The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-26
THE RETURNING BOARD.

The Returning Board came up ir
| some shape yesterday in the Senate
and we are informed that Hon. j. B.
Eustis delivered one of the most power.
; full speeches which has been made In
! Louisiana In many years. What the
real question In relation to the board
was. we are just now unable to say; but
we take the occasion to refer to the in
famous instrument of fraud as It stands.
Not even Kellogg or Packard, dead rs
they are to every sentiment of honor
and to every principle OF justice, will
pretend to say that the Louisiana
Returning Board is q constitutional
body, or that 1t is in any sense in
accordance with Republican institu-
lions. Indeed, we have been told
upon very creditable authority, that
both these worthless freely, in their own
counsels. declare the thing TO be merely
an instrument to preserve the power Of
the Republican party in Louisiana.
Their organ, the Republican Of this CITY.
too, has openly said that the board must
be retained as artillery against the shot
guns OF the White League. It is not
pretended that 1t is a legal and consti-
tutional organization. We are told that Il
Is the only hope OF the Republican party
In Louisiana that its purpose is to
insure the negro voters protection in
their rights and to counteract the effects
OF Democratic and White League in
at the polls. And how? Why.
OF course, by changing the results OF the
elections as determined at the
ballot boxes, and by Counting in" .
all the white and negro thieves
who run for Office in the State, whether
hey receive majorities OF votes or not
The very excuse the Radicals make for {
'etaining this board is an acknowletIp.
nent that It Is an instrument OF frand
md villainy. Can the country be blind |
o this fact 7 The plea Of the Radical l
senator's and Of Kellogg that they de- Q
Ire to preserve this board as a security Q
or the rights OF the negroes, is a sham.
mere Is not now, and never has been.
ny disposition on the part of the white g
eople OF Louisiana to cheat the negroes y
utof their legitimate rights. The stories v
'ld Of intimidation have been base lies. al
the acts OF violence were provoked by q
10 vicious behavior Of the foolish ne 81
roes under the influence of the tools LII
Kellogg and Packard. For every OF
rop OF negro blood that has been shed l.
this State in political tumults, w. P. RI
eiiogg and 8. B. Packard are RESPONSE Cd
g. These cold-blooded miscreants have vi
uelly and deliberately sent out their Ill
lissaries to stir up strife and provoke pc
oience to subserve their personal ends. a
a they and their robber rings are re- lei
onslble for the result. The white Tn
ople OF this State have as little dispo- IN
ION to perpetrate murder, or to en- ia
&c in civil broils, as any people: and =
len fellows like Kellogg and Packard. ore
70 have crept up out Of the social tic
ms OF the North to shine in purple ri.
q nne gold. and lord it over the people the
Louisiana, tell the country that this NJ
turbulent and murderous peonle the
W = ,.1I themselves. tun
me real purpose the Radicals have IN 70 !
aiming the Returning Board is, not to =. :
ure lair election; not to protect the fac,
'roes IN their rights; not to promote r. r.
zee. 1t is simply and solely to hold con
'helr power an instrument by which are
y can retain in authority ring Of car,
10 sooundrels and their heuchmen. tha,