rfl^^ A,/^, W'^^^Aa- 'Tm^^;^. >\i^'' 'a >!>>'> ^'^'^Q& .«^.v.-:V(NM,'^n.w' ^A^r-'^ 3ffi ^^^^^{ft^fiS55^^ '<.:.^:,'^^'-''?'^ ^^50'':^!^'^.^:^'^>C'^^5;^: ^&mMmmm, ^^'/^^^'- •^^m^ '^ws-^ %m, ^^^My iCf< <• 'CC: - cc/^. <<<<<: cjCc c c c<' < c^ cf C < C Glass El Book 'ILl < <3C i<: «. V ™ ^ v« ( ' <«: < < ■<• OP <^ ( < ' K «:«: ' CO,. t<-' "«:<- •: <1 « .^^ «<' < •< <^<^ ^^?^ " /,/(<: • r . c c «t -•r<.«! ■ *^ ., '"CC'Cr^^C cc c.r ,' ' ^ . ' '•'' Washington, January 13, 1873. IX. "C). Department of Justice, Washington, January 13, 1873. The Attorney-General, to whom was referred the resolution of the House of Representatives of which the following is a copy — ^^ Resolved, That the President is hereby requested, if not in his judg- ment incomi)atible with the public interest, to communicate to this House such information as he may have relative to the condition of affairs in Louisiana, and what, if any, action he has taken withregardthereto" — Has the honor to report that a great number of oral communications have been made to him in respect to the condition of affairs in said State, the substance of which appears in the accompanying papers, whicli also show the action of the President upon the subject. Respectfully submitted . GEO. H. WILLIAMS. The President. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Indosures. iX^^ A. ^lisoellaneous papers. B. ^Memorial of citizens protesting against recognition of present State government. C. Answer to memorial. D. Addresses of both parties. E. Proceedings in State courts. F. Proceedings in United States courts. Exhibit A. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. Letter of United Glides Commissioner Jewett to the Attorney-General. MiNDEN, Webster Parish, Louisiana, November 11, 1872. Dear Sir : Presuming that the circumstances attending the hite election in Louisiana will attract the attention of the Cabinet and of Congress, I wish to call attention to the fact that the K. K. K. has been perfectly re-organized in this part of the country ; that its aims are the same as in 1868, and that the means by which it purposes to attain them are the same. In all this portion of Northern Louisiana the Klan, acting ostensibly AS coustalnilary, under the commission of Governor Warmoth, carried ■'tW GTection. t)y pjire anelJop6n force. No disguise was attempted or deeiiiecl •necesstiry. In< MJl the parishes many outrages were committed before election — in all but this parish on the day of election. In all "■tiireais and intithjdation \^ere extensively used, and in Jackson Parish 'Colonel All6';i; Greene an^. his son were shot at the i^olls for the high oft'ense of attempting to vote the national republican ticket. In this parish one negro has been murdered since election, and the house of one white republican was attacked and tired into on Saturday niglit last. I ought to issue warrants for the arrest of numerous parties against whom I hold aiWdavits, and have been requested to enforce the law. Were I to attempt doing what is my sworn duty, it would be the signal for the death of myself and of every white republican in this and neighboring parishes. The people of Webster and Bossier Parishes openly boast that the Army of the United States cannot enforce the acts of Congress in these parishes. This is of coarse i)ure gasconade, but after earnest deliberation I have felt it my duty to call upon United States Marshal Packard to put at the disposal of myself and Judge L. W. Baker, United States commissioner residing in Bossier, two hundred troops, for the enforcement of tlie law and the protection of our suffering and out- raged people. This number will, I think, suttice, and witli them I pledge the enforcement of the acts of Congress. I am not certain, how- ever, that Mr. Packard has a snllicient number of troops at his disposal. Please interestj yourself, my dear sir. I feel certain, as an old ofhcer of his Potomac army, tliat my old comnmnder will not suffer a United States magistrate to call upon him twice for means to enforce the laws, to perform the sworn duties of his office, and to protect the people, out- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. 6 raged and suffering for their loyalty, who turn to him for aid and pro- tection. Very truly, your obedient servant, D. G. M. A. JEWETT, United States (Jommissioner. Hon. G. H. Williams, Attovney- General, Waslihujton, I). C. [Telegram.] New Orleans, November IG, 1872. Attorney-General George H. Williams: Eequisition was made by chief supervisor for troops and referred to General Emory to learn desire of Government. State court enjoined Warmoth's new canvassing board, but disregarded. United States cir- cuit court has to-di;y restrained Warmoth and his canvassing board from canvassing vote i)ending trial of rule for injunction fixed for Tuesday. Enforcement law has been defied by over half W^armoth's election officers. United States commissioner has already issued war- rants for manv of them, which have been executed. S. B. PACKAED, United States Marshal. Letter of Hon. William P. Kellogg to Attorney- General. New Orleans, November 27, 1872. Dear Sir: In view of the fiict that complications may arise at no remote period when you may be called upon to advise the President re- garding matters here, I have thought it best to make a brief statement of the condition of affairs. Under the election law of the State controlling the last election, the governor appoints all the supervisors of registration upon the nomina- tion of the State supervisors of registration. In many of the parishes some of the worst characters were ap[)ointed. In several the appoint- ees were sent from the city of New Orleans. In some eleven or twelve parishes a new registration was ordered, on the grounds that the geographical limits of the parishes had been changed. In two or three others a new registration was ordered, on the pretense that the old registration-lists had been lost or destroyed. This was notably the case in East Baton Rouge, where we are entitled to a majority of twelve or fourteen hundred. Here the books were last seen in the clerk's office, but were spirited away and a new registration or- dered, resulting in the registration of all the whites and the non-regis- tration of at least one-half the blacks. Here every principle of justice was openly set at defiance by a notorious and irresponsible character who was appointed supervisor. Discoveiiug that in most of the parishes where a new registration was ordered every effort was being put forth to prevent our i)eople from obtaining registration, we i)rocured to be printed large numbers of the affidavits inclosed and marked A. At a later i)eriod of the canvass, and for the purpose of giving our people who were registered aiul who might be refused the right to vote, 4 CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. Ave caused to bo [niiited lar^'e nninbers of tlie affidavits, also inclosed, marked B, both of which were scattered in large nninbers through the ditieicnt parishes of tln^ State. Tlie chief supervisors of the State sent instructions, marked confideu- tial, a few days before t}\e election, to the different supervisors of the city and State, a coi)y of whicli 1 also inclose, marked C I inclose, also, an opinion of the United States tlistrict attorney, and of the attorney- general of the State regarding these instructions, marked J). The State law provides that the suj)ervisor of registration in each l)arish and the State su])ervisor in this i)arish of Orleans may designate the sni)ervisors of election. It also provides that he may designate the number of i)olling-])laces to be opened for the accommodation of voters in tile parish or ward. In the city the j)olling-i)laces were not pub- lished until Sunday morning, the day before the election, and then a comi)]ete list was not published, several new polls being opened on ."Monday niorning, of which our fiiends were ignorant, and at which they were, consecjuently, unable to jilace supervisors until late in the day. In the parisiu^s a deliberate plan was entered into by the supervisors by which few i)olling-places were designated, and those at remote points, but where the whites could more easily reach them. For instance, in the parish of Natchitoches, where we are entitled to 1,800 majority under a fair registration, and where, under the new registration, we were en- abled, by our colored and Avhite republicans persistently following the registrar from day to day, to register a snihcient number to have given us eight huiulred or a thousand maj(nity; the supervisor of registration designated only four })olls; one in the town of Natchitoches, one in the extreme south portion of the parish, and one in the northeast portion of the parish, and one in the northwest portion. The two last-named were at abnost inaccessible points; one among the pine-hills, as they were termed, and the other upon an island surrounded by lakes and bayous. No notice whatever was given of these p()lling-])laces to the republicans, until the morning of election. In the town of Nachitoches, where only oiu» i)oll was opened, and where the blacks for a radius of eight or ten miles congregated, believing that, of course, there would be polls there, when the polls closed, live hundred and eighty republicans, nearly every one colored, were in lim^, with the ballots and their regis- tration-papers in their hands, struggling to get an opportunity to vote, which was denied them by the closing of the poll. These men, together Avith some eight or nine hundred others, in the same parish, all made atidavit in accordance with the forms inclosed, and Avhicli are now filed in the circuit court. A similar course was pursued in Kapides and other ])arishes. In Kapides we are entitled to at least tifteen hundred majority. In other j)arislies, like ('addo, where we were entitled to at least ten or twelve liuiidred majority, the ballot-boxes from two or three remote jxdls were F East Baton Rouge, Noremher — , 1872. I certify that I was at the polling-place above mentioned on the day of election November 4, 1872, and that the statement of , above subscribed to, is true in every particular. United States Sujierrisor of Election at said Poll. AN ACT to enforce the citizens of the Uuited States to vote in the several States of this Union, and for other purposes. — Approved May 31, 1870. * # * # * ^ * Section 3. That whenever, by or under the anthority of the constitution or laws of any State, or the laws of any Territory, an act is or shall be required to be done by any citizen as prerequisite to qualify or entitle him to vote, the ofter of any such citi- zen to perform the act reqiiircd to be done as aforesaid shall, if it fail to be carried into execution by reason of the wrongful act or omission aforesaid of the person or officer charged with the duty of receiving or permitting such performance or offer to perform, or acting thereon, be deemed and held as a performance in law of such act; and the person so offering and failing as aforesaid, and lieing otherwise qualified, shall be entitled to vote in th(! same manner and to the same extent as if he had in fact per- formed such act ; and any .judge, inspector or other officer of election, whose duty it is or shall be to receive, count, certify, register, report, or give effect to the vote of any such citizen, who shall wrongfully refuse or omit to receive, count, certify, register, report, or give effect to the vote of such citizen, upon the presentation by him of his affidavit, stating such offer and the time and place thereof, and the name of the officer or person whose duty it was to act theriion, and that he was wrongfully prevented by such person or officer from performing such act, shall, for any such offense forfeit and pay the sum of |i500 to the person aggrieved therebj', to be recovered by an action ou the case,, with full costs and such allowance for counsel fees as the court shall deem 10 ■ CONDITION OF AFFA1K8 IN LOUISIANA, just, and shall also, for every such offense, be" rj;c P. Davis. Recorder — Alexander Smith.. Sheriff — Gnstave LeBlanc. Clerk of court — Felix Berhel. Coroner — Benjamin Moi'gan. Police Jurors — Leon Gaste, Wm. Hickman, E. T. Yonnjj, O. H. Foreman, Andrew Harrigan. Justice of the peace — First ward, Norman L. Underhill; second ward, Charles Doyle; third ward, ; fourth ward, Robert Monson ; fifth ward, A. Rayburn ; sixth ward, ; seventh ward, R.Young; eighth ward, Charles Spears; ninth ward, Valcour Anderson; tenth ward, ; eleventh ward, E.J. Still- man; twelfth ward, Alexander Ridley. Constable — First ward, Jules Collins; second ward, Alexander Gilbert; third ward, fourth ward, James Hall ; fifth ward, Paris Triplett ; sixth M'ard, ; seventh ward, Philip Barrow; eighth ward, William Spears; ninth ward, Mourton Mitchell; tenth ward, ; eleventh ward, Thomas Montgomery ; twelfth ward, Charles Newman. A. ANDERSON. A. R. H01.T. Felix Berhel. Subscribed and sworn to, this 13th dav of November, 1872, before me. GEO. P. DAVIS, Parish Judge. Parish of East Baton Rouge, November 4, 1872. I certify that I was at the polling-place above mentioned on the day of election, November 4, 1872, and that the statement of , above subscribed to, is true in every particular. WM. G. LANE, United States Supervisor of Election at said Poll. [Original No. 3141.1 United States of America, State of Louisiana, Parish of Fast Baton Rouge, ss : This is to certify, that Adam Aliderson, a native of the United States, and a citizen of Louisiana, was duly registered upon his personal application, by the undersigned supervisor of registration of the parish of East Baton Rouge, as a resident of the 1st police jury ward of said parish, on the 6th day of September, anno Domini 1870. JOHN S CHAPMAN, Supervisor of Rigistration fcr the Parish of East Baton Rouge. United States of America, State of Louisiana : (In the election precinct of the parish of East Baton Rouge.) Be it remembered that on the 6th day of September, in the year 1870, personally came before the supervisor of registration of said parish Adam Anderson, who being duly sworn, (affirmed,) doth dej)ose and say as follows, to wit: My name is Adam Anderson, I was born in Mississippi in the year 1830, mj' occupa- 12 . CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. tioii is a blacksmith, and I reside at city Batou Rouge. I am a citizen of Louisiana, and have been residing in this State ever since the day of , 1851. I am now claiming to be registered in the election precinct of the parish of East Batou Rouge, in which I now reside. I h;ive no other place of residence and I did not remove to the said election precinct for the purpose of voting therein, but for the purpose; of making it niv place of residence in pursuance of mv lawful calling. A. ANDERSON. Sworn and subscribed to, this 6th day of September, A. D. 1870, before me. JOHN S. CHAPMAN, Sitpervinor of Bef/iati-ation for Ihc Parish of East Baton Bougc. C. I'rirate instructions of B. P. Blanchard, State supervisor of registration for Louisiana, issued a few days iefore the election. Mr. , su2iervi8or of registration, parish of : Sik: You will please direct commissioner of election to receive no votes upon the affidavits supjilied by the radical party under the enforcement acts, unless the person applying or offering to vote is known bj' them to have been wrongfully refused regis- tration. Respectfully, B. P. BLANCHARD, State Begistrar of Voters. P. S. — In case of rejection of any vote upon such affidavit, call upon respectable gen- tlemen present at the polls as witnesses. [Confidential.] Mr. , supervisor of registration, parish of : In addition to the instructions contained in circular No. 8 from this office, you are instructed : I. In counting the ballots after the election, count first the rotes cast for Presidential electors and membersof Congress, keeping separate tally-lists on the form (No. 1) provided for that i)nri)Ose, and making up and completing the statement of voters for each poll. upon form No. 1 ; then close the box, reseal it, and proceed in a similar manner, until all the national vote has been counted. Then proceed with the counting of the State and parish votes, bearing in mind the fact that the United States supervisors of election and deputy nuirshals hare no right whatever to scruti)tize, inspect, or be present at the count- ing of the State and parish rotes. II. As soon as the count in each case is completed telegraph the result to this office at once ; should there be no telegraph office at the court-house, dispatch a messenger by the quickest route to the nearest telegraph station. III. The stationery, »S;c., furnished for each parish is to be equally distributed among all the polling places, and at least owe copy of the election laws must be furnished to each poll. Respectfully, B. P. BLANCHARD, State Bcgistrar of Voters. D. OiriCK CHIKK Sci^KHA-ISOU OF ElKCTIOX.s. DISTUICT of LOII.SIANA, Xew Orleans, October 30, 1872. Sii: : The following opinion of J. R. Beekwith, esq., United States attorney, district of Louisiana, as to your jiowers and duties as supervisor of election, is transmitted to you for your information and guidance. Very respectfully, [sEAi;.] ■ F. A. WOOLFLEY, Chief Supervisor of Elections. To , Esij., United States Sujjcrvisor of Elections. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 13 United Statks Attoiixey's Office, District ov Louisiana, New Orleans, October 30, 187"i. Sir: In i'ei)ly to your request, that I give uiy opinion as to the extent of the duties required of the supervisors of election appointed under tlie provisions of the act of Congress, approved February 28, 1871, entitled "An act to amend an act to enforce the. ' rights of citizens of tlie United States to vote in the several States of this Union, and for otiier ]>ui poses," and the act of Congress extending the provisions of the act, and whether at the impending election it is tlu> right and duty of such supervisors to be present and in attendance at the polls, and to remain where the ballot-boxes are kept, at all times after th(ii)olls are open until all of th;Drnox of affairs n7(i,' lends the least countenance to the association of jurisdiction in such a case, or to the high-handed orders that appear in it. The peace ami dignity of the State have been prostrated by a successful eflbrt to overturn the administration of the State under the command (combined?) operations of the Army of the United States and the circuit court of the United States, and a usurping and un- constitutional administration has been placed in its stead. The course of this insurrec- tion has been rapid and successful. The duties of governor of the State are now per- , formed by a person calling himself acting governor. Under the constitution of Louis- iana the office of governor aud lieutenant-governor are tilled by the people at an elec- tion. In case of a vacancy in these offices for any cause, another officer is designated by the laws to supply this place. This acting officer is either the presiding officer of the senate, or, in some contingency, the speaker of the house of representatives. The acting governor is not a senator or member of the house of representatives, and was not when he assumed to act as governor, and has not been .since the 4th day of No- vember last. The condition indispensable to a capacity to act as governor does not exist; he is a mere usurper aud instrument to accomplish the revolution commenced by judiciary process and enforced by armed soldiers. The legislature acting with this usurping governor comes together without legal evidence of any authority, and have commenced operations by abolishing courts that are filled by men elected by the peo- ple in November by overwhelming majorities; and in place of these courts a new court is provided, whose judge and clerk is to be nominated by this acting governor and his senate and connnand. (?) It is nut snriirising that a wide-spread feeling of indignation, disgust, and distaste prevails at these extraordinary proceedings. They are without parallel in annals of the United States. They betoken a spirit of malice and mischief, a determination to prostrate all tlie bulwarks of law and of social order, under the guise and cover of judiciary action, to secure ends purely selfish and per- sonal. They manifest a contempt for the institutions of the countrj', the peace of society, thefguarantees of life, liberty, and of property, tliat has created alarm and insecurity. The undersigned have been tilled with amazement, and apprehension that the guilty authors of the measures can have (the) least encouragement or support from the President or Congress of tlie United States. We, as citizens of the State of Louisiana, and as having no party associations to disturb our judgment, and impressed with the conviction that the evils under which the State has sutfered from misgov- crnment will be aggravated by the tlagraut violations of law aud right for ends per- CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. 23 sonal, do respectfully ask that in this exigency the a«iSOciate justice of the Uuitecl States assigned to this judicial circuit, and the judge of the circuit court of the United States for this circuit, may take charge of the judicial administration of the circuit court : that the employment of the Army of the United States in the civil administra- tion of this State be discontinued until the peace of the State shall be disturbed; and, liuallyj that the President and the Congress refrain from giving encouragement, coun - tenance, or authoritj^ to any new government or officer until their title be validly ascertained and determined. Chas. Fitz. .J. T. Noyes. Chas. E. Feuner. Ed. Taty. H. Freslzeu. C. M. Wilcox. L. H. Gardner. W. G. Wheeler. L. F. Genes. 15. T. Walsh. A. B. Griswold. N. D. Walco. T. Hunt. David Wallace. S. Horneshnu. Douglass West. P. Irwin. J. H. Eglesby. S. H. Kenuedv. H. V. Ogden. Carl John. " W. S. Pike. S. Katz. Jno. Phelps. D. C. Labatt. .Jno. Potts. Chas. Latltte.' H. M. Payne. Eichard Lloyd. J. F. Pollock. C. J. Leeds. P. Pamsiue. Jno. AV. Labonisse. A. Easin. Hugh McCloskey. H. Eenshaw. Victor Meyer. J. PI. Stauffer. A. Miltenberger. E. H. Summers. G. W. Nott. Henry Shepperd. W. B. Schmidt. W. C. Thompkins. Thos. A. Adams. J. B. Bell. .Jas. Bowling. Chas. Briggs. Alex. Brothers. G. M. Bayley. Albert Baldwin. Aug. Bohu. A. Chappell. A. Charles Cavaros. Jno. Chaff. J. S. Capes. H. W. Conner. J. A. Campbell. Loyd E. Coleman. H. Dudley Coleman. J. J. Dav. Geo. W. Dunbar. E. M. Davis. A. M. Fortier. P. Fonschey. .Tno. Faubank. Geo. A. Fasdick. [Telegram.] DEPART3IENT OF JUSTICE. Bjcember 12, 1872. Acting Governor Pinciiback, Keiv Orleans, Louisiana : Let it be understood tliat you fire recognized by the President as tlie lawful executive of Louisiana, and that the body assembled at Me- chauics' Institute as the lawful legislature of the State, and it is suggested that you make proclamation to that effect, and also that all necessary assistance will be given to you and the legislature herein recognized to protect the State from disorder and violence. GEO. H. WILLIAMS, Aitorncy-Oeneral. [Telegram.] Hon. John McEneey, Depaetment of Justice, Decemher 13, 1872. Xciv Orleans, Louisiana : Your visit with a hundred citizens will be unavailing so far as the President is concerned. His decision is made and will not be changed, and the sooner it is acquiesced in the sooner good order and j)eace will be restored. GEO. H. WILLIAMS, Attorney-General. 24 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. [Telegram.] New Orleans, December 13, 1872. Hon. Geo. H. Williams, Attorney-General United States : The entire republican party of this State thank the President and yourself for action of yesterday in recognizing the legal and constitu- tional State government. This action has prevented the consummation of the most barefaced and outrageous election frauds. Every indica- tion points to quiet and good order. The bogus legislature of AVar- moth has adjourned sine die. Police reported last night to Governor Pinchback. WM. P. KELLOGG. C. B. DUEELL. B. F. FLANDERS. CHAS. CLINTON. JAS. F. CASEY. E. C. BILLINGS. JNO. KAY, and many others. [Telegram.] New Orleans, December 13, 1872. Hon Georgh H. Williams : Warmoth's pretended legislature has adjourned sine die. S. B. PACKARD, United States Marshal. [Telegram.] New Orleans, 12th, 1872. His Excellency U. S. Grant, President United States : Claiming to be governor-elect of this State, I beg you, in the name of all justice, to suspend recognition of either of the dual governments now in operation here, until there can be laid before you all facts, and both sides, touching legitimacy of either government. The people denying the legitimacy of Pinchback government and its legislature, simply ask to be heard, through committee of many of our best citizens on eve of departure for AVashington, before you recognize the one or the other of said governments. I do not believe we will be condemned before we are fully heard. JNO. McENERY. [Telegram.] New Orleans, December 14, 1872. President U. S. Grant, ^yashington, D. C. : Louisiana field artillery, four Napoleon guns, two companies infantry, armed with W^inchester rifles, numbering fiv^e hundred men, nearly all CONDITION OF xVFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 25 the militia force acting under the command of H. C. Warmoth, stationed in the State armory, with arms loaded, are in open mutiny and disobe- dience of the civil and military authorities of the State government. They have been repeatedly commanded to lay down their arms. A large armed police force, under the command of General A. S. Badger, of the State militia, has been ordered to take the position. General Badger reports the i>osition too strong for his force ; they ofter to surrender to any United States military force. I have sent a copy of the dispatch from the Attorney-General, dated the 12th instant, to the commanding general of this department, calling upon him for a military force, for the puri)ose of suppressing this mutiny. He has refused to comply with my demand, and alleges a want of proper authority in the premises. I would respectfully request, in compliance with the requisition of the legislature, that you place a military force at my disposal, in order to enable me to suppress this armed revolt and execute the laws. P. B. S. PINCHBAOK. Lieutenant-Governor ^ Acting Governor Louisiana. [Telegram.] New Orleans, December 13, 1872. Adjutant-General U. S. A., Washioigton : There is imminent danger of immediate conflict between two armed bodies of men of some considerable numbers, one body of State militia, representing Governor Warmoth, holding an arsenal ; the other an armed body of police, representing Governor Pinchback. I have been appealed to to interfere. Shall I do so ; and if I interfere, to which party shall the arsenal be delivered? The i^arties are face to face with arms in their hands. I beg an immediate answer. I sent an officer to try what can be done by persuasion to suspend the conflict until an answer can be received. There will be no resistance to the Federal forces. W. H. EMORY, Colonel Commanding. [Telegram.] Washington, December 14, 1872. General W. H. Emory, U. S. A., Commanding New Orleans^ Louisiana : You may use all necessary force to preserve the peace, and will recog- nize the authority of Governor Pinchback. By order of the President. E. D. TOWNSEND, Adjutant- General. 26 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. [Telegram.] Xew OeleAXS, BecciiiLcr li, LSTi:, To the Adjutant-General U. S. A. : On the receipt of your telegram last night, au officer was sent to the coDtesting i)arties to ask the evacuation of the arseual and the disper- sion of tbe armed forces. The demand was promptly complied with and the arseual turned over to the Slate authorities this morning. Every- thing now is quiet. W. H. EMORY, Colonel Commanding, Brevet Major- General. Letter from Hon. C. B. Darrall to the Attorney-General. Xew Orleans, Louisiana, December 14, 1S72. My Dear Sir : As I am detained here by sickness in my family, I have thought best to write you, giving briefly some facts and ideas in regard to our difficulties in this State. I would inform you first that so far as my district is concerned, I am not personally interested, as I am returned by both "NVarmoth's and Lynch's board by over six thousand majority; so I think I can speak without prejudice. Our whole trouble has arisen from Governor AVarmoth's effort to turn over the State to the democrats, through the use of the State election law. And now a few facts from my own district to this point . In the parish of Baton Eouge, where the colored are as four to one, the State register started out by refusing to register unless they came a ternately one white and one colored, and as tlie colored were so largely in majority they must wait for a white man to come ; often as many as a hundred colored men were waiting at once. This course he piu'sued during the whole registration, and by this means nearly two thousand colored men were prevented registering in the one parish. And again, in my own i>arish of Saint Mary, the State register was a candidate for the State senate. lie gave no notice of the places where he would register, denied colored men on all kind of pretexts, appointed all the commissioners from democrats; and when he came to count the State ticket, he counted with bolted doors, and only returned about one hundred majority for that ticket, when I had for Congress about five hundred — my vote being counted openly in the presence of United States inspectors; and we all knew the State ticket ran the same as the national and congressional. This, and even worse, was the condition in all the country parishes, except some few where the regis- ters would not do such dirty work, and there our vote shows large in- crease. Xow a word as to the committee of citizens who left here for Wash- ing4:ou to-night. .3Iany of them are wortby men, but they are all resi- dents of this city, where the returns are substantially the same by both boards. They will represent that they have been wronged, and all that ; but in fact the frauds were perpetrated iu country parishes that these worthy men knew nothing about, and that we can substantiate by thousands of witnesses. I would say, in conclusion, then, and 1 think with no partisan view, that you and the President have been right iu your action so far in re- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 27 gard to our coinplicatious. Aud tlie best you can do for this committee who will visit you is to ask tliem to return Lome and look at the evi- dence we have of these frauds. We can abundantly satisfy them. Very respectfullv, &e., C. E. DAREALL. Hod. GeokCtE Willia:ms, Attorney-General^ Washington, D. C. Letter from H. X. Ogden, attorney-general of Louisiana, to the Attorney- General of the United States. Washington City, Deccmher 14, 1S72. My Dear Sir : I beg leave to submit through you to the President the following points : I. The action of the Executive in recognizing the assemblage at Me- chanics' Institute, in Xew Orleans, as the legislature of Louisiana, and P. B. S. Pinchback as acting governor, was certainly premature. Pinch- back was never lieutenant-governor of tbe State, and his term as a sena- tor expired under the constitution of that State on the Ith day of Xovem- ber last. The assemblage at Mechanics' Institute was notoriously re- tiirned and seated by a deputy United States marshal under the order of an inferior Federal court. This fact can be ascertained by reference to the papers filed by me in the Supreme Court of the United States in the matter of ej^'jxfrfe Warmoth applying for a writ of prohibition. These are circumstances of which the Government miist take notice. II. Without discussing who was or who was not elected, I respectfully suggest that before the President undertook to settle the controversy and to pledge the great powers of his office to either side, much delibera- tion and a full hearing should have been accorded. The election was the most quiet and orderly ever held in the State. Not a s^'mptom of riotous disposition, not even a personal quarrel or encounter connected with politics reported by the police authorities in any direction. The machinery of the State government was in i^erfect order after the elec- tion, and entirely competent to manage its own affairs, and with courts of justice ready to protect the rights of every citizen. By a sudden action of an inferior Federal court, which was absolutely eoram nonjudice, the State governmeut is completely overset, the State-house seized, and a government erected whose officers the people have never chosen. It cannot, sir, have escaped your attention that in pursuing this course a Federal court has been enabled by the assistance of the Army of the United States to subvert a State government, and to construct one in its place, for it is well known that the board of returning officers recog- nized by Judge Dureil has not acted \\\)on the sworn returns of the regular election officers of the State, from which alone they could have, under the law, declared the result, but profess to have been guided by the returns of United States inspectors, officers entirely unknown to the laws of Louisiana. So that the case stands plainly thus : A Federal jndge, absolutely without Jurisdiction, seizes a State-house and seats a legislature, the members of which have no other claim to their seats than the fiiuling of a returning-board, whose sole authoritj' is the recognition of this usurping Federal court, and Mhich professes to act solely upon the statements or returns made by certain United States officers, who are entirely unknown to the laws of Louisiana. These are facts known 28 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. BOW