Litchfield enquirer., 1876-12-07

to the vote of Louisiana without party bias. Several of them expressly declared that they had not come to New Orleans to get the state voie for Mir. Tilden, and all acauiesced The first effort was, there fore, to ascertain the facts. Judging from the usage of Northern states this would not be difficult. On addressing the state committee for information, 1t was at once found that that body had been obliged to contend with unheard of difficulties in ti.eir efforts to obtain returns These diff culties were partly physical, due to the lack of means of communication with re-. mote parishes, but for the most part, they were due to artificial and malicious ob- structions placed in their way The etec- ton was held under a complicated and elaborate corps of officials, appoint ed by the state government, and free from any of those popular checks which we in the North. regard as essential to self government. The efforts of the press and the party committees to obtain informa- tion were, treated as impertinent. It vas furthermore necessary, inasmuch as the ruling party did not publish returns (ex- cept as hereafter statedl. and did not therefore either deny or accede to the democratic reports, to fortify these latter by..certificat es in manner totally un- known to the North. The democratic com mittee, warned by the experience of 1872 and 1874, took as it appears, energetic measures to secure trustworthy returns, duplicates of the returns sent to the re- turning board. -
 The suspicion of the latter body impli- ed in this course of action is abundantly justified by it's history. I have before me detailed statement by parishes of the returns which were received as 8 re- suit of the efforts of the democratic conn- mittee, with memoranda of the authority on which each parish return is based. Allowing for possible errors of detail, this statement establishes moral certainty that Governor Tilden carried the state by seven thousand majopitY, according to the returns. ...--....
 I met no person in Louisiana, and mixed as freely as possible with per sons of all classes and both parties. who denied or doubted that this was the true result of the election. I was told that the republican newspapers had pub lished returns from thirty or forty parish es, coinciding with those in the democrat ic statemnnt, but then desisted, declaring that the returns were incorrect and un- satisfactory. No counter claim is made in regard to the returns. The only an- swer made is that there have been out rages and intimidation in five or six par ishes, and that the returning board will have to correct the returns by throwing out the votes of those parishes. The re- publican newspapers of the 14th inst. went further, and declared that it would be necessary to insert the votes which would have been cast for the republicans if the intimidation had not taken place. 1 met no person whatever who admitted any other hypothesis than that the return ing board would bring out a republican majority. It was not discussed; it was assumed, as of course. 'i a '....-* #
 < The proposal, then, is that the return ing board shall destroy the votes of large number of others who really voted, and supply the votes of large number of others who did not vote, because they think that some persons voted under coer- cion and others refrained from intimida- tion. Could anything more arbitrarily destroy the whole theory of popular elec- toral government?' a.s- Ga...
 For obvious reasons could not enter into the question of fact as to outrages I heard abundant complaints of outrages, &c.,, against negroes who voted the demo- cratic ticket, and talked with number of persons who had such complaints to make. also resolutely pursued all possi- bic inquiries within my reach to try to find out the truth. In a conversation a number of us held with Governor Kel- logg, he was asked for facts under this head. He cited the case of Gaid only. Gaid was killed by lynching, under cir cumstances of revolting injustice, in Sep tember, 1875.
 Politics had nothing to do with it, much less this election. It is fair to say our interview was cut short, and MT. Kel logg got no further with his recital. Oth- CT charges of outrage which l heard or saw were intangible and uncertain. l could not bring any of them to distinct shape. All of them were denied, and es- pecially the broad and general descrip- tions of systems of intimidation were en- erget1cally deuied by men of unquestion- able characte and integrity.
 see no guarantee against fraud except in the vigilance and interest of the oppo- sing parties. Such guarantees exist in Louisiana, with the vast preponderance of the chances in favor of the party in power, which appoints all the officers of election, has the federal officers on it's side and controls the federal troops. Every effort made by the democrats to to prevent frauds isptortured into proof of intention to commit fraud. and runs through the present temper of the people, finding ready credence. -.ae ........
 I do not wonder that the people of Louisiana despair of justice and far treat ment from us when 1 see the readiness with which honorable men accept mis- construction of all their efforts and the te- nacity with which the same men cling to party preiudices. is shame to human nature and fragrant violation of all the assumptions of free government. It only proves with renewed force how wrong 1t is for us to be governing a state 1.6O0 miles away. If the vote is not to be count ed as cast it is plain that the investiga- tion ought to be full, open, impartial and complete: but cannot see how any such investig gation is possible in the nature of things if the tribunal were above suspic-d ion. The theory that such an investiga- tion is possible leads to one result, as yet distant, but sure-congress will be the returning board of the nation and usurp the election of president. es asis -t71l
 The only conclusion L could reach in regard to the general matters in dispute were as follows; Society in Louisiana is almost entirely disorganized. It is claim ed, and strong facts are alleged in proof, that this is due to standardization of the civil officers, from the highest to the lowest with very few exceptions. The law is made an engine of abuse at every turn. Officers ofeyery grade neglect or violate du-. ty for favor UT reward. The most sacred institutions of civil socIety are perverted to produce wrong gtand abuse. The elec- ton law is intricate, and while apparent ly adapted to provide for all contingen- cies, really creates hundred technicali- ties and machinery which renders popu- lar election impossible The play of it's various parts. allow scope for fraud, and chicanery and abuse It depends upon the action of an army of officials. many of whom are far away from any control and free from all responsibility, while they are able to defeat the whole. purpose of