Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-01-19
A One-sided Investigation.

Reports from all sources go to show
that the investigation conducted by Bill
Morrison's committee in Louisiana has
been so entirely partisan in its character
as to make 1t unworthy of credence by
any fafr-minded person. From the very
manner in which 1t has been conducted
the report must of necessity be an e1
pdrte statement. The committee bas
held its investigation in the presence of
o room full of bull-dozers, whom the
colored witnesses have had to face when
delivering their testimony. Evidence
has been garbled or suppressed. In
portant witnesses have not been sum-
moned, and others have been induced to
stay away. The bull-doEers have been
whitewashed for the sake Of the votes
which the bull dozers stole. In the par
ish of Monroe, where q subcommittee
was sitting, the hall, over a whisky shop,
was packed with bull dozers, not a Re
publican being present. Under these
circumstances negroes were afraid to
testify, and Mr.. Grape, of Massachusetts,
moved that the Republican witnesses
relative to affairs in that parish be ex-
amined in New Orleans, where they
would not be intimidsted, but the mo-
tion was voted down. Democratic testi.
mony has been magnified and Republic.
an testimony distorted. The minority
has not been furnished with list of
witnesses to be summoned by the ma
jOrity, and has been snubbed upon every
occasion, and its witnesses crowded out
30 as to get q one-sidcd account. Under
such circumstances as these it is mani
festly absurd to expect anything from
Morrison's committee but a one-sided,
e1 pdrte and meanly partisan report,
which, we may say, will not have the re.
spect of any candid Democrat, and will
be treated with contempt by every Re-
publican In the country. The Sen:
ate committee, on the other hand,
has heard its testimony with judicial
impartiality. It has notified and sum-
moned witnesses on both sides, and af-
forded the minority the most ample OPP
portunities for bringing out its evidence.
The hearing has been conducted in a
candid and fair manner, and the Dem
ocratic members of the committee have
had just as fair q show as the Republican.
Senators might differ as to the value of
the testimony, but they have not on that
"NN,SHht AA"t3AaiSN5 oNPPASSSNNj oAA SSA0
sationalized testimony, nor cheated each
other. They have comported themselves
with the dignity and impartiality of
bench of Judges, and their report will
be looked for with interest by the people
of the whole country, while the report of
the House committee will not be worth
the paper upon which it is written. In
the direction and management of this
committee work Mr.. Morrison has
shown himself to be a mere partisan,
working in the meanest manner for
partisan ends, instead of seeking to as
certain in an honest manner whether the
election in Louisiana was fairly con-
Quoted. His conduct il parallel with
that which he exhibited year ago, when
he suppressed his military record, in his
sketch for the Congressional Directory,
for fear of offending these very bull
dozers and the Bngadiers of the South.
ern Confederacy. We cannot expect to
find his interests or his sympathies en-
listed upon the side of the North, but it
does not afford any reason why he should
be superserviceable in the interests of
the South, and contemptibly and meanly
partisan in matter of such importance
as this investigation, upon which such
vital interests are hanging. Chicago
! Tribune.