by every iiitelligeut man in this country, and, of coarse, not bid from the Chief Mao;istrate. The legish\tare thus assembled is the one recognized by the Executive of this great nation, and you telegraph, upou his authority, to our j)eople commanding them to submit. If they were an uncivilized people accustomed to the shackles of a despotism, that submission which you command would be an easy matter, but, sir, they are Americans like yourself, born and raised under the free institu- tions of this great country^ they are suffering the most grievous wrong that could be done a people, and are conscious that their Government have acted without proper deliberation and upon an ex parte showing of the case. Can you blame them for not yielding tamely to this oppres- sion, and for making another appeal, which I now do in their name, to the JPresident for an investigation of this matter? I am not presenting to you the case of Henry C. Warmoth or of Wil- liam Pitt Kellogg in this appeal; they are both strangers to us, and our people have suffered long and patiently under the mismanagement of such men, as is known to the whole country. I am speaking in the name and as the rein'eseutative of the best people of Louisiana, wlio are firmly convinced that in the recent election they carried most of the important officers of their State, and that if effect shall be given to the real popu- lar verdict of November, the government will pass into the hands of honest and capable men. They feel that in this they have a right to expect the sympathy of the Federal Executive, Mho has so recently received from the people of his country such distinguished evidence of their confidence. The course of the Executive in this matter is, I fear, calculated to -alienate the affections of the best people and to weaken their confidence in the protection of the Government and their love of our institutions. I am persuaded that if the Government should, at this juncture, pur- sue a wise, magnanimous, and impartial course, let the result be what it may, the confidence and affection of the South would be promptly restored in the national Government, and all trouble in that direction be forever settled. The action heretofore taken can be canceled or modified so as to give effect to these views, and in a very short time the true case can be placed before the Government, as a committee from Louisiana is now on its way, bearing all the facts to the President, and this committee is, according to my understanding, non-j>artisan. Yours, verv respectfully. &.G., H. N. OGDEN, Attorney- General of Louisiana. Hon. G. H. Williams, Attorney- General United States. [Telegram.] Ne\v Orleans, December 17, 1872. Hon. Geo. H. Williams, Attorney -General : Have sent by mail to-night statement and proofs answering memorial taken there by the so called citizens' committee, including tabulated registered vote by parishes, white and colored, outside of New Orleans. Forty-five thousand white, seventy-four thousand colored. The colored CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 29 uieii wrongfully refused registration would have increased the uumber several thousand. This data, hastily prepared and seut, will serve to show the extent of the frauds perpetrated and the countenance the so- called citizens' conunittee is giving the same. B. B. PACKARD, United ^States 2lars}ial. W. r. Kellogg to Attorney-General. New Orleans, January 1, 1873. My Dear Sir: The interest you have taken in our affairs proni})ts me to write you again, in order that you may fully understand the situ- ation here. An attempt is being made to get the Warmoth legislature together on the first jMonday in January, the day on which, under the constitu- tion, the legislature is to meet in regular session. It is pretty certain there wdl not be a quorum in either house. Several of the democratic members have already taken seats in onr legislature, and many will do so at the regular session. The newly elected governor is not to be inaugurated until a week after the new legislature convenes. General Emory informs me that his heretofore direct communication with the War Department has been cut off, and that he is required to communicate through General McDowell. I do not anticipate much trouble ; still, as many of thes6 men are desperate, and are more or less supported by the lower and irresponsible class of the community, in order that there may be no disturbance of moment, I respectfully sug- gest that General McDowell be instructed to respond to any requisition which may be made by the legally constituted authorities should a sud- den exigency occur. Prompt action in this regard, if necessar}-, might obviate all difficuliy. All our friends and many prominent business men think that if General McDowell were to visit the cit^^ for a short time it would have a most salutary effect. I take the liberty of troubling you with another point. The interest on our coupon bonds, amounting to $2G0,000, mostly payable in Xew York, will not be paid to-morrow, I regret to say. This is mainly attri- butable to the fact that many of the Warmoth favorite tax-collectors are defaulters. The fiscal agent telegraphed to Xew York last night that he was satisfied this whole matter would be corrected in a short time, and that he would be able to pay the interest by the middle of January. The finances of the State are in a most deplorable condition, and the fiscal agent informs me that the payment of the interest on the last quarter very nearly went by default. Everything indicates that Warmoth intended either to let the present ])ayment go by default, or succeed in raising that amount from private sources, in order for the time being to cover up the real condition of the finances.' The developments in the auditor's office show a most astounding con- dition of things. Since ISG.j, warrants to tlie amount of ,s30,4r)3,b8.S.G!) have been issued, all but seven millions under Warmoth administration. During the sanu; time there have been paid of these warrants 827,190,051.44, leaving an amount of outstanding unpaid warrants to date of $3,257,237.25. The attorney- general has Just sued out an injunction on behalf of 30 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. tbe State, restraining tlie payment of more than a million of these war- rants, on tbe gronnd that they were illegally issued. We hope to be able to stop the payment of at least half a million more. With a little effort, I am satisfied that we can make such a radical change in the finances of the State as will enable us to pay the interest upon all the bonded debt, and put the finances generally upon a sound and credit- able basis. Of course we do not entertain for one moment the idea of repudiating any portion of the legitimate debt of the State. I write this chietly because I desire you to understand the condition of things, and inasmuch as it has occurred to me that the opposition may attempt to make capital against us, and against the action of the administration, growing out of the failure to pay immediately the in- terest upon our coupons. You will remember ours is not an exceptional case. It was the same in Georgia, Alabama, and I believe in Tennessee, as well as one or two other States. We shall, however, I hope, correct this much sooner than those States did. Yerv trulv, yours, w:\r. r. kellogg. IIou. Geo. H. Vv'illiams, Attorncij- General United States. [Tolegram.-] Xew Orleans, January 3, 1873. To President Grant : Several persons who claim to have been elected to the legislature, in conjunction with H. C. Warmoth, the impeached and suspended execu- tive, and John McEnery, late democratic candidate for governor, pro- pose to meet in this city on next Monday, and organize a so-called general assend)ly, in conflict with the legislature now in session at the State-house, and to inaugurate said McEnery as governor. To prevent a subversion on the present State government aiul to suppress riot, it nuiy be necessary for me, as executive, to use police or other forces to prevent this revolution movement, and, in my judgment, under present orders, as contained in the telegrams to General Emory from the Presi- dent, he would be authorized to furnish troops to sustain the State gov- ernment. I have just ascertained that General Emory construes the orders already given to have been intended only for the particular occa- sion uiH»n whicii they were issued, and unless further instructions are given he will decline responding to my demands for troops, and will in- terfere only in case of actual riot. I respectfully request that the order be repeated, Or extended so as to fully cover the case, if maintenance of the State government and good order require me to nuike the demand on him. P. B. S. PIXCIIBACK, Acting Governor of Louisiana. CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. 31 [Telegram.] IIEADQUAETEES AR3IY OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, I). C, January 4, 1873. Colouel AV. II. Emoky, Commanding Bepartmeni Neiv Orleans, Louisiana : Yonr dispateb, tbrougli General McDowell, has been laid before tbe War Department and tlie President, and you are bereby autborized to iisie your troops to preserve peace, sbould a coutingency arise vvbicb in ^l^our judgment calls for it. By command of General Sberman. WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant- General. [Telegram.] Private.] January 4, 1873. S. B. Packard, United States Marshal, New Orleans, Louisiana: 1 tbink tbere ougbt to be no forcible interference witb any proceedings to inaugurate McEnery, if tbey are not accompanied by violence, and tbere is no attempt to take control of tbe State government. GEO. 11. WILLIAiVIS, Attorney-Geueral. [Telegriim.] [Dated New Orleans, January 5, 1872; received at nortbeast corner Eour- teeutb street and Pennsylvania avenue 8.15 p. m.] , To Hon. George H. Williams, Attorney-General United States, Washington : Members of legislature returned as elected by tbe State board, recog- nized by Governor Warmotb before tbe as.semblage of tbe body at IMecbauics' Institute, are compelled to meet to-morrow under our consti- tution, in order to preserve tbeir status. Tbeir assemblage will be peaceable, witbout arms, and witb no puri)ose of aggression, but simply to organize. Tbe organization presided over by Pincbback bas tbreatened violent interference, from wbicb serious trouble may arise. Tbat organization derives its autbority from tbe attitude of tbe Federal Executive, and will be controlled by tbe President. We trust tbat be will discountenance interference witb tbis assem- blage, wbicb bas a lawful object and is rendered necessary by tbe situ- ation. Piease see tbe President immediately. H. N. OGDEN, A ttorney- General, Louisiana. 32 CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. [Telegram.] IlEADQUAIlTEKS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D. C, January 5, 1873. General W. H. Emory, Commanding Department, JXeic Orleans, Louisiana: The following orders are just received and you will proinptlj' act in contbruiity thereto : Executive Mansion, JVunhingtvn, D. C, January 5, 1873. General: Tlie Fiesideiit directs tbat General Emory be telegraphed immediately that he inform Governor Pinchback that the troops will not be fnrnished to disperse any body of men claiming to be a legislature, or other\Yise assembling peaceably, and not obstructing the admiuistratiou of the rc'cognized government of the State. Very respectfully, \YM. AV. BELKNAP, Secretary of War. General W. T. Shetiman, Commandhuj the Army, S(c. ^ General McDowell is here, and on receipt rei)lv to me direct. w. T. shp:kma^, General. Adjutant-General's Office, Witshington, January 0, 1873. Official copies : THOMAS M. VINCENT, Assistant Adjutant- General. [Telegram.] Neay Orleans, January 0, 1873. Attorney-General AVilliams, Washington, J). C. : Legislature met in regular session at State-house ; present, twenty- seven senators and sixty-eight representatives. Odd-Fellows' Hall as- semblage adjourned without quorum, having but fourteen claiming to be senators, and forty- seven representatives. S. B. PACKARD, United States Marshal. [Telegram.] New Orleans, January C, 1873 — G p. m. Geo. H. Williams, Attorney-General, Washington, I). C: AVarrnoth legislature in session at Odd Fellows' Hall without a quo- rum. City council, democratic, by resolution excluded the so-called legislature from Lyceum Hall, the place designated by Warmoth as State-house. Large crowd in front of Odd-Fellows' Hall, but all quiet. I believe the purpose of State authorities not to interfere with the as- I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 33 serablage so long as no overt acts are committed to overthrow State government. S. B. PACKARD, United States Marshal. [Telegram.] New Oeleans, Jftwwary 6, 1873. To General W. T. Sherman, Commanding the Army, Washington, D. C. : The day passed quietly ; no disturbance whatever. W. H. EMORY, Colonel Commanding. Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C, January 7, 1873. Official copy respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. W. T. SHERMAN, General. [Telegram.] Department of Justice, Washington, January 6, 1873. S. B. Packard, United States Marshal, New Orleans, Louisiana : The report of the committee of two hundred, that the President re- gards his recognition of the existing government as provisional and temporary, is not true. The recognition is final, and will be adhered to, unless Congress otherwise provides. GEO. H. AVILLIAMS, A ttorney- Gen era I. [Telegram.] THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY. [Dated New Orleans, 11, 1873. Received at Washington, Jan- uary 11, 10.15.] To Colonel W. D. Whipple, Assistant Adjutant-General : As Mr. Kellogg has been declared by Governor Pinchback and the legislature which he recognizes, as the governor-elect of Louisiana, I presume it is intended by my instructions that I shall also recognize him, and shall accordingly do so unless otherwise instructed. Ad- dressed letters to the General commanding Army, on 8th and 9th in- stant, but they may not reach in time for action. The situation is be- coming more complicated, and, in my opinion, the use of the troops simply to keep the peace cannot lead to a satisfactory or permanent solution of the difficulties here. W. H. EMORY, Colonel Commanding. H. Ex. 91 3 34 CONDITION or AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. B.— MEMORIAL OF CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF LOUISI- AXA PROTESTING AGAINST THE RECOGNITION OF THE PRESENT STATE GOVERNMENT. To the President and Congress of the United States : This memorial of citizens of tlie State of Louisiana represents, that at the election held under the laws of the State on the 4th day of No- vember last, John McEnei'y was elected governor, Davidson B. Penu, lieutenant-governor, James Graliam, auditor, S;imuel Arrastead, secre- tary of state, H. N. Ogden, attorney-general, ami R, M. Luslier, sui)er- intendent of jtublic education, by large majorities, ranging from seven to twelve thousand votes. Theie were 128,402 votes cast, besides the votes of Saint James and Saint Tammany, from which no returns have been received. The members of the house of representatives and a por- tion of the senators of the general assembly were also elected. The election was orderly and undisturbed by tumult or riot or any kind. AVhen the fact of the result of the election had beconie ai)parent, William Pitt Kellogg, now a member of the Senate of the United States, and not eligible to the oftice of governor under the constitution of the State, commenced a suit in chan(;ery, in the circuit court of the United States, against the governor of the State, a number of persons engaged in examining and ascertaining the individuals chosen at the election, and his opponent, as defendant, upon the pretext that he was ai)pichen- sive that the governor and other othceis would miscount the votes returned, mutilate or destroy the evidence of the election, and that by this method his opponent would be declared to be governor, instead of himself, and that he would not have [)roper testimony to sustain a con- test under the twenty third section of the act of Congress of the 31st May, 1870, which he supposed furnished himself with a cause and a tri- bunal to recover that office. We charge that the suit was commenced and conducted in bad faith. For the scoi>e and aim of the restraining order, injunctions, and other ])roceedings have l)Ut little relevance to the i)reservation and penxtua- tion of testimony in a possible suit, but have had a direct influt'iice and operation upon transactions outside of the court. It may be tairly con- cluded that the object of the suit, of the orders and decrees in it, has been to embarrass, entangle, and to discourage the lawful administra- tors of the State government, in oi'der that a band of usurj^Ms might take possession of and control it for their own emolument and advantage. The effect has been to make a revolution in the State government under the i)rocess of tlie courts and with the assistance of the Army of the United States, contrary to law and the votes of the people at the elei^tion. The suit in the circuit court of the United States is commenced by a citizen of the State of Louisiana, against the governor of the State, and several officers and citizens of the State, to direct them under color of an injunction as to the performance of an administrative function. Tlie proli-ssed oltject of this citizen is to secure a conservation ol" U'stinu)ny to aid him in asserting a possible claim to an oHice in the State which he thinks he may i)erhai)s have. 'J he courts of the United States have no jnrisdiction of controveisies between citizens of the same State, ex- cei)t in a very few well-definyd cases. There is no act of Congress that authorizes a citizen of a State to bring a suit against citizens of the same State to perpetimte or i)re.serve testimony in any case of this kind. There is no law of the United States that antiiorizes a citizen ol a State to bring a bill against the governor and other retiu'uiug officers of the CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 35 State, to control them in the performance of their ofificial duty. The whole princii)le and structure of the Governments of the United States — State and Federal — oppose the conclusion that a State administration can be drag'^ed into the courts of the United States by the citizens of the same State, in reference to any matter of municipal administr.ition. No section of the act of 31st May, 1870, lends the least countenance to the assertion of jurisdiction in such a cause, or to the hi.nh-handed orders that appear in it. The peace and dij^nity of the State have been l)rostrated by a successful effort to overturn the administration of the State, under the combined operations of the Army of the United States and the circuit court of the United States, and a usurping and uncon- stitutional administration has been placed in its stead. Tlie progress of this insurrection has been ra})id and successful. The^ duties of goveruor of the State are now ])erformed by a person calling* himself acting governor. Under the constitution of Louisiana, the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor are filled by the people at an election. In case of a vacancy in these offices for any cause, another officer is designated by the hnvs to supply the place. Tliis acting officer is either the j)residing officer of the senate, or, in same contingency, the speaker of the house of rei)resentatives. The present acting governor is not a senator or member of the house of representatives, and was not when he assumed to act as governor, and had not been since the 4th day of Xovembr last. The condition indis- pensable to a capacity to act as governor does not exist. ]Ie is a- mere usur[»er — an instrument selected to accomplish the revolution com- menced by judiciary j)rocess and enforced by armed soldiers. A ])retended legislature, operating with this usurping governor, comes together without legal evidence of an}^ autliority, and have commenced operations by abolishing courts that are filled by men elected by the people in November by overwhelming majorities, and in the i)lace of these courts a new court is provided, whose judge and clerk are to be nominated by this acting governor and his senate at command. It is not surprising that a wide-si)read sentiment of indignation, dis- gust, and detestation prevails at these extraordinary proceedings. Tliey are without parallel in tUe annals of the United States. They betokeu a si)irit of malice ami of mischief — a determination to prostrate all the bulwarks of law and of social order, under the guise and covert of judi- ciary action, to secure ends purely selfish and personal. They manifest a contempt for the institutions of the country, the peace of society, the guarantees of life, liberty, and of property, that has created alarm and insecurity. The undersigned have been filled with amazement and ai)prehension, that the guilty authors of the measures can have the least eticourage- meut or sup[)art from the President or the Congress of the United States. We, as citizens of the State of Louisiana, and as having no party associations or combinations to disturb our judgment, and im- pre^s "(1 with the conviction that the evils under which the State has suffei'ed from misgovern ment will be aggravated by these flagrant vio- lations of law ami right, for ends ])ersonal, do respectfully ask that in this exigency the associate justice of the United States assigm^d to this judicial circuit, and the judge of the circiyt court of the United States for this circmit, may take charge of the judicial a. Ross. B. Bridge, per F. E. B. E.J.Waldron. Henry ,1. Mather. Ernest Landry. Charles I). Delery. P. S. Brand. B. L. Mann. R.:\Iulroy. G. W. Terrell. L. Clairain. A. J. Sandegriff. F. R. Sonthmayd. F.A. Haber. Lewis TStern & Bros. M. T. Ri.c. F. Ginley. Edwarfl Labarre. A. Gonzales. J. Villa wccbia. P. F. Perret. J. T. Winnemore. .Jules Leaumoud. J. E. Jarrcan. P. A. Hyde. .T. M. Pagand, jr. Ph. Helm. Wm. B. Kimball. Geo. R. Chilan, jr. W. H. Ellis. Wm. F. Delahay. Charles Carrelton. A. Micon. B. Stille, M. D. Samuel H. Kennedy. J. McConnell. De Burget Ogden. Steyens & Seymore. Cramer, Beyman & Co. E. B. Oycnl. M. B. Chilanss. Jr. G. H. Rolling. George Wilt. Jose Thiard. Chas. A. Bujac. W. S. Donn'ell. C. E. LeBlanc. R. F. Hogsen. B. Proctor. T. Morris. .Tames R. Gwiun. L. D. Jorda. A. Cleveland. A. P. Cleveland. Wni. ^1. Ransom. Sajuuel B. Cleveland. W. E. Freeslew. L. W. Coopry. J. Newman. L. H. I'ownier, treasurer. D. A. Blanchard. M. W. Newman. Alfred Noury. W. S. Young. N. R. Stratton. William H. Pia.son. Edsow li. Hems. E. .Johnson. E. Fislier TTaves. Michael Gillilea. Cartwrigbt Eustid. Patrick Kennedy. Patrick J. (ilynn. A. D. Horniques. F. Hatter. C. V. Dus.sive. E. R. Mason. H. P. Buckley. C. H. Schornberg. John T^ontrlas. tJeo. W. Wang. J. R. Lund. T. J. Odendahl. R. W. Gillespie. Chas. Averill. M'Carrdlish, Chrishau & Co. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 37 C S. Boarnnii. 11. Hiiltdu Kerr. J. (Jaicia. Wat Tvler Cluveiius. J. J. Rieluiids. Benj. Turner. T. H. Lyons. AVni. H.'Vogel. E. lo\vs. D. G. Ilillborn. J. P. Davis. James G. Jenkins. A. M. Asbbridge. A.B. Dantnnb. W. A.Johnson. A. Boisblanc. R. M. Walensley. J. B. Daveni)ort. A. F. Aseubeimer. E. Guesnou. F. A. Gorteu. S. Condit. Charles Nathan. Henry Renshaw. Theo. Connnager. Chr. Longeu. John J. Barnett. William Reiuerth. E. A. Alberty. H. Clostermann Bayle. A. King. > F. J. Yallienne. Henry Miller. J. C. i)innies. Alfred Bertus. George Wigg. J. L. S. Laiul. J. S. Meilkur. J. Wolkart. Hunt & MacaulaA'. C.H.Chase. P. N. Benacbi. A. E. Bignon. W. C. Simmons, jr. E. B. Mnsgrove. W.W. Renshaw. .lames A. Renshaw". J. Brion. E. Fonlin. Edwin T. Riley. Lonis Frigeriak. Henry Vahlon & Co. Jules Benezcoh. Pierre D. D. Delaci'oix. A. Lalier. Chs. Clipman. E. Dubois. C. Cantenz. B. Dumesta. J. Armstrong. A. Delseries. A. Roussot. Sam'l Faibore. James Golden. John Wagner. John GoUuiart. Wm. A. Hollembach. Samuel Cohn. Simon Cohn. L. Kolsky. Tvnotz Blumcusay. Haims Abes. Michal Stitt's. J no. J. Ward. John Hurley. J. E. Merilh. G. P. Bhunand. J. Lemaue. N. Ferraudon. J. Menier. Z. Huant. Eustis V. Bourgeois, Gwynn Fanchuuy. Paul Ronss(^t. Charles Laiamy. Constant Alt. H. Grelle. Edward Ivy. Philip Schwalb. Francis Adams. F. Birtel. H. Hausmair. A. Himel. Samuel Cahen. Wm. Quiliiau. Theo. Dietrich. T. Moran. P. Casaubiellh. J. Simons. Louis Goldstein. S. Sandak. P. Goldstein. J. T. ilay. C. Gossauer. M. Rosenthal. A. Kratzberg. H. Cohen. S. Cohen. S. Haelbs. Wm. Davis. E. Macon. Ls. Philipp. J. B. Yergez. L. Josepiis. De Trautman. J. M. Vergcz. Aug. Mora. Th. Obek. J. Soutareger. Arthur Lopez. Tlios. J. Horrell. William Haaslage. Charles Miller. John G. Fleming. E. P. Merrick. W. H. Foster. J. N. Lea. W. H. Heuning. C. W. Merriam. Jas. McC. Baker. John P. Nelson. D. Davis. Gustave Gosliuski. Auguste Labalos. H. C. Good. Thomas Costello. E. Ducos. S. Margnere. T. Bruuet. A. Grousset. B. Rombach. Eugelhart Cruvlet. 0. Arnold. John A. Duble. William L. Poole. B. T. Simms. G. W. Sentell. Juo. A. Watkins. Wm. W. Hunter. S. M. Westmore. H. W. Palfrey. Campbell & Strong. J. West. S. Cohen. S. T. Crebs. Gus. Leefe. H. N. Beebe. Juo. Deveroux. S. N. Moodv. C. A. Parker. F. G. Ernst. S. Hernsheim. James Davis. Fred. A. Ober. H. F. Hall. Benj. Albertsou. James Lennox Ogdou. J. C. Woodville. Edw. .Jenuoiweld. L. A. Leraudais. Geo. P. Delery. 1. Sougern. Hy. C. Bowman. A.' Wold. G Jumouirhe, sr. J. A. Grinstead. J. E. Logan. J. M. Isaacks. Chas. Ranay. ^ Chas. Engstfeld. Wm. H. iiice. J. W. Nagle. F. W. Gustine. Thos. Kearney. J. M. Pagande. Hy. Bezome. G." Delery, jr. Felix Jumonville. Juo. Guerin. Edgar Pitot. CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. 41 A. B. Crinks. Jas. D. Saul. Kobt. Crawford. A. Bozouier, sr. C. M. Carrier. V. M. Carrier. B. J. Moutaiiietl. Louis Sewary. J. D. CrostlnViiit. J. Meitoelfalder. G. Jumouville, jr. J. Dejan. N. D. Bortel. Gray Smith. Edw. Bitot. J'h Trotot. C. Tiblier. J. Cozy. J. M. Wagner. R. Sua. M. Steiu. D. DaudsoD. P. O. Peyrow. EriK'st Prayst. P. Bucliauau. A\'. J. Hase. A. Ji. Seger. McCracken & Brewster. Jos. Zengel, jr. Johu Clark. John E. Audre. M. Tauey. Louis L. Lambert. Jno. G. Gaiues. Aut. Carriere. J. L. Wiluey. F. P. Beck. L. A. Stoiu. L. Harden. Hy. Burkbardfc. A. Wagatlia, jr. L. M. Babad. N. Kuutz. MacBlanque. H. Gerures. E. Lartigue. B. Hellman. Henry W. Haag. C. Morse. W. H. Howcott. Thomas B. Harper. H. M. Stewart. George Burkbardt. E. Eg am. Henry Schesdiug. Johnson & Perring. L. B. Collins. F. H. Bohue. John Runte. Thomas Schore. Joseph King. Panlus Wunder. Fred. Nicaud. E. Amadio Landry. A. C. Delery. G. A. D. Hemeconrt. Cohen, Endels & Phelps. M. Millies. Louis Tihermauu. Thos. K. Smith. S. Sutter. F. A. Gonzales. P. Egam. Ign. Mayer. F. Hollander. A. Zimmermanu. E. Lang. H. Meyers. F. Oberhenser. C. Converse. Hwnry Blache. A. Wiltz. Rde. Annas. Lebast P. Roj*. A. Delpence. P. E. Sarrazin. Flonan Lange. Jos. A. Hincks. A. Thezi, jr. Maurice Weil. Gustave Weil. Georges S. Darby. J. F. Couret. L. Schmides. F. Limengy. A. H. Delmas. Thos. M. Dykers. An to. McBecali. Wm. W. Graft-. J. E. Richard. J. N. Charbonnet. Eugene Meyrez. Chas. F. Weiss. J. Bvion. F. Briou, jr. J. lirion. R. H. Marr. Meyer Wall. Jno. Glynn, jr. Denis Rach. Edw. I. Durel. Chas. De Armas. Geo. A. Wagatha. F'cois ( oquetz. Edmund Zacud. Edward Adler. Louis Lehman. S. Morton. M. J. Farrell. W. R. Bell. E. Laugsdorft". O. Alugi. T. Tnpper. S. Menard. Aaron Smith. R. Thoma. T. Clark. F. McC. Swain. D. R. Pirret. J. G. Roui>. George A. Lee. Font Sont. L. G. LeMore. J. S. Longley. Arthur Rideau. J. 0. Scannell. A. G. LaPice. John Chafte. John Williams. E. W. Bertus. G. W. Belin. Jules Durel. E. L. Carriere. S. Labranch. A. L(>aumont. Jas. S. Paujal. D. L. Kermon, jr. Alphonse Seltz. B. C. Brent. S. J. Font. . G. Michel. D. E. Seghert. J. O. Lanary &. Co. J. Faust. M. C. Randall. P. Delegrau. Paul 0. Guerin. F. Legendre. Geo. Mittenberger. Ernest Mittenberger. C. W. Cammack. S. J. Adler. Pierre Poulz. Dr. E. Adler. Paul A. Pontz. Alcus S. Dierto. S. D. Aurej^. G. Sanches. J. M. Villavasso. P. S. Sanches. Hre. Daissaute. G. Bonny. H. Loyd. John Steiner. Armaud Guyot. L. E. Delusam. B. O. Blanche', jr. Robert J. Ruddendorft\ P. J. Gaiser. Horatio Lau j;e. H. Viavant. R. B. Searing. E. Breissou. D'Buy H. Ogden. James Cammack. Ad. Calougue. F. Delivy. Ernest Advillen. F. McBulhuy, sr. E. C. Legendre. J. W. Watson. P. Labouisse. Geo. Legendre. Geo. E. Forstall. Victor Bernard. Felix Morris. James L. Harris. A. A. Houton. J. A. Baguie. Leon Verges. Johu Zopfi. C. Masiscan. Geo. Lafaye. Walter G. Crawford. Ben, E. Hall. Robert E. Montgomery. Emile Bernard. C. R. Roos. M. M. Simpson. Jas. Chalaron. 42 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. Alf. Lamailio. E. F. La Villebeurre. Hy. J. Montaguet. Beiij. P. Lee. Eng. Dcsfliincs. Jiio. B. Dodart. Jno. P. Casey. "W. A. Shropshire. G. M. Bayly, jr. Amand Forstall.' Fitzgerald & Yauderford. John Streuuar. P. Garden. E. Daricr. B. F. Keefe. J. M. Seixas. Louis. A. Coiron. Edgar Larue. Claude Gouzales. Phil. E. Beauregard. A. Emier Bader & Co. Chas. J. Macmnrdo. George H. Larue. E. J. Lomas. Jas. A. Pierce. Peter J. Fiulay. Wm. Sherhurne. Thomas Bullen. Wm. E. Fitzgerald. Jas. Fabey. P. Poincy. J. Kohn. Walker Fearn. A. Nott, jr. Heurv T. Lawler. Hugli O'Douiiell. J. F. A. Boyle. Lewis J. Grass. Wang, White «fc Co. H. M. Levy. L. Prados. Chas. Pleasants. Eobt. McMillan. H. B. McMillan. Euiile Heriuann. J. D. Vanderford. Jh. Lombard. Fred. N. Thayer. C. Kohn. G. Alerg6. J. R. Bournian. J. M. Burke. James Flower. Jno. B. Fox. G. ]Maurras. David Schwarz. P. Hnrst. M. J. Fitzgerald. P. Everett. Schwabacher »S: ITirscb. Henry Frielauder. J. M. Jrowsul'do. S. K. Russ. M. Glaser, jr. Thomas Sheehan. Jno. Dovle. G. P. Crauo. J. M. Schwartz. J. T. Belknap & Co. Edward Dore. H. R. Giffney, W. H. Giffney. Wm. Dillon. Dan Fagan. Wm. Hart. Chris MeCartv. L. J. Bright. ' Henrv Green. Geo. W. Reed. Wm. .J. Comstock. Jas. Kirkpatrick. Archibald Mitchell. Jno. A. Martin, M. D. Wm. H. Beaubam. R. J. Druban. J. Curtis Waldo. O. Elmer. Henry Denegu. John Graff. John H. Wagner. Frank Beck. O. T. Buddecke. Gordon & Gomily. Conway Boyle. A. D. Dnpny. J. O. Corrijolles. Byrnes & Bro. Chism & Boyd. Pbil C. Clark. Harry Wilde. Jno. G. Wire. W. H. Reese. Henry M. Small. Geo. M. Viuten. S. P. Spiant. P. R. Fell. Placide J. Spear. Geo. C. Pasley. John Pasley. J. M. Weymoutb. Frank R. Rawlins, G. Briguor. Geo. D. Fisher. E. H. Biemend, W. L. Catlin. G. Baninii. James Govan. T. Milton Gudrin. Edwin Marks. Hugh Breeu. C. N. Forns. O. T. Peck. Wm. Boswortb. Benj. J. Ilaney. Ft. Mnnter. J. A. Robinson. J. H. Ashbey. John A. Stevenson. G. W. Binder. Wm. A. Bartlet. C. C. Crawford. J. B. Lambert. J. M. Brabazon. Julius A. Pratt. Geo. J. Duncan. J. H. Jobusou. J. R. Walker. W. M. Aberuatby. H. E. Fine. Charles A. Smith. Chas. A. Wilson. T. Toursine. G. Townsend. J. .J. .Jourdan. L. Tureaud. William Luyster. W. W. Wiggintou. ,J. K. Small. Geo. C. Lawrason. J. B. Bres. Victor Latour. Jno. B. Sheehan. J. Plaisent. P. Dwyer. H. D. Cochrane. Wm. Grant. J. R. Turck. C. B. Churchill. Geo. J. Duncan. Ed. Scratchley, M. D. Geo. W. Wood. E. F. Pe'rilloux. John Dymoud. Wackerbartb & Joseph. S. E. Rnudle. James H. Clougb. J. AV. Payne. F. Pickard. H. M. Payne. John G. Parbam. J. J. Fitzpatrick. J. A. Evans. B. B. Parbam. G. N. Morisou, jr. Ed. R. Dameron. John T. Purves. Henrv Taylor. E. A.'Bridge. Geo. Folsom. Morris L. Lawrence. G. A. Schnedon. Ed. L. Hall. Pranske & Damuel. Wm. Friedricb. A. Palarig. W. T. Brown. Geo. Bairnsfatber. L. R. Skipper. W. H. Seaman. C. M. Wilcox. J. C. Shii>ley. Wm. M. Laild. George Scberer. G. A. Williams. S. Rich'd Proctor. P. McBride. G. S. DeBlanc. Chas. T. Beauregard. G. Burke. Wm. J. Br.yersdorffer. J. P. Lanpbier. W. H. Atkinson. AValter Ross. Anid. Somab. K. B. Keene. H. C. Yeatman. J. R. Carroll. E. Yergues. Stanley O. Thomas. T. L. Airey, CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 43 A. L. Janiii, J. C. De Pruy. D. D. Colcock. R. M. Potts. G. O. Warner. S. H. Abv. J. v. Dc Gniy. Chapsky & Schulze. L. G. ArnoiiU. (ieo. T. Converse. Jacob Miller. R. H. Beiiner. Geo. Falcher. P. McKenna. R. J. Deas. F. O. Minor. Jnles Tnyes, Jr. R. N. Lewis. J. C. Denis. D. F. Holland. Shelby Seymour. F. Claiborne. D. R. Carroll. G. Wilkowski. Simon Wilkowski. C. F. Johnson. H. J. Tiltbrd. L. Prudliomni. Julius Hessee. Joseph Wav. John T. Butler. R. M. Fauquier. W. Agar. W. T. Vandry. Tho. M. Converse. D. A. S. Vaught. E. Benjamin. W. H. Reynolds, Walter S." Wass. B. McCool. John Janey. Harry Phillips. John G. Angell. Wm. Weaver. Tlios. Donnelly. M. E. Garcia. Will. H. Coleman. I. Irvine. Thos. Mc In tyre. W. E. Dillon. W. W. Duty. P. IL Harmon. Jas. Brennan. Geo. D. Fisher. W. Barnett. J. Burkhardt. A]i>. Garnard. F. A. Robbins. Henry D. Park. Geo. W. Moore. C. Wataroue. John Craig. Thos. S. Porter. Thos. Kifiiiau. Thos: N. Bay Ian. Sand. Powers. Conrad (irier. W. L. -Wagner. T. W.Bnddecke. Fred. T. Field. W^ C. Camp. H. Kerr. S. Curley. J. Carter. Jules T. Pecot. J. H. O'DowmI. Patrick Driscoll. Jos. Wliitmore. Thos. Whitmore. J. W^. Hiucks. J. S. Tuyes. R. Wregsie. A. J. Chalaron. W. H. Richards. Wm. S. Dickson. Henry Dietz. P. Kan brook. W. W. Charlton. Chas. E. Clinton. M. B. Chilanys. H. Carronche. J. B. Waldeman. C. F. W. Danker. J. F. Hertzog. Rnshton Foster. Louis McCutchon. H. L. Lewis. H. Chalaron. W. J. Chapman. N. Yordy. Thomas McQueen. James T. Day. Moses Eastman. Casper C. Izard. John Wilkinson. Martin Hulbritter. J'ph Girod. C. Laroque Turgeau. J. Myer. Henry E. Mitter. James M. Doyle. F. Emmett. C. W. Miltenberger. F. Reusoh. A. Capdeville. Martin Druhan. Ch. Burkhardt. A. Katz. S. Barnett. M. W. Smith. Anatate Delery. Alex. Nicholas. August C. Delery. Hy. Devergis. Lew A. Graj' Son. Thos. McCormick. F. Shey. Thos. McDermott; M. Redmond. Marice Scully. Patrick X McGraw. Thos. Kelly. P. Day. Michael Tully. Thos. E. Graliara. J. J. Keating. AVm. K. Mckenzie. Thomas Stoo. Thos. Anderson. H. Carpenter. S. Barbarm. F. Hantad. L. M. Finloy. James F. Alleyn. Geo. Sivarbrick. C. Stehle. Wm. Pringle. P. McKernau. Henry Sehers. Hy. Dallmau. Chas. J. Alleyn. Robert Parsons. L. A. Even. Alex. K. Sennott. Jno. E. Chirke. Taylor Adams. Edward V. Wcdiu. E. P. Whitford. C. S. Fisher. Henry F. Simes. Thos. Jeffn. Woolf.jr. Renshaw, Cammack & Co. A. H. Hill. Ed. Davis. Jno. McGrath. Geo. H. Curtis. Thad. F. Hooper. A. English. J. E. Adam. J. L. Adam. Thos. Geo. Murphy. M. S. Walsh. John Sullivan. M. D. Gardner. Jno. T. Fitz Gerald. John Walsh. Geo. M. Nugent. James Rankin. John J. Gardner. W. Mizell. Thurman Leon. C. Taylor Gauche. Wm. C. McCrackeu. John F. White. G. W. Bern. E. P. Mackie. Chas. D. Stuart. Golsan Bros. Chs. Platz. John G. Darrah. W. D. English. Bm. Gersou. S. L. Levy. AVm. Forstall. J. Lew. P. Forstall. E. F. Munier. T. S. Ingersoll. Jno. J. Noble. W. T. Blakeraore. William Knox. AVm. Benache. Lehman, Abraham & Co. C. A. Villars. Chs. A. Janvier. J. Brenan. Lewis Hart. A. Podatsek. Geo. S. Wolf. J, O. Nixou. 