Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-01-19
The Louisiana Investigation.

Mr.. Grape, of Massachusetts, q
member of the House Committee
sen. to Louisiana to investigate the
late election, has returned to Wash
ington. Mr.. Grape is a Republican
of conservative views, and his report
of what he saw and heard may be
accepted as uninfluenced by extreme
partlsanship. He was the only Re-.
publican member OF the Sub-commit-
tee sent to Ouachita parish, the
scene Of the Dinkgroye and Pink
ston murders. He tells very
gloomy story of the condition of af
fairs in that parish. 1t is one of the
most noted of the bulldozed districts.
In some portions Of i. the blacks out.
number the whites ten to ons.-
There are in all only 1000 whites in
the parish, and of these only 25 are
Republicans. Not one of these white
Republicans could be produced be-
fore the Subcommittee. They were
all refugees in New Orleans, fearing
to return to their homes for
their lives. Not a Republican, white
or black, dared approach Mr.. Grape
to give him information, and the
consequence was, that the testimony
taken by the House Committee in
this parish, was all ono-sided. The
meetings Of the Subcommittee were
held III 8 little room over a saloon
This room was iilled with Demo
Gratis, in most part, the worthless and
dissolute portion Of the inhabitants,
comprising the very men who form
ed the rifle clubs, and committed the
acts Of murder and intimidation
The colored men brought in to
testify to fair election, had to face
this room full of bu!ldozers, whom
they knew we'll and whose vengeance
they had only too good reason to
dread. Under those circumstances
the negroes invariably swore that
they voted the Democratic ticket,
and that the election was peacahlc.-I
Notwithstanding these obstacles to
a fair investigation, certain facts
were drawn out which show the
character of the Democratic cam
paign, and go to prove the charge of
intimidation. 1t was shown that
there were eighteen rifle clubs in
Ouachita parish, composed exclusive
ly OF white Democrats, not Re-
publican in them. They were arm
ed with Winchester and English |
rifles, met weekly, attended Repub-
lican meetings Of negroes in bodies
of so to 100, rode about the country
at night, and haze not held a
meeting since tile election. Yet the
Democratic committee will say that
these clubs had no political charac-
ter.
Mr.. Grape declares that the pub,
lie has nothing to hope from the
Democratic majority comprising the
Morrison committee. The partisan
spirit Of the chairman has infected
all the Democratic mcmber@, and
they will bring in a report very I'M
fair and partisan. The manner of
conducting the investigation, show
ed that its whole purpote was to make
Democratic capital. In view Of the !
glazing fact that the Republican
witnesses dare not freely testify in
the parish, Mr.. Grape moved that
their evidence be taken before Sub
committee in New Orleans, but this
was voted down by the majority
Morrison refused to furnish the Re
publican members Of the committee,
knowledge of witnesses or course Of |
procedure; in, direct contrast to the |
action of Senator Howe, chairman Of
the Senate Committee, who, in every
instance, furnished the Democratic
minority of the committee 3 list of
the witnesses in advance.
Mr.. Grape says that the Return
ing Board in every case where poll
was rejected, had proper affidavIts of
before them. He
thinks the Board acted in strict
compliance with the law.