mea shake their
thousand voters have run.oT thirteen
thousand. They say it will be hard to
make this understood in the North. 1t
is likely that the Returning Board will
be many weeks wrestling with the
case, but their decision will almost
certainly be that Hayes has the
State. The surface indications
show that plainly enough.
saw the whole question will be thrown
into Congress, and Congress will not
allow the State to be counted for
Hayes when the election returns upon
their face are for Tilden. Business
men, who do not make their living in
politics, are much discouraged, seeing
no solution to the difficulties. Pri-
vately they are satisfied to have troops
here, as without them there would be
great danger of rioting and bloodshed.
Several companies are quartered In
the Custom House and Mechanics In
stitute.
The Returning Board will have am
pie protection during their delibera-
tions. Looking over the ground care
fully, I am perfectly well satisfied that
the Returning Board will give Hayes
a majority of not less than 1,lO0, and
their decision is final, so far as the
State is concerned. Congress and the
Senate will worry with it next.
II. V. REDFIELD.