The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-03-06
Majority Report of the Teller Com
mittee.
WASHINGTON. Feb. q.

WASHINGTON, Feb. "a.
The report of the Teller Committee
testimony of ninety-one witnesses in
Louisiana and one hundred and seven in
South Carolina. 1t is stated that frauds in
South Carolina by the use of tissue tickets ex-
tended to every county in that State but one,
and that between thirty and forty murders
were committed in Louisiana The Committee
in drawing their conclusions, say there ap-
pears to be a widespread determination In
these States to restrict freedom of speech as
to political 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
endsnger the safety Of the people. This de-
termination is not authorized by State enact
ments. but the Democrats who attend polit-
ical meetings, not only Of their own party,
refusing to allow the speakers to discuss these
questions in their various forms. Any refer
ence 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 IL It Is
allowed to attendants at a public meeting to
determine what Is and what Is not incendiary
or infiammatory material and therefore OBJ
jectionable and not to be permitted, there
will be an end Of all political discussion unless
the speakers should consent to discuss ques-
tions In accordance with the view of the
majority that may be in attendance. Great
all political questions, and 1t will never do to
permit q crowd Of heated partisans at pub
lie meeting to determine what Is and what Is
not an fncendiary speech and what Is not
proper to be said on such occasions.
All the attacks which have been made on
the colored people have been attempted to be
justified or excused on the ground that the
colore1 people have made threats against the
whites. However false and destitute OF foun-
dation these reports may have been, they
have been made the excuse Of most unheard
of atrocity against these people. As
this pretended fear Of negro insurrec-
tion is made the excuse of outrages
on the colored people, 1t may not be amiss to
say that the Democratic whites, when inter
rogated on that point all agreed that the ne
gro was peaceful and unrevengefuk and that
with all reports Of uprising Of this class of
people to murder and outrage whites, there
was no instance in American history within
their knowledge when this had been done, and
all admitted that 1t would require great provo
violence against whites. Respect for authori-
ty, obedience to law, and attachment to per
sons and things are notable characteristics Of
the colored race.
No precautions have been instituted by the
State Of South Carolina against violators of her
laws, and no efforts made to punish men who
have thus wantonly outraged her citizens, and
when United States Courts have been resorted
the ballot, the complainant has in very many
instances been arrested clearly in violation Of
law Dy state authorities on charges OF per
Jury, and committed to Jail unless he gave
bail. Citizens are threatened that IL they at
tempt to punish offenders I'm United States
Courts, witnesses will be punished in State
courts, and thus the State not only declines TO
punish these criminals, but refuses to allow
1t to be done in United States courts
The State Government is a white govern
ment, no colored men are represented In 1t
and SO far no man connected with 1t has had
the honesty, courage or humanity to attempt
to redress the outrages OF the unfortunate men
Of color. The laws of South Carolina and
Louisiana are undoubtedly sufficient for the
protection Of all their citizens, but there has
been q lamentable failure to enforce them.
This course must in the end be destructive of
the Government of these States. Thousands of
persons in those States controlled by the DO
litical party prodting by these outrages con-
denim them, but they lack Independence
and courage to make themselves heard in
opposition to them. There never will be
peace and good order and consequent pros
perity in the South while any considerable
number of white people deny eolored people
the rights given them by law. To Insure
lastinD peace to the people, white and black,
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 the rights of the citi-
zens of these violations Of State and National
law shall be punished. That this duty de-
wolves upon the State all admit, and, whatever
may be said Of the duty of the General Gov
ernment to redress the wrongs of its citizens