The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-02-15
LOUISIANA.
Report of the Democratic Majority In X E.
gard TO the Late Election.

Repor, of the Democratic Majority i. Re-
gard TO tae Late Election.
WASHINGTON, February 9-The Dem
ocratic majority of the House Special
Committee on Louisiana Affairs made
their report to-day, in the course of
which they say In the late canvass. the
policies pursued by the two parties
were essentially different. Republicans
do not appear to have made any strenu-
Gus efforts to maintain order aud secure
peaceful election. Democrats, not
solely it is believed on the part of all
of them because of their love of order,
but for prudential reasons, also knowing
that any violence or disturbance would
be seized upon as a pretextfor reversing
the action of the people at the polls,
did counsel the preservation of peace
and observance of law. Upon such
course could they only hope
to succeed. The interests of the Re-
publican party lay in the direction of
disturbance and violence, and the past
history of that organization in Louis
lana assures us of its readiness to con-
suit its advantages without scruple as to
the means employed. The committee
conceive that the means by which
large number of colored votes were
secured for the Democratic ticket at the
late election, were such as can be right
fully and legally characterized as init
midation. They were when stripped
OF false presentations made of them by
the knavery OF those who are to profit
by the success of their scheme, no more
than such as resorted to In all cities and
states OF this Union, at every election,
IN which large public interest is elected.
Conceding from the Returning Board
all the Judicial dignity claimed for it by
admirers of its unparalleled iniquities,
it cannot be denied that IN order to give
validity and effect to its decisions where
it has attempted to throw out and reject
returns from polls, the jurisdictional
fact required by the statute must affir-
matively appear, and unless that fact
does so appear its action in the case was
without jurisdiction, and on its face mil
and void. The Board had no night
under the laws of Louisiana to throw
out or count ont TIE polls and votes.
They have thrown out and counted out,
and their action in that behalf is with
out authority of law, and null and void.
The Committee further state that if
there is any law in the state of Louis
lana providing for the election of cleo
tors of President and Vice President,
the canvassing and compilation of the
vote for electors must be made under
special acts of the state upon that sub
ject, and by board composed of other
persons or officers than those constitu-
ting the Returning Board
o. II. Brewster, one of the candidates
for elector on the Hayes ticket, held on
and after the 7th day of November last,
state of Louisiana, and could not,
therefore be, and was not chosen or ap
pointed elector.
A. b. Levisse, another candidate TOR
electOr on the same ticket, was United
States Commissioner, and was not
chosen or appoi ated elecGor. Suisse
guent to November TIN, and before
December 9th last passed, said Brewster
and said Levissee pretend to have
resigned their respective offices of
Surveyor General and United States
Commissioner. When other electors
pretending to be elected on the same
ticket met to cast their votes for Presi-
dent and Vice-President, Brewster and
Levlssee did not meet with them, and
the places of Brewster and Levissee were
declared or treated as vacant because
of their absence. Other electors then
filed the places of Brewster and Lewis
see, vacant because of their absence,
with the same Brewster and Levissee,
then being present, all of which doings
were fraudulent devices to avoid the
constitutional provision, which render
ed the same void and of no effect in law,
even had any of the electors on said
ticket been elected by the people, as
they were not, filling of such vacancies
without authority of law, and conferred
no right upon Brewster or Levisse to
vote for President and Vice President
of the United States.
EsThe committee made only such inves-
tigation or inquiry into the election and
canvass of votes for state officers in
Louisiana as was incidental to the in
quiry as to the general fairness of the
election in that state, and the result
thereof. Testimony taken disclosed
the fact that by both the votes actually
cast and votes as forwarded to and re-
ceived by the Board of Returning Off
GERS, Nichols was elected Governor of
Louisiana by a majority approximating
the majorities received by Tllden cleo
tors, and freed from the condition
growing out of the Presidential contest,
he would be accepted as the duly eject
ed Governor of Louisiana by the almost
universal acclaim of her people.
MINORITY REPORT.
Townsend submitted minority re-
port recommending the adoption of a
resolution declaring that the Republi-
can electors have been elected in
Louisiana. and that the election was
examined into, determination declar-
ed and promulgated by the proper au-
thorities of said state under all forms of
law. and in compliance with the con-
stitution of the United States. Both
reports ordered printed and recon-
mitted.
The Gospel of Merit.
Where there is so much rivaly as in