Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-28
TELLER'S TALE.
COMMITTEE REPORT.

COMMITTEE REPORT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The report of the
Teller committee made to the Senate to-day,
reviews the testimony of ninety-one witnesses
in Louisiana and LOT in South Carolina. 1t
states that the frauds in South Carolina by the
use of tissue tickets extended to every county
in that State but one and that between thirty
and forty murders were committed in Louisi-
ana. The committee in drawing their conclu-
slons say there appears widespread determi-
nation to restrict freedom of speech as to polit-
cal questions, upon the claim that discussions
of the relations of labor to capital, employers
to employees, and other kindred subjects, is
calculated to array the colored people against
the whites, and thus endanger the safety of
the people. This determination is not author
lied by State enactments, but Democrats who
attend political meetings, not only of their own
party, but also of the opposition. are in the
habit of refusing to allow speakers to discuss
the questions in their various forms. ANY
reference to the condition of the colored people
before the war, and the causes that led to the
war, are condemned as being of an incendiary
character.
1t will be readily seen that if it is allowed to
the attendance at public meetings to determine
what is and what is not incendiary or infam-
matory material, and therefore Objectionable
and not to be permitted, there will be an end
of all political discussion unless the speakers
shall consent to discuss the questions in ac-
cordance with the view of the majoritysthat
may be in attendance. Great liberty must be
allowed in the discussion Of all political cues
tions, and it will never do to permit crowd
of heated partisans at a public meeting to de-
termine what is and what is not an incendiary
speech, and what is not proper to be said on
such occasions.
All attacks which have been made on the
colored people have been attempted to be JUS
titled or excused on the ground that the colored
people have made threats against the whites.
However false and destitute of foundation
these reports may have been, they have been
made the excuse of the most unheard of atroci-
ty against these people. As these pretended
fears of negro instruction is made the ex-
cuse of outrages on the colored fpeople, it may
not be amiss to say that Democratic whites
when Intercepted on that point all agreed that
the negro was peaceful and unrevengeful and
that with al. all reports of the up
der and outrage whites, there
was no instance in American history within
their knowledge when this had been done, and
all admitted that it would require great provo
cation to induce the colored people to resort 10
violence against the whites. Respect for
authority, obedience to law and attachment to
persons and things, are notable character sites
of the colored race.
No prosecutions have been instituted by the
State of South Carolina against the violators of
her laws, and no effort made to punish the men
who have thus wantonly outraged her citizens,
and when the United States courts have been
resorted to for the purpose of Furnishing out
RACES on the ballot, the complainant has in
many cases been arrested, clearly in violation
of law, by the State authorities on charges of
perjury, and committed 10 Jail unles he gave
bail. Citizens are threatened that if they at
tempt to punish offenders in the United States
courts, the witnesses will be punished in the
State courts, and those not only decline to pun
lsh these criminals, but refuse to allow it to
be done in the United States courts.
The State government is white govern
ment. No colored men are represented in it.
and SO far no man connected with it has had
The honesty, courage or humanity to attempt
to redress the outrages of these unfortunate
men of color.
The laws of South Carolina and Louisiana
are undoubtedly sufficient for the protection of
Ill their citizens, but there has been a lament
able failure to enforce them. This course
must, in the end, be destruction of the govern
nent of these States. Thousands of persons
in those States, controlled by the political
party profting by those outrages, condemn
them, but they lack independence and courage
to make themselves heard in opposition to
and good order, and consequent
property, in the South while any considerable
number of white people deny colored people
the rights given them by law. To insure last
ing peace to the people the fullest and freest
exercise of all political rights must be conceded
to all. The honor and prosperity of Louisiana
demand that these outrages against citizens,
these violations of State and national law shall
be punished. That this duty devolves upon
the State all admit, and whatever may be said
Of the duty of the general government to re-
dress the wrongs of its citizens under these cir
cumstances. no one will excuse the State au-
thorities for failure to punish these offenders.
The committee say it was not possible with
in the short time they had been in session to
investigate the elections held in all Congress
sional districts in Louisiana and South Caro-
lima, but sufficient testimony was taken to
show conclusively that in several districts in
these States not only the election for Congress-
men but the elections for State and county Of
fees as we'll were neither fair nor free and that
by violence and fraud the honest expression of
the will of those entitled to vote was prevented
and thousands of citizens of these States de-
prived of the elective franchise. In Louisiana
both violence and fraud were extensively used
In South Carolina fraud was more
largely relied on. In both States
these agencies, so disreputable in themselves
and SO dangerous to the stability of republic
can form of government were used, not only
w
but against independent Democratic candidates.
and candidates by whatever name known who
were in opposition to regular Democratic can
didates, thus showing clearly that the result
sought for and accomplished was not the pre-
ventlon of so-called carpet-bag rule and the
of so-called home rule but sue
cess to the Democratic party in these States and
In the nation, by whatever means and at what
ever cost South Carolina shares in like spirit
with Louisiana. The Democratic leaders seem
to be insensibe to the fact that the stability of
our government is involved in these question
and to be utterly unable to comprehend that
their course renders return of material pros
perity to these people absolutely impossible.
Without peace and good order there can be no
obedience to enforcement of law. Material
prosperity cannot come to these States in the
absence of this requirement, and there must
be a radical change in the management OF pu-
litical affairs.
have considered it safe to leave the times
places and manner of holding elections under the
control of the States, but it is very evident
that they foresaw a condition might exist in
the future under which the safety of the ma
tional government and the rights Of citizens
might require that the times, places and man
ner of elections should be under it's own con :
troll and not under that of the States. The
time has come when Congress should exercise
the power it clearly possesses, of providing by
law for the fair and free election of members
of Congress.
The power to pass laws prescribing the
times, places and manner of holding elections
for members of Congress necessarily implies
the power to provide for the punishment of
violations of the law. It will scarcely be con-
tended, certainly it cannot be fairly claimed,
that the national government is compelled to
rely for the punishment of offences against its
own laws upon the laws of the several States.
The minority of the committee have not vet
prepared their views for presentation to the
Senate.
GENERAL CAPITAL NEWS.
NOMINATIONS.