44 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIInA. T. P. Devoy. L. J. Salomon. Percy T. Simpson. D. Vautine. J. W. Pearce. J. Mathers, jr. S. 13. Newman & Co. Harrison Watts. Sylvan Derby. R. Pbieler & Co. A. Mullers. C. Sbiiiff. James N. 0<;deu. R. M. O'Brien. W. H. Mayer & Co. W. Brinj^emau. G. W. Cabel. J. B. Latitte. Wm. C. Black. T. Ferd. Kraemer. E. R. Meiban. J. Petifeles. R. H. Devov. Hoffinann & Co. Bernba. Stranss, C. Opetlebech. Perry Nugent. F. Vix. E. Purch. A. J. Ward. S. H. Waon,jr. John C. Stewart. J. Benj. Cbandler. Wm. A. Jordan. T. Duval. Geo. S. Weaver. J. H. Dnrant. A. Keller. C. Dillon. J. E. Campbell. J. E. Cartrigbt. Faut Sons. Vizard & Wilmutb. Joseph Setrewe. W. A. Eastman. A. Samuels. Jas. Corcoran. J. Simjjson. AV. F. Bancks. John C. Stewart, jr. Adam Werner. C. O. Sncshmoydre. J. N. Stous. James Hibbs. David A. Steru. Johu H. J. Blank. James Deering. Wm. Cbamplin. John J Moore. Geo. W. Stockton. Jviles A. Florat. J. L. D. Merritt. C. Shumway. W. E. Grant. F. M. Thompson. C. S. Elliott. A. Barrena. B. A. Crozier. W^m. Orr. A. J. Barreiia. J. H. Kesler. AVm. Whitta. E. E. Simpson, jr. John Hobson. Christian R. Stnmft'. John T. Holtzmauu. Ramon Rouhet. Rufus O. Elliott. W. H. Titus. A. Marz. W. G. Coyle. Samuel Alston. W. R. Lyman. A. C. Wilbur. Thomas P. Donelsou. J. T. Diboll. Johu Blancbard. W. P. Winslow. Martin ISIiller. H. Crush. Eugene Wells. N. Maleo. Andrew Steward. Hugh W. Brown. I.D.Hawkins. Robert A. Grinuau. Lewis C. Ivy. Chri.s. Cbatie.jr. Robert L. Adams. James Rainy. Em. Levi. W. D. Rickarby. James S. Zacbaria. C. W. Bradbury. William I. Whaling. J. S. Flower. W. C. Flower. R. T. Buckner. Robert T. Buckner. S. C. Waugh. William Mackeser. J. Welti ng. John Cromwell. Benjamin Gersou. F. Lecomt. John Ruloii'. H. Martin. A.Testrow. Edward A. O'Brien. J. J. Gidiere. F.A.Pliilippi. Johu A. Lafaye. Johu S. Keaghey, Charles Chafie. J. W. Glime. A. Levi. J. H. Duggan. J.F.Auklen. A. C. Weysbam. Pauline De|daigne. Frederick W. Newroth. Henry Leiuiuger. Charles Mather. James C. Morse. C.B. Pegram.sr. Johu M. Saudidge. Charles Lcsassird. P. A. Huches. J. T. Muse, Evergreen, La. J. B. Flotte. J. Fowler. W.J. Rivet. D. Turcaud, D. M. R, George Schacfter. Edmoud De Verges. G. Oehmuchen. Joseph Hagen, L. Jung. P. H. Bernard. A. G. Romaiu. J. Hern ear. Leon Queyrouse. L. Ririere. J. L. Bovd. M. D. Gaudet,jr. F. Hathkum. G. Pers. M. J. Cusack. Jules S. Myaudre. Patrick Murpliv. H. Fitte. N. H. Larose. Edward Robert. Y. B. E. Lacroix. Charles Vatiuel. .T. C. Tremoulet. J. Moutemello. S. Fearsou. G. Wagnar. C. Oehuuicheu. L. P. Hilrard. I. L. Berdon. Henry Blauchiu. J. Y. Pullingue. W. Laroussiui. B. I'owell. J. J. Labartbe. Boudct Theophile. M. Collins. L Gillis. Andy Kelho. W. E. P. H. Barnes. E. Bardelois. James David. William L. Luyster. F. Gueydon. H. Amas. ' K. F. Herveau. Charles Blaclie. G. A. Blaucau. A. Jorda. J. Desca. G. King. Isidore Hernsbeim. William R. Holconibe. Robert Gregory. T. Fleury. Oscar Brown. Charles H. Scott. Felix Oiiry. Johu L. Linke. M. J. Farrell. Patrick Reilly. John Walle. J. Bollinger. C. B. Black. E. H. Hyde. Brown & Turemau. J. A. F Brown, jr. George Meyers. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 45 Simon F. Monroe. Gcoroe H. Dodge. Charles K. Railey. H. Lsaiic. Theo. Mohr. S. Buerges. Williiiui W. Nasets. W. Werlander. S. McNaniara. Otfo H.Clasen. P. r. Smith. T. Gueydau. P. Gueydau. L. Bodet. A. S. Alexander. Francis O'Neill. Hart.IIilboru I'v: Co. Benjamin Hilboru & Co. H. B. Myers. A. M. Wail. Georoe W. Booth. Eugene May. A. G. Lastraper. William J. Dunne. J. W. Coleman. John R. Railey. J. Robertson. T. T. White. S.Weil. Myers Neumeyer. H. Tiemauu. T. I. Dyer. L. Montagut. W. Van Benthuyseu. E. Le Breton Deschapelle. W. R. Mur|)hy. Benjamin H. Michel. G. H. Joiins. F. Fischer. E. H. Summers. D. P. Scanlan. Bryan & Thompson. R. M. Ellis. I']. Keman & Co. J. Ferry. E. Dnrand. Jas. Hanrahan. Jno. Mendes. T. W. Cauipbell. Emory Cluphy. J. S. Co])es. Henry V. Ogden. C. H. Tebault, M. D. L. A. Kearus. H. Green. James R. Wilcox. P. G. McKinney. C. Wood Perry. II. B. Pegranr. F. B. Green. Dan. I'. Logan. Geo. Gauiicheau. W. B. Brown. T. H. Stephenson. Henry Leckie. P. B. Bell. Chas. L. Uhlhorn. Wm. B Clark. Chas. E. Rice. O. E. Willcox. Heury M. Morris Lewis Lawrence. Leon Mayer. Louis Schneider. Herm. Roehl. J. Benird. Geo. H. Schreiber. F. Dudenhefer. J. Aug. Ilagraann. A. Schneider. Jno. Gaspand. Chas. Laner, jr. George R. Preston. Vose Brothers. Schneider & Luljerbier. Howard & Preston. Edwd. Conery. E. S. Melancon. J. A. Wehest. Perry C. Massey. M. N. Waldo. O. C. Williamson. Eugene Lopez. A. Consley. C. W. Waldo. E. Maginnis. Chas. Carriere. O. Stuber. L. Eldridge. Henry Fox. Edward Rocesset. Joseph Schwartz. Joan Slooten. Zera. Senbrink. B. H. Shut. John H. Kanilade. W. R. Frisbie. E. J. Precend. Jules Chase & Co. Wm. J. Beirntre. Isidore Newman Bro. Rondeau &, Co. C. H. Huddeekee. J. A. Blatter. L. T. Johnson. James Grant. R, H. Bennets. H. V. P. Bird. G. T. L. Mayer. Victor Brados. Theo. G. Uhlhorn. E. C. Payne. Frank H. Hooker. Jas. M. Domingnez. William Rainey. S. H. Gilman. Ed. Chapman. Thos. C. Herndon. John Shannon. John W. Saunders. Henry Kopman. Martin Caulfield. John H. Pape. J. M. Frankenbush. J. Burnet & Co. Jno. P. Hardin. Louis Minor. E. Dufour. G. Ilorogue Jnrgeaiis. Richard Nugent. Jules Mossy. B. F. Peters. Dayid Haddou. Jas. Fruet. Chas. DeBlanc. Edward I. Johnson. F. Laborote. Edwin O. Cook. N. D. Hughes. George Ellis. Sam'l Flower. Wm.P. EUeson. Bostick & Seymour. Geo. W. Manson. C. E. Murphy. Briggs Payne & Co. C. F. Terrell. F. C. Chanut. P. O. Kombock. Chs. Omer de Liyandais. Joseph Mitchel. M.J. Guinn. A. Picolet. Wm. Hanemann. Arthur J. Mitchel. David Montgomery, jr. Joseph E. Whitmore. W. C. Day. P. Dudenhofer. C. C. Lewis. .Jos. Braudner. J. T. Taunehill. Chs. M. Lorenz. F. Chalard. Jul. Lockejo. Geo. W. De La Plaine. P. A. Le Blane. Chas. H. E. Colton. A. Heidemann. P. Thormahlen. Owen E. Sullivan. G. T. Haab,jr. Maurice Stern. Henry E. (liogreve. Miller & Hillenauer. Bernard Strauss. A. M. Bryde. Mike O'Connor. Chas. T. Barry. Joseph Colin. Lahnseu Loclite & Co. Hermann Thoss. A. J. Tard3^ D. A. Given. Chas. Holland. This. Ceroid. Leuuiel Stanwood. Kirkpatrick & Keith. Vicker Meyer. H. H. May' Sid Engotorf. H. F. Knmpp. Declen Zesep. J. Brieglet. Robt. L. Adams & Son. Ali)ert Shnltz. Rieliert. A. Diipuy. Cbas. Cooper. Stephen Danenhauer. Cbas. (Uievalier. H. Eck. Anton Fraukiewig. G. Seideiizahl. P. Sebnmert. Franz Ilirz. Anton Foltz. Karl Kiefer. Heinirieb Fuller. T. D. Greusen. Cbas. H. Lewis. W. II. Richards. Geo. Albert. Wm. S. Dicksou. Henry Dietz. Jos. H. Baylie. E. Brunner. C. P.enkhardt. Trosten & Value. Tbos. Walker. E. Digean. Wm. T. Hardie. A. Grosjean. Louis Kanfnuin. C. L. Bower. P. E. Dnrand. John Friedrich. J. Herbrrf. T. Reillev. F. Brion. G. Kreibs. J. O. McLean. A. Clatform in denouncing the President and all those earnest to conserve the rei)ublican interests of Louisiana. Their speeches and sub- scribed essays have been envenomed with spleen, and it seems hardly jnobable that men who have declared the most ultra democratic views' up to the hour they subscribed the lemonstrance, could thus suddenly disavow " party associations " or " combinations." These men shared in the popuhir denunciation of Mr. Warmoth as a public enemy, (except- ing certain of their number who, as capitalists, conspired with him in Huctuating State warrants,) until he bartered for asylum in the democ- racy, he to be assured a seat iu the United States Senate, and that party to harvest the offices of the State through his legerdemain. Iu visiting AVashington, the delegation practically and by intent plead the cause of a gigantic fraud; the attempt of honest citizens to redress which through a Federal court has provoked the wrath which only battled partisans can feel. As specimens of the frauds attested to by thousands of affidavits, 1 call the attention to the certitied copies of depositions of Joseph W. Jones and Frederick L. King, and the state- ments under oath of Page and Ilusted before the chief United States supervisor, and on file in his office. (Exhibits F, G, II, and I.) In January last, wheu Mr. Warmoth environed the legislature with bayonets, the gentlemen com])rising the one-hundred committee were urg- ent in their appeals to rei)ublicans to secure a modilicatiou of what they termed the infamous registration and election laws; but wheu he (War- moth) became their confederate in seeking to de]»rive the republicans of this State of the rights guaranteed them by the Constitution, thej' called upon him to perpetuate in their interests the frauds against which they had clamored in 1870-71 ami the early winter and spring of 1872, Especially did they urge that he should not sign the reform bills passed by the legislature, and to such a recpiest he Avas oidy too willing to ac- cede. AVhile they were ])rompt in their deiumciations of frauds at elections oidy last January, they now insist that when such frauds i\re perpetrated in their interests, we shall not only have no redress for our grievances, but shall even quietly submit, without daring to appeal either to the courts of law or to thecoujuion sentiments of our people. Their immediate organ is the New Orleans Times, the proprietor of • which was recently charged by Lieutenent-Governor Piuchback, from the senate chair, with having besought, at midnight, an interview with the latter for Mr. "Warmoth, and with having, a few minutes later, waited in another room while Mr. Warmoth otiered the lieutenant-governor a bribe of $50,000 to join in the conspiracy. CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. 53 The same proprietor is also under inquest before tlie legislature as having leceived $80,000 iu State warrants, without due appropriation, for supporting Waraioth. Whether the delegation is, Avith such au organ, removed fiom the basis of " ]>arty associations" or combinations, and whether it is animated with a becoming spirit toward the Federal Government and its courts, nmy jtppear from the following few extracts among many in that journal during the i)ast fortnight. Exhibit C, the first article, relates to the delegation itself. Still further, to reveal the malevolence of the times, 1 submit, in the exhibit marked D, editorial articles and exceri)ts published at different dates, and but for the muti- lations of bound files of the sheet, aliuost daify assaults of au unseemly character upon the administration through the past four years could be presented. In token that the attempt made to forestall the determina- tion by the reguhir election board, and to seat upon the irresponsible certificate of the State register municii)al officers iu New Orleans, was au audacious violation of law, 1 have to cite the opinion of uo less a lawyer than Christian IJoselius, the leader of the Louisiana bar, invoked by Mayor Flanders, Plxhibit E. In the haste of preparing this letter, I have oiiiitted to state many facts which would more thoroughly estab- lish the mischief of which the delegation are apologists. I am satisfied, however, that enough has been said to suffice your immediate require- ments, and have the honor to remain, Verv respectfullv, vour obedient servant, S. B. PACKARD, Premlcnt State Central Committee. Hon. GEORaE H. Williams, A ttorney- General. ExiiiiJiT A. State of Louisiana, Office of State Eegistratiox of Voter.s, New Orleans, Xovemhev 2, 1872. Sin : Iu rc]»]y To your comiimnication of date, I nmst respectfully decline compliauce with your it-iiuest to appoiut one commissioner of election at each polling-place, from the rei)nblican party, at the general election to be held November 4, 1872. In regard to your second request, I have the honor to inform you tliat the list of polling-places iu this parish will be published in the official journal and other papers to-morrow, 3d instant. Very respectfully, B. P. BLANCHARD, State ItefjlKter of raters and Snperrtsor of Eegistration, I'arlsh of Orleans. Hon. S. B. Packaiii), President State J'epuMican Committee. ExiiiiJiT B. |Confi(l(-ntial.] State of Louisiana, Office of State Register of Voters, Xcw Orleans, October 24, 1872. Sir: In addition to the instructions contained iu Circular No. 8, frou this office, you are instructed— • 1st. In counting the ballots after election, count first the votes cast for presidential electors and members of Congress, keeping separate tally-lists on the Form No. 1, pro- 54 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. vided for that purpose, and makiug up and completing the statement of voti s for each poll, u))ou Form No. 1. Then close the box, reseal it, and proceed in a similar manner, until all the uational votes have been counted. Then proceed with the counting of the Slate and parish votes, bearing in mind the fact that the United States supervis- ors of election and deputy marshals have no right whatever to scrutinize, insi)ect, or be present at the counting of the State and parish votes. '2d. As soon as the count in each case is completed, telegraph the result to this office at once. Should there be no telegraph office at the conrt-liouse, dispatch a messenger by the quickest route to the nearest telegraph station. :3d. Tlie stationery, &c., furnished for each parish is to be equally distributed among all the polling-places, and at least one copy of the election laws must be fur- nished to each poll. Respectfully, L. E. Bkntlky, Esq., SiijK'rvi'ioy of licyistration, Farhh of Ascumou. B. V. BLANC HARD, State Ilcgisfer of Tottra. EXHIIUT C. [From the Xew Oilf-aus 'Ciiuess, U<>ft'niljt'r 1j. Istd.l (ioi) Si'Kicn ! — It is now perfectly plain that the radicals, both here and at Washington, are using every energy toward allaying popular excitement by stitling the voice of re- monstrance. Naturally feeling that the result of a ixquilar investigation must result not only in total discomtiture, but that it will also excite the ire of sill patriotic ])eoi)le of the country, no pains will be spared either in the way of intimidation or conciliation to smother up the outrage perpetrated on oiu- lil)erties. Even Attorney-(u>neral Williams fully betrays this in his anxiety regarding the committee appointed to visit Washing- ton ; he can withstand anything but that. He knows that Congress adjournson Decem- ber 20, and if he can only delay their arrival until that event has passed, the adniiuistra- tion will be sure of their victory. This is why he advises Colonel McEnery so pertly and pointedly on the subject; this is why he, oddly enough, takes such prompt mea- sures to answer the memorial to the same purport. " Complain as much as you please, only keep away from Washington until after Congress adjourns," is the plain and only inter])retation to be given to Mr. Williams's dispatches. Now, fellow-citizens, this should not and must not be allowed, After having been despoiled of our liberties, you must not permit yourselves to be intimidated from protesting. General Grant, by. virtue of his power, can do many arbitrary things, but he cannot shut the door of Congress iu your face ; he cannot prevent the Supreme Court from taking cognizance of your case, and he cannot interdict a pure and fair exposition of the outrages he has .sancticmed in Louisiana from being laid before the American people. Strcmg as our enemies have been in carrying out their schemes by virtue of trickery combined with brute force, here is a latal elemcmt of weakness developed which Mr. Williams's jietulont haste fully de- monstrates. Here is the rift in the cloud of your troul)les through which the sunshine of restoration is to be seen; here is the vulnerable si)ot in the laazen armor, through which the weapon of truth is to pierce on its fatal mission. We can therefore assure the committee that their mission, if not delayed, ])roinises the nmst auspicious results. The gentlemen composing it plainly have it in their power to accomplish what every other agency invoked in our defense has failed to do. Let them depart to-day, bear- ing with them not only the destinies of our State, but the earnest prayers and good wishes of its people; let the same people take pains to be at the depot to cheer them on their mission. The voice of remonstrance, it appears, is alr»%ady echoing through the portals of the White House, and erelong its thunders will be re-echoed from every hill- top in the land. It is not the ])rovince of truth and right to remain, pulseless and powerle.-s at the foot of Avroug and oppression; the whole tone and tcmixT of the civ- ilization we live in renounces such a fatility. Therefore, keep the agitation alive, and determine that the apathy which has heretofore been our curse, and which is still our reproach everywhere, shall no longer paralyze our efforts. Be of good cheer, citi- zens ; your committee commenced, represents a great outraged ]>rincii)le ; beginning, it will soon grow into a crusade more potent to ciieck usurpation than all tlie futile efforts lately wasted on a fruitless camjiaign. Little dangers ottcn prove more serious than great ones, and so the administration is destined to learn to its cost. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 55 [New Orleans Times, December 15, lil2.] C.viJiiiAGO KST OKi.KXDA. — It is impossible that tli^ American people oaii be kept loujr ijinoraut of the facts or iudifierent to the wretched conropriatcd to their own behoof, and swore in their wrath that the triumph which the peojile, through the ballot, had secured, should be wrested from them through the decree of a judicial JetlVeys and the resistless force of the unthinking bayonet. This oath, joyfully registered by the arch-fieiul in Hades has been carried out. thus" iar, to the very letter. Conspiracy, fraud, and usurpation are now in the ascendant, and justice, tied to brutish beasts, wallows darkly in the mire of corruption. Fearful of anarchy, and incai>able of righting their wrongs through revolutiiui, the peoi)le, still hoping against hoi)e, are now called upon to make their ]»rotest again.st fraud in a nuinner so solemn ami impressive as to arrest the attention not only of the J'resident at Washington, but of the friends of republican self-government in this and other countries. Tlie fact that the radical ticket was largely and honestly defeated in the late elec- tion, only knaves and cons])irators will pretend to doubt. Nor can there be any ques- tion as to the base radical attemi)t to reverse the ])oi)ular decree, and defraud the people of the fair and coustitiitioual fruits of victory. These are facts so ])atent that he who runs may read. With Federal courts and bayonets against us, resistance is useless. We must tlu-n resort to some means — the best available — to reach the great heart of the American people and iind in it our ally. Noisy, boisterous remonstrance will not av.ail. Let us make Monday a day of mourning and of solemn protest. "Hung be the heavens in black." Let our enemies feel that the public huger is pointed at them, and the public conscience has recorded its auatheuui. Let the stores be closed. Let the hum of business for one ;lay be checked. Let tlui church-doors be opened, and prayer CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 57 ascend to the Kino; of kings. Our case is one in which we are helpless without the aid of the Mij-hty. If a protest tlius solemnly and sincerely ennnciated against the eu- croachuients of nnanthorized oppression and corrnption be not effective, then is Ameri- can liberty a myth, and republican self-government a base delusion ! If liberty in this laud is to be buried, let Monday's meeting be a funeral. TnK ciu)wisiNG INKAMV. — The returning board created by Judge Dnrell to canvass the election returns for members of tlie legislature has illustrated the atrocity of this conspiracy of the custom-house. The installation of such a legislature, with Kellogg for governor and a venal negro for lieutenant-governor, will be the death-knell of all reform, progress, and prosperity in this State. It will be the blight and ruin of Louis- iana. It will deliver the siiiall remnant of our ])roperty and interests into the hands of the vile crew, recruited witli new nud half-l'amished wolves. [Ne\s- Oilciiiis Times, October 29, 187-2.] Now, as to Grant's policy. What is it? Colonel Williamson says it is ''tlie grand unity of the couutry and the Government." We say it is the unity of centralization and of force; the ambition to make all military and civil authority center in his per- son ; the lawless greed of avarice ; the ruthless rule of rings ; the weak nepotism which sacrilices competency to relationship, and the interests of the country to clan- ship in its basest form. Some marvel much that Colonel Williamson should become enamored of such a policN'. Few southern men, with such antecedents as his, could be found to accept Grant and Grantism as he has accei)ted them ; hence, the question arises whether he, too, has not been taken to the top of some exceedingly high mountain, and discovered tlierefrom a political or professional Canaan, through AMiich railways stretched to the east and to the west, and streams meandered, " whose foam is amber, and whose sands are gold." To the yielding members of his political and military family Grant is sufficieutly grateful. While chiding any approach to independence on their part, he has little hesi- tancy in billeting the faithful on the public crib. All that he asks is, that his own ac(inired tilthy lucre and "the mighty space of his large honor " be not touched by the operation. He likes his country well, his fauiily better, and himself best. These are the degrees of his political and constitutional comparison. The first he likes jiosi- tively, for its beneticence ; the second comparatively, for blood and service ; the third superlatively, for in that he eats and drinks and smokes, receives gifts, indulges his api)etite, and is ambitious of continuing a rule which has run so near to ruin. Yet Colonel Williamson declares for Grant I [New Oileaus Times, July 31, 187-^1 Never before did the Chief Magistrate of the republic occupy a position so low as that now held by Grant. The feeling of distrust and dissatisfaction against him is all but universal, and would be entirely so, but for the influence of interested officials and debased jtoliticians. Analyze the popular cry, "Anybody to beat Grant," and in it will be found the very superlatives of condemnation. This condemnation is, to the popu- lar mind, the legitinuite result of that stubbornness and stupidity which have been the ]uime characteristics of the (irant adunnistratiou, and which, in case of a re-election, would beinaintained in a still more exaggerated form for another term. Hence the cry, "Anybody to beat Grant!" He con no longer be trn-itcd in the high jmsilion he has cli>n;<>'. If tliei'O is a man foi- whom a city reformer cannot vote, that man is Senator Kellogg-. He combines in his own attitnde all that there is of evil in the past and of danger in the future. JJe is fhe chosen instniment of Grant to canij this State atjaiust the national reform partj). He is the trusted agent of the custom-honse party to perpetuate the disgraiicful rule of corrupt legislative rings. He is the ally through whom the radicals expect to gain possession of the city and parish government, in opposition to the wishes of the jniblic, to be expressed at tlio polls. While reformers are discussing the best means of re-establishing the credit and pros- ])erity of the city, let them not forget that all will be vain and futile, unless they do- feat the Kellogg- ticket in its conspiracy against the State. |Xi'w Oileaus Tiuu s, July 12, 1872.] T;ii: Caxdidates. — The Boston Globe, an out-and-out administration paper, inti- mates that " Grant is to be elected not lor himself, but as the representative of great and worthy ideas." It finds evidence of this " in the foct that personally he has no })opnlarity, no individual magnetism, attracts no one to him by sympathj^ of taste, oc- cupation, or thought," and that he is " too taciturn and engrossed to make followers iu the light of personal friemlships." < Jtlicrs will find in these same facts evidence that he should not and trill not be elected. Wrapped up in selfishness, tliere is nothing in his nature or conduct calculated to elicit a f/en- erous odthurst of popular sympathy. Four years ago he was elected //iroHjr/i a /a/se /n*- pressioit. He had been credited with the greatest successes of the war, and under an idolatrous spirit of hero-worship, was elevated to a position for which he had not thi-, .slightest natural or acquired fitness. In the isolation of military dictatorship, his silence -was regarded as golden and his stolidity passed for wisdom. Even Lincoln, shrewd observer as he was, found virtu- in his owlish pertinacity and dogged obstinacy, and concluding that there must b;' some jieculiar virtue in the whisky that he drank, recommended other generals tj pur- chase some of the same brand. In the camp he was too far removed from the public, and even from the armies ht^ controlled, to be closely scanned or fairly judged. The lives of the men he moved as pawns in the game of war were as nothing to him. He sacrificed them often, without necessity and without compuuction. His greatness as a soldier rests chiefly on tin- fact that so great a soldier as Lee surrendered to him ; but when resistless force on the one side, and exhausted resources on the other are fairly considered, the merits of tho achievement are dwarfed amazingly. Thus it appi ars that when formerlj- elected the man of the bayonet had his few claims to an hoiu^st personal popularity as he has at present. The unknown rather than the known of his war merits elected him ; the imaginary rather than the real nmde him tiie successful hero of the hour. That era has however passad. The gilded threads of the epaulette have faded ; the blood on the bayonet has dried, leaviug noth- ing but a purjile stain, (irant now is simply Grant, with no marjnetism to attract, n^ ties hut those of official f/recd, and associated interest against the people, to commend him an his oirn successor. Exhibit E. OPINION OF HON. C. EOSELIUS. / New Orleans, Novemher 29, 1872. Hon. Bex.ja.aiix F. Flandi:ts, Mayor and the Administrators of the City of New Orleans. Gentlemex : You request my opinion on the question whether the certificate of B. P. Blanchard, State registrar of voters and supervisor of registration of the pari.sh tf Orleans, is a suflicient authority to entitle the mayor and administrators elect to qual- ify and enter on the discharge of the duties of their respective offices. That certificate is as follows : "State of Louisiaxa, " Ofi-k'e of St.\te Registkar of \'(>TEH,S, "Xew Orleans, Xorember 27, 1872. • Hon. L. a. Wiltz: •' Dk.vr Sir: In reply to your re(|uest of this date, I have tho honor to inform you that from the most reliable sources of information accessible to this office, the vote for 60 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. the office of ijaayor of the city of New Orleans, ca.st in this parish at the geueial elec- tion of the fourth instant, was as follows : " L. A. Wiltz receiveil 23,89G votes ; W. K. Fish received 12,984 votes. " I am, sir, very respectfully, "B. P. BLANCHAKD, " State liegisirar of Voters and Si(2)ervi>for of liifjistratioii, Parish of Orha»s." It is perfectly clear tliat this certificate does not entitle the Hon. L. A. Wiltz to enter into tlie office of mayor. Mr. Blanchard has no authority, officially, to issue such a cer- titirate. The election took place under the law approved on the 16th March, 1870, entitled "An act to re<;ulate the conduct and maintain the freedom and purity of elections," &c., ■fehe fifty-third and fifty-fourth sections of which jirovide " that immediately upon the close of tlie polls on the day of election the commissioners of election at each poll or voting place shall seal the ballot-box by pasting slips of paper over the key- hole and the opening in the top thereof, and fastening the same with sealing-wax, on which they shall impress a seal, and they shall write the names of the commissioners on the said slips of papers ; they shall forthwith convey the ballot-box so sealed to the office of and deliver saiy death, resignation, or otherwise, by either of the board, then the vacancy shall be filled by the residue of the board of returning officers. "The returning officers shall, after each election, before entering upon their duties, take and subscribe to the following oath before a judge of the supreme or any district court : " '1,A. B., do solemidy swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and diligently perform the duties of a returning oflicer as i>rescril)ed by law ; that I will carefully and honestly canvass and comjiile the statements of the votes, and make a true and correct return of the election. So h(d|> me (Jod.' "Within two days after the closing of the election, said returning officers shall meet in New Orleans to canvass and compile the statements of votes nuide Ijy the supervi- sors of registration, and make returns of the election to the secretary of state. They shall continue in session until such returns have Ijeen completed. The govermu' shall at such meeting oi)eM, in the presence of the said returning officers, the statements of the snpervisors t)f registration, and the sanl returning officers shall, from said state- ments, canvass and compile the returns of the election in duplicate. One copy of such returns they shall file in the office of the secretary of state, and of one copy they shall make public prochuuation by i)riuting in the official journal and such other news- papers as they may deem ]iroper, declaring flu; names of all persons and officers voted for, the number of votes for each ])erson, and the names of tlie jiersons who have lieen duly and lawfully elected. The ictiinis of the elections thus made and ])roiiiiilgated shall lie jnima facie evidence in all the courts of justice, and before all civil officers nntil set aside, after a contest according to law, of the right of any person named therein to hold and exercise the otlice to which he shall by such return be declared elected. COXDITIOX OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. 