New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-01
TnE RETURNING BOARD A NECES'
SlTY.

ing under consideration, Mr.. Levisee said:
The Republicans have been accused of
violating the Wheeler compromises. Espe-
cially is it urged that We have, in refusing
to abolish the Returning Board, and this is
urged as reason why the Democrats are
absolved from all obligations on their part
to regard it as any longer binding on them.
How the Returning Board has anything to
do with the Wheeler compromise ID some
crate. but we waive this and will give te Y
reasons why. l, for one Of the Republican
party. am uualterahly opposed to the re-
peal Of the Returning Board until the De-
mocracy should conclude to deslst from the
systematic disorders practiced by them for
the purpose of defeating tho public will at
the ballot.box. As q sample of the
manner in which the Democracy CON
troll elections, we make the following
extract from the testimony Of +. N. Os-
den before the congressional sub-commlt
tee. December 81, 1874. (See page 209)
Mr.. Ogden says: "a few days before the
election several gentlemen came to my
house, together with officers OF my stan, 10
adopt plan by which we could watcn me
polls of tho city of New orleans on tne
second day Of November, the ponce oi our
CITY being unable to do anything, and Ior
the purpose of maintaining peaco IN the
citv Of New Orleans. My plans were not
Inowr :" srv member Of the Republican
party. They we're simply these: My orders
were to thoss gentlemen, in the first place
to divide up the Leagues into three DIVISIONS;
the first division under command OF General
Young. which would embrace the city OF
Nav Orleans from Canal street to Louisiana
avenue: the second division, under COM
mand of General Gwinn, embracing the
section Of the city below Canal street; the
third division, under Ma jOr Allen, comprls-
ing that part OF the city above Louisiana
avenue. These instructions were, eaily
in the morning on election day, 70
place st each poll in the city OF
New Orleans force OF twenty men,
under competent officer, for the purpose
of maintaining order at the polls, ana 10
| interfere with no ones right to vote, but on
the contrary to give facilities to the c'ti-
zens and to any one entitled to vote. :,
~ gave positive instructions to my OH
| GERS that they were to remain az the polls
| all night, see the count Of the commission,
| ers, and see that everything was conducted
fairly and quietly ,.,.
If the Republicans had placed twenty U oited
States soldiers, with muskets and hxed
bavoncts, at each one of the polls IN this
CITY. under the pretext of preserving Order,
| II would have created howl OF Indignation,
| ana,hemas and curses that would have ex-
| tended to the ends Of the earth; ana. accord
ing to White League custom: would have
constituted a sufficient cause to overthrow
| the government. These twenty armed men
placed at each poll we're White Leaguers-
the same that had fought the fourteenth OF
September-and Of course it was all right.
will now give another specimen OF the
Democratic method Of preserving the purity
of the ballot box:
Extract from the testimony Of Robert Z:
Hunter, taken before the Congressional
Committee on the fourth OF Feoroary
1875. (See report, pages 81, o24, o@o')
By the chairman:
Ouestiou-Then you had considerable
number of negro voters on your slue II
1872, had you not!
Answer-Speaking for Rapides, l dom
think we had, sir. :.
Ouest;on-What l want to know is
whether it is your opinion you bad more o.
less colored voters in the campaign OF lof
than in 1874! mean the Democratic party
Answer-I think we had less IN 1877 thar
in 1874.
Ouestion-You said you were not IN
formed about whether any number OF col
ored voters voted with you in the State II
1872, but in the parish of Rapides they dl'
not!
Answer-I 10 not think they did, sir.
Question-You DO not think you lad an.
negro vote!
Arswer-Well. a few voted all the time
Question-Then will you tell me now
happens that, in the parish OF Rapides, II
. 1872. the white registration being lOll, Mi
McEnery received 1860 votes!
Answer-I can not tell you anyta!n
about 1872 at all, sir: refused to par'ic
, pate in the campaign of that year. and sed'
lousy secluded myself at my house N tn
pine woods.
Ouestion-But, Mr.. Hunter, understco
YOU to state to this committee IN the begli
ming Of your testimony that you resorted
| what You call the extreme remedy OF O.
yanizing q White Mans party, and dividin
s. on the colored line, which you adm
generally would be objectionable II prime
| Die. because your organization has the 8
feet to induce the colored people 70 JON II
white men ia removing those abuses WING
: existed. That you say?
Answer-Ips sir, think go.
!. Oucstion-Yon also said that your in.ornl
ton did not ex end to the rest OF the stat
3 but to Rapides parish alone. New l as
| you how you account for the fact that
!, | RspiIes pa:ish, III 1872, Mr.. McE1ery ia
1860 yotes when the white registered vol
!. was ONLY 1911 or substantially one-hslf d
votes were either fraudulent or came fro
\ | colOre0 men!
: Answer-I tell you do not attempt
account for it at all. Governor Wsrmo
had way Of doing things that Go not d
tempt to explain or excuse.
Onestion-Do you not believe that extr
o ORDINARY me asures were res0rted 70 ~ u
d White Mans party, and do yon'not belle
that their, was, in the parish OF Rapidte.
fraudulent count for McEnery OF almc
q 900 votes in that return! :,
e AusWer-I would rather you would e
cuse me from answering shat question, Z
z ROY
u ton OF my own.
: Question-Well, You will see the u1e
3 ence that may be drawn!
= Answer-YOu may draw your own Inc
ences: | do not know anything about thi
at all.
: Occasionally purpose was to POM 1t
s | TO YOU before any inference was drawn,
~ that might be sure you SAID ali you cou
IN regard to it!
G Answer-I think did so, all can,
Question--In what you regard TO Dc
important and ordinarily ohJectlonat
J. steps as starting White Mans party q
a | drawing the color line with its tendency
perp .tuate and stimulate this race anta2e
. ism from which you have suffered SO muf
10 do YOU not think that you ought, at least,
It have informed yourself whether in 70
= own parish there we're or not 900 color
votes cast for your candidates at your Il
election!
70 Answer-I have, judge, il you will PERI
&c me, a pretty general idea of how the ca
naign of 1872 had been conducted. wi
- out any specific data upon which to o.
oaestisn-Well, now, about that pref
l. general idea was that general idea IT.
You had 900 colored votes in Rapides par,
and that the 900 votes returned tor a
Emery were fraudulently returned turned: "
- that your general idea on the subject