The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-12-28
THE LAW AND FACTS.
Hon. Job z. Stevenson on the Louisiana
Case.

To the Editor OF the Cincinnati Gazet'
AT your request, herewith omit my
| impression on public affairs in -ouisina :
In going to that State it as my de
sire to see an equitable resul egally at
| tanned
While my preference was Republican,
it was not so strong as to render me
blind or deaf Eager to learn the very
truth OF the matter, / improi ed every
means and opportunity of information,
not only attending the session Of the Re
turning Board, but hearing voluntary
statements of witnesses and advocates
on both sides, and mingling freely, and
on kindly terms, with citizens of every
class and of all shades of political opinion.
| Feeling toward the people of Louisiana
nothing but good will, stimulated by
most cordial reception, and having
friends of all parties among them,
would say nothing which can injure or
offend any citizen of the State, and it, in
what follows, there be any error, ] trust
it will be the.omission Of matters which,
though true, are not essential, and might
be unpleasant.
The Louisiana question, as presented
to the Returning Board took the form
of a legal controversy on issues of law
and fact
The leading issue was whether there
had been such violence and intimidation
in certain parishes and polls as would
invalidate the election held in those 10
calities. and require the Returning
Board to omit such polls from their re
turns.
As often happens in cases. at law, both
parties overstated their claims.
The Republicans alleged a horrible
condition of affairs in many parts Of the
State, while the Democrats denied that
there was any intimidation whatever
anywhere, save by Republicans against
colored men inclined to vote the Deme-
cratic ticket.
Having, in 1868, been officially familiar
with the condition OF the State, and ever
since had unusual means of knowing the
course Of affairs, | soon perceived that
the truth lay in the mean between the
two extremes, and this was confirmed by
subsequent injuries which convinced me
that violence did prevail over several par
ishes, and in parts OF other parishes,
though not in such degree, or to such
extent as in lS6S-when fearful scenes
we're enacted through more than half the
State, resulting in the reduction OF the
Republican vote in the lawless regions
from Al ,923 to 5.360-oyer 1900 votes.
Ii can not now be, and / suppose il is
not seriously denied that there were dis
orders more or less extensive-which
must have affected the election, but
whether these disorders were sufficient
to change, and did change the majority
in the State, is the substantial issue.
The Returning Board the lawful and
only tribunal charged by the authority
OF the State TO determine this issue, has
duly considered, and solemnly adjudica
ted the question, and If IT were a mere
case at law the controversy would be at
an end But as the matter involves po-
litical consequences, in which the whole
American people are concerned, il be
comes us to consider whether the result
thus legally attained is or is not equita-
BILE.
The testimony on which the Returning
Board acted is voluminous, consisting OF
the sworn statement OF many Witnesses
official certificates, verified and supported
/ by affidavit, depositions taken on inter
rogatories, duly crossed, and oral eyi
dence in open session.
A superficial reading of this evidence,
/ conflicting as it is, might leave the mind
/ in doubt and partisan Of either side
! giving credence only to what pleases
prejudices, but an impartial Judge, care
fully weighing the testimony, would con-
clude that there was such intimidation
as the law OF Louisiana denounces and
renders penal, and that such intimida-
ton did materially affect the result.
The difference OF opinion, if any,
among fair judges must be as to the ex-
tent of such violence and the effect pro
duced by it; that is how far the tesli-
mony required the Board to 90 under
the law
On this point deem it necessary to
say only, that il appears to me that a
fair minded and impartial Judge would
find that the disorders had controlled
parishes and polls more than enough to
change the result on the Presidential
Electors. On the State, Legislative and
parish tickets | did not form any opinion
As might have been expected the testi
mony adduced to establish the fact ot
intimidation Is positive aud specific, Civ
ing place, date, name and circumstances
while the rebutting statements are gen
eral. negative and vague The man who
sees, hears, and feels must always b,
able to speak to the point, while he who
does not see, hear, nor feel, can only say
so.
On questions of outrage dead bodies
scars, wounds, invalids, and cripples ar,
convincing witnesses.
But not content to rest my opinion OF
the record alone when broader viewt
: were open to me, ! have inquired dill
gently, and found further and most in
I teresting proofs.
Looking to the nature Of things il
Louisiana, the first fact which strikes al
observer is that large majority of thu
inhabitants OF the State are colored. 3,
4 the census of 1870 the whites were
minority. and since then Louisiana bein
in Republican hands, while the adjoining