61 "The g-ovcriior sliall, witliin thirty days after, issue comtuissioius to all ollicers thus declared elected, \Yho arc re(iuired by law to be coniinissioned." Here the duties of the supervisor of registration aud those of the retnruing officers of the election are pointed out in language too clear to be misunderstood. Until a return of the election lii'.s been made in the manner here directed, the successful can- didates cannot claim tlie office to which they have been elected. Even after the return of the election has been made in legal form, the officers elected cannot enter on the discharge of the duties of their offices until they have been com- missioned by the governor. Ey the twenty-eighth section it is provided "that the governor shall commission all officers elect, except members of the general assemblj^ and the governor." It cannot l)e said that tiiis section refers to State officers alone, for the first section of the act provid(!S, in express terms, '"that all elections for State, parish, and judicial officers, niembers of the general assembly, and for members of Congress, sliall ba held on the first Monday in November, and said elections shall be styled the general elec- tions. "Tliey shall be held in the manner and form and subject to the regulations herein- after prescribed, and no otiier." A commission issued V>y the governor before the returns of the election have been made in legal form is a mere nullity and can produce no legal effect whatever. Bat in this instance no commission has been issued. The aet passed by the last legislature, entitled "An act to regulate the conduct and maintain the freedom and purity of elections," &c., was not in force when the election took place, and th(;refore has no application to it. The idea that a pare of an election may be regulated by one law, and another part by a law approved subse(iuently, is, in my opinion, entirely inadmissible. Besides, I do not think the governor has the power to approve a law passed by a legislature which has ceased to exist; he could certainly not return such a law with his ol)jections to the new legislature; aud the approval by the governor on the 20th of November, 1872, could not revive it. The Supreme Court went quite far enough when it decided that the governor Jiad the right to approve a law after the adjournment of an existing legislature. But I do not think that that high and intellectual tribunal will ever hold that the approval by the governor can give life to a law which has ceased to exist before such .apprpval. But if the act could be considered in force and applicable to this election, the objec- tions to the certificate of Mr. Blanchard would be equally fatal. By the forty-third section of that act it is provided "that immediately upon the close of the polls on the ilay of election, the commissioners of the election at each poll or voting place shall l)roceed to count the votes, as provided in section thirteen of this act, aud after they shall have so counted the votes and made a list of the names -of all the persons voted for, and the offices for which they were voted for, and the number of votes received by each, and the number of ballots contained in the box, and the number rejected, and the reasons therefor, duplicates of such lists shall be made out, signed, and sworn to by tlie commissioners of election of each poll, and such duplicate lists shall be delivered, one to the supervisor of registration of the parish, and one to the clerk of the district court of the i)arish, and in the parish of Orleans, to the Secretary of State, by one or all such conunissioners in person, within twenty-four hours after the closing of the ])olls. It shall be the duty of the supervisors of registration, within twenty-four hours after the receipt of all the returns for the different polling places, to consolidate such returns, to be certified as correct by the clerk of the district court, aud forward the consoli true and correct return of the election : So help me God. "Within ten days after the closing of the election said returning officers .shall meet in New Orleans to canvass aud compile the statement of votes made by the coinmis- 62 CONDITION OF AFFAIR.S IX LOUISIANA. siouers of election, and make returns of the election to the secretary of state. They shall continue in session until such returns have been compiled. The pi'esidiug officer shall, at such meetinji, open, in the ])resence of the said returning officers, the state- ments of the connnissioners of election, and the said returning officers shall, from said statements, canvass and compile the returns of the election in duplicate ; one co})y of such returns tlu'y shall file in the ot'tice of the secretary of state, and of oue copy they shall make public i»roclamation by ]irinting in the official Journal and such other news- papers as they may deem proper, declaring the munes of all persons and olticers voted for, the number of votes for each person, and the names of the persons who have been duly and hnvfuUy elected. The return of the election thus made and promulgated shall be prima facie evidence in all courts of justice, and before all civil officers, until set aside after a contest according to law. of tiie right of any j)erson named therein to hold and exercise the oHice to A\hicli he shall by such return be declared elected. The governor shall, within thirty days thereafter, issue commissions to all officers thus declared elected, who are refjuired by law to be commissioned. " Sfx. 3. Be U further i)HtdKl,^c., That in such canvass and compilation the returning officers shall observe tlie following order : They shall compile, tirst, the statements from all polls or voting-jdaces at which there shall have beeu a fair, free, and pe:icea- ble registration and (flection. ^\'henevei', from any ]toll or voting-place, tliero sluill be received the stateuuMit of any su])ervisor of registration or commissioner of election, in terms as requiied by section 26 of this act, on affidavit of three or more citizens, of any riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corruj)t intlneuces, which jirevented, or tended to prevent, a fair, free, and ])eaceable vote of all qualilied electors entitled to vote at such poll or voting-place, such returning offi- cers shall not canvass, count,orcompih; the .statement of Aotes from such i)o!l or voting- place until the statements from all other polls or voting-places shall have been can- vassed ami couipiled. The nsturning officers shall then proceed to investigate the statements of riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corrupt induences at any such poll or voting-\)lace ; and if, from the evidence of such statement, they shall b(>. convinced that such riot, tumult, acts of violence, intim- idation, armetl disturbance, bribery, or corrupt iuflnences did not materially inter- fere with tiie purity and lit'cdom of the election at such ))oll or voting-place, or did not prevent a sufficient number of ((Ualified voters thereat from registering or voting to nuiterially change the result of tlie election, then, and not otlierwise. said returning officers shall canvass anny in regard thereto, and to this end they shall have power to send for persons and papers. If, after such exam- ination, the said returning otiHcers shall be convinced that said riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturl>ance, bribery, or corrupt intluences did materially interfere with the purity and freedom of the election at such poll or voting-place, or did prevent a sufficient number of the qualitied voters thereat from registering and voting to nuiterially change the residt of the election, then the said returning officers shall not canvass or comjjde the statement of the Aotes of such x)oll or voting-place, but shall exclude it from their returns: ])rovided that any person interested in said election by reason of being a candidate for office, shall be allowed a hearing before said returning ofticers u))on making application within the time allowed for the forwarding of the returns of said electi(m." Section twenty-tive provides "that it shall be the duty of the governor to commi>- sion all officers elect excei)t members of the general assembly, the governor, and mem- bers of rhe police jury." To enable a person to enter into an elective office, three facts must concur, namely : First, an election; secondly, a return of the result of the electiou ; aud, thirdly, tin- qualifying for the office, by taking the oath. Ac. It has been suggested that i)rovis- ions of the law approved on the Kith of March. If^TO, entitled "An act to extend the linnts of the parish of Orleans, and to change the boundaries of the parislies of Or- leans and Jcffirson," &c., control the election of the nuiyor aud administrators of the city of New Orleans. The only sections of that law in which any reference is made al all to the election of these officers are the fourth, tifth. and sixth, which are as follows : " SkC. 4. That the governnieut of the city of New Orleans and the administration of its affairs shall be vested in tiie mayor and seven administrators, to wit : Oue of linance. one of commerce, one of imiuovemeiits, one of assessments, one of police, who shall be ex officio a member of the board of metropolitan police, one of public accounts, and one of the watcrwoiks and public buildings, with administration and executive func- tions; and said mayor and administrators shall be aytpoiuted or elected as hereinafter provided, and shall Coini a council of the; city ef New Orleans. The governor shall, by and with the advice and ( tuiscnt of the senate, aiipoint the mayor and the seven ad- ministrators, who shall hold their offices until the tirst Monday of November, 1871. There shall be an election for th(^ admiui.stratois of Hnauce, iiiifirovements, i>ublic ac- counts, waterworks, and public buildings, aud every two years thereafter; said officers, CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOFISIANA. 63 when elective, shall be elected at lara,e by the (|ualifleil voters of the city of 'New Or- leans, as constituted by this act. " Skc. 5. Be it further enacted, , 1870, and to prescribe addi- tional regulations for the government of the cor[»oration of the city of New Orleans, approved March 18, 1871." In the second section of this law, it is luovided that — " The elections for the mayor and the several administrators shall be held biennially, at the time of tlie elections for members of the general assembly ; and they shall be chosen at large by the ([ualitied voters of the city of New Oilcans. All vacancies occurring by resignation, death, or any disability, at any other time than the general election, shall be tilled by ap])ointnicnt of the governor, by and with the consent of the senate, when in session, or submitted for such aro tempore ; and the mayor may assign any administrator to another depart- ment, ad interim ; and the same course shall be observed in case of temporary absence or sickness. And all officers herein provided for shall hold their offices until their suc- cessors are duly elected, or appointed and qualified." Nothing is said in either of these acts as to the mode of holding the election or its return. The (inestions, therefore, by whom the election is to be ordered, how it shall be conducted, and who shall make the returns, must be answered by the act of the 16th of March, 1870, or by the act approved on the 20th November, 187"2, if the latter act,, contrary to my opinion, can be considered as a valid law. I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, vour obedient ser\ ant, C. EOSELIUS. ExiiiniT F. Personally appeared before me, the undersigned commissioner, Joseph W. Jones, who deposes and says as follows: I was a member of the democratic parish executive com- mittee from the ninth ward of the parish of Orleans, when, on the night of the '2d of November, 1872, there was a resolution passed by said committee appropriating the sum of $100 for the purchase of about thi'ee hundred registration certificates. This money was given to Mr. William Stevenson, the other representative from theninth ward, in said committee, to purchase the said certificates with. On the day of the election (No- vember 4, 1872) I saw about three hundred registration certificates in the po.ssessiou of' the said William Stevenson, who stated to nie that he had paid the money ajipropriated by the committee, and for which he had received these papers; and said Stevenson gave me to infer that he had got these certificates from the supervisor of registration of the ninth ward. At about 3.30 p. m. on said election day, I asked said Stevenson what had been done with the said certificates, and he stated to me that they had all been voted for the liberal democratic fusion ticket. I was a candidate on the fusion ticket myself, for constable of the fourth justice court, and was retuiued.electcd by both boards of can- vassers. About 4.30 p. ni. on said 4th of November, the said Stevenson told me that fce (34 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. had beea'to the rooms of the committee for the purpose of getting $100 more from the said committee, to purchase one hundred and (ifty more registration certificates, which he said he diil l»uy, at the same time sliowing me a bundle of certificates, and whicli wevii also voted for the liberal democratic fusion ticket. J. M. JONES. Sworn to and subscribed before nie this IGth day of December, 1872. WM. GRANT, United States Commissioner, Diatricf of Louisiana. Umtkd States Cihcuit Court, Ci-ERk's Ofkice, District of Louisiana, ss : I certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy from the origina. this day exhibited to me. Witness my hand and seal of said court, at the city of New Orleans, this Irtth De- cember, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, Clerl: Exiiii'.iT G. United States oe A:\ierica, Slate of Louisiana, ss : This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned commissioner of the United States for the State of Louisiana, Fred. L. King, a resident of New Orleans, who, being ffluly sworn, deposes and says that on or about the 23d of October, 1872, one B. P. 'IMauchard, State register of voters, one Miles Sharkey, J. C. Golding, Thonuis Connell, and one Dr. Stephens, did combini', confederate, and conspire together to cheat and lefraud the voters of the parish of Saint James, in said State, of tlieir rights of having tlicir voters counted and returned and properly certified at an election held on the J til day of November, 1872, in said parish, as the law reciuired ; and in iiursuauce to ^■iaid conspiracy, the said defendant did suppress and fail to make the true and correct 'return of said election ; and said defendants, in furtherance of said combination and confederacy, did prepare, and caused to be i)repared, four ballot-boxes for said parish, to be used and stuflted, so as to deprive and defraud the voters of said parish ; aiul did there and then, at two of the jioUs in said parish, cliange and alter the ballots of the voters at said places, all in violation of the provisions of the acts of Congress in such. »;isi's made and provided. FRED. L. KING, 159 St. Andreiv's street, Xcw Orleans. Sworn to and subscribed before me, December 10, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner, A true coi)y of the original. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. ExiiiniT II. Gilbert M. Husted, of East Baton Rouge, being duly sworn, deposes and says : Question. AVliat iiosition did you hold on the 4th of November last ? — Answer. I was appointed United States supervisor for the fifth jirecinct, parish of East Baton Rouge, the polls being at that time at Port Hudson. Q. You served as such ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. State what irregularities occurred at the polls, if any. — A. Nothing transpired during the day worthy of note. They seemed to use tlu^ir utmost endeavors to make it as pleasant as possible while I was there, ami, in fact, asked my advice as occasions y a strip of jiaper, signed by the three commissioners. Q. Was it so sealed that if it had been tampered with it could be noticed? — A. No, sir. The way they sealed it was by placing a strip of paper horizontally on each end. I should judge it could be opened. There was one also on the lock. Q. But iu your o])inion, was it so sealed that it could be opened without difficulty ? A. Yes, sir; without leaving any evidence of its having been tampered with. Q. Wbmi Mr. McKittrick was stopped, did he manifest any concern about it f — A.. Apparently he seemed to be very much exercised on his way down, but whether that was a sort of blind, I do not know. Before he got to this i)lacc, which was, as I after- ward discovered to be, Liggins's, he expressed considerable surprise. There are two roads leading from Port Hudson to Baton Rouge ; one is called Plains road, and the other is called Cut-off; when he got to what is called the Plains, which connects with tlie main road, McKittrick sto])ped the wagon, and Lieutenant Rayburn being behind, he turned around and asked Rayburn did he know any other road besides the main road that would lead to Baton Rouge. He said. "No, you must take this road." Then McKit- trick said, I am very sorry, because I thought we could take some other road without passing th(! main road — that is, the Bayou Sara road. Q. About what should you say would be the result from the complexion of the votes cast at that i>lace ? — A. Thirty-nine liberal votes, and one hundred and sixty-six Q. You kept the tally ? — A. Yes, sir. I kept a tally, and I believe it is here. Q. What was tlie result of the count? — A. Tbirty-two liberal majority, instead of one hundred and thirty-two republican majority. Q. How could such a result have been obtained 'i — A. No other way, unless the box was tampered with. Q. Were you prevented from following the box to the shanty ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. By whom ? — A. That is more than I can say. Q. By how many persons ? — A. About ten, I should say. Q. Were they armed ? — A. I could not see. Q. What was the condition of the box when it reached the court-house, that is as to the seal ? — A. Apparently the same as it was when we left the polling-place. Q. Were you present at the count in the court-house? — A. Yes, sir." Q. How was that count made? State whether the ticket was counted entirely through, or any division made in the count, from the presidential electors down to the constables.— A. Well, they eifected a sort of compromise at that time. They pulled out a ticket, and if there were no scratches they would tally it all the way down. They counted the tickets straight through, and they were tallied accordingly. Q. He made no separation f— A. No, sir; that Avas toward the last ; I do not know about the first; my box was counted about the last. Q. Is there a possibility of your recognizing any of these parties that stojiped you on the road ?— A. Yes, sir ; there Avas one I saw, Hurst, the sheriff of Baton Rouge ; he was standing close to the wagon at the time I got out. He was a candidate for sheriff on the liberal ticket. Q. Where did you vote? — A. At Port Hudson. Q. Had you marked your ticket so that you could identify it ? — A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you see it come out of the box?— A. No, sir ; I did not see it come out of the box. Q. Were you present at the countiug of the vote ? — A. Yes, sir ; and did not see it. GILBERT M. HUSTED. H. Ex. 91 5 66 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Exhibit I. Charles G. Page, of East Baton Rouge, being duly sworn, deposes and says: Question. State what position you beld on the 4th of November, 1872. — Aniswer. I was ITnitcd States supervisor of elections at Plains, MeCartnej's store. Fourth ward : I think about seventeen miles from Baton Rouge, in the parish of East Baton Rouge. Q. What was the eouduct of the election on that day ? — A. The election was con- ducted peaceably and orderly throughout the day. The polls were opened at about 10 minutes past 6 in the morning. Q. Who examined the boxes at the opening of the polls? — A. The three commis- sioners. They were Edwaid D. Cheatham. J. K. Tigou, and Dr. D. B. Bariett. Mr. ' Barrett was not present at the opening of the polls. I was present also and saw the box ; it was empty. The boxes were lucked after examination. There were two boxes l»roduced ; one for the reception of all votes cast under certiticates of registration issued by S. S. Brady, and the second box was tor the purpose of receiving the votes of all persons under certiticates of registration issued by previous supervisors in 1867, 1868, and 1870. This second box was not used. The votes of parties oiferiug to vote under registration papers other than those of Mr. Brady were left with me, and I have them in my possession. As to the reason why they did not use this box, was because tht; parties offering to vote did not make their affidavits. I do not think there were any justices of the peace out in that ward before whom affidavits could have been made. The polls closed at about o minutes past 6 in the evening, and I saw the box sealed. There was a strip of paper used. Tlie box had but one lock, and the strip of paper was pasted over it, bearing the signature of tlie three conmiissioners. I noticed that the paper was placed very nearly straight, and I noticed afterward, when they got to the court-house, that it was not so straight as when they placed it there. Q. Did you follow the box from the polling place to the court-house? — A. No. After they closed the polls I called Mr. Cheatham to me, and told him that as United States supervisor I desired to go with the box. He made iu> reiily, but walked away from me and entered his buggy, and drove at a very rapid rate. I had a very fast horse, and followed them pretty close. In fact, I was right bt^hind them all the time. I suppose we had driven about three or four miles when some live or six men on horseback closed ri"ht in between my buggy and Mr. Cheatham's, which contained the boxes. This set me back a little, and not being acquainted with the road, and not knowing where the bridges were, I had to check up a little. When we got about seven miles from the polls they had halted in front of a Mr. Liggins's store. When I left the poll Mr. M. T. Mecheal, democratic United States supervisor, was in the buggy with me. I was jjretty close to them when they stop])e(l, and as soon ;vs I stoi)ped ]\Ir. ^lecheal jumped DUt aiid went into tlie store. He returned in about two or three minutes, when I in- quired of him where Mr. Cheatham was. He said to me that Cheatham had gone on, and was in town he supposed. I inquired of him how, because I was standing near their buggy. He replied on horseback. I then asked Mr. Mecheal if Mr. Cheatham had the boxes, and he answered, yes. Shortly after that ^Iv. Commissioner Ligon came out of the store, jumped in the buggy, and bid us good night, and stinted oft toward town. I then entered my buggy and drove oft' at a rapid rate also, but did not know which way he turned. ItHiust have W.vn by some of the cross-roads, because I did not see him any more. I arrived at the court-house nearly live hours ahead of Mr. Cheatham and Mr. Ligon, the commissioners. Q. Where was the box at the time you stopped at Mr. Liggins's store? — A. I do not know. It must have been in tlu' store, because the buggy was standing there at the time. That is my sui)position. Q. How far behind them were you ? — A. Not far. They just had time to get out of the buggy and go into the store before I got up there. Q. You did not see anything of the box ?— A. No, sir. I stood in front of the door holding my horse, and when one of the doors came open somebody shut it quick. Q. When the door opened could you have seen the ballot-box go in ? — A. It was in there already when the door opened. Q. How niany votes were cast at tliat poll?— A. There were two hundred and eight votes not under Mr. Brady's certificate of registration. Q. What was the compiexion of that vote ca.st ?— A. One hundred and thirty-seven whites and seventy colored, with one doubtful as to the conn)lexion. Q. What wouhl probably have been the vote from your knowledge of the voters ? How would the vote have "stood of tlu'se two hundred and eight?— A. I .should judge about .sixty wliite ahead, or about sixty-five democratic. They claimed sixty majority before the voting was over. Q. How did the count compare with the result of the count that you had reason to expect from tin- conqjU^xion of the votes cast? — A. About seventy colored. Q. They would be repul)licau votes? — A. Yes, sir ; republican. Q. And'^the balance?— A. One hundred and thirty-seven liberal or democratic votes. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 67 Q. What did tlic count show 1 — A. In tlic count there was a discrepancy of five or six votes. Q. What was the result as established by the count? State the count. — A. There was a democratic majority of about sixty or sixty-five. CHAS. G. PAGE. Tabular statement. Parishes. White. A.seension Assumption Avoyelles East Baton Eouge West Baton KoiiRe • Bossier Ilit'tiville (,'alcasi('u Cameron Catalionla < 'oncordia Caddo (Jaklwell Carroll Claiborne I)e Soto i'Vliciana, ea.st Feliciana, we.st I-'ranklin . ADDRESSES OF BOTH PARTIES. A TRUE STATEMENT OF THE LOUISIANA POLITICAL IMBROGLIO. Certain i)ersons desiguated as tbe "committee of one hundred citi- zens of New Orleans" have published several documents addressed to the President, Congress, and people of the United States, wherein they complain bitterly of some decrees and orders issued by Judge E. H. Durell, of the United States district court at New Orleans, in a contro- versy brought before him in reference to the last electioii, under the l)rovisions of the act of Congress of 1870, known as the enforcement act. The committee having committed the grave error of making state- ments quite at variance with the facts of the case, the undersigned has undertaken to submit the following strictly true and fair abstract of the niatter at issue, based entirely u[)on legal and official documents, so that, by the perusal of this commuTiication, a correct opinion may be formed of the merits of the case. For the better understanding of parties unacquainted with Louisiana matters it will be necessary to, at first, enter into some general remarks about the political i)arties of that State and the connection of Governor Warmoth, the fusion party, and their committee, now at Washington. For several months before and after the Greeley Cincinnati conven- tion, there were several political jiarties in Louisiana, viz, 1st The re- publican party ; 2d. The reform party ; 3d. The democratic ])arty; and 4th, the liberal party, organized by Governor Warmoth, and composed only of a handful of his olllce holders and satellites, and so small indeed that it would not have deserved the name of party, had it not been for the fact of its being managed by Warmoth, whose strength lay in the bad features of the election laws of the State, which, as he says him- self in his message of February 5, 1872, "make the nuichinery one- sided, partisan, and. dangerous to the liberties of the peo[)le, when wielded by an ambitious executive."" They gave him such an absolute control over the elections that he ccuild make the result of any election to be as he wanted, and that, by their assistance, he has in 1870 seated in tiie legislature men who had not even been candidates. The leaders of the political organizations in Louisiana were fully con- vinced that they could not, single-handed, or even all combined to- gether, carry the election against Warmoth, whom everybody knew to be a veiy unscrui>ulous man, ever ready to resort to all kinds of trick.s, however illegal, to carry out his purposes. Hence there was an intense desire from all parties (the republican party excepted) to make an alliance with him ; still he was held in such CONDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 69 a contemptible light, that, out of respect for themselves, the mojority of the democrats and reformers refused, for a long time, to associate themselves with him, and conventions after conventions were held with- out any of said i)arties daring to unite with him aiul a(!cept his con- ditions, viz, that he should be elected United States Senator, in Janu- ary, 1«73. His anxiety for the position is thus explained, viz : by robbing the State treasury and blackmailing all the beneficiaries of the plundering bills and monopolies passed by his legislature, he diad got himself so immensely rich that the aceunmlation of money had no more attraction for him, and his ordy ambition was to be United States Senator, because of the lofty position, and also because from his seat he coidd unmercifully attack and annoy President Grant, and in that way satisfy his hatred against him, and take at leisure his revenge of the ignominy General Grant had entailed on him in ordering him to be dishonorably discharged from the service in presence of the whole Army at Vicksburgh. At last, after a great many negotiations, a compromise was made and a union formed between all the anti-republican elements in the State into one party called the fusion party, on the motto of "anything to beat Grant." ' And then, knowing which way he must want the election to go, War- moth api)ointed his corps of registrars and supervisors of election, as provided lor in the election law of 1870, and under said law the election was held tlu'oughout the State on the -fth of IsTovember last. But, if the people of Louisiana did, on that day, go through the form of election, the real election was not to take place until eight or ten days later, through the manipulations of Warmoth in the returning- board. Hence his superhuman efforts to have in said board only such men as he wanted ; hence the fierce contest in which he resorted to the high- handed and revolutionary measures that will now occupy our attention. We have now arrived to the zest of the controversy, viz, " who is tlu'. legal returning-board f By the terms of the election law of 1870, under the provisions of which the election of Xoveuiber 4th was held, the election returns have to be made by a returning-board composed of the governor, the lieu- tenant-governor, the secretary of state, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Anderson, and it is ordered by section 51 of said act that they should meet within ten days after the election and commence the canvassing of the returns. lu obedience to said provision the board met in the governor's office, on the 13tli of I^ovend)er; were present all the members of the board ex- cept Mr. Anderson. At said meeting Lieutenant-Governor Pinchback and Mr. Anderson were declared to be incapacitated from acting as members of the board because they were candidates at the election, and the chief justice of the supreme court of the State administered the oath of ofhce required by the fifty-fourth section of said election law of 1870 to the governor, to the vSecretary of state, (Herron,) and to Mr.. Lynch, as nuunbers of the returning board. Immediately after this, on motion of the secretary of state, (Ilerron,) seconded by Mr. Lynch, Messrs. nawli;ins and Longstreet were elected members of the board to fill the vacancies of Messrs. Pinchback and Anderson. Just about that tinu» entered in the room a Mr. Wharton, holding a (;ouimission of secretary of state, signed by Warmoth, and he, with Warmoth, ignoring Herron as a member of the board, claimed to elect. ]\lessrs. Hatch and Daponte to fill the vacancies above mentioned. 70 CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOT'ISIANA. Upon seeiiia' such extraordinary proceedinj^s, Herron and Lynch re- tired from the I'oom. From that moment commenced the conflict as to whiclj was the legal board ; was it Warmoth, Lynch, Ileiron, Longstreet, and Hawkins ? or was it Warmoth, Lynch, Wharton, Hatch, and I)ai)Oiite ? An anncable arrangement being imi)ossible, the Herron board filed a petition before the eighth district court of New Orleans, praying that the board, claimed to have been organized by Warmoth and Wharton, and composed of Warmoth, Wharton, Lynch, Hatch, and Dai)onte, be cited to answer andl)e decreed to he intruders into and usurpers of the office of returning officers of election, and that Warmoth, Lynch, Her- I'on, Longstreet, and Hawicins be decreed to be such returning officers. They also filed a supplemental ])etition stating that an injunction was necessary, and praying that a writ of injuiu^tion be issued against Whar- ton, Hatch, and Daponte, enjoining tJjem from acting as returning- officers of election, and in any way interru[)ting()r hindering the return- ing-officers Herron, Longstreet, and Hawkins, in the discharge of theii- duties of such returning officers. On the 10th of Noveml)er the judge rendered the following decision, viz: * * * uj ]io\(\ that Herron is still secretary of state; that his vote on the 13th of November determined the election of Long- street and Hawkins to the board ; that at all events, whether he was secretary of state de jure or not, he was so da facto, and that by his vote Hawkins and Longstreet were elected as members of the board. " An injunction can be made properly as a supplemental proceeding to a suit. The object is to decide who is entitled to exercise the duties and functions of the office. The duties of the returning board are soon com- pleted, and if, pending the issue, the defendants attempt that which renders the suit inoperative, the court may properly issue its restraining order. " From these considerations the rule m,si will be made absolute and the injunction issued as prayed for." The supreme court of the State in several instances have since inci- dentally held the returning board, composed of Lynch, Herron, Long- street, and Hawkins, to be the legal board. They have refused to recog- nize the commissions issued by Warmoth upon the returns made by Warmoth, Wharton, Hatch, and Daponte, and have in every case re- <;ognized the commissions issued upon the returns made by the Lynch board. From the above, which is almost a verbatim extract of the judicial re(;ord in the case, it results that the legal returning board is declared by the State court to be the one composed of Warmoth, Lynch, Herron, Longstreet, and Hawkins; moreover, as can be seen trom their several proclanmtions in the official organ of the Stifte, since the day of the above recited decision, Lynch, Herron, Longstreet, and Hawkins have been canvassing the returns of election, from which the present legisla- ture, now in session, has been organized in the manner ju-ovided for by the constitution, the entire city goveinment and the (tity and State judiciary and parish authorities have been indncted into otiice, and the whole nmchinery of the State government set and kept in regular motion according to the retiuirements of the laws and constitution of the State. Had any law-abiding and honest nnm been the occupant of the execu- tive chair at that time, the controversy about the returning boards would have thus and there ended ; but Warmoth would not give up his l)rospects of a seat in the United States Senate, or curb his despotic will to the decrees of the judiciary, and in his madness, in violation of the CONDITION OF AFFAIRS I\ LOUISIANA. 