New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-17
THE MINORITY LOUISIANA REPORT
In spite of Armed Force Louisiana Was
Fairly Carried for Hayes,

Fairly Carried for Hayes.
Representatives Hurlbut, Townsend,
Danford, Grape and Joyce have made their
minority report in the Louisiana iavestiga-
tiOp, concluding as follows:
For the first time 10 the history of this
country it has been attempted to destroy
the lawful and formal expression of the
State, in the election Of President, by as.
Stunning the power in the House of Repre-
sentatives to examine into any and all
polls, and to purge the election, to make
itself the returning board. and determine
by partisan vote what Louisiana ought
to have done. We regard it as the most
fatal attack ever attempted upon cOnstitu-
tiODal rights; as a gross usurpatiOn of
power; as subjeotiBg in its natural develop
ment the entire question of the cleo
ton of President to the will or de-
cisiOn of the House of Representatives.
What has been attempted by the Demo.
cratic House in Louisiana may be done on
the same principle by some other dominant
party in any other State whose vote may
be in the way of their party candidate.
The cry of lrasd Is quickly raised and
believed. Evidence is always ready TO
support that or any other charge, if
great political advantage lie to be
gained. The only way to preserve the
just balances of power is TO stand by
and support the formal, deliberate and law
full decisions of the tribunal constituted for
the purpose, ordained under the cOnstitu-
ton by the highest State authority, by laws
which have been expounded and sustained
by the proper supreme courts. Any other
coarse is to constitute guess work for legiti-
mate decision, the rule of mobs for the Or
| derby processes of law, the control by the
House of Representatives, whose days are
numbered, for the determination made by
the people themselves in due and
regular form, chosen by themselves.
Passion and prejudice will wear them
selves out in time; wild defamation
| of incorporate orators will soon be forgot
ten; rash assertion of party presses will
pass from mems minds, and then this case
of Louisiasa will, perhaps, be fairly con
sidered, and the verdict OF thoughtful man
will be that the Democratic party OF that
unhappy State are justly to be held respon-
| sible for continuous and organized attempts
| to annul by force the clear will of the ma
| joTity. The same calm Judgment will de-
| clare that the laws of 1870 and 1872 were
necessary safeguards against such organ
lied illegal forces, and should be approved
| by all who believe in the supremacy
law; that this much abused Returning Board
acted in the spirit OF the law creating
them, and that their determination is d nal
in the matter. Holding these views, the
minority submit them, and do not propose
TO follow it's details in an unauthorized dis
section of the whole, made from partisan
and biased information by the majority Of
the committee, but to stand upon the estab.
| hshed law and the deliberate results OF the
constitutional action of sworn officers of
the State, solemnly done, performed and
promulgated with all the sanctions of
| law.
The minority report on the Louisiana
case closes as follows:
"The undersigned submit herewith re-
ports of the minority members of the sub
committee, and close this report by offer.
ing the following resi- luton;
"ResolUed, That the election held for
presidential electors in Louisiana, the
seventh of November, 1876, was examined
into, determined, declared and promulgated
| by the proper authorities of said State, un
der all forms of law, and in conformity
with the constitution of the United States,