New Orleans Republican., 1877-02-14
THE MINORITY LOUISIANA Report.


In Spite of Armed Force Louisiana Was
Fairly Carried for Hayes.
Representatives Hurlbut, Townsend,
Danford, Crapo and Joyce have made their
minority report in the Louisiana investiga-
ton, concluding as follows:
For the first time in 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
suming 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 a partisan vote what Louisiana ought
to have done. We regard it as the most
fatal attack ever attempted upon constitu-
tional rights; as q gross usurpation Of
power; as subjectiDg in it's 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 fraud is quickly raised and
is readily repeated, and far too easily
believed. Evidence is always ready to
support that or any other charge, If
great political advantage is to be
gained. The only way to preserve the
just balances of power is TO stand by
and support the formal, deliberate and lave
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
| course is to constitute guess work for legiti-
mate decision, the rule of mobs for the Or
derly processes of law, the control by the
Il Hnuaa of Ranraeautativaa Nvhoaa daUa ara
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 Louisiana will, perhaps, be fairly con-
| sidered, and the verdict of thoughtful men
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
/ lOrity, The same calm Judgment Will de-
clare that the laws of 1870 and 1879 were
necessary safeguards against such organ
| lied illegal forces, and should be approved
by all who believe in the supremacy of
law; that this much abused Returning Board
acted in the spirit of the law creating
them, and that their determination is fl nal
|
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-
llshed 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 resolution:
"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.'