New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-17
NV 0MzxNS KERUBIlo1N SUNDAY, DECENBER u leJ6


NM UKIAK $751; ia
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THE Law ANDeVAC30.
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Hen. Deb b 0sovyqeoa - de Loaas1ana
CneAs s4
The following statement Of ex-Congress
man atav.rso- ~ C,Icirrat; anna1red n
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eae Naoo'easse 0ess'ss On Weon'soy Asst'
TO the 1ditor q The Cncasnaa Gazette:
At your request hareWith submit my i'm.
preston on public a6sire in Louisiana:
In going 70 that Ssot0 it Was ny desire to
see IN equitable result le4ally attained.
While my pFefereace was Republican, 1t
We not % strong - to render mo blind or
deaf. Eager to learn the very truth of the
matter, improved every means and opp0r-
tunity of information, not 0oly attending
hearing voluntary statements Of witneeses
and advocates ON both eides, and minRling
freely, and on kindly terms, with citizens OF
every class and OF all shades of political
opinion. feeiug toward the people OF
Louisiana nothing but good Will, stimulated
By . most cordial reception, and having
friends of oil parties among them: ! would
Say nothing which can inture or offend any
citizen OF the State. and il, in what follows,
VAOAV ~ OAey SsSSse - sA~S ~ s~AS
omission OF msttefs which, though true, are
not essential. and might be unpleasant.
The Louisiana question. - presented to
the RetuEntnR Board, took tho form OF
legal controversy on lfsuee OF law and fact
The leading Issue was whether there had
been such violence and Intimidation In GER
tain parishes and polls - would invalidate
the election held in those localities, and re-
quice the Returning Board 70 omit such
vDn10a fRnvSa fhGiP
A. often happene In cases at law, both
parties overstated their CLAIMS:
The Republicans alleged horrible c0ndi-
tiou of affairs In many parts Of the State,
While the Dem0CrAts denied that there was
any intimidation whatever anywhere, save
BY Republicaus against colored men inclined
20 vote tho Democratic ticket.
Having, In 1869, been officially familiar
with the condition Of the state, and ever
course Of affairs, soon perceived that the
truth lay in tho mean between the two ex-
tremee, and this wae confirmed BY subse-
quent inquiries which convinced me that
violence did prevail over several parishes,
and in parts Of other parishes, though not
in such . degree. or to such extent a. in
l868-when fearful scenes were enacted
through moro than half the State, resulting
In tho reduction Of tho Republican vote in
tA40 10WASO0 40kkOOO k8VQ8 ~ ,S<O W WV
over q, 600 v0teo. 1t can not now be, and
suppose it 10 not oeri0usly denied that there
were disorders moro Or lees extensive
which must haye Affected the electios, bat
whether these disorders were sufficient to
change, and did change, the majority in the
State, u tho Substantial issue.
Tho Rerurnlng Board, tho lawful and
only tribunal charged BY the authority Of
the State to determine this issue, has duly
I'D tai <nA Al
question, and 1t 1t were mere case at law
the controversy would ba ct IN end. But
b the matter involves political conse.
quences, in which tho whole American
people arc concerned, 1t becomes ne to con-
sider whether the result thus legally At
tanned IL or IL not equitable.
Tho testimony on which the Returning
Board octed 10 voluminous. consisting of
tho sworn statement Of many Witnesses,
by afidAvtt, deposlttone taken on interrOga-
tories, duly crossed. and oral evidence in
open session.
A superficial reading Of this evidence,
conflicting - It 10. might leave the mind in
doubt, AID . partisan Of either aide giving
credence only to what pleases him, might
find it in confirmation Of his prejudices,
but an impartial Judge, carefully weighing
tho testimony, would conclude that there
W80 ouCu AouUsAOOSAO0 - Go0 A0W VI AVu.
isiana denounces and renders penal, and
that such intimidation did materially Affect
the result.
Tho difference Of opinion, If any, among
fair Judges muet be 40 to the extent of euch
violence and the eject produced bv it: that
is how far the testimony required the board
to 70 under the law.
On this point deem it necessary to say
only that it appears to me that q fair
minded and impartial judge world find
that the disorders had controlled parishes
and polls moro than enough to change the
result OF the presidential electors. On the
State. legislative and parish tickets l did
not form an opinion.
Al might have been expected, the testi-
mony adduced to establish the fact OF IN
tlmidati0n. 10 positive and specific, giving
place. date, names and circumstance; while
the rebutting statements are general, mega
tive ana vague. Inc man who sees, hears
and feels must always be ablc to speak to
the point, while no who does not see, hear
nor feeI can only say 60. 49,,
On quesuons OF outrage. DEAD BODIES,
scars, wounns, invanos ana cr1pples are
convincing Wltneeeos.
But NOT content 70 Ies1 my OPINION On tne
record Alone wnen 0IosGer We've are open
60 me, nave lDq9lIea a.ageaayss noAouno
tortneE sna mS r ln.olesuce !sDo.'
AOoAnk " tno nsI"Ic =. snAnes IA Aox-
l1Inna, cuo H1es AeOs WHO: c"..So ~ "