The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-04-15
IN THE u. :. SENATE.
Extract from Reply OF Senator Jonas I"
Mn. Kellogg.


that defiles its own nest" l do not eN-
pect to apply this proverh to my col
leanue, because it is doubtful whether
his nest can be found in the State which
he processes to represent. But he has
at last sought the opportunity, which
he could have had for the last two
years, of pouring forth all the bile, all
the malice, all the vituperation, and
all the filth which has long been i'm
prisoned in his heart against the peo-
pie whom he says he in part has the
honor to represent on this floor.
lam not going at this late hour OF
the evening and of this discussion to
follow him through the evidence which
has been procured by his party (nlajor
ity or minority rs it mi ght happen to
be) through the various investigating
committees which have inquired into
the elections held in Louisiana in 1874,
in 1876, and 1878. This evidence has
been discussed upon this floor al natts.
cam. 1t has been discussed upon the
floor of the House. The reports of
these committees have been before the
people, and they have been ventilated
both in this chamber and elsewhere
until every man is not only familiar
with them, but disgusted with the cons
sideration of what has been called
Louisiana carpet bag politics.
The honorable senator has had four
years in which to speak. He has had
two years in which to answer the
speeches which have been made here
upon Louisiana politics and Louisiana
history, and especially upon that part
of its history covered with infamy, the
period during which he presided over
its destinies, pretending to be, and,
I,,V,
to assert himself to be, the governor Of
its people.
1 say that the garbled extract which
he has read here to-day is one of the
numerous ISLANDERS Illuminated against
the people of Louisiana by that string
of witnesses whom he has long had in
his pay and under his control, who
testified for him at home, and whom
he brought up here, some of whom
came here to testify against him, but
We're prevailed upon to testify in his
favor. This same string of witnesses,
giving the same evidence, have again
and again sought to fasten their calum-
nies upon the people of Louisiana, and
again and again has their false witness
been refuted by the testimony OF the
best and most reputable citizens of
Louisiana of both political parties,
same reports from which he has quoted.
Mr.. President, in every election since
1870 (and that election was a base fraud
and was so characterized by the then
Governor of the State, under whose
| auspices it was conducted) the Demo-
| cratic party have received a fair ma
jorty of the votes of the people of
Louisiana. They carried the election
in 1872 and elected John. McEncry
| Governor, and a Democratic IIegis-
| lature, but the will of the people was
subverted by the returning board and
| the instruments of the Senator. The
returns actually made in the election
were set aside and he and his Legis-
| Iaturc were counted into Office without
any election returns at all, without any
evidence to support their pretended
election, and in direct violation of the
will of the people.
In 1871 the Democrats again carried
Louisiana, electing their State Treasurer
and clecting a Legislature. Again was
the will Of the people subvertcd. Again
did t5se Senator's returning board set
aside the returns of the election as held
at the polls and substituted for the votes
of the people false and fraudulent re
turns, electing a Republican Treasurer
and a Republican Legislature.
! So great was this enormity main
tanned and supported rs il was by the
army ofthe United STATES and by the
then president with all the Dlentitude
of his power-so great was this outrage
considered that the committee of inveS
tigation sent to Louisiana to inquire
into that election by Il Republican
house, having on it a Republican
majority, reported that the return o
the election was fraudulent; that the
Democrats had carried the election
and had elected the Legislature. That
report was not only signed by The
Democratic members of the committee
but it was written by a distinguished
gentleman whom | saw on the floor o
the Senate only Il few days ago, the
present governor of Ohio, and it was
Also signed by the distinguished gentle
man who has just been appointed tc
represent the United States ut the cour
of Austria. =,
There was a minority report, signeC
, by two gentlemen now Senators ot
this floor and by the late Nice-Presi
fJaut the JTpiIpI StatpS. bpt thn