Year: 1874

clearly and generally violate the laws o,
the country to control an election in thei.
interests, it is but just and proper that
when they are shown to have brought such
acts to bear on an election, that they shonld
not be permitted to profit bv it, and such ID
the inteu ton of the law. The board. how.
ever, in this case did not exclude any pOll
from the compilation except ON satisfactory
proof that auch violation OF law had been
perpetrated. and that it had the effect of
intimidating a sufhcient number OF voters to
change the result OF the election.


As all these acts to produce intimidation
had been perpetrated in favor of the Dem
ocratic party, aud against the Republican
party. the polls excluded from the COM
piiation generally gave majorities in favor
OF the Democratic party, and their exclusion
from the compilation reduced the vote Of
that party, ana in some instances. had the
effect of returning Representatives and
other officers OF the opposite party, diff
tereDt from the returns made by the super.
vieOrs. This ls the natural result OF an
illegal attempt to accomplish en- object, and
is no fault OF the board.


The counsel of the Democratic party pro~
tested against the counting Of certain polls
in the parishes OF Natcbitoches and Bossier
on the grounds that the Uuited States troops
were expected at the pols on the day of
election, Or did actually visit she polls on
the day ct election, in order to assist the
United States marshal to arrest persons
charged with violations Of the United
States laws, aud that in consequence q
great number of Democrats did not attend
the polls and vote for fear Of arrest by the
United States troops. Even if such facts
had been fully proved as alleged. we do
not see that there was any violation of Law
in the United States sloops doing 90. Ger
~1vI~
against tho United Srates law can not say
he is intimidated BY the fact that the
marshall with the Uoited States troops il
trying to arrest him; it is bis own fault if
he il guilty. and he can not urge his own
crime rs his protection, and certainty per-
sons not conscious Of their guilt would not
flee from the presence Of the United States
marshall and his posse Of United States
soldiers. This ia preposterOus and We did
not consider this COOL ground Oi intimi-
dation.


There were no returns OF election from the
parish Of DeSOtO made by the supervisor of
registration as the law required. Persons
interested produced the clerk Of the court
with such papers az by law were entrusted
to him and offered them as the returns from
the parish. The board decided they could
not receive and canvass and compile such
returns. The parties In interest applied to
the proper court for a mandaMus to compel
the board TO receive, canvass and pile
those returns, but upon trial the court sus.
tanned the ruling Of the board. The came
principle was acted on in the Tsrrebonne
case.


There WAS no supervisor in the parish of
Winn, the one appointed for that parish
having been expelled from the parish and
an unauthorized person assumed to act.
The board could not recognize such law.
leesness.


The board submits to the Legislature and
the people of this State the result of their
with a consciousness that they
have properly discharged their trust.


j. MADISON WELLS, President.


New Orleans, December "a, 1874.


The board adjourned subiect to tho OH
If the president.