Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-04

The following are the points which
the republicans of Louisiana pro-
pose to sustain by evidence before
the congressional committee now In
session at New Orleans. The line OF
evidence Submitted to the senate
committee by the counsel on behalf
of the republicans. We charge as
true, and propose TO prove on behalf
of republicans the following facts
|. That the late election in this
state was, in certain polls, and in
certain precincts and parishes, made
null and void, in law, by violence and
intimidation that was occasloned by
and consisting of secret conspiracies,
leagues and armed bands Of brigands,
Known as buIldozers, who have in
iicted upon white and colored re-
publcans, whipping, shooting, hang
ing, burning, mutations and assas-
sinations, andin many instances have
perpetrated murder and massacre !;
that by these means q condition of
terror has been produced among re.
publicans in certain sections of the
state which was continued for a
period of more than twelve months
prior TO the late election.
2. That the election law in this
state was enacted TO meet similar
condition. of affairs. which had oc
Cured in 1868 that the law de-
clares an election held under such to
be null and vcid, and votes pretend
ed to be cast under the insecurity,
danger fear and terror thus &C.
casioned to be null and void that
the law vests tue returning officers
of tho state with power to inquire
into and examine facts where such
condition OF affairs is charged, and
to ascertain the truth ofsuch charges;
if proven, to declare null any such
election, and to carry into effect
such nullity of rejecting and refusing
to count pretended votes of such
null and void, and that this election
law is righteous, just and necessary.
3. That the returning officers did
so examine and inquire, according to
law, and do find that in certain par.
lshes and polls the election was made
null and void by the causes above
recited, and the returning officers, as
commanded by law, did declare the
nudity, and did reject and refuse to
count the pretended votes then made
null in localities thus terr0rizod by
hri0ands and bulldog Ara.
4. That the recent election from
IL 600 20 $1,000 republican voters
who were DESTROYS of voting, and
who made earnest and diiigent eff
forts to vote the republican ticket,
were in fear of their lives and terri
fed by their systematic outrages,
SO they were driven from the polls
and prevented from voting that
from 5000 to 5000 republican voters
were, by the same means, forced
against their will, and through fear,
to vote the dem ocratic ticket.
5. That in said election tho right
of 16 900 to $4,000 persons to vote
was by these means denied and
abridged.
6. That the extent of this denial
and adridgment as to territory was
as follows, in the whole or in part of
the following parishes, to-wit East
Baton Rouge, East Felecinia, West
Felicana Ouachita. Morehouse, Rich
land, Grant, Livingstone. Franklin,
Sabine, Caldwell, lafayette, Clay.
borne, De Soto, Jackson and Match
itoches. That the extent of this de-
NAL or abridgment as to number OF
votes In the foregoing parishes not
less than 10000 to 20 900 voters
were prevented from voting as they
wished or forced to vote contrary
to their wishes at said election.
z. That this denial and abri1gment
was effected by means of con-
spiracy to and for The end; that this
conspiracy had for it's express pur-
pose the violent suppression of a
number Of republican votes large
enough to enable tho con7pirators to
carry The state for democrats. and
that this conspiracy was carried out
by means of armed bodies of men
known as hulldozsrs, and by night
riding, patrolling, whippings, shoot
ings, hangings, burnings, mutila-
tions, assassin atone, murders and
massscres, committed by them.
s. That the method and purpose
thereof was to violently, and through
fear and terror, suppress drive away
and prevent from voting or coerce
to vote the democratic ticket such
number of republican voters as
would secure an apparent demo-
cratic majority in the state.
TO- That q preconcerted system OF !
conspiracy TO these ends is shown ; |
first, by the secret Patton letter
known as tho confidential circular
signed and issued by the chairman
of the democratic ntral committee;
second, by the selection of the par
shes to be carried by bulldozing, to-
wit: those of East Baton Rouge.
East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Qua
,hita, Morehouse, Richland Grant,
Franklin, Sabine, Cald-
we'll, Lafayette, Claybourne, De