Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-01-26
Louisianl Affairs,


parishes where protests were made and
where intimidation was alleged In some
OF them II extended only TO a single polling
place or precinct; In others it affected the
regularity Of the election. II varied in de.
gree and nature In each parish. 1 have al
ready given sufficient evidence to show that
the intimidation In Louisiana, of which the
evidence was before the Returning Board,
upon which alone they could act, was Of so
overwhelming and criminal character that
honest men, sworn to act upon this testl-
mOny, could not do otherwise than as the
members Of this board have done. As 10
the particular polls that were excluded or
admitted, as TO the details which entered
into their final decision, have no means OF
knowing; but before God aud man, with this
testimony before me, with the knowledge
acquired OF the history Of Louisiana in my
place here in the Senate, and from my visit
TO New Orleans, would consider any man
fOreswOrn who could say that In these par
ishes there was free aud honest election.
In this country, where our Institutions rest
entirely upon popular suffrage; where the
freedom of election is the cornerstone of
every part OF our system, O crime which
strikes at these foundations ought to be re-
sisted by every man Of every party. II can
not be denied that of late years an election
fraud is not regarded in the same light that
IT was years ago, and that many men
thoughtlesslY ridicule and smile at all com.
plants against election frauds. This is no
doubt caused by the success OF such frauds
in louisiana notably in the case OF New
York in 1858, and especially throughout the
Southern States, where this intimidation
now has been organized and has been sue
cessful for number Of years. But the very
moment this system extends to other parts
of this country, and poisons the elections in
the Northern and Western States, then our
Government Is at an end.
No system like ours can survive the gen
a. u
by fraud or force. More or less influence Of
q doubtful or improper character will enter
into every election. This Is unavoidable
from the imperfections Of human nature;
but when this fraud assumes the form OF
wholesale ballot.box stuffng, or palpable,
open frauds, sufficiently great to control an
election; or, worse, when 1t assumes the form
Of murder, whipping, violence, and outrage,
then the sooner the system is abandoned the
better. Law-abiding men and property
holders would rather submit to regular,
orderly, despotic government than to gov
ernment where the worst and lowest elc
ments of human society control all the pow
ers of the government. 1t Is not question
that we can evade or avoid; but we ought,
without distinction Of party, with a firm
hand and determined purpose, to resist every
organized effort of fraud or violence, or in
tmidation at elections. ills for this reason
that would regard the election of Mr.. Til
den by the direct operation OF these terrible
crimes as the greatest misfortune that could
befall our country. Ten thousand times
better for all of us, and for future ages,
would il be had he been elected by an undis-
puted majority and an overwhelming vote.
/ do not fear him nor his four years intu
ence as Presidents; but | do fear the means
BY which he has been elected, IL elected at
all. His election by such agencies will be
the beginning of the end; for IL he may be
elected by such means, then any man here
/ off hW tbp na nf ali m Of nj
by appeals to the prejudice of race, or by
the jealousies of religious eects, or by the
natural division between natiOnalities, may
hope by similar crimes to destroy our coun-
try by war of factions.
Our only safety is in fair election and in
| honest and prompt acquiescence In the re-
suit of such an election. There is nowhere
among the American people a general dispo-
sition TO resist the election of either Gov.
| Tilden or Gov. Hayes, IL fairly elected. /
know, for the people OF Ohio, among whom
| Gov. Hayes was born, that they would resent
any advantage obtained by him through
means that are dishonest, dishonorable,
| through violence, fraud or corruption. We
only appeal to the Democratic party to act
upon the same general principle. III you
need the vote of Louisiana to elect Samuel
| j. Tilden, he is not elected President OF the
| United States. His term of office would be
| dishonored from the beginning. The blood
of hundreds of men would rest upon his
skirt and enter into the title of his office.
His chief accessories before the fact would
be such men MS Capt Theobald and DIR.
Saunders, organized by such men as Patton
and the Democratic Committee of Louisiana
His instruments will have been rifle clubs
and raiders, lighting and frightening poor
negroes out of their votes. No Republican
need fear that by standing by the legal
| Judgment of the board Of returning officers
| he wrongs anyone, for no honest man eau
/ ba not ovid wi
convinced that, if there had been a fair and
! free election in Louisiana in the 6fty-seven
parishes OF that State as there was in forty
! parishes, Gov. Hayes would have had ma
| jority of 10000 votes. We know also that in
! Mississippi and Alabama and to some extent
in Georgia there were influences entering
into the election which prevented tens Of
! thousands of Republican votes being cast;
| that from the moral convictions drawn from
| an examination of election returns the State
of Mississippi is now recorded for Gov. Til
den when it should be recorded for Gov.
| Hayes.
Gov. Hayes has received 4, ,044 ,S95 votes and
q majority in twenty-five States. He has
carried all the States formerly classified as
| free States, except four. II the apportion-
ment of representation had been based upon
the white vote alone, he would have been
! elected by large ma jorty of the electoral col
| lcges. That it is also based upon the black
|
| the reason that the blacks sheuld have the
free right to the elective franchise. The
| Southern States now enjoy political power
derived from this condition. They have not
complied with it. They are enjoying political
power by the Fifteenth Amendment wrongly
and without complying with the conditions
upon which it was given. They have the
benefit of all this in the electoral colleges
The popular majority claimed for them is
made up almost exclusively by the unnatural
majorites given in States where they have
| denied to greater or less degree to legal
voters the elective franchise. They have no
Just right, according to the forms OF law or
its spirit, to the votes of Louisiana, south
Carolina and Florida. These votes have
been legally cast, by electors duly returned
and duly chosen, for Gov Hayes. You can
not reverse this without giving effect to
lawless violence and intimidation. You can
not deprive the Republican candidates of
these electoral votes without defeating the
honest choice of the majority OF the people
| of these States.
And now, sir, in conclusion, may be justi-
fled in saying few words partly personal
and partly as to the general situation in
Louisiana. Upon our return from New Or
leans the gentlemen who were with me and
| were charged by partisan papers with all
manner Of Otfenses. 1t was said that our
expenses were paid by the Secretary OF the
Treasury. This is utterly false, but scarce.
ly needs correction in this presence. 1t was
said that went there for Gov, Hayes, to take
all advantage in his favor. This is not true.
l went ut the request of the President, at
great personal Inconvenience, aud from
sense of duty, as II to witness a deed or will,
or to obey the will or summons Of court.
Gov. Hayes did not know l was going until
was on the way. 1t WAS said we were there
as partisans. 1t is true we are Republicans,
and am proud oft; but did not do an act or
utter word or suggest an idea in aid of the
result arrived ut by the Returning Board or
OF partisan character l always favored
the utmost publicity consistent with the
performance OF the duty by the day fixed by
law; and considered that my duty was best
performed by quiet observance of the pro-
ceedings aud candid reading of the testi-
mony and the papers as they became acces.
sible to me. Myintereourse with the Demo-
cratic committee was courteous and friendly.
AS to the people Of Louisiana, they have
my heartfelt sympathy. Gladly would do
anything or vote for any measure that would
relieve them from their painful and danger
Gus condition, with their heavy debt, high
taxes, and warning factions Especially do