Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-11-24
THE KEYOF THE SITUA TON.


With the most shameless effrontry and
falsehood, the Republican press is trying
to convey the idea to the people that Lou
isiana is Republican State, and that the
only way 1T could possibly give a Demo-
cratic majority would be through violence.
To do this they first try to leave the i'm
preston that it is negro State, and ergo
a Republican State. The census CT 1870
showed that the white adults Of Louisiana
numbered ST ,066, and the negro adults,
S6,913. When the war ended the RepubH
cans had control of the election machinery
of the State, and have robbed the Demo-
Gratis of their victories at the polls ever
SINCE Of the character of the system, 5.
B. Packard, the present Republican CAN
didate for Governor there, when asked by
the Congressional Investigating Com
mittee if whether, under the Governors
power, he ''could not declare any person
he chooses elected,'' replied: sit amounts
to nearly that" The Governor KEEL
Log just now appoints the supervisor OF
registration, and the supervisor appoints
WARNoTH fell out with KELLOGG, PACK
ARD and the rest, and his returning board
gave the Democrats fair show, Nc
Emery Dem being returned as elected
Governor by 5000 majority, and a Demo-
cratic majority in the Legislature. This
was upset through Judge DURELL's mid
night order, and KELLOGG and Republi-
can Legislature installed under the. bayo-
nets of the U. S. troops. In 1874 the Legis-
lature was again carried by the Democrats,
but KELLoGG's returning board counted
enough out to give Republican majority,
and by GRANTS order the U. s. troops
marched the Democratic members out of
the House of Delegates. The thing was
too shameful to stand unquestioned in a
free country, and Congressional investi-
eating committe was sent down to investi-
gate it.
Four members of this Committee,
including Messrs. FOSTER and PHELPS
(Republicans), and POTTER and MIR
SHALL Democrats), sent in report
as the result of testimony taken. They
found that there were 90,7S1 colored and
only 76,S23 whites registered; in other
words, that there were four thousand more
colored men registered than there auere tolored
adults in the State, according t o the census,
while the white registration WAS 10 goo less
than their strength in that State. This
was the work of the Republican supervisors
of registrations The Committee thus con,
cludes:
ssThe entire want of any direct evidence
to show any general Intimidation OF the
cOlored voters. OF course, in SO large Il
State. it would be impossible there should
be no instances of refusal to employ nor Of
intimidation. Such occur in every State
Rut tie evidence certainly indicates @
general intimidation of colored voters and
that such intimidation as did exist Ill the
State was rather in the interests OF the Re
nnblicans than of the Conservatives. The
United States N arshals, whose chief was
chairman Of the Republican State Com
u,ittee. armed in some cases 10y blank
warrants. and aided by federal troops,
m AIDE constant arrests before election, tut
NOT afterward, The oversight of the cleo
tions and of the returns was IN the hands
of Governor Kellogg's officials. The count
and the return did show % majority OF
members of the lower house ELECTED by the
Conservatives without any protest what
ever. except in three parishes, although 1t
was their province and duty to protest in
aay case where violence or Intimidation or
fraud existed:
All experience shows that the result OF
the election of 1874 in Louisiana, as re-
turned to the returning board, was natural,
and to be only accounted for by the rea-
sons we have given. We holo, therefore,
fhat in November, 1874, the people OF The
State of Louisiana did fairly have a Tree,
peaceable and full registration ana eiec-
zion. in which clear Conservative ma
iority was elected to the lower house Oh
the Legislature, of which majority the Con-
servative party were deprived by the IN
Just, illegal and arbitrary action OF The
returning board"
The Republican Congress, then in ses-
sion, passed by this report unn Atlced.
And now to-day the same scene then
enacted with d helpless State, is attempted
upon majority of quarter OF million
Of the people of the United States. Bu
here the conspira5ors will find their hallins
piace. The Great Fraud has come to an
end. It has been exposed thoroughly ["
the whole people Of this country. There
MS not a corner in this bro.d land where
the Louisiana Returning Board is 10.
known for it's shameless corruption. and
now. when it puts out its filthy hand to
clutch the office of Chief Magistrate OF the
nation. the voice of the people everywhere,
without regard to party, will Se raised
AGAINST it. No return from this Board
s.ainst an elected man would be enter
taiaed for d moment by any civilized na'
ton ON earth, and it will not be by tile
CONGRESS of the United States. MI TILDEN
may be kept out OF the Presidency by
death, but not by the returns OF tii-
Louisiana Returning Board. The Amerl
can CONGRESS cannot in face ct The weird
count in HAYES, as President ON ohe
electoral vote of Louisiana. @hGch Is
returned against Democratic majority
of 5000 by such an authority as the Lou
ssiana Returning Board.
THE VOTE IN VIRGINIA.
We give elsewhere the official vote of
Virginia, showing majority of 1883 TO:
M, ,,n>Y tho Jaronat maturity ever given