Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-01-25

IOutSIaDa, Soutn Caloilfld anu cioltud
These votes have teen legally cast, by
electors duly returned and duly chosen
for Gov. Hayes. You cannot revers'
this without giving effect to lawles'
violence and Intimidation. You can
not deprive The Republican candidates
of these electoral Votes without defeat
! ing the honest choice OF the people o
these States. --..... -e
And DOW, sir, in conclusion may
be justified in saying u few words part
ly personal and partly as TO The general
situation in Louisiana. .-s
Upon our return from New Orleans
the gentlemen who were with me and
] were charged by partisan papers with
all manner of Uffenses. 1t Was said
that our expenses were paid by the
Secretary of the Treasury. This is ut
terly false, but scarcely needs correc.
tion in this presence. i; was said that
/ went there for Governor Hayes, to
take all advantage in his favor. This
IL not true. went at the. request oi
/ the President, at great personal incon-
venience, and from a sense OF duty, as
II to witness deed ur will or to obey
the informal summons Of court. Coy.
dayes did not know / was going antil
was on the way. 1t WAS said we
were there MS partisans. 1t is true We
are Republicans, and am proud OF II;
but did not do an act or utter a word
or suggest an idea in aid Of the result
arrived at by the Returning Board or
of u partisan character. / always fa-
vored the utmost publicity consistent
with the performances Of the duty by
the day fixed by law; and considered
that my duty was best performed by
quiet observance OF the proceedings
and candid reading of the testimony
and the papers as they became accessi-
BILE to me. My intercourse with the
Democratic com mittee was c0urteeas
and friendly.
AS to the people of Louisiana, they
have my heartfelt sympathy. Gladly
would / do anything or vote for any
measure that would relieve them from
their painful and dangerous condition,
with their heavy debt, high taxes, aud
warning factions. Especially do l
sympathize with the owners of the
land and the actual tillers OF the soil.
Every motive Ofinterest and safety de-
mands an alliance between these two
elements ct society and war offensive
and defensive against all who live by
politics alone, or who support or en-
courage fraud or violence. l assure
YOU from what / heard there Is u
yearning among the poor blacks in
Louisiana for order ana projections; but
IL il the yeain ng almost of despair
which when reached will in retaliation
overthrow all law. And so with the
planters; they have but little care
whether it is Tilden or Hayes. They
are becoining prosperous. Their crops
are good and bear good price. In the
parishes not disturbed by rifle clubs
they are getting on good terms with
their hands, win mutual profit TO both.
With the instinct of locality, the love
Of home, the freedmen in great mum.
Der of cases clings to the plantation
where he was u slave, Or returns to II
after temporary absence. He either
buys or rents piece of land, and culti-
Yates it in severalty. Mutual Interests
will soon blend these people into har.
lpOniOus action And so In New Or
leans there was manifestly growing
prosperity. The sight of the long
wharves and immense piles of cotton
bags, and of sugar, m6.lasses, corn, etc,
was one of the most cheering possible.
The success of the jetty system will
enormously increase their commerce.
They need nothing but order, prOtec-
ton, and close economy in their local
governments 10 encourage capital, 10
increase their production, and to place
them among the wealthiest c0u muni.
ties in the world. From their people
Iireceived nothing but courtesy ami
kiudess. They are good humored snd
polite, open hearted and hoepitable. To
exercise the demon Of discOId that has
made portions of this State hell on
earth is the nebfest object of statesman
ship, but the primal principle of this
policy must be to make every man se-
cure in his house, his home, his prop
erty, and his vote. The success of
these crimes would be q fatal step to
such q policy. The negro can remem-
ber If he cannot read You must win
him by kindness under some other
name than that of the Democratic par
ty. 1t so happens that the two candi.
dates for Governor were men Of mark,
ability and honor. Gen. Nichols, the
Democratic candidate, was spoken of
as Just, moderate, sensiblG man, re.
specied by all parties. And 50 with
Mr.. Packard. He is An able, strong
man, reared in Maine, but ia resident
of Louisiana for twelve years; mar.
ried there; and now, with his growing
family, he and all he has or hopes for
Is planted in that soil as firmly rs If TO
the manner born. 1t would he a ca
lamity and shame ifa contest between
such men for such an Office should dis
turb the now growing hopes and in
dustry of the people of Louisiana.
have expressed my conviction that
according to the form and spirit of the
law of Louisiana, rightly applied by
the returning officers, Gov. Hayes end
the Republican State ticket rigbtfully
received the vote of that State; but
while this fact is honestly disputed, L
will hear and consider any argument,
and will 80 vote as to secure an orderly,
peaceful and legal count of the vote,
not only of Louisiana, but OF all the
disputed States. If, in the process OF
the count, preliminary questions arise.
will hope that fair and summary
process will be devised to determine
them; and if wrong Is done, that le-
gal process may be devised to try that
question before judicial tribunals. At
tnis time, when cur institutions are on
trial before mankind, am proud to
recognize the general forbearance OF
our people and their readiness to ac-
quiesce in any legal result. Let that
feeling animate both houses of Con-
gress, and this singularly close Presi-
Dental election, so often pointed out as
the greatest danger TO our form OF gov
eminent, will be settled in the quiet
acquiescence of the American people.
PROBABLE SOLUTION efTHE
ELECTORAL PROBLEM.
Report Of the Special Cor.n,ittes
ON Counting the Electoral Vote.