71 constitution and laws of the State, and in contempt and defiance of orders of court, he did, the next day after the above recited judgment,^ sign a new election law for the purpose of giving it an expost fiicto or rctrdspective effect. This new move was hailed bv his fusion friends as a splendid cou[» d'etat. His modus operandi is quite plain : the second section of the new act l)rovides for a returning board of five persons, to be elected by the senate. As there was no senate in session, he would consider the offices of the returning board as vacant, and fill the vacancies by appointment ; and thereby he would still win tl)e day. He never stopped one moment to reftect how irrational and uncon- stitutional it was to insist that the canvass and returns of an election held on the 4th of November should be compiled and its result pro- mulgated by officers created by a law signed sixteen days after said election ; especially when the law under which the election had been held ordered that the compilation should commence within ten days after the election, which had been done, as stated above; and finally, when the new law ordered also that the compilation should also com- mence within ten days after the election, which could not be done, since the election had been held on the 4th of November, and the new law had been promulgated only on the22d of same month. Moreover, the returning board of the law of 1870 had been vested in the right to the returns of the election of the 4th of November from the moment they had met as a reiuruing board, and had been sworn in as such on the loth of November, and said right which had been held in sns})ense during the judicial controversy between the two boards had been revested in the Herron board from the moment of the rendering of the judgment, on the 10th of November; most of the work of compila- tion had probably been already done when the new law was promul- gated, and no new law could possibly divest the said returning board, nor undo the work already done under the old law. Here terminate our remarks in reference to the i)oint w'fe had designed to demonstrate, to wit, that the legal returning board to compile and proclaim the results of the last election is the one composed of War- moth, Lynch, Herron, Longstreet, and Hawkins; that it had been so decided on the 19th of November by the State judge, before whom the controversy between the two contending boards had been brought; that the attempt at giving to a law signed on the 20th of November the retrospective effect of regulating the proclamation of the result of an election held on the 4th of same month is irrational, unconstitutional, and revolutionary, and that the government of the State of Louisiana had been fully organized conformably to the returns i)ublished by the legal returning board, so declared by a State court, and we hope that the reader of these remarks will agree with us, that the point at issue has been proved beyond dis[)ute. We have, so far, very carefully avoided mentioning the suit instituted on the IGth November, betbre the United States court, Judge Durell presiding, because we wanted to show that outside of the said suit and judge the main question as to who were the members of the legal re- turning board, and, as a consequence, what were the legal returns of election had been decided by the supreme and State courts of Louisiana; our reason for so doing being ro show at once how devoid of foundation and truth are the complaints of the i)arties who have represented that the whole election matter had been regulated solely by the (.rders of the United States judge. But we must, however, bless Providence tliat the 72 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. lietition of tlie Hou. W. P. Kellog-^, to the United States circuit court at New Orleans, sbonkl have b.oriK^ among other points, on the contro- versy between the two contending leturning boards, praying also to enjoin the Wharton board from making any returns pendente lite, and that the o])inions and orders of tlie United States judge shouhl Imve coin- cided as fully and entirely with those of the State judge as they did; because the United States judge had what the State judge had not, viz, the power to enforce his orders against the revolutionary resistance of Warmoth to judicial orders; ami it so happened that the very order issued by Judge Durell, to enforce the orders of his court, did also enforce the decrees of tbe Louisiana State court previously issued, and that by the timely occupation of the State-house by the United States troops before the 9th December Warmoth was prevented from organi- zing his legislature and oflicers, by force of arms in the hands of his Metropolitan police and militia, thus trampling down State constitution and laws, violating the orders of the State and United States courts, stifling the voice and will of the people, and re-enacting his revolution- ary outrages of January last, which have necessitated the sending here of a congressional investigating committee; and thus by the precau- tionary and complete measures of the judge, the revolution, and, prob- ably, bloodshed, pontemplated by Warmoth, have been frustrated and prevented : tlie legislature and State officers elected by the peojde, and properly returned by the proper board, has been properly organized and inducted into office, and law, constitution, and order have finally i)re- vailed. The next point made by the committee is that the Hon. P. B. S. Pinch- back is not senator since the 4tli day of November last, and therefore had no right to organize the senate on the Dth of December, nor to act as governor during the suspension of Governor Warmoth by impeach- ment. Granting that Pinchback was elected State senator for a term that has ended on the 4th of November last, we deny the balance of the l)roposition. What are the facts? In the summer of 1871, Lieutenant-Governor O. J. Dunn died. On the 24th of November following, Governor Warmoth issued a proclamation stating that, '' Whereas a vacancy has occurred in the office of lieutenant-governor. of the State of Louisiana by the lamenta- ble death of the late Oscar J. Dunn, * * * j ^j^^ hereby * * * convene the senate of the State of Louisiana to meet }u extra session on the Gth of December next, * * * to fill the vacancy in the office of lieutenant-governor." — (Governor's message.) On the 0th of December the senate met, 33 senators present. Sena- tor Pinchback was elected temporary president of the senate. Had the senate stopped tliere, the assertion of the committee would be correct ; but then the senate proceeded to the election of a lieutenant- governor of the State, "to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the late Oscar J. Dunn," and Pinchback was so elected. — (Journal of the Senate.) Lieutenant-Governor O. J. Dunn's term was not to expire until the 2d Monday of January, 1873; hence, as Pinchback was elected to fill the vacaiH',y occasioned by the death of said Dunn, it follows that said Pinchback was elected lieutenant-governor for the unexpired 1>alance of Dunn's term, which is uj) to the second Monday of January, 1873. That Piuchba(fk is lieutenant-governor of the State, appears from the daily journals of the senate ; from all the laws of the State passed since CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 73 his election ; from tlie fact that he acted as governor in the absence of Governor Warnioth when said Warmoth attended to tiie Cin(;innati presidential convention ; from the fact that he was reco,iinized by War- moth, Ilerron, and Lynch, and the cliief Justice of the sn[)reme court, as a member of the returning-board, on November tlie iL'th ; and finally from the fact that Governor Warmoth called on him during the night of the Sth or 9th December and ottered him a bribe of SijO.OOO, if he, Pinchback, would on the next day organize the senate in a manner sub- servient to the wishes of said Warmoth. The nuitter seems to be so clear that it does not require any more argument. The other grievances complained of by the committee seem to have so many of the characteristics of family quarrels that had better be settled at home, that we will not waste time and paper in discussing them. It will strike any caretul reader of this rather long communication that had it not been for the stubborn, revolutionary, and dishonest attempts of Governor Warmoth and his confederates, the fusionists, to contiol at all hazards and against reason, law, constitution, and judicial <>rd<'rs the fair and honest expression of the will of the peoi)le, as ex- ])iessed at the ballot-box, no political conflict would have taken place, and that the committee of one hundred would have \>een spared the inconvenience and hardship of a trip to Washington at this season of the year; and we believe we are showing ourself to be their friend in advising them to return home, and, abandoning all idea of revolution- izing the State, and changing the result of the last election, as legally proclaimed by the legal board of returning-oflicers provided for by law, to let Warmoth ponder on the enormou-scrimes he has committed dur- ing his administration, and prepare himself for the penalties that are going to fall on his doomed head. But if we have had to disagree with the committee of one hundred on many points, we are happy at last to agree with them in this, viz: " For the. last four years there has not been good government in Louis- iana; there has been extravagance, prodigality, dishonesty and waste in the public expenditures. The public debt has been marvelously in- creased, with but little benefit; the credit of the State has been given to speculating corporations for personal aims." So it is, and among the greatest frauds and impositions perpetrated we will mention : 1st. The slaughter-house bill, (now, happily for the poor people of Louisiana, before the United States Supreme Court, Avho, it is hoped, Avill declare said act unconstitutional,) whereby the cost of fresh meat in New Orleans has been increased threefold, for the mere purpose of enriching a few individuals. 2d. The Mississippi and Gulf Canal and Drainage Company, by which the State has been swindled out of $()50,(HK), and no canal built, and by which the citv of New Orleans has been mulcted in the sum of about $1,000,000. 3d. The Louisiana Levee Company, by which the State of Louisiana (unless the law he repealed, which it is hoped will be done) shall have to pay ;it least $25,000,000 for an anM)unt of work which, if performed at all, coidd be done for about $0,500,000 to $7,000,000. This act was passed after the constitutional limit of the State debt to $25,000,000 had been overreached by several millions. 4th. The levee bonds " sale," by which the levee commissioners falsely reported sold at 80 cents on the dollar $1,500,000 worth of levee bonds, 74 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. which had been misappropriated in so-called settlement of levee work, the payment of which had been prohibited by the legislature. otli. The reCnnding scheme to some banks of New Orleans, by which it was al tempted to bribe the legishitare to pass an act to refund to several banks of New Orleans about $7,000,000 of confederate bonds and notes held by them. (jth. The fnudin*;- commission of 1870, who paid confederate contracts executed daring the late civil war. Tiie undersigned is sorry to say that there is not one of the above- mentioned operations in wliich some of the members of the committee of one hundred are not iuterested or implicated; hence it is quite nat- ural to ai)prchend that their efforts in behalf of Warmoth and his — their — fusion party, are protnpted in a very great measure by the fear that under tlie honest administration to be inaugurated by Governor Kelh>gg and his co-ofiicers, the above-mentioned swindles will be thor- oughly sifted, and the obnoxious and unconstitutional laws repealed; whereas shonhl they succeed in revolutionizing the legitimate govern- ment of Louisiana and in inducting into office their own ticket, (one . member wljcreof, James A. Graham, is an accomplice iu one of the above- stated operations,) tliey would wield a suiiticient intluence to stifle and siUmce all inipiii-y, and retain on the statute-book all the. to the people, obnoxious, but to them very protitable, laws and mouoi)olies created during the late administration, and under the auspices of H. 0. War- motli. E. H. ANGAMAK, Late Chief Engineer of State of Louisiana, Member of the Board of Visitor.s at United States Military Academy, West Point, &c. ADDRESS OF CITIZENS OF LOl'ISIANA TO TIIE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. The citizens of Louisiana have perceived with satisfaction that the people of the sister States are not unconcerned spectators of the events now transpiiing within lu'r limits, and of which it is probable no paral- lel can be found iu the history of this or any other country. As these events were eutirely brought about by the agency of officers, civil and military-, of the General Government, the citizens of Louisiana, not doubting that the action of the Executive, at least, in refereuce to them, was the result of misapi)rehension of the facts, determined to adoi)t prompt measures for the correction of the error. At a meeting liehl for that purpose, representing (we may safely say) a large prepond- erance of the moral worth, intelligence, and wealth of the city of New Orleans, a committee of one hundred gentlemen was appointed, with instructions to [)roceed immediately to Washington to lay the facts before the several departments of the Government, and to solicit their aid in repairing the gross wrong which had been done, and in restoring to the people the right of self-government, which had been wrested from them by the most patent usurpation. The undersigned form a part of that committee. On our arrival here we found so much misapprehension existing — e\en among those who are usually well-inforuied — in regard to the origin and iiistory of this dis- turbance, that we determined to ])ublish a brief narrative of the facts. The parties engaged in these proceedings, aware that if the facts were properly untlerstood they would admit of no defense, now seek to rOXDITION OF AFFAIRS IN' LOUISIANA. i ;^ belittle and conceal the question at issue, and to treat a conspiracy to overthrow the government of the State as a mere strngjj;le for political ascendency between Governor Warmoth and Mr. Kellogi>-. They allege that the former was endeavoring by some trickery or legerdeinain to cheat the latter out of his election, and that the object of their i)roceed- ings was simply to frustrate this attempt. They have sedulously sought to produce the impression upon the public mind that this committee was coinjjosed of mere allies and agents of Governor Warmoth. We repel this insinuation as utterly false aiul unwarranted. We are not the representatives of any personal or party interest whatever. Gov- ernor AYarmoth was not a candidate for any office whatsoever at the recent election, nor have we, directly or indirectl.N , any connection or aftiliatioii with him. So far as his past career is concerned, there are few if any members of this committee who have not been among his most pronounced opponents; while in those measures of bis adminis- tration, lor which he has been most loudly denounced, he had for his advisers, associates, and coadjutors, the very men who now assail him, including especially Pinchback, Antoine, Herron, and numerous others whose names figure most conspicuously in these proceedings. In reply to the other insinuations indicated above, we declare that we are no parties to, and have no knowledge of, any political trickery intended to defeat the true voice of the people; that we do not believe any such existed, and that we would not be here unless we could proclaim con- scientiously our conviction that the men who have been foisted into the offices of the State have been not merely irregularly and unlawfully in- stalled, but were not elected by the people, and were not and are not the choice of a majority of the voting population of Louisiana. We have not asked the Government to admit this on our sim])le assertion. All we have asked is that it should make a candid aud imjjartial investi- gation of the facts. With this preface, \re now submit the following statement : Firsi. There was a general election held in Louisiana on the 4th day of J?ON ember last for the election of a governor, lieutenant-governor, members of the general assembly, and other State and Federal officers. At this election William Pitt Kellogg, a member of the Senate of the United States, and CO. Antoine, collector of the port of Shreveport, were candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor, and were opposed by John McEnery and Davidson B. Penn. The present gov- ernor, Warmoth, was not a candidate for re-election. ScGond. This election was conducted without riot, disturbance, or vio- lence, and the number of votes cast was unusually large.* The returns of the election were made to the board appointed for the purpose. This board was composed, under the law, of the governor, (Warmoth,) the lieutenant-governor, the secretary of state, and two other persons named in the law, viz, John Lynch and Thomas C. Anderson. The of- fice of secretary of state was filled at the time by Mr. F. J. Herron, who had been appointed by Governor Warmoth to fill the vacancy caused by the removal, several njonths before, of George E. Bov(»e, the legality of which removal and appointment was then in contest before tlie State courts. The board met, and it was resolved that Anderson and Pinch- back weie disqualified bj- reason of their being candidates for office. Warmoth then removed Herron (whom he had appointed) from the office of secretary of state as a defaulter, and appointed and commis- sioned Wharton in his stead. We have no reason to believe that the action of Governor Warmoth •See Appendix A and B. Tin CONDITION OF AFFAIR.s IN LOUISIANA. ill the removal of Herron was based upon a desire to commit a fraud, for uiidi'vtlie returns there was no necessity for fraud. It was i>iompted by his discovery of a plot between Herron and Lynch to falsify the re- turns and defeat the will ot' the people. This is manifest from the fact, develo])ed in the evidence before the .court, that Herron, anticipating the thwarting of his scheme, had several days before ordered a dupli- cate of the seal of State to be engraved, by which means he hoped to preserve the insignia of office in the event of his removal by the governor. Omitting lurtlier details, Warmoth and Wharton, on the one hand, assuming to be a majority of the board, and in the presence of Lynch, l)roceedc court ii]ion the qiu'stioii of jurisdici ioii was not rondciuid until Hi oVloi'k on tilt' morning of the (illi of Dceeuiber, wlieiea.s the order of Judge Dnrell, diroeting the niarslial to take i)osse.ssion of the State-house, was issued at a late hour of the night before, under the most peeuliar cireuuistauces, and executed before the davru of day. CONDITION OF AI-^P\AIRS IN LOUISIANA. 77 was made in the suit of Kellogg-, declaring that the defendant, H. C. Wai moth, the governor, had, in violation of the i(vst:ainiiig order of the conrt, issned a ])roclaniation and published the returns of (!ertain per- sons elaiiuing to be the board of r(4nrning olhcers, and proceeding as follows : Now, therefore, to prevent the t'urtlier ohstniction of the proceedings in this canse, and furtlier to prevent the viohition of the orders of this court, and the ininiinent dan- ger of disturbing the public peace, it is herel\y ordered that tlie tnarslial of tlio United States for the district of Louisiana, shall forthwith take possession of the building known as Mk^ Mechanics' Institute, and occui)ied as la(;ing on any list, or announcing:, or recognizing, or designating as a member, prior to or during the organi- zation of the res[)ective houses, any person whose name was not placed upon Bovee's list. Fifth. The secretarj' of state (Bovee) was enjoined from receiving any returns of the election of State othcers, or of members of the general 78 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. assembly, excepting such as sbould be filed in his office by tbe board composed of Waitnotb, Lougstieet, Hawlcins, Lyncli, and Bovee. iSixth. The chief of the metropolitan poli(;e, and all of its members, numbering about three hundred, and the board, were enjoined from in- terfering with the organization of the general assembly, and from pre- venting the persons on Bovee's list from entering into the halls of the assembly. Seventh. The persons composing the board recognized bj' the governor were enjoined from acting as a canvassing board, and from declaring and publishing any calculation, statement, or proclamation of the re- sults, or granting certificates of election, or statements tending to show any right to oflice growing out of ballots cast at said election. The marshal, assisted by a detachment from tlie Army of the United States, under these orders took jiossession of the State capitol,and held it on the 0th of December, when the general assembly was to convene under the proclamation of the governor. The egress and ingress of per- sons were regulated according to this order. A person named Pinch- back took possession of the chair of the senate, and directed its organi- zation. Be had been a senator for a term that had expired. While a senator lie had been president of the senate, and in virtue of such presi- de?icy, under the law, had acted as lieutenant-governor after the death of Duiin, t!ie lieutenant-governor chosen in 18C8 ; but at the time of these occurrences he was not meiv]y functus officio as [u-esident of the senate, but was no longer a senator, and had no title or color of title to act as lieutenant-governor, or to take any part in the organization of the Senate.* The house of representatives was also organized, the United States postmaster at New Orleans being its speaker. The certificates of Bovee under the injunction were taken as conclusive evidence of mem- bership. The house passed resolutions for the impeachment of the gov- einor, and thus Pinchback felt at liberty to assume the title of governor. Two ossession, as could be devised. The organization of the legislature is effected by a simple chancery order. Had there been resistance to the execution of these orders, and had riot and bloodshed followed, upon whom would have fallen the respon- sibility ? By whose forbearance was it that a Vdoody catastrophe has not been exhibited as a scandal to the land ? it sometimes happens that the executive department is tolerated, excused, or justified in acts of ad- ministration which exceed its legal powers. The arguments derived from the terms " State necessity," "public welfare," or "convenience," have here a soothing influence; but judiciary action is not entitled to any benefit from such arguments. The danuige which ensues from the employment of judiciary power to accomplish other than judicial acts of administration cannot be calculated, and it is impossible to justify a court in determining that to be legal which is merely desirable, or that to be right which is only profitable. The oider in the Kellogg case was ex parte. It was placed in the hands of the marshal without notice to the parties. It proceeds for an alleged contempt by no legal procedure usual in matters of the sort, and we are not aware of any imminence of danger to the public peace which did or could justify the seizure of the State capitol in a chancery suit between Kellogg and a. canvassing board, a suit professedly brought to perpetuate testimony. The case of Antoine displays with even more distinctness than that of Kellogg the use that has been made of judicial orders to accomi)lish results of which the judiciary had no cognizance. Antoine was a can- didate for lieutenaut-goveriior, and would have been entitled to his of- fice in January next had he been elected. With a disputed title, a month in advance, he filed this bill and obtained the order we have cited, placing under interdict the governor, the secretary of state, the mend)ers elect of both branches of the general assembly, the board and all the officers and men of the police, and the members of two can- vassing boards; and upon t\u» ex-partc order the organization of the general assembly, at a time when he (Antoine) had no share in any of its sittings, was regulated and effected. Since the meeting in New Orleans under which the committee was api)ointed, we have been met with the suggestion that these orders and acts are facts accomplished, and that their revocation or rescission would not restore the status quo, and that our complaints, therefore, are un- reasonable. If the opinion we have be correct, such a circumstance ought not to affect our action or conduct. When the King of Great Britain established arbitrarily a government in one of the colonies, the remain- ing colonies took the alarm, lest it might serve as a precedent as well as an instrument to establish such governments elsewhere. Besides, men are less i)atient under wrongful orders and acts of a judiciary tri- bunal than even of violence from other sources of authority. A gov- ernment which rests for its organization upon an iUegal judicial order, executed by a nuirshal with coTn])anies of soldiers, oint at which tlie whole theory of popular government is re- versed and overthrown. The means b^" which such results have been reached are enough to startle the i)nblic mind, but the results them- selves are not less ai)palling. Aside from the general offices of the State, we find the legislature of the State delivered over into the hands of men Avho were not elected, and who are utterly unfit for positions of such responsibility. As originally composed at its organization, itcouj- prised sixty-eight jiersons of color, most of them totally uneducated, with a very small minority of whites. Since that time they have ex- pelled members whose seats were uncontested. They have unseated conservative members returned elected by their owu board, and seated * See Appendix I. t See Appendix J. CONDITIOX OF AFFAIR8 IN LOUISIANA. 81 their deieatiMl opponents, on the siinph» ground that the former had not appeared to chiim tlieir treats.* The result is that, orii;inaliy bad as the legishitnre was, it makes itself ^Yorse day by day, and the prospect is that soon the conservative element of the State will have no represen- tation whatever. To those who tiattered themselves with the hope that ]Mr. Ivelloi;',^' would not willingly abet any scheme of outrageous mis- government, it is now apparent that, even supposing- this to be true, the ])ower of restraint has passed entirely beyond his control, and that, should he attemi)t to thwart the schemes of this legislature, his own. impeaclnnent would be a ])rol)able event of the future. In conclusion, we would state that we have attempted to perform the duties of our mission in the "purest non-])artisan spirit, and that we have not sought to furnish capital to any political party or to excite popuhir chnnor in the intei-ests of any faction. We have laid our case before the President and his Attorney-General, and we willingly testify that we have been courteously received and patiently listened to. While they have refused the specihc measures of relief for which we applied, they have given reasons for such refusal in no manner iujplying any indisposition to see justice done. They have referred us to Congress, and we feel assured that we shall liave tlie immediate sanction of the President so far as we invite an im- partial investigation of the facts of our case, and that wc shall have his co-operation in any measures of rehef which Congress may adopt after such investigation. The people of Louisiana, ignoring^ party, are con- scious of having made an honorable effort to place in ohice men of tried probity. They seek justice, not generosity. They ask for a calm, im- partial examination into the recent extraordinary occurrences within their borders, in order that the truth may be known, and that there may be a s})('('ily correction of the dangerous evils now threatening the very life of their State. Washington, I). C, December 23, 1872. J. A. Campbell. J. Aldige. August Bohn. Joseph Bowling. N. Barnett. A. ClIIAPELLA. J. S. Copes. H. W. Conner. H. J). Coleman. John C. Potts. John F. Pollock. J. TUYES. Jam]:s Wallace. Walker Fearn. 1). C. Labatt. H. O. Seixas. J. W. Labouisse. D. West. KiciiARD Taylor. Mayer Stern. U. PUGH. George W. Squires. John Fairbanks. C. E. Fenner. E. B. WlIEELOCK. A. B. Griswold. G. KOHN. H. McCloskey'. G. W. NOTT. H. V. Ogden. W. S. Pike. F. A. Haber. H. Gardes. P. M. Baker. Albert C. Janin. S. Hernsiieim. T. H. Kennedy. J. M. Scott. Al. Mij^tenberger. H. G. Darcy. Sella ]\1artin. W. Marks. C. M. Wilcox. H. R. CRA3IER. n. Ex. 91- See Appeudix K. 82 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. APPENDIX, The New Orleans Republican, (the organ of tlie radical republican party,) of the 19th of November, in an editorial article, admitted frankly and unecpiivocally that the election held on the 4th of that montli was the fairest and nu)St peaceable ever known in the State of Louisiana : that no negro had been deprived of his right to vote be- cause of his color ; that there had Keen every disposition to allow to him the nnmo- lesTed enjoyment of his rights; and that complete conciliation existed between the two races. B. The total vote in November last for governor, exclusive of the three parishes of Saint James, Terebonne, and Saint Tammany, from which irregular and informal re- turns only wen; received, amounted to l'2rf,40-2. The total vote of the State in 1870 was only 100,542. [Extract from New Orleans evening papers of November 13.] When the board met to-day. Governor Warmoth, Acting Secretary of State llerron, and Senator John Lynch being ]iresent, tlie governor, after the reading of the minutes, presented tlie certifica.te of Auditor Graham, to the effect that, Secretary of State Her- ron being a defaulter, he had been comi»elle(l by the constitution and laws to-snspend him from the exercise of his functions, on charges which would be ennmerat^d to the senate. Accordingly Secretary of State Herron was requested to withdraw from the board, which he did. The governor next jjresrnted the commission, and thi> evidence of his qualiiicatio!! for the ofitice, of Colonel J. Wharton, as the successor of (b-neral Herron. Colonel Wharton was in the ante-room, and on being sent for promptly ap- peared and took his seat in the board. Governor Warmoth then proposed the name of F. II Hatch as a .substitute for Lieu- tenant-Governor Pinchback, which was adopted by the votes of Governor Warmoth and Secretary of State Wharton, Senatrotest. Other republicans. General IT. J. Campbell among the number, denounced jSIr. rinchback's action, and ])rotested again.st his ]iresiding over the .sen- ate. Their efforts were u.selcss. United States mai.slials and United States soldiers CONDITION OF AFFAIK8 IN LOUISIANA. 83 wpro on every liand, and their instrnctions from E. H. Dnrell, jmlse of tlie United St.iites district court, were to obey tlie bcliests of Mr. Pinchbeck. And this is the reason why objections were made to Mr. I'iiichback's fnrtlier presid- in;;- over tlie senate. He w;is elected, in lyiiH, senator from the second district of New Oi-ieans for a term of four year.s, which expired at the hist eh^ction, wheiiEx-Liiuiteu- ant-Governor A. Voorliies was eh'cted to succeed him. At the death of Lieutenant- Governor Dunn, Senator rinehback was elected president of the senate, and thereby became lieutenant-governor ex offwio. At the regular session of If^T'i, Mr. Pinchback «/((Y((/'V chtiincd the r'ujht to vote as nenator, and did .10 rote, as the journal will show. When Ex-Oovernor M. Hahn resigned his office, and J. Mailison Wells, lieutenant- governor, bfca lie governor in his stead, Si-nator Lonis Gastiuel was chosen president of the -senate, and thereby became ex officio lieutenant-governor. All acts thereafter passed during that term are signed "Louis Gastiuel. ex officio lieutenant-governor and president of the senate." That was according to the law of 18("), which says that, wlien a vacancy shall occur in the oftice of lientenaut-goveruor, "the senate shall elect a president, who shall be lieutenant-governor." This law has been copied verbatim in Kay's revised statutes, 1870. At the ensuing election Governor Wells was a candi- date t\)r re election, and Judge A. Voorliies for lieutenant-governor. Immediately after the election Governor Wells called a special session of the legislature, to assemble at Mechanics' Institute, November •2ri, ISGo. The senate having been called to order by the president, Mr. Gastiuel, Mr. Kenner objected to his iiresiding any further, as his term of office had expired, and his successor was' present. Thereupon Mr. Victor Bnrthe, of .Jetferson, was placed in the chair as president. On the rid of December the votes for governor and lieutenant-governor were counted, and on the 4th Mr. Albert Voorliies was installed as lieutenant-governor, thereby becoming president of the senate. Theie is a precedent: the case is precisely in point; the facts agree in every respect. The senate is the sole judgt; of the qualitications of its members, and it has given a construction to a law which has been re-enacted since that construction of it. .Judge Dnrell is without authority, even under the enforcement law, to create a legislature, or in any way control its organization. It is deemed proper that these facts and this precedent be spread abroad through every State, and the National Government be I'ully apprized that the man who has been recognized as "acting governor of Louis- iana" is absolutely without right to hold such office. E. AX ACT to pstablish an ailditional district court for tlie parish of Orleans; to define and limit tlie imisdiction, aiii'i to detirminc tlic powers tliereof; to provide tortile trau.sfer of certain eases now dependiiij: before certain otlier district courts for said ])aiisli to tlic conit herel)v created ; to aiitliori/e the fiovernor to a])iioiiit a judge and a clerk f(U- said court, and to provide a court room for said court : -to atudish the seventh and ei;:lith district courts for the p.iiisli of Orleans, and to provide for the transfer of the records and suits in s.iid seventh and eighth distiict courts to other courts in said parish. Skction 1. Be it enacted hi/ the Senate and Hoia^e of licprexcntativen of the State of Louisiana in (ieneval An^enihlij convened, That there shall be, and is hereby, established an additioiiiil district court for the jiarish of Orleans, which shall be known and desig- nated as the superior district coui't for the parish of Orleans. Skc. 2. lie it further enacted, tV'c, That the superior district court hereby created shall have exelnsire juiisdiction in and for the iiarish of Orleans, to issue writs of iiijiinetioiis, mandamuses, quo warranto, and to entertain -all proceedings, and to try all cases or actions in which the right to any oftice, S.tate, parish, or municipal, is in any way involved. *■ # # j? ^ # Six. tJ. Be if further enaded, cfc, That the offices of judge and clerk of the superior district court for the parish of Orleans, hereby established and organized, shall be deemed to be vaciint as in case of original vacancy. The governor shall at once till such vacancies by appointment. * • ^ * « » Si.c. 7. Be it jnrthcr enacted, tj-c., That the act of the general assembly, apjiroved March Ifi, 1870, entitled "An act to establish an additional district court for the parish of Orleans, to define the jurisdiction thereof, and to re-organize and determine the jurisdiction of the existing seven district courts for the parish of Orleans." be, and the same is hereby, repealeil, in so far as it establishes and (Uganizes the eight li district court for the pari.sh of Orleans; it being the intent and i)ur()Ose of this act to abolish the said eighth district court for the i)arish of Orleans, and the said eighth d'strict court for the parish of Orleans lie, and is hereby, abolished. * * ^ Skc. 8. Beit further enacted, cSc, Tlnii the seventh district court for the paiish of Orleans be, and is hereby, abolished. * * * » Skc. 9. Be it further enacted, c'jc., That all laws or parts of laws in conflict w ith thi.s 84 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. act lie, and the same arc hereby, repealefl, so far as they are in conllict, and tliis act sLall have force and elfeet from and after its passage. CHARLES W. LOWELL, Speak'er of the House of Ecprcnentalires. A. B. HARRIS, Frcsidoit of the Senate and Adbuj Lie.ntenant-Govcrnor. Approved December 11, 1872. P. B. S. PINCHBACK, Licutcnani-Gorcrnor and Acting Governor of Lonisiana. A true copy : GEO. E. BOVEE, Secretary of State. AN ACT relative to the offino of attorney- ijcneral, and directing the discontinnauce of certain pro- ceedings before the Supreme Court of the United States. Skction 1. Br it enacted hj the Senate and Hoime of Bc}wcsentatlres of the State of Louis- iana in General Assembly convened : Whereas tlie Hon. A. P. Field lias been duly jiro- mnlgated as having been elected to the otidce of attorney-general of this State; * * * * * and \Nhereas otlier perons nve claiming to represent the State of Louisiana injudicial proceedings : That the said A. P. Field, and his legal successors, and those acting nuder him or them, be alone anthorized to institute or con- tinue in the name of the State of Louisiana any suit or judicial proceeding, and all other persons are prohibited from doing the same. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, tj'c, That the said A. P. Field is anthorized and in- structed to discontinue any and all proceedings instituted in the Supreme Court of the United States by H. N. Ogden or any other person in the name of the said State. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted 4''c., That this act shall take eifect from and after its pas- sage. CHARLES W. LOWELL, Sjyeaker of the House of Represenintives, A. B. HARRIS, President of the Senate, Actiuij Lieutenant-Governor. Approved December 10, 1872. P. B. S. PINCHBACK, Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor of the State of Lonisiana. A true copy : GEORGE E. BOVEE, Secretary of State. Constitution of the^Statc of Louisiana. Akt. 52. No member of Congress or any person bedding oflice under the United States Government shall be eligible to the office of governor or lieutenant-governor. Constitulion of the State of California. Art. 4, Skc. 21. No person holding any lucrative office under the United States, or any other power, shall be eligible to any civil oflice jf proiit under this State. Searcy vs. Gron; (15 California Re]K)rts, 117.) The court, consisting of Chief Justice Stephen J. Field, and Associate Jnatices Bald- win and Cojie, say : ."The counsel for the appellant contends that the true meaning of the constitution is, that the person Inddiug the Federal oflice di'scribed in the twenty-first section is forbidden to take a civil State of'llc<' while so holding the other; bnt that he is cai)able of receiving votes cast for him, so as to give him a right to take the State otlice upon CONDITION OF AFFAIE8 IN LOUISIANA. 85 or after rcsifrninp; tlie Fcdernl office. But we tliiiik tlio plain iiieaiiinjj: of tlie words (|ii<)tf(l is tln' opiiosite of tliis coii-strnctioii. The laiii!;iia,i;(i is not tiiat a Federal officer siiall not hold a State oftice while he is snch Federal officer, hnt that he shall not, while in sueli Federal office, he (fVujible to the State oftiee. We understand the word 'eligible' to mean capable of heinjz; chosen — the snhji^ct of selection or choice. Tlit; people in tins case were clotlied with this power of choice; their selection of the canersoii nvsiihss. And said circuit or tlistrict (iourt shall have, concurrently witli the State courts, jurisdiction thereof, so far as to determine the rights of the par- ties to such office by reason of the denial of the right gnarautsed by the tifteeuth arti- cle of auieiidment to the Constitution of the United States, and secured by this act. (Stat, at Large, vol. xvi, p. 14o.) I. By the decree, or, rather, the interlocutory order of a United States district jmlge, it is attemiited, in spite of the overwhelming expression of the will of the peoi)le of the State, to establish over the State of Louisiana a government consisting of a United States Senator for governor, the collector of a port as the lieutenant-governor, the United States treasurer for State auditor, a surveyor of the port for })resident of the senate, the postmaster of New Orleans for speaker of the house, a deputy collector for chainnan of the finance committee of the legi-slature, and a legislature composed ])riii- ci|)ally of defeated candidates, most of whom are in the employ and pay of the Fed- eral Goverument. J. Extract from the meftsage of the (jovernor, of December 11, 1872. It is scarc(dy necessary to state what is so well known to all of you, that the election recently lielil was fairly and honestly conducted under the laws of the State, and that the registration and the vote were both unusually full, the latter being the largest ever cast in Louisiana. 86 CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. Tin* total vote fi)v governor, excliisivo of tlio. three parishes of vSaint James, Terre- bonne, and Saint Tammany, from whieh irregnhir and informal retnrns were received, anionnted to ri."^,4U2, an increase of 21,8l)0 on the vote of 1870. The re]>nlilican vote, estimatnig and adding the three omitted j)arisln!s at the same vote cast in 1870, (:},7:M,) is only •J,'4(J1 Itelow the vote cast for tiie reiinhlican State ticket at tht; last election, and ir is well known that thonsands of re]»nl)Iiean voters thronghout the State, at this election, supported the fusion ticket. Tiie returns made by the State officers were in dne torm, and tliese retnrns are the only otlicial evidence in existence of the vote at the late election. The pretense of tiie agents selected by Senator Kellogg to promul- gate an ofticial falsittcation of the result, that they have made a compilation of the votes, is only om? of the bold and audacious Jfalsehoods by which ev-ry step of the consjiirators has been marked. Tliose persons had no retnrns, no documents, no evi- dence of any kind in their possession, exce^it the stat<'ments made up by themselves and their allies for the ctinsnmniation of tlieir fraudulent purpt)ses. A comparison of the tabulated statement pul>lislied by them with tin* genuine returns, as previ- ously pnlilished, shows that they did their work in Hagrant detiance of decency, and witinnit even an attempt to conceal their fratul ami falsehood from the eyes of the public. Tiie bill tiled by Senator Kellogg alleged simply a deticiency in his returned vote of altout 10,000, dne to an allegitd suppression of a ixution of votes actually cast, and a refusal to register or to receive another }>nrtion. Tlie alleged sup- pression was totally false, and was supp(nted l»y no evidence whatever — not even the simulated cross-mark affidavits with which the conspirators so liberally provided themselves in advance. The affidavits fileil by them amounted to abi>ut 4,0i)0 in num- ber, according to their own statement. If they had simply added this iiumlier to the total, it would have given Senator Kellogg 64,23:3 votes against 68,169 for McEnery, not enough to show an apparent election, even including the vote for the thnM; omitted parishes. They therefore, without returns, without testimony of any kind, without even adopting and following any rational theory of computation, added the enormous nninber of 12,675 to Senator Kellogg's vote, and, as it to still further insult the intelli- gence of the public, and still more Ihigrantly expo.se their own falsehood and wicked- ness, they deliberately struck otf 14,140 from the vote cast for Mr. McEuery. The re- turns from the ])arish of Bossier were, for McEnery 9.53, for Kellogg .')55. They report for Kellogg l,l.'>0, for McEnery none Tin; vote at Natchitoches was for McEnery 1,250, for Kellogg 550. They report for Kellogg 1,20(5, for McEnery none. In Assum))- tion they have added 504 to Kellogg's vote, and sul)tracted 454 from jMcEncry. In Avoyelles they add 525 to Kellogg's vote, and subtract 4.54 from McEluny's. In East Baton Kong<' they add 1,343 to Kellogg's vote, and subtract 727 from McEiiery's. In De Soto they add 578 to Kellogg's vote, and subtract 660 from McEnery's ; in Pla(|ne- niine they add 1,129 to Kellogg's vote; in Saint Landry they add 545 to Kellogg's vote, and subtract 5.55 from McEnery's; in \'ernoii, when; JIcEnery has t)li9 votes, they allow him 112; in Winn, where ^IcEnery has 575 vt)tes, they allow him 127; iu Washington, where McEnery has 453 votes, they allow him 194 ; in Saint Mary they add :')()() to Kellogg's vote, and subtract 500 from McEmu-y's ; in Union, where McEnery has 1,418 votes, they allow him 460; in Orleans they strike b.'tweeu 3,000 and 4,000 from McEnery's vote ; and in almost every jiarish they have made changes e(jually capricious and irrational, and returns cipially falst; and fraudulent; and these are tlu' men who based their suit at law upon tlie charge that the governor and the retnrning-olhc.ers intended to falsify, to mutilate, and to destroy the election returns. These returns an; in existeiu'c ; they retain all the integrity of their original form. They are unmntilated and unfalsilied ; they constitute the only evidence of the late election that any law recognizes, or thatany honest judicial tribunal would accept. They have never been in the hands of the coiis|)irators, and yet these persons, pretend- ing to act as public oflicials, have promulgattid results so monstrously at variance with the truth, that they seem to court the notoriety of falsehood and to revel in the pub- licity of trauil. K. Extract from a report of the ]>rocc('dhiys of the lrE^;n, A. D. Flesh tj- Co., Frankfort, Germany, and 351 Broadway, New York. W. G. Mok.sk, New Yoi k City. C. E. KXAPi', D. P. Ketchum, New York City. Fhaxk Hegc.er, E. H. Van Lnyen cj- Co., 2\eiv York City. Douglas H. Dleh, John Liner .)'■ Son, 24 South Charles street, Baltimore. William C. ^Iudge, U. B. Madge, 95 West Second street, Cincinnati. E. C. COOLIBGE, John K. ('oolidjje tf- Co., 244 West Seeond street, Cincinnati. Ed. V. liEUMIXGIlAM, John McKittrick 4'- Co., 522 North Main sireet. Saint Louis. Edmuxi) J. (lorjixE, II riyht, Bro^s »/• Co., 324 Broadway, New York. GusTAVE A. Jajix, Frederick Layman rTL!:i;, .Ir., John Thompson 4' Co., New York. I'atiuck J. Mcl'iiiLLir.s, W. H. Hortsmann if- Co., New Yorl, Philadcljjhia, and Paris, France. J. G. Ca.se, General Sujwrintendcnt Chanqrion Cotton-Gin Company, 102 State street, Boston, Massachusetts. J. B. GOLDSTEIX, U. Jiiiick c)- Co., 23 and 25 East Second street, Cincinnati. J. J. H. IIII.L, Bodenhcitn, Meyer i|- Co., 149 Duane and 9 Thomas street. New York. Hkxuy M. Wooi.e, Willard Felt ip Co., New York. Geohge FicLiHouSE, same, Cincinnati. J. T. Saxdeohi), (Hies, G rales 4- Co., 13 Maiden Lane. New York. Jonx G. IHLSII, Charles Lippincolt .i'- Co., 914 and 916 Filbert street, Philadelphia. S. Y. D. Ai!iio\v-SMn H, Buckenhum, Cole 4' Hall, 10 Maiden lane, New York. I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 89 J. r. Todd, Finn of W. S. Dc Tau .f- Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Nath. p. Snklmnc;, Peamon Hio'n ,y- Co., lioslon. Alex. I^amijy, I'aton cj- Co., New York. J. W. Bi.AKi:, Of Hall li'' Blnkr, 20 Courthiudt ulircf, Xcw York. U. F. Wilcox, John S. Dnnliam, 117 Xorfh Si.rfh .strcrt, Saint Lonix, Mitisouri. Samim-.l FiUKDMAN, 40 Aluiden Lane, Xciv York. Chai;lk.s Lek, Charles Lee, lioaion, Mumsachunetls. D. Daviks, Of A. M. 4- R. Davics, 508 Broadwai/, New York. L. WiLKiNS, A. Henderson, 82 JVater street, New York. * V. C. ROGKHS, Of H. A. Rogers cf- Co., 50 and 52 John street, Xew York. W. N. Johnson, of Mills, Johnson <)'■ Co., Cincinnati. Waltki! L\ox, Saint Louis, Alissonri. Editorial article of the Xew York Herald, of Decemher 26, 1872. Is Tins A KKPL'ULIC, AND IS LOUISIANA ONE OF THE UNITED STATKSf — Either tllis is a rci)nlilic or it is not. Either the. States iiiaiia<;e, their own local att'airs or they do not. Whatever api>earances may denote, \V(^ believe we are not rash in nssnniin<:j that tiu^ peojdc of the United States »lo live in a repnhlic; fnrther, we boldly qnote the Constitution and decisions of the Supreme Court to prove it incnnihent upon the United States "to guarantee to every State in tiic Union a republican form of {"ov- einment." lu other words, every State is a. re4)nl)lic within a republic. Now, as our creed in the late civil war affirnu'd secession to bt; unlawful, as we proved the right by our niij^ht on the battle-iield, I^onisiana is in the Union, because she never was out of it, and is entitled to a repultlican loiin of novernnieut, because she is a State. Hence it Ibllows that the imperial jiolicy bein<;- pursued toward her is an unwarrant- able insult to a conquered, law-abiding, free (?) people. Ignorance is a two-edged sword. Negroes demoralized by designing leaders aie no better than low whites de- moralized ; and what if a legislature like that of Louisiana should become uncontrolla- ble ? Already its members are loud in their thi'tats against their defeated opponents. ]\Iay it not be possilile for them to turn upon their white instigators ? We say this iu>t because negroes are black, but because these paiticniar negroes are from necessity totally uneducatclayed upon e\er since they had ])o!itical power. Undoubtedly it was a mistake in the liberal rei)ubiicans of Louisiana to dally with Waiinoth in tlu- late electioiL < « * * In s[)ite of their aversion they accepted his aid ; but his is the power of the boomerang, ami returns to delay, if not todestroy, refoini. Few of tlu^ New Orliuuis committee but -were his tierce opponents in the past; yet till' administration organ in this city intimites that they are "really acting in the interest of Warmoth." And what do this committee ask — a committee. rei)resent- ing such vital interests as to draw around them thousamls of citizens to wish them "Godspeed" when, in a drizzling rain, they depart for Washington ? What do they ask? Anything unreasonable? Why, their str)ry is twice tohl ; and yet we shall repeat it again and again, in the hope of bringing the North to its senses and Congress to its duty. They a>k the Federal Government to make a candid and impartial investigation of the facts we have so often put before our rearlers. They maintain, and w(; have everj^ reason to believe them, that they have not heretofore been concerned in the contro- versies among the jiolitical classes which have endangered the peace and brought scandal upon tln^ State. They picture two distinct governments claiming sovereign jurisdiction, the United States and State courts in direct conllict. Judge Durell, under cohu- of the enforcement act, o\erturning the entire State administration with one hand, while he S(Mzes an ojjposition newsjiaper with the other, jdottiug, we are tohl, for a nomiji;)J;ion to the Federal Senate. No wonder that strong nuui weep; no woiuler that commercial travelers in New Orleans, re])resenting more tjian thirty N(!W York houses, ad->;ers. We assure them that no disbelief ever had less foundation in fact ; that no peo[)h? were ever more ready to aceej)! Ilie situa- tion ; but' tliat the best way to footer hatred and revolution is to carry out the guerrilla ■o'arfare of ailventurers liUe Pinchl)a(k. It is quite possible for a negro or a northern man to be a rascal. It is (juite i»ossible for a soutlieru man to be honest. Let honesty prevail, and good government will ensue. Let Congress demand a thorough investiga- tion, ap])ointing investigators without fear and without re|>roach, and Louisiana will be satisfied. Her best jieople arc; not so much averse to Kellogg as they fear his legis- lature. Let the election records l)e closely scanned. Attorney-Genei-al Williams ad- mits that tlu're may have been " irregularities in tiun'egistratiou and election." " Irreg- ularities" is a mild term tor tampering with the bal"ot-l)ox, tiie legis of our liberty, and comes witli rare grace from the Attorney-General of the Uniteil States; but the admission is alone sufficient for action, and if upon re-assembling Congnsss does not hearken to the voice of press and people, we shall believe that there are things far more rotten here than in Denmark. Hon. George H. Williams, Attorney- General of the United States : Sill : A memorial sioned by a mimber of citizens of the Sttite of Loui.si- ana, directed to the President of the [Jnited States, and to the Con> jtrovided, and we m;iy add tlmt Congress could not properly provide for the main- teuiuice in thtit court of a suit by a citizeu of a Sttite ag.iiiist the gov- ernor t)r other publico otlicers of the State, or le has been salutary, being productive of harmony and peace. jSTo instance can be found in the judicial iidministration of the United States, in which an authority has been claimed to control the action of an ofticer of a State, in the exercise of functions imposed by a statute of the State, and atfecting ])ersons and things exclusively within the juris- diction of the State. No instance is remembered in which it has been supposed by any court of the United States that it had any control over the election of the municipal officers of the State. The a[)i»earance in a court of the United States of candidates for the offices of governor and of lieutenant-governor, to control the governor of the same State and the canvassing boards in relation to the ascertainment of the result of the election to tliose offices and other municipal offices, is a novelty, and the consequences of such a jurisdic-tion are so far-reaching that in- quiry IS called for. If it be found that a jurisdiction has been assumed, unwarranted by the Constitution or the laws of the United States, a remedy ought to be tirndy a|)piied. The oidy i)ower granted by Congress to a circuit court having any relevancy to this subject, is to be found in the 2o{\ section of the act of Congress approved olst May, 1870, called the enforcement act, and de- signed, as its title declares, to maintain the rights of citizens to vote at elections. An examination of this section shows that it is intended to preserve the rights of the candidate who shall be defeated or deprived of his election, by reason of denial to any citizen or citizens of their right to vote on account of race, complexion, or ])revious condition of servitude. The remedy granted to such a candidate is a faculty of main- taining an appropriate suit in a circuit or district court of the United States, and that the court shall have jurisdiction " to determine the rights of the person to such oftice, by reason of the denial of the right secured by the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States." This section of the act of Congress determines the only case, and iletines the limit and the quality of the jurisdiction conferred. The case is a single one, confined to a specitic subject and form of claim, and the duty of the court is carefully defined. We shall not inquire con- cerning" the validity of the act of Congress, nor raise any question with the circuit court of Louisiana, which is within the bounds of this sec- tion. From the operation of the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States, granted by this section, the members of Congress, we>»/>tr.s' of ifAe )St((te Icj/i.slatuyc, and the electors of President are excluded. None of these (tan bring such a suit as the act contemplates for other cases. AVilliam Pitt Jveilogg tiled a chancery bill in the circuit court of the United Slates at New Orleans, the IGth of November last, against the governor, (Warmoth.) AVharton, Hatch, Da Ponte, members of a can- vassing board, against his conqjctitor, ]\IcEnery, and the i)ublishers of the official journal of the State, all citizens of the State. He states that he had been a candidate for the office of governor at an election which took place on the 4th of November, 1872, for the executive and legisla- tive and judicial oflicers of the State, and was opposed by ]McP]iuM-y. He complains that the governor, Warmoth, had declared that he should defeat hinj by all means in his power, and by the abuse of ])owers, and that the governor had used an(l abused powers. That he (Kellogg) be- lieved the votes of ten thousand persons of color entitled to vote had 92 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. boon excluded because of tlieir coini)lexion and previous condition of servitude. Ue charges, too, that tlie votes had not been ])ro[»erly counted — to his prejudice — and tliat the returns made were false and fraudulent. He further couiplains that Warinoth had organized a re- turning-board, composed of himself and the deleudants, and that the legal board was Warmoth, Lvucli, Hawkins, Longstreet, and Herron, His ai)[)reliensi(ui, and the cause of his suit, is, tliat it was the i^urpose of the defendants to make such a pretended canvass of the votes as should etfect his apparent defeat, an(l declare McEnery governor of the State; that this catastrojilie would deprive tiiese persons of their suffrage wlio had been excluded because of their ra('e and color, and would give effect to false, fabri(;ated, erroneous, and wrongful returns. The bill shows there had boon no action of either of these boards, and that no result had been ascertained or declared. The law of the State is, that the governor and lieutenant-governor elected in Novend)er shall not be inaugurated until January after. There was no adverse posses- sion of an office this plaintiff had desired to till. It is nmnifest from the bill itself that the case provided for by the twenty-third section of the act of Congress had not arisen, ami might not arise. The case made by the bill is a case to control the organiza- tion of the returning-board, to try the title of the governor and the board acting with him, and to set Uj) in their absence a board nom- inated in the bill, but none of whose members were before the court as parties. On the face of the bill the case is not within the purview of this deli- cate and ditlicult statute. We shall furnish the bill, with this ])aper, that it may be examined. The (Ujja/-/^^ order, for restraining the defendants, we shall now ex- amine. We cannot be mistaken as to the im[)ort of this order. The suit authorized is a suit at law between two parties for an office, of which one has been dei)rived by the existence of a s])ecitic form of facts. The restraining order of the court takes under its cognizance and con- trol the entire results of an election for executive, legislative, and Judi- cial officers of the entire State, at a general election, pursuant to the constitution. There is no limit of tlie incpiiry to the contest between Kellogg and IMcEuery, but the court grasps the oversight ami direction in reference to all of the returns of all of the officers appointed under the laws of the State in reference to the election. This order is nuide ni)on the submission of the bill, and will be found on the fourteenth and following pages of the i)ami)hlet record of the case of Kellogg*. The governor, Wharton, Hatch, Da Ponte, ]McEnery, antl the pub- lishers of the Xew Orleans liopublican are the subjects of this order. These are restrained from considering or canvassing any certificate, statement, return of any supervisor of registration, except in presence of the four i)ersons, Lynch, Hawkins, &c., &c. The governor is ordered to desist and to refrain from submitting to his co-defendants, as mem- bers of a board, statements, certificates, or returns of elections, and to desist from re(;ognizing, or permitting them, or any others but those first mimed, (Lynch, &c.,) to inspect, consider of, or have access to statements, certificates, returns, affidavits, proofs, relating to said elec- tion, and he is told in the order that it is his duty to submit these to Lynch and his associates, as the only legal board. The governoi', \Mnir- ton, and others, are commanded not to proceed as a board, and .McEuery is commanded to set ui) no claim to the office of governor, and the official journal is forbidden to i)ul)lish the evidence they may furnish. The committee find it difficult to characterize properly an order of this I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 93 sort. It is an ex iKirte order — in a case of Kellogg', a candidate for a single oHice, who npprehends ,ject to the further order of this court, and meanwhile to prevent all uidawful assemblage therein under the guise or ]iretext of authority clainied by virtue of pretended canvass and returns made by said pretended returning-officcrs in contempt and violation of said restraining (uder ; but the maisbal is directed to allo\v the ingress and ingress to and from the public offices in said building of persons entitled to the same. E. H. DURELL. In obedience to tliis order, the ITnited States marshal called upon General , cointnaiidiiig dei)artmetit, for a nti itary force tcxwecnte the above order, which was promptly tarnished aii(*l possession taketi of the institute at an early hour this iiioruiiio-, and the marshal is now in possession. It will be seen that this order, too, is ex parte. It assnines that the governor has committed a contemi)t, by a ixiblication, which the order of tlie court recites. Besides this, th" court undertakes the office of conservator of the peace, and to maintain it, directs a jLiarrison to be ])laced in the State capitol, and forbids, as an nnlawful assemblaiie, the legislature, referred to in the governoi's proclamation, to be cotivened theic. We are not awaie of the existence of any disorders, riots, tumults, menaces of insurrection, or violence at this roceedings in the case of Kellogg, to authorize a court to make an order of this kind, and to secure its execution in the maimer stated in the official Journal, this committee have not been able to dis- cover. About this juncture C. C. Antoine, a camlidate for the offic«^ of lieu- tenant governor, sought tlie interposition of the circuit court to seciire him in that office. Ilis induction into ollice, even if he had been duly elected, and there were no counter claim, could not take jilace befoi'e January. In this respect his term commences like that of the governor. But he was apprehensive of some evil, and claimed very much, as did the governor. The organization of the legislature, to be convened on the *Jtli of November, was the matter to be effi'cted by the orchns of tlie circuit court, and it is n[)oii his bill that the order we now submit was issued and promulgated. We shall supply a (H>py of the bill and of orders attached, and do not therefore state the former with more jtarticularity. This restraining and mandatory order we are compelled to state for the subject of comment. I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 95 Tills order appears in the official Journal of the State of Siiiulay, the 8th of December, 1872, the day prior to the assemblaj^e of the State legis- lature, as api>oiuted iu the proclaniatiou of the go\eriu)r. Notice is called to it by a caption, " Anotiiku bill in equitij.''^ " Pro- teciion to the iState legislature.^' " Hands off, all round." " Rend., ponder, observe.''' Certainly the order thus i)ublished should be resentatives. The secretaries of the senate and of the house are directed particularly that they shall use a specific roll, as furnished by Bovee, as the true senate and the true house of representatives, and that none other shall be used, and no one not on that roll shall have recognition as senator or representative. The secretary of state, Bovee, is directed to nsake cer- tificates u])on the returns of a single designated board, and none other. The metroi)olitau board of police, its commander and men, are put under restraint, and all the ])ersons l)elonging to the can^■assing-boards and officers other than the one acting are [)laced under an injunction. The bill of Antoine and this order were not debated or discussed in court prior to its date. It came before the i)eople of the State by sur- l)rise. The impression unTde by the order is simply one of amazement. It is a sounding catara(;t; mandate alter mandate rushes along, break- ing the barriers of the constitution, law, judicial practice and i>recedure, and the ancient laiul-marks of jurisdiction in the courts of the United States. The traditional stagnation of the \\aters of a cliam-ery court has been disturbed in a manner never heard of before this date. Wc hold, jMr. Attorney-General, that the American State and Federal con- stitutions, without an excei>lion, give to the respective houses that com- pose the general assembly the entire and exclusive jurisdiction over questions relating to their organization. Each house decides upon its rules of proceeding, and u[)on the election and qualifications of its mem- 96 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIAXA. bors. Unloss tlie constitution providos otherwise, tliey select tlieir own ofticers and control them. It is entii-ely beyond the power of the inia<;i- iiatioii of this coniniittee to conceive that there is any constitution, law, custom, rule, pre(;edent, or other form in which authority is manifested, to justify this order of the circuit court of the United States. The ad- judged cases, with which our intelligence has had connection, place a seal of emphatic condemnation ui)on it as beyond the judicial power, however large, under o!ir institutions. Such an onler from the circuit court of the United States, under the presidency of the associate jus- tice and the judge of the circuit court, would lill the country with dis- nu«y if the country happened to be weak, with determination and energy re(iuiring indemnity if strong. This committee and tiieir constituents sup{)osed that from a court thus composed siu'h an order was a far dis- tant i>ossibility. It was therefore the committee made an aj)]»licatiou that the judges who constitute that court in its su[)erior coiulitiou should impiire into the validity of these orders. This committee, acting on behalf of themselves aud their constitu- ents, say that they have not supposed that Congress would entertain any complaint by the citizens of a State against the officers composing the State government for tlieir misconduct, their malaortance to them, as well as to the l)e()i)le of the State. These persons, if deprived of tliis coveted enjoy- ment by the occurrence of a i)rescribed condition in the twenty-third section of the act of May, 1870, were entitled to bring a civil suit in the circuit or district court, but tlu\se suits were brought upon ])remature anxieties and apprehensions. But the suits they brought and the oiders made have but little connection. These names api)ear in the title of the cases in which the orders aj)i)ear, but ap[)arently for the ])urp()se of showing that there was a case in the court. Tiie substantial jurisdic- tion exercised is over the election of the 4tli of November, 1871* — the executive, judicial, legislative oiticers, the election of members of Con- gress, and of presidential electors. The injunction oi'eoi)leof the State the contem])t with which it charged the governor as guilty in pul)lisliing the election returns. Tlie court seems to have decided that this publication furnished undisputable evi- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 97 (lence that whatever certificate canie from the Lynch board must be sup- ported by chancery order, with a military force to maintain it. The seizure of the capital, and the impaneVtmi of a lef/islatnre upon venire facias to the selections of the Lynch board, and by the require- ment upon the secretaries of the two houses, to follow prepared lists described in the chancery writ, appear to be parts of a carefully ])re- l)ared scheme of orj^anization of the legislature by the court. In look- ing: to the breadth of these orders, and the supercilious s[)irit in which tliey seem to have been made, the marvel is that they should not have comprised more. The State might have been ])laced in the hands of a chancery receiver with quite as much propriety as in the hands of such a legislature, and an order for a receiver would have been congruous to chancery modes of procedure, and would have had more likeness to ju- di(;ial action. It is impossible to have any other sentiment in reference to this judicial action than tliat of indignation. The committee cannot doubt that the President and Congress will vindicate the Constitution of the United States, and maintain the rights of the peoi)le of the State in their integrity. The facility with which this revolution has been made cannot but awaken ap[)rehension, and to (;all for guarantees to the stability of State governments. Tlie fact that t!ie circuit court has exercised a jurisdiction and granted orders which were beyond the scoi)e of its jurisdiction and authority, against the peace and the dignity of the State, the committee regard as unquestionable. Such being a fact, the court was entirely in fault for having made the orders, and having sought for a military force to carry them into execution. Such (mlers go forth without authority, and have no lawful claim ui)ou any party for respect or for obedience. Had there been resistance, all of the responsibility' for that resistance would have been chargeable upon the illegal orders, and not upon those who were not by any law or constitution liable to them. The court, in issuing com- mands to the governor of the State, to the officers of the executive de- partment of the State, to take possession of the State capital, and to impanel a State legislature, with a demand of a military sui)port, con- tem[)oraneously with the signature of the orders, seems to have been cognizant of their dangerous import, as the court must have been aware that they were without a precedent. We consuler it to be irrelevant to the discussion to inquire into the truth of the allegations of the bills, either of Kellogg or of Antoine. The orders that have been executed were for the most part made and executed before any requirement upon the parties to the cause to admit or to deny them. They were nmde e.r parte and out of court. The time, place, and con- ditions of their signature nuiy be a proper matter for inquiry. But the fact that they were not signed with notice to the parties sufficientlj* appears upon the record of the suits. Nor did any one of those parties have any capacity to answer, as the court had no capacity to examine how the State legislature should be organized. There has been pub- lished a telegram from the marshal of the court, which contains matter connected with the returns of one of the board, which we attach. If this statement be true, it would seem that the State legislature was chosen by the board in a manner as singular as the orders of the circuit court. The committee have submitted their case to the constitutional tribunal of the country. If it be true that the circuit court had no jurisdiction to deal with this subject in the manner presented by these orders, it would seem to be proper for the Congress of the United States to take H. Ex. 1)1 7 98 " CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. cognizance of that fiict, and provide that the })o\vers of that court should not be perverted. If the government of Louisiana be one established by the illegal orders of the circuit court, supported by the use of the Army of the United States, the duty of Congress to inquire into all of the conditions and circumstances under which it was done would seem to be clear. If the persons placed in the government of Louisiana derive their title mainly by the fact 'that there was superior power to support those "svho were interested and concerned to set up a government of their own, aiul that the government set u[) was thus established, it is not a repub- lican government, but an illegal, illegitimate, and usurping government. The ease is one into which there should be inquiry. A portion of the citizens of Louisiana believe that this government has no better title than that which is derived from the orders of the circuit court, and the armed interferejice for their execution. They believe that there was not an exaniinatiou of official returns or other legal eviden<;e of an election by the board which had the support of these authorities; that the government is illegal and illegitimate. It is in vain to look for redress from the usuri)ers. It cannot be ex- pected that they will abdicate their position. But, if the govern- ment be the otfsi)ring of illegal and unauthorized action of the Fedei-al court without authority. Congress may guarantee a republican form of government. It is that there may be indemnity for the past and security for the future that a large number of persons, who have an interest in the State, as citizens, have placed their memorial in the hand of the President. llespectfull V su bm itted. JOHN K. CAMPBELL, Chairman of Committee. APPENDIX. EESTRAINING ORDER. United States of America, eircuit court of the United States, ffth circuit and district of Louis- iana. Novemhcr term, A. D. 1872. JS^w Orleans, Salurday, November 16, 1872. Court mrt pursuant to adjournment. Present the Hon. E.H. Durell, district judge. William P. Kelloijg vs. H. C. Warmoth ctals., \o. 68:50. On motion of J. R. IVck\vitli,eounsol and solicitor for coniplainant, it is ordtMod that H. C. Waiiiiotli, Jack Wliaiton, Frank H. Hatch, Durant Da I'ontc, .Jolm McEncry. and the New Orleans Rc])ul)ii(;an Printinj;- Company, pnblislicrs of tlic New Orleans Repub- lican, a newspaper, beinj; the oltieial jonrnal of the State of Louisiana, be enjoined and restrained from in any manner, either directly or indirectly, pretending to consider or canvass any certificate, statement, or return of any supervisor of registration, except iu the presence of the h'gal returning-otticers named in the bill of comi»laint filed this day, to wit: John Lynch, Jacob Hawkins, James Longstreet, and Francis J. Herron ; and it is further ordered that the said H. C. Warnuith desist and refrain from submit- ting to the defendants, Jack Wliaiton, Franic H. Hatch, and Durant Da I'onte, or any or either of them, eitlur as pretended members of any Ix.ar*! t)f rctnrning-officers of election* of the State of Louisiana, or as individuals, any statements, certificates of returns, or pretended statements, certificates, or returns of election, and to desist from assisting, aiding, abetting, or permitting any other .jjcrson or persons Avhatsoever other than Jolm Lynch, Jacob Hawkins, James Longstreet, and Frain;is J. Ilerron, or their duly (jualified successors, as returning-otiticers, to ins])ect, consider, or luivc custody of or access to said statenuMits, certificates, or leturns of said supervisors of registration, or any other paper, document, affidavit, or proof that may have come iato tlie hands CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 99 of said Warmotli, or shall hereafter come into his hands, relatinj? to said election, or to the fairness or correctness thereof, and which by hi-w it is his dnty to snUniit to the said John Lynch. Jacob Hawkins, James L()n<;str(M't, and Francis j. llerron, the said legal board of retnrniug-oflicers of elections, and which slionld l)c jjroperly considered by them. And it is fnrther ordered that the said H. C. Warmoth, Jack Wharton. Frank H. Hatch, and Dnrant Da Ponte, and each of them, be commanded and enjuined to refrain and desist from pretending to act togi'thcr as a board of retnrniug-ofticcrs, or as re- tnrning otticers of elections, from cmvassingor attemplin<;- to canvass or c(msider any certiticate, (hicnment, attidavit, return, statement of votes, or any pajier whatsoever properly relating TO said election mentioned in the said bill" of complaint, and from atteini)ting to unike a canvass, to make, declare, or publish any pretended deduction, calculation, statement, or proclamation based thereon, or pretended to be derived therefrom, in any way relating or pertaining to said election mentinned in the said bill of complaint, held on the 4th day of November, 1872, or certifying to any candi- date for ortiee at said election, any certilicate of election, or any statement of the result of said election tending to show any right to ofdce in any person growing out of bal- lots cast at said election, and from iiu'ddling with, altering, suppressing, falsifying, obliterating, or destroying any document, pai)er, voucher, ])roof, statenmnt of votes, or certiticate relating to said election. And it is fnrther ordered that the said John Mc- Enery be commanded, enjoined, restrained, and inhibited from in any manner acting or [)retending to act as governor of the State of Louisiana, and from making any pre- tensions or asserting any claim to the oftice of governor of said State by virtue of any jiretended evidence of election thereto under or by virtue of any certilicate, document, or count, canvass, or adjudication now or hereafter nnide by the said defendant, H. C. Warmoth, and the said defendants Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, Dnrant DaPonte, in this bill charged to be unlawfully combined and conspired asreturuing-ofticers. Audit is further orilercd that the saidNew Orleans Kepublican Printing Comi>auy, under whose control and direction the newspaper called the New Orleans Republican, the ofdcial jonrnal of the State of Louisiana, is published, whereof W. R. Fish is president, be en- joined and restrained from in any manner publishing any official notice, document, or statement relating to any canvass or statement of votes made, or pretended to be made, or m any nnmner emanating from the said H. C. Warmoth. and said Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, Dnrant Da Ponte, or either of them, as a pretended board of return- ing-oftieers of elections, in any manner relating to the said election held on the 4th day of November, A. D. 1872. And it is further ordered that the said defendants H. C. Warmoth, Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, Dnrant Da Ponte, John McEnery, and the New Orleans Republican Printing Company, named in the bill of complaint this day filed, be so commanded, enjoined, and restrained, until the further order of this lionorable court. Circuit court of the United States in and for the dii^trict of Louiniaiia. — In equity, Xo. 6851. C. C. Antoine vs. S. C. Warmoth et als. RESTRAINING ORDER. W^hereas, the plaintiff herein has this day filed and exhibited his bill of complaint against the said defendant, H. C. Warmoth, and the other defendants named in said bill of complaint, and has tlierein prayed that injunctions, ^jc)(f/('»/c ///(.issue against the defendants therein, and that a restraining order be also issued restraining the said defendants, as i)rayed for in said bill, from doing, or permitting to be done, the acts in said bill f Decembtir, or at any future day, who may be returned as a member therecjf by the buaid of nituriiing-ofilicers, coui- ])osed of the said Heiny C. Warmoth, George E. Bovee, Jaunts Longstreet, Jacob Hawkins, and John Lynch, and whose name siiall also be transmitted by the said George E. Bovee, secretary of state, to Charles H. Merritt, the secretary of tiie senate of the last general assembly, and placed by the said Merritt upon the roll of said senate so to be convened, and from in any manner, directly or indirectly, aiding or abetting any person wiio is not so returned by said returning-board as a member of said senate, so to be convened, and whose namt; is not so transmitted as a member elected to said senate, and is not so placed ujjon the roll of said senate, from partici- pating in the organization of said senate, and from doing any act or from giving any order, direciion, or making any I'eqnest which may, directly or imlirectly, prevent or hinder any y)erson from being present and taking part in the organization of said house, called to convene on tiie said ninth day of December, or tliat may lie called to convene at any future day, who nuiy be returned as a memb»;r tliereof by tlie board of returning-oflicers, composed of the said Henry C. Warmoth, George E. Kovee, James Longstreet, Jacob Hawkins, and John Lynch, and whose name shall also be transmit- ted by the said Geoi'ge E. Bovee, secretary of state, to William \'igers, the secretary of the house of the last general assembly, and ])laced by the said William Vigers upon the roll of said house, so to l)e convened, and from in any maimer, directly or indirectly, aiding or abetting any person who is not so returned by said returuiiig-board as a member of said house, so to be convened, and whose name is not so tiansmitted as a member elected to said house, and is not so placed tipou the roll of said house, fiom particijiating in the organization of said house. Except that the said Henry C Warmoth is not hereby iirohibited froui participating in the canvass and return of the members elected to the said blanches of the general assembly so to bi; coijvened, provided he do the same in conjunction with and in the presence of said George E. Bovee. Janu\s Longstreet, Jacob Hawkins, and John Lynch, but not otlierwise ; and that he further lie enjoined and restrained fr(uu in any manner obstructing or hindering the said William Vigers, clerk of the house of representatives, or the said secretary of the senate, Charles H. Meriitt, in the free and unobstructed discharge of their duties, or in full and complete obedience to the orders of this court, and from sus]iending, renu)ving tJunn, or either of them, from oftice, or a)>pointiug or ordering, i>v abetting any other person or persons to ])erform any act which by law or the orders of this couit devolves on either the said Vigers, Merritt, or upnn George E. Bovee, secretary of state, and from iccognizing any \ alidity in any act done or j)er- fornied by any other [)ersou or jiersons pretending to act in the oftice or capacity of either of said oflicers. And that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to A. S. Badger, chief of me- tropolitan police, and to each member of the board of the metropolitan iiolice, and to the board of metropolitan iiolice, enjoining and restraining them, and each of them, from int(!rfering in any nninner with the organization of either branch of the general assembly, to be convened on the ninth day of December, 1H72, or at any time there- after, except to ])reserve the peace, and to jirevent no person from having access to either of the halls of said houses who is certified by George E. Bovee as Ijeiug a mem- ber-elect of the si'.me. And that writs of injunction also issue, directed to thii said E. Booth, A. Voorhies, A. J. Lewis, B. F. Jonas, T. B. Stamps, D. S. Cage, K. C. White. T. C. Anderson, J. M. Thompson, E. S.Weber, A. S. Heiron, Kobert Worrall, O. H. Brewster, E. M. Graham, J. W. McDonald, xV. H. Leonard, C. J. C. Puckett, James G.White, J. F. Kelly, enjoin- ing and restraining them, and each of them, from participating, in any nmnner, in the organization of the senate to be convened on the ninth day of December, A. D. 1672, or at any time thereafter, or from doing any act or thing tjoward, in, or about the or- ganization of said senate, either by casting a vote or otherwise, unless his name shall be and ajipear on the list of names of members of said senate, transmitted to the CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 101 secretary of the same by Georj:;e E. Bovee, secretarj' of state, as having been eh^cted thereto. And that a writ of injunction also issue to the said J. J. Mellon and James Timony, J. A. Shakespeare, J. A. Rice, J. J. Fiuuev, E. H. MeCaleb, Charles Moutaldo, W. B. Barrett, W. L. Stanford, T. B. Blanchard,' jr., F. C. Zacharit^ F. Fnsiliier, V. O. King, ' A. Garidel. L. S. Rodriguez, John Barrow, John Delaney, William Stevens, W. C. Kin- sella, C. Kummell, J. B. Eustis, J. MeConiiell, A. J. Dnniont, E. L. Bowers, E. Riviere, P. Landiv, V. N. Lewis, E. B. Cox, Nunia Vives, T. J. Edwards, W. K. .Johnson, T. L. Mills, T. ■Byitum, J. S. Ganlere, J. L. Lobdell, \V. S. Cocivernani, W. H. Seanlan, h. P. Sandidge. ,J. ('. Moncure, George L. Smith, J. Sella Martin, W. IF. Kirkuian, Tliomas J. Humble, P.iul .Jones, George C. Bonliam, Cain Sartain, AUen J. Davis, W. F. Moreland, Tliomas Price, David Vonng, George Washington, ,J. P. Ehim, A. F. Stei)lieusiin, .John Gair, James Laws, Ja-mes W. Armstead, F. W. Norris, .1. II. Haduot, h. A. Snaei-, .J. K. Cavanaugli. K. A. Hubin, William Kern, C. W. Lowell, J. T. Tialian, John S. Billim, O. Haran'g, T. G. Davidson, James R. McDowell, C. C. Davenport, E. L. Pierson, W. A. Ponder, W. F. Southard, I). Hill, H. Mahonev, J. P. Harris, L. B. Claiborne, L. Texada, John J. Swan, J. G. P. Hooe, E. W. Dewees, H. F. Vickers, J. F. Smith, R. V. Ducros, M. Halm, D. K. Gorman, Henry Demas, Benjamin R. (lantt, J. F. Little, E. D. Estilette, L. D. Prescott, V. J^ochon, L. A. Martinet, James Costello, M. J. Foster, J. G. Tate, J. R. Stewart, J. S. Jilatthews, J. J. Booles, P. Fontelieu, J. R. Smart. A. C. Bickham, J. P. Schultz, William A. Strong, enjoining a,Hd restraining them, and each of theiii, from partici[)ating in any manner in the organization of the house of repre- sentatives, to be convened on the i)tli day of December, A. D. 1872, or at any time thereafter, or from doing any act or thing toward, in, or about the organization of the same, either by easting a vote or otherwise, unless his name shall be and appear on the list of names of members of said house, transmitted to the clerk of the same by George E. Bovee, secretary of state, as having been elected to the same. And that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to Charles H Mt^rritt, secre- tary of the senate of the last general asse.mbly, (Mijoining and restraining him from placing, causing, or sutfering to be placed upon the roll of the senate, to l)rt convened on the ninth of December, A. D. 1S72, or at any time thereafter, or from placing, causing, or suffering to be v»laced upon any list of members elect to said last-mentioned senate, or from announcing, causing, or suftering to be announced, as a member elected to . said last-mentioned seu.ate, or from recognizing, or causing, or suffering to be recog- nized, as a member elected to said last-mentioned senate, or from in any manner designating, or causing, or suftering to be designated as a member to said last-men- tioned senate, ])rior or during the organization thereof, any i)ersou whose name shall not be transmitted to him by George E. Bovee, the secretary of state, upon a list of the names of such persons as have been elected to the said last-mentioned senate, and from in any manner acting upon any other list except the one so transmitted by the said George E. Jjovee, in the organization of the last-mentioned senate, and to dis- regard in said organization all other lists. And that a writ, of injunction may also issue, directed to William Vigers, clerk of the hoHse of representatives of the last general assenddy, enjoining and restraining him from placing, causing, or suffering to be placed upon the roll of the house of repre- seutatives, to be convened on the ninth of Deceml)er, A. D. 1H72, or at any time there- after, or from placing, causing, or sntfering to be placed upon any list of members electetl to said last-mentioned house, or from aniu)uncing, causing, or suffering to be announceil, as a meud)er elected to said last-mentioned house of rejiresentatives, or from recognizing, causing, or suftering to bo recognized as a mendier elected to said last-mentioned house of representatives, or from in any nmnner designating or causing or suftering to be designated as a member to the said last-mentioned house, ])rior or during the organization thereof, any person Avhose name shall not be traiisnntted to liim Jjy George E. Bovee, the secretary of state, ui)ou a list of the names of such jxr- sons as have l)een elected to the said last-mentioned house of representatives, and from ill any manner acting upon any other list excejit the one so transmitted by the said George E. Bovee, in the organization of the last-mentioned house of representa- tives, and to disregard in said organization all other lists. And that a writ of injunction also issue, directed to said George E. Bovee, enjoining and restraining him from receiving any return or returns of the election of any State officers or of the members of either branch of the general assembly of the State of Louisiana, excejjting su(di returns as may be received by or tiled in the office of iiim as secretary of state from the board of returning-ofticeis, and a majority of the same, composed of Henry C. Warmoth, James Lougstreet, and Jacoli Hawkins, and John Ijyn(di and himself, and from delivering, causing, or suftering to be delivered to any S])eaker of th(! house of representatives any return except received and hied as above stated of any (dection whatever, or from making, or causing, or suftering to he made any list of names of the members elected to either branch of the general assembly, except from and according to returns so receivt'd or tiled, as above stated. That a writ of injunction also issue, directed to the sayl Jack Wharton and Samuel 102 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Armstead, aiul each of t.liem,en.joiniiifj and restraining them, and each of them, from re- ceiving any returns of the elecrions held in the State of Louisiana, on the lirst jMondny oi' N()V(;niher h\st past, for members of the general assemlily, or from tninsuiitting to William A'igers, tlie clerk of the house of representatives, or to Charles II. Merritt, the secretary of the senate of the last general asficmbly, or to any other person, any list of names Avhich is, or ])ur})orts to be, a list of names of such ))ersons, as on the name of ^ any i)erson who, according to any returns, shall have been or shall bn, or ))r(!tended to be derived therefrom, iu any way relat- ing or pertaining to said election, Iield on the fourth day of November, 187'2, or certi- fying to any candidate for office- at said election any certificate of eh'ction, or any statement of the result of said election tending to show any right to ofhce in any jier- son growing out of ballots cast at said election, and from meddling with, altering, sup[)ressiug, falsifying, obliterating, or destroying any document, pai)er, voucher, proof, statement of votes, or certificate relating to said election. New Ouleans, December 7, 1872. To Attorney-General Williams : Tlie returning-board ))rovided by the election law of 1870, under which the election was held and which the United States court sustains, jiromulgated in the ofilicial jour- ,nal this morning the oihcial result of the election for the legislature. The house 'stands 77 republicans and 32 demf)orats ; the senate 28 republicans and 8 democrats. The board counted the ballots attached to the affidavits of colored persons wrongfully prevented from voting, which were tiled with the chief sujiervisors. S. 13. PACKARD, United States Marshal. AN ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED ST^\TES, FROM THE RKPUBLICANS OF LOUISIANA, IN REPLY TO THE ADDRESS OF THE CAMPBELL COMMIITEE. There liavino- been a studious (lesion to niisrepre.seut events in Louis- iana during the last two niontlis, through those connec-ted with the l)ress, and also by an address i)uri)orting' to issue from a coinniittee of citizens, by niisstatinti' some facts and eoncealin.i;' others, we feel it our duty, alike to the reiiublican party here and to the public, to make the followin*.;' candid statement of the history of tlie recent election in this State, and of the proceedini;s in the courts (tonnected therewith. Those who aie at a distance from us can scarcely conceive the extent of this misrepresentation. It is, to a large extent, prompted by the whole army of candidates for ollice on the fusit)n ticket, and is aided and abetted by all the talent which sympatliy with that cause and the lavish exp«'nditiire of money, in the shape of fees and in other ways, can i»rocure. This misrei)resentiition has attiicked vindi(;tively the re- ])id)lican candidates foroilice, while the matter r(\ste been charged with the especial duty of diafranchising as many republi- ■ cans as possible. ]Sfo publi(; notice was in many parishes given, as the law requires, as to the i)oints at which either registration or jjolls would be opened, anretext that they should vote in their own ward, wherein no polls having been establislied they asked to exercise their rights at the nearest accessible box; the facility with which whites weie enabled to register aiul vote and obstacles were imposed to defraud the blacks; the studied absence of all official notice of [)oints to register and vote, and the clan- destine knowledge of the democrats of such i)oints, ai)parent in every instance; the removal of polls to secret points even after tardy notice of their location elsewhere, such as log-cabins and fodder houses in thickets, and the employment of every sort of devious subterfuge and oral threat, disclose ;i gigantic conspiracy to apologize for which is to be acctessory thereto. A few of numerous evidences in supi)ort of these cliarges are sub- mitted for greater convenience in the apijcndix hereto annexed, (Docu- ment A.) Certified copies of the affidavits upon which this synopsis is based are likewise presented, (Document B.) An amph; view of the case is given in a careful compilation, made at the instaiu'(^ of the State centriil committee, of affidavits of United States su))ervisors and ag- grieved citizens of the i)arishes of Caddo, Kapides, Natchitoches, East Baton llouge. Saint Mary, Bossier, Plaipu'inines, Point Coup<''e, Madi- son, Crant, Jefferson, Jackson, Saint Landry, Jjivingston, Lafourclu*, AVel)ster, Terrebonne, Catalioida, Winn, West Baton Bouge, ITnion. Claiborne, Saint Helena, Saint Tammany, Saint INIartin, Ibeiia, Saint James, and Orleans, lodgiMl in the circuit court, (Do(;uin. who had elevated him to ])ower, and of the willinuness of the fnsionists to avail themselves of his pliability, and ill si)ite of his retaining unap[)roved until after the election a law -whieli would have taken from him a ])ortion of his great power to create and i'a 1 si ty retains, it was evident alike to democrats and republicans that the republican party had swept the JState, and carried into ofdce every candidate on their general ticket. In order that the contemi)lated tiauds might not be detected, written instructions were issued to each of the State sujiervisors, (all appointed by Warmotli from the fusion raidis,) to exclude from the count and canvass of the votes, at each of the polling-places, the Federal super- visors api)ointed by the court under the act of Congress, and to permit them only to take part in the count and canvass of the votes relating to representatives in Congress and presidential electors, leaving to the State commissioners of election to canvass ami determine, after the canvass for Federal ofiicers had been completed, the result of the elec- tion for State officers, without any check or supervision on the part of the United States supervisors. But the supervisors appointed by the United States court refused to be excluded; the evidence of the republicasi triumph was clear and permanent, and the whole scheme of contem[)lated fraud was threatened with defeat, unless a board of can- vassers could be made who, in the exercise of the discretion given them by the State law, wonld reject enough republican votes to give the State to the fnsionists. The eftbrt, then, on the i>art of Warmoth, was to construct a board so as to carr^' out his scheme of fraud ; the eftbi't of the repuldicans was to secure the fair result of their known victory. The board of canvassers, or returning-board, as created by the State law under whi(th the election was held, consisted of live per- sons — the governor, the lieutenautgovernor, the secretary of state, John Lynch, and T. C. Anderson. Tlu^ iieutenant-goyernor and T. C. Anderson being candidates, were disqualilied under the statute, and therefore there were two vacancies to be filled. It Mas the purpose of the republicans to have these vacancies tilled by men whom no induce- ment could swerve a hair's breadth from the honest discharge of their duty. Therefore General Longstreet, whose invincible probity is known throughout the land, and JMr. Hawkins, of equally unblemished personal character, though less widely known beyond the State, were selected. To [)revent the board from being thus constituted, Warmoth was driven to the vain attempt to displace the acting secretary of state, General F. J. ITerron, who held his office by virtue of a judgment of the courts of the State, and to attempt to substitute Jack Wharton in his stead. .But as he had been defeated in his elfoits to exclude the Federal sui)ervisors, so he failed in his attem[)t to constitute in accord- ance with his wishes the board of returning officers; and the board, when the vacancies were tilled, consisted of the governor. General Long- street, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Lynch, and the de facto secretary of state, General Herron. The governor, in conjunction with Jack Wharton, his pseud o secretary of state, attempted to constitute an imlependent board, and went through the form of electing Durant DaPonte and F. J. Hatch. Having posses- sion of one of the three existing copies of the returns of election, War- 106 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. moth refused to act with the retnrning-board as created under the statute, and, i.<>iioriuted. We submit, therefore, that the statute ex ri termini clothes the circuit court with jurisdiction. No resort to the Federal courts was had until the con tempt and disregard of the (uxlers of the State courts had denu)nstrated the inability ot the State judiciary to arrest wrong and fraud. The acts of Cougress of 1870 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 107 and 1871 for the enforcement of the amendments to the Constitution, iin- l)()se upon all State officers charsied with any official duties connected with any elec^tion a strict and honest observance in dischar«;e of such duties. Mr. Kello^'i^', by his bill in equity, simply asked of the ch'cuit court of the United States its orders and writs to i)revent the consummation of a fraudulent plan intended iu)t only to defeat his right to the govenorshij), but through the instrumentality and malfeasance of officers connected Avith the election, combined with persons pretending to act as officers without authority, to so mutilate, falsify, and destroy the evidence of the election at which he was a candidate as to imi)air, it not entirely deprive him of all means of establishing his title to the oftice to wliich he had been elected by any judicial i)roceeding at law originated after they had accomplished tlieir j)urpose. The lawful returning-board is by statute ot the State invested with quasi judicial i>ower, and <;oully may jtrovide by law for the case of removal, impeachment, death, resigna- tion, dsability, or refusal to qualify, of both the governor and the lieuteuaut-gov- ernor, declaring what officer shall act as governor ; and such otlicer shall act accord- ingly until the disability be removed or for the remainder of the term. Section 1560 of the act of 1865 says : In case of A-acancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant-governor shall be gov- ernor; in case of vacancy in the office of lieutenant-governor, the senate shall elect a president, who shall be Heatcnaiit-^OL-cnior. On the death of Lieutenant-Governor Dunn, Mr. Pinchback was elected presidentof the senate, and thereby became lieutenant-governor under the constitution and the law. He became such by designation, and remains lieutenant-governor until his successor is duly installed, in- dependent of his term of office as State senator. The impeachment of Governor Warmoth under the constitution of the State devolved the duties of his oifice upon the lieutenant-governor, and the duration of his term as acting governor so long as the imi)eachment continues is independent altogether of the question when his term as State senator ceases. Another indication of the intended truth, candor, and fairness of the address of Judge Oami)bell and others is also to be gathered from their statement relative to the present State government, that, "^(.s originally organizcfJ, it {the legislature) comprised sixtij-eight j^ersons of color, most of them uneducated, with a snuill minoi'ity of whites.'' There can be no honest explanation for so gross a misstatement con- cerning a legislative body holding open public session in the city of New Orleans days before that committee left for Washington. The CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 109 trntli is, that in tlie bonso of representatives, composed of one hundred and seven members, there are bat forty-six persons of color, miiny of whom it is difficult to distinguish from white persons by their ni)pear- ance, and most of whom are well educated. In the senate, composed of thirty-six members, but ten have colored blood in their veins. Considering' the admitted fact that there is a majority of colored electors in the State, a complaint from them that they have not an equal share of representation would have in it much more truth and Justice thau the statement the "Cami>bell committee" have asked the public to believe. It is also alleged in the same address " that the credit of the State has been given to speculating' corporations for i)ersoual aims," \\e ask that committee to name a single ])erson who is a reci])ientor beneficiary of any such legislation or corporation so created, who is not an active member of the fusion party now arrayed against the republican party, and contributing' funds to aid in giving circulation to slander and mis- rejiresentation directed against the jjresent State government. We doubt whether any litigation has ever been conducted with more de(;oruui and a more careful regard for the rights of all i»arties than the suits in the United Slates circuit court, to which reference has been made. That a most gigantic system of frauds has been inteiruiited, and the political com])lexion of the State chauged by the action of the State courtsin theiirstinstance, which chaugehas been sustained by the Federal courts, is true, but we believe that the legal mind of the country, when the facts of the case are properly understood, will nnaniiuously be of the opiniou that this change has been eiiected in accordance with a strict observance of the provisions of law, aud that, unless these great frauds had been thwarted, the whole object of the enforcenuait act would have been defeated so far as one State is concerned. It would be idle for the Constitution and the laws of Congress to clothe the colored race with the right of sulfrage, and guarantee it to them, unless, at the same time, they should make it the duty of the United States courts to enforce these provisions. Unless the court had the i)ower which it assumed here, the whole acts of Congress, so far as they seek to protect all per- sons in their right to vote, are nugatory. The board of canvas>ers consisted of General Longstreet and ]\lessrs. Hawkins, Lynch, and Bovee, the latter adjudged secretary of state by the supreme court since the commencement of the suit. We hazard nothing in stating that this board of canvassers, in personal integrity, in caution, and a most ])ainstaking regard for the rights of all, are beyond reproach. The allegation nuule in the address of Judge Camp- bell that they were possessed of no returns, is utterly mistaken. War- moth having' refused to obey the law of the State^ and the injunction of the State court, by placing' the set of returns in his possession in the hands of the returning-oflicers, the board of returning-officers availed themselves of the next best evideiu*e, taking the duplicate returns which were in their own hands, actin.g in this respect in full accord with a decision of the supreme court of the State. The fairness with which this board has acted is abundantly shown by the indiscriminate political character of the men whom they have returned as elected to the various offices. We will take, for example, the i>arish of Orleans. Of upward of sixty officers, more than two- thirds, and those by far the nu)st important, including- the mayor, six out of the seven city administrators, the two sheitt's, and six out of the eight district judg'es, are fusionists, and in the, only exceptions named where re[»ublicans have been returned, the fusion vote was divided. 110 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. The g'eneral fact is, that notwithstanding" a strong determination on the part of the reactionists, in combination with Governor Warmoth, to re,i:ain power in this State, they have been defeated at tlie i)olls, and snbse(|nently in the canvass, and the republican government has been installed. The question is no longer an open one, so far as the courts are concerned. The supreme court of the State has recognized the government; the district, parish, and justices' courts throughout the State have organized uncier it. The clerks of the courts and the sheritfs are acting under it. The mayor and city administrators have recognized it, and asked and received their commissions from it. Not only are the advocates of impartial suffrage committed to a goveruuient thus established, but every citizen who desires the linan- cial prosperity of the State must see the folly of keeping alive an opposition which, the more the subject is investigated, will be found to be the more groundless. The rhetoric of committees will weigh but little against the stubborn facts. The government now in operation in Louisiana is the government which restdted from a vote of the people under circumstances where every oj)portunity to defraud was open to our political oi)ponents. It has been established in accordance with the wishes and votes of a great majority of the citizens of this common- wealth. It has been established by a course of procedure in the State courts which should have been conclusive, and would have been conclu- sive to any person not having the reckless disregard of law which has habitually characterized Governor Warmoth. So far as the aid of the United States ciniuit court has been rendered by its conservatory pro- cesses, it has acted in entire conformity to the spirit and letter of the statutes. It undoubtedly provokes the hostility of the former masters of former slaves, that a government should exist in their midst which rests very largely upon the votes of these former slaves, but these former slaves are now citizens, and, as citizens, under the laws and cou- vStitution of the United States as well as of the State of Louisiana, they have voted, and this government is the result of their votes. The hostility to it is the hostility to the suffrage of the colored man, and nothing but a i)ractical disfraucbisement of the colored man will satisfy this hostility. We respectfully submit that the State government is now in exist- ence, made by a board of canvassers whose legal right to canvass the vote of the State is vindicated by the judgment of both State and Fed- eral courts, v>ithout which vindication it had undoubted and unques- tionable authority. That the canvass has been fairly made ; that the courts are ojien to all persons who believe themselves to be injured ; that the legislature, duly elected, has been in session during several weeks, nothing to interrupt or interfere with the quiet and peace of the State but the intrigues of designing men, who can only claim to cause disturbance and disquiet in the interest of disappointed and defeated candidates, in whose interest they seem willing to indulge in unlimited misrei)resentalions, and provoke revolution, riot, and disorder. With as much propriety could the camlidates of theliberal party at the late election in Massachusetts ask Congress or the Executive to overthrow the pres- ent government of that State. In fact, take away the opposition to negro suffrage in this State and the real basis and motive for oi)posi- tiou to the lawful government of Louisiana would cease. We sul»mit with all confidence, therefore, to the peojde of the United States that the action of the republican party of the State of Louisiana in the selection of their candidates, in the mode of conducting their I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Ill onmass, and tlie action of the conits in tho \vay in Avhitli the results of tlie election have been taiily leaehed, challenge, aiul in the end will recf'ive, the commendation of all i;ood men. JOHN EAY, On behalf of ihe Eepiihlican State Central Executive Committee of Louisiana. M. F. BO^'ZAjSO, Chairman PresidQntiai Electors of Louisiana. G. casanavp:, Memher of the J^sational BcpuhJican Committee^ and in behalf of colored voters of Louisiana. ^Nfav Orleans, January G, 1873. APPENDIX. Document A, EAST BATON ROUGE. Gilbert M. Husted, United States supervisor tifth preeinct, deposes tliat wlieii tlie Port Hudson i)olls closed he and tlie comniissioner, McKittriek, started in a 1>n;iiiy with the box for the conrt-honse at Baton Rouge. About eight miles from Port Hudson they were stoiiped by a ])arty of ten men, who shot across the road ahead of them, and called ibr McKit-tVick, who alighted, leaving tl)e box nndistuibcd under the scat, and Avas away about live minutes. Hurst, tiie liberal candidate Ibr sheriff, was one of tlie party of ten. On returning, McKittriek took the box, remarking he wonld stay there all night. Ilusted, replying it was his duty, as United States supervisor, to remain Avith the box, tried to follow McKittriek, when the party of men stepped between and debarred him. Fifteen minutes later McKittriek returned Avith the box, stating he had changed his mind and w(Uild go on. He went on Avitli Husted, followed by three or four men till within a mile and a half of Baton Rouge, Avlieii thi'y turned around and went back. Husted and McKittriek reached town about V-l.'M) at night. The box was so sealed that it could be ojiened Avith evidence of tampering. Husted kept a tally at the polls of the votes, to Avit: JJi) liberals and 166 rei)ublicans ; the count returned 34 liberal majority. He marked his OAAn ballot so as to identify it, but it did not come out of the box at the counting. O. H. Foreman, United States supervisor Ward 7, poll 1, of same parish, say.s tAA-» boxes were opened, one for those Aoting under Brady's registration, and tlie f)tlier fon Aoters under the 1870 registration and under enforcement-act afti davits with ballots Avere rejected, allhongh demands for registration had been made.} The registrar closed one day at 3 p. m., Avhile forty or tifty men Avere waiting for cer-| titicates. The box was so sealed tliat it could be opened — key-lnde not co\ered. Tln^ commissioners droA'e oft' so fast Avith it to Baton Rouge tliat Foreman could not keep np with them ; has not seen the box since. Oiit^ hundred and eighty-six A'otes were cast in one box, of Avhich (i.^ were republican, and Ul in the other, but the count jjaA-e but '2i> republican votes. HoAvlson, commissioner, and Dr. Gardiner bad each a r
eiied at Beulah Cliureh, but he tinally found the box at 1"2 ni., iu a fodder-house in tlie middle of a lield, three miles IVoni nculah Church. Democrats ••athered about IJeuiah ("Inuch all day and iufoiiiied their frieiul.'s in whis- '■pers as they arrived, to take a certain road Redmond iinally followed with one huii- elieve3 the M<)oiingsiH>it box was stulfed ; two bundled swore tliey voted the republican ticket, yet eighteen republican tickets were couuteo|)le(tn liim; )i<; lield liisgroniid until Hecox ordered iiim away abusively. A United .States soldier who had been called for in the morning, came up at the instance of Dejiuty Marshal Davis, and stood near. Quiet returned. At the close of the election Lc (jirdy asked Hecox to let him see the box sealed, and was refused, even after Mar- shal Davis joined in the deuiantl for him ; he a\ as not permitted to stay with the box, and as tins scpiad of soldiers had then left, he, not daring to stay there, followed them. Haifa mile on a crowd of men rode l>y and around them, cursing and threatening vio- lence, and "to run them otf that night." Tliis crowd wonhl get iuto the bush and ride ahead, and then wait and get behinolilical party, and this is the only instance within my rec(dlection in which the votes polled at an election were counted in a private room with doors locked. I also feel it my duty to say that all the comiilaints of partiality and unfairness in conducting the registration of voters are made l)y persons adhering to the republican party, and that these complaints, from my own observation (nnd knowledge, are well foniuied, and that tiiere is abundant evidence accessible to substantiate these allegations. The aggregate rei)nblicau vote of this i)arisli. will, in my opinion, fall short fully one-third by tin) return of tlie numbers they could have p()lled and the eagerness with which those who liad failed in obtaining their registra- tion papers pressed their rights to vote without them ou the day of election, indicated clearly to me that it was not their fault that the provisions of the law of Louisiana hail not been complied with relative to registration of voters. I'ersonally, I belong to that iiolitical party who are termed "last-ditch democrats." I have never voted any other ticket than the straight-out olitical rights as defineil by law, and that it is the duty of every good citizen to oppose and denounce any attemi)t to deprive the people of the right of suffrage given them by law, by wicked and unscrupulous partisans CONDITIOA' OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 115 • wlio would prostitute aud pollute tbc ballot-box to accomplish thoir selfish aud corrupt pur])Oses. Very I'espectfallv, your obedient servant, n. A. HUNTER, Suj)ervi!ior of Elections for the Parish oj liaindes. V. A. WOOLFLKY, ^ United Slates Chief Supervisor of Elections for the District of Louisiana. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 7tl) day of November, 1872. CHARLES OWEN, Deputy Clerk, 2\'inth Judicial District Court. DisTKici OF Louisiana, ss : I certify the foregoing to be a iriu- and correct copy of the report of R. A. Hunter, sujiervisor of election, parish of Rapides, Louisiana, iVom the original thereof. New Orleans, January 6, 187;i [SEAL.] F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Cvmmissioner, Cbi(f Supervisor of Elections, District of Louisiana. CADDO PARISH. William H. McKenna, of the parish of Caddo, Louisiana, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I was a United States supervisor on the day of election, November 4, 1^72, in Caddo Parish. I was at poll No. 8 ; the box was opened about half past 7 o'clock iii^ the morning, an hour and a half after the time when it should have been opened by^ law * ^ » The points at which the polls were to be opened were not published until Sunday morning the day before the election in the Shreveport Southwestern. I suppose the object of this was to coufnse the lepnblicans so that they would not know where to go in order to Aote. There seemed to be a general impression that the demo- - crats knew where the polls would be held, and they seenuid to be sanguine'that the election returns would be in their favor or interest. WM. McKENNA. DiSTRicr OF Louisiana, ss: I certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the deposition of Wm. McKenna, taken before me in the matter of ''Reports of United States supervisors of election, parish of Caddo, Louisiana." New Orleans, Jauuarv 6, 1873. [SEAi,] ' F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner, Chief Supervisor of Elections, District of Louisiana. NATCHITOCHES PARISH. W. H. Redmond, of the parish of Natchitoches, being duly sworn, deposes and says : I was a United States supervisor on the day of election, November 4, 1»72, in Natchi- toches Parish. The ballot-box Avas to be Bnlah Church, Filth ward, which had here- tofore been the regular polling-place, but I found it in a fodder-house in the middle of a field, half tilled with fodder, over which the voters had to pass. ******* It was 12 o'clock in the day when I found the box in the fiehl. We stoi)ped at Bnlah Church, thinking the box would be there, ami found thirtj^ or forty white men stand- ing about there, but none of them seemed to know where the box was. They crowded up together and whispered to eacli other that they would all take a certain road, and were goui- as if they were going home. The road they took led to where the box was. There is no name for that road. The box was about three miles from Bnlah Church. They had been going off from early morning, and we followed them when they left in a body at 12 o'clock — myself and the other United States supervisor, Edward Er/.ernac — and when wc arrived, there were about onehniulred and twelve colored and white men, all mixed up together, following on behind us. The greater nnmber of these men were < (ilored. When we arrived there we stopped at the gate, and, as I saw no road leading in, I thought I would go through. After arriving in the lield, I saw two or three little log-cabins with a good many men gathered around them, so I concluded that the box was there. I went into one of these log-cal)ins and found the box. ***** jfo uoticehad been given that this place would be the ])lace where the ()oll would bo opened. The State supervisor of election had told Henry Raymond, a United States supervisor of election, and M. P. Blackstone, John J. Lewis, and myself, all Unit(Ml States super- visors, that there would be five boxes in the parish, and that one would bo at Bnlah Church, in the Fifth ward. There were six colored men refnsed the right to vote after having been duly registered. They exhibited their registration papers, and demanded 116 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. • the right to vote, but the commissionei's of election saiil that their names conld not be found npon the books. * » * ^ » » * There was considerable crowd- ihjx about the polls to deter the colored men from votiuj^. / The white men came in at one door and the colored men at another. Two or three j white men were admitted to vote for one colored man : otherwise the election went oft' j properly dnring the day. The great trouble was in the numbers of the registration papers being ditferent on Vthe papei-s from those on the poll-list, ami a great many were debarred from voting on that acconnt. The coloretl men as soon as they voted went oft", and when the poll closed there being only twehe m- thirtt-en colored men present, and the poll being near the woods, I did not ileein it safe to remain with the box. * * » / I was not permitted to examine the count of my own box or any bther box, and ; therefore cannot vouch for the correctness of the count. One hundred and tweUe men t'l went up to the box with us, and out of these one huuJred and twelve republicans I \j know there must have been ojie hundred that voted the republican ticket — both white I and black — yet when the votes were counted only tifty-seven republican votes were \ retnrned. As United States superyisor, I know that re])ubUcan votes should have been ■ not less than one hundred and Hfty or one hundred and sixty returned. Great dissat- isfact'ou prevails among the colored people who voted at this poll. Some of theia came tweuty-hve miles to cast their ballots and were unable to do so. I myself had to come t\yenty-tiye miles. W. H. REDMOND. District of Lovisiaxa, its: I certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the deposition of W. H. Red- mond, taken before me, in the matter of " Reports of I'uited States supervisors of election, parish of Natehitoches, Louisiana." Ne\y Orlean.s, January G, lf5T:i. [SEAL.] ' F. A. WOOLFLEY, United State>> Commissioiier, Chief Supervisor of Elections, Diistrirt of Louixiniia. NATCHITOCHES PARISH. John G. Lewis, of the parish of Natchitoches, being duly sworn, deposes and says : I was a United States supervisor on the day of election, Novemlier 4, 1872. I was appointed on the tiikl of October and qualified on the tirst day of November. I pro- ceeded at once to my official duty in the town of Natchitoches, where the registration of voters was then proceeding. When the registration first opened, the State regis- trar, E. L. Pierson, seemed to be cramped : that is, he did not seem as if he conld dis- charge the duties of his office. I went and oftered my assistance to him in assisting to register the voters, in order that he might haye them all registered, but he replied that he was not allowed to haye any assistant but one, as the law required, and that he had his orders from the goyernor. That same day men came and informed me that they were slighted in the registrars office, for the reason that they were Kellogg men, and they were so charged by the supervisor himself, E. L. Pierson. They then applied to me, as I was teaching school at the time, and wished me or Mr. Blunt, State senator, to see if we could get them through. Mr. Blunt went, upon their applicatiou, and I followed at 1*2 o'clock, and again ottered my services to the registrar, which was again refused, for the same reasons. I suppose there were one hundred men came to me at ditfereut periods and asked me to try and get them registered. He remained at that point of the parish for two weeks. After leaving there he went to a place known as Cloutieryille. I went down shortly after, while he was there. He left on Monday and we started on Thursday, four days later. We came there on a political campaign. He then commenced hauling and pulling the coloreiL men, for the reason that they held up and demanded their registration papers. They advocated their claims and the necessity of their being registered. After registering all the white men there he .said that he was out of blanks. Before he was out of blanks he was registering in Mr. Charleyille's store, and on account of his rascality Mr. Charleyille told him that he could not register in his store any more : that he must register somewhere else. He had been secreting the registration blanks in the store. Mr. Ch irleville's words were these: ''That he would not allow any such d d rascality in his st»)re." He then went from Cloutieryille to ilr. Challas's. about eighteen miles distant. I feals were made to me to assist them in getting registered. I remonstrated with the State registrar, and his answer was that he would register every person, bnt he failed to do it. He was not ]uomi>t in keeping his office open during the regular official hours. On the day of election 1 was at Blacklake, Ward No. 2, and remained there the better portion of the day. The election was peaceable. There were attempts made to depriye the CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 117 colored voters of their ri0. Stei)hen, Moses. 13t. Tayloi-, Rafrra. 132. Thomas, Boston. 133. Tliomas. Alex. 134. Trichel, Alex. 135. Taylor, Farmer. 136. Taylor, Adol])he. 137. Taylor, Andrew. 138. Taylor, Armstead 139. Thomas, Ed. 140. Taylor, Jake. 141. Thomas, Ike. 142. Turner, Samuel. 143. Thonuis, Peter. 144. Lebnon, Tousant. 145. Lebnon, Evariste. 146. Thonu\s, Afr. 147. Thomas, John. 148. Toddletou, Albert. 149. Taylor, Carey. 150. A^iuceut, Richard. 151. Weber, Henry. 1.52. William, Dan. 153. Watson, William. 1.54. Wilson, George. 155. Wooten, Louis. 1.56. Weber, William. 157. Warmsley, John. 158. Watson, .John. 159. Woods, Alt. 160. Warmsley, Jesse. 1()1. M'illianis, Harry. 162. Williams, Samuel. 163. Williams, Richard. 164. Wilson, Rnssel. 165. Wilson, William. 16(). Wilson, John. 167. Washington, .Jno. 168. Wash, John. 169. Williams, E. 170. Weber, Saml. 171. (Jorncie, Henry. 172. Prostille, Lonis. 173. William Rudd. 174. James Holland. 175. Wilson Danderfield. 176. Louis A. Brown, (re- fused.) 177. Wm. Lawton. 178. Frank Butler. 179. Jacob Turner. 180. Henry Harrison. 181. Wm.Woodfork. 182. Edward Greene. 183. Harry Owens. 154. Louis, Joseph. 185. Jas. Alfred. 186. Peter Conde. 187. Isaac Alforde. 188. Hector Smith. named were noted down by me after my expulsion Ward No. 2, and that more than one-half of the above 118 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. "were refused the ])rivilpge of voting because tbey lived in another ward otlier than the one at which the box was phiced. JNO. G. LEWIS, United States Sujurcisor of Election. The voters formed in line in front of the polls on the day of election. There was a preference shown to white men as they came up to vote. A preference was shown to political friends for the reason that ti)e white men out of the Fourth ward were per- mitted to vote in this ward, No. 2, whereas the colored men who belonged to the same ward were not allowed to- vote at the same ward, No. 2. The State registrar said that he would have live boxes in the j a:ish and that he had intended to have twelve, but that since the republican party had united he was going to put the boxes where he /"pleased. A great many colored men were disabled troui voting in consequence of the / distance they had to travel and the state of the weather. "This small number of boxes for the voters of the parish, I have a rijiht to believe, was for the purpose of keeping j the colored men from voting with facility. It was almost the general rule that the / imniber on the registration paper did not correspond with the number set against the ' name on the poll-book or list, and in consequence a great many votes were rejected. I suppose the better half of tliese one huudre; still under tln^ seat ; he came back and I jumiied ont of tlie wajjjon and asked him wliat was the matter ; says he, " I am j>'oin road and I attempted to follow him, w'len these parties stepped in between us. " * * * I suiipose it was about lifteeu minutes before McKittrick came buck with the box ; stated be had ciianoed his mind, and that it was his intention to go (o towu, at the same time placinEI> THAUOS — PkOVEJ> HV THE SWOHN EVIDENCE AND CONlIKMEl) BY FIGTIRES THAT DO NOT LIE. — 31,86;> COLORED VOTES SUTPRESSED. — THE AFFIDAVITS OVERUATTLED AND THE WITNESSES BROUGHT OUT. Jll sorts of frauds— f ranch in the counting — haUot-boxcs hidden— fraudulent rcr/istraiion — republicans refused registration — republicans denied a rote — ballot-boxes stuffed by tiholc- lale — United IStates superrisor intimidated, shot and drircn from the ballot-boxes — spurious tickets — outrageous intimidation — tridiS of ere) y conceirable kind — McEnery sent up in a balloon — a fair statement. '(^'onipilcd for tlir Tlcpiibliciiii from statiistics, returns, ami affiilavits, \>y John E. Loot.] VnV.X lOUS ELECTIONS. The State election in 18()8, and the State election in 1870, are the only eriterious of Avhich we can fairly avail ourselves in any attempt to ascertain the approsimat(^ strength of the two parties. The late Horace Greeley proved to the satisfaction of the country that the presidential election in the fall of 1868 was a farce in Louisiana ; that- :ti was bathed in blood, and was more like .a battle than a peaceful choice of rulers. ELECTION IX 1868. No]>ody ever denied tliat the election in the spring of 1868, under military auspices, was fair and impartial, so far as it exteiided. The regular republican candidate for governor then receiv^ed 64,901 votes, ahnost all colored. His oi)ponent, also a republi- can, was supported by the bulk of the white republicans, by the democrats, and by a large number of colored republicans, but only polled 38,046 votes. Regular republican majority, '26,855. Many colored men in some parishes, and many white men in others, did !iot vote at this election. Total vote, 102,947. ELECITON IN 1870. Warmotli. who conducted this election, says it was fair. Total vote, 106,817. Du- bnclet. republican candidate for treasurer, received 65,647. lUair, democrat, received 41.170. Dubuclet's majority, 24.477. It has been charged, but never proved, that frauds weic perpetrated in some of tin- parishes at (his election, not upon democrats, but upon one class of republicans by another class, in the contests for seats in the legislature. It has also been charged, but never proved, that in New Orleans frauds were perpe- trated n})on the democrats. It has been charged and proved, on the other baud, that in at least a dozen parishes thousands of colored men were intimidated from voting. The colored population of Caddo, IJossier and Saint Landry is, according to the United States census, 36,663. Es- timating one in every live as a voter, there were in these three parishes 7,332 colored voters, l)nt the returns show that only 2,3.52 of them voted. The fact that over five hundred colored men were raui^ered iu these three parishes only two years previously for trying to vote, explains why almost 5*000 of them desisted from voting in 1870. This number of intimidated voters is sufficient of itself, without going any further, to counterbalance any possible frauds committed in favor of the republicans in New Orleans. We are thus warranted in the inference that Dubuclet's majority of 24,477 is not more, but really much less, than the actual republican majority iu the State would have been with a full, free, and fair election. THE WORK TO I5E DONE. The democrats at the late election set out to overcome an established republicau majority in round numbers of 25,000, consisting mainly of colored men, not 100 of whom could be induced, by fair means, either to remain away from the polls or vote the democratic ticket. No attempt was made to convert the colored voter. The whole democratic campaign was (lenuuciative of the negro and a class appeal to the whites. The colored vote was solidly conceded to the republicans, and every effort Avas directed to polling the white vote for the democratic ticket. WHAT THE CENSUS SAYS. Just here the census intervenes and declares it would be impossible to carry the ♦State against the colored vote on this plan, without the aid of fraud. All iuaccuraciea 122 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. in the last census are favoraljle to the wliites. This is sho'vu by a comparison with the report of 1800. Everyljody supposed the devastating war liad decreased the white and increased the coh)red ])opnlation, until the recent census declared the opposite result. Tlie truth is the secluded cabin ot many a colored family in the rural districts was omitted in the enumeration, wliicli still reports 3l)4,'210 colored to 3(52,00") whites in the State — a colored majority, in population, of 2,145. If we admit that one in five of the colored population is u voter, there are, according to the census, 72AS2 colored voters in the State. The same ratio of one in five would give ns almost as many white voters. But there is a material difference in the two races. According to the census there are >^0,97^) for- eigners in the State, of whom a very large proportion are men, and of nationalities who do not readily become citizens. From any estimate of the white vote at least twelve per centum must be deducted for unnaturalized foreigners. Besides this, the ratio of males is larger to the colored than it is to the white population, from the fact that previous to the war sugar and cotton planters exclusively imported male slaves from the border States. In some parishes the excess of colored men is notorious. The ratio of one in nine is therefore generally used to ascertain the legal wliite vote. This Avonld make 40,yj2[). Colored majority, 32,G13. THE WIIITK R1:PUI!LICAN VOTE. There arc no means of r.seertaining the exact number of white men in the State who voted for Kellogg. In each country ])arish there were from fifty to live l\undred. In Iberia alone it is not, cannot be denied, that ui)\vard of five hundred white men, here- tofore democrats, A'oted for him and the entin; ticket. In the city the Uerman votes, over five thousand strong, were cast chiefly for Kellogg. Besides, there were large republican clubs of various otlier natioiuilities which supported him. The democrats charge that four thousand or live thousand plaee-lu)lders and employes under the city and federal governments worked for him. On all sides it is admitteil that a very large number of property-holders, merchants, and bankers voted for him. His friends claim that he received throughout the State not less than fifteen thousand whit(» votes. COLORED :majoiuty actuaij.v registerkd. A statement of the number of voters registered up to the day of closing the registra- tion, taken from the books of Warmoth's democratic State supervisors by the federal supervisors of registration, which include. Vote for governor in 1SC8: Total vote 102, 947 Kegular republican 64, 901 Bolters and democrats 38, 04(> Republican majority 26, i:*7^'t Vote for treasurer in 1870: Total vote '. 1015, 817 Republican 65, 647 Democratic 41, 170 Republican majority 24, 477 Vote for governor in 1872, per Warmoth return : Total vote 121,919 Democrat ic Sd, 579 Republican 55, 973 Democratic nuijority 9, 9tl6 Vote for governor in 1872, per legal return: Total vote 126. 552 Republican 72, 890 Democratic 54, 027 Republican majority 18, 861 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 123 THE IIMMENSE COLORED VOTE SUPPRESSED. Tho Wariiioth return gives Kelloog only 55,973. Subtract from tliis the 15,000 white repulilieaus, and this return tells us only 40,97;} colored men votC'-meu left for their homes unable to get in their votes.. Over KiO colored men were de- prived of an opportunity to vote at Camp Bell, by a similar trick. The affidavits of 500 nien thus defrauded out of their votes in Caddo have already arrived. No notice of registration was given at several j)oiuts. At Nelson's School, five colored nu'ii who were first on the gronnd, were compelled to wait until seventy-three white men arrived, and were registered before tbey were served. Not half enough ballot-boxes were furnished. Two boxes were devoted to a thinly- settled, remote white neighborhood, polling together only 175 votes, and only four boxes to the bulk of the parish, containing upward of :{,000 votes, mostly colored. Only two hoses, instead of the usual five, were furnished in Shreveport. At the large republican precinct of Greenwood, no box was furnished at all. Many coloret) men weie compelled to walk forty miles to reach the nearest box. THE FRAUD.S IX RAl'IDES. Population— AVhite, 7,74''2 ; colored, 10,267. Registration— White, 1,011; colored, 990. Warmoth return— McEuery, 1.9(50: Kellogg, 1,169. Affidavits — Ex-governor J. Madison Wells, Hon. R. A. Hunter, now and for forty CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 125 years a leadiiij;' doniocrat of the State ; District Jnd<^e Osborne, J. Madison Wells, jr., " Hon. J. B. Lott, Colonel Ilawley, M. Boisset, A. F. Lewis, and A. Bailio, swear: From 1,000 to l.oOt) republicans were illejjaily deprivcid of registration. Mr. Hnnter saw 200 of them attempt and fail to vote at one precinct. State Supervisor Ilooe wonld hide in his honse, and have colored men seeking' rej^istration, told he was gone/ to the conntry, while white men were hunted up, and all registered. Hnoe syste- nuvtically obstructed the registration of colored nu-u by Ijrow-beatiug and dodging them, and refusing to appear at the jjlaces and times he advertised to register. He would frequently make tlu; whites alternate Avith the colored men, until the whites gave out, and would then close the books, leaving a large colored surplