New-York tribune., 1877-01-04
LOUISIANA LAWFULLY For HAYES.

ADDRESS BY GEN. J. II. VAN ALIEN BEFORE TIE RE-
PUBLICAN REFORM CLUB.
At a meeting of the Republican Reform Club
last eyenngn the hall of the NewYork MunicpaSocety,
Gen. James H. Van Allen, who was one Of the persons
invited by the President to visit Louisiana delivered
address upon the result of the Presidential election In
that State. lie spoke substantially as follows:
During stay of nearly three weeks in New-Oreans,
epoyed opportunities learn the facts necessary pass
iair Judgment upon the proceedings of the Returning
Board OF the state not doubt that it right and
lawful TO count the electoral vote Of Louisiana for Hayes
and Wheeler. In my opinion the Returning Board Of
Louisiana could not have permitted the vote OF their
aid on the face OF the returns; without violating the
statute by. virtue OF which they held office;
and sanctionins mass OF intimidation and
fraud disgraccful TO republican institutions.
OF the intelligent aeueness OF my colleagues need not
testify TO their fairness in Investigation. do not he
Ilevo that impartial men could come to any other CON
delegation OF gentl, belonging 10 the Democratic
party who present by request Of the Chairman OF
Democratic National Committee neither saw ht to JOIN
with in a common examination OF those proofs with
view to rsaeh a f mOr TO
with ours. that the people might compare any con
dieting evidence. Tho high character OF the Democratic
delegates and the manly expressions of Indignation 10
which some OF them gave vent concerning cersin In
OF bratal violence which were Drought 10 thcr AT
tenon, confirm me in the BELIEF that common conclusion
would been possible II deporabe influences had not
prevailed upon them TO hold themselves apart from us
popuiaton two years ago was divided between the
Sd %h 5 nd ia int the ear 1875 y Sf o TO But aG
ON the face the returns OF the November election, the
Democratic electoral ticket appeared To have received
80 S26 votes and Republican electoral ticket only
77O23 votes. The Democrats avaied themselves OF the
oUoltunity by violence the Republican
iorty IN the Some II parishes selected for
their field Of operations Every one of these parishes
was patrolcd night by bands OF armed Democrats,
and violent were taken to impress the
negroes with of danger to property limb and
life IL they should visit the polls without voting the
Democratic ticket Some OF them were killed. and others
beaten and MANNED The policy was so successful that
whereas these parishes IN 1874 gave Repqpcan ma,
ma0rity OF 4,412. In East Fclicana, where in 1874
there was Republican OF LOSS, only solitary
the polls in November, 1876, although the registration
gave 2l27 black voters In the parish do not believe
that the Democratic party w justify the deeds of lis
lawoss aud violent members III Louisiana when TIE cyi
tence OF these deeds Is spread before the country
I'm conclusion, invite your patriotic efforts to combine
the honest OF both parties IN common endeavOr to
reach peaceful and harmonious settlement OF the PreS
Denial controversy by u and fair examination o. the
facts Let us discourage spirit OF blind partlsanshp.
Lea welcome association with our political opponents
i'm every fair investigation. Let appeal their
OF country and their Of Justice not TO uphold the
wrongs which the black OF Louisiana have suf
fercd without searching terrible record of the
their face were tainted with fraud and Violence aud
were false expression OF tie popular Will President
Grant struck note of patriotism when he declared
that cither party afford TO be disappointed in the
suit but the country cannot afford have the result
tainted by the suspicion OF Illegal or false returns"
At the conclusion OF the address resolutions were
adopted thanking Gen Van Allen for his address, and
asserting that the and patriotic way to the reform
OF the Government the restoration OF public confidence
ana the revival OF business consisted In universal and
cheerful acguiescence In the official declaration OF the
election of the candidates Tor President and VicePresi
dent of the United which has been determined by
the vote OF the Electoral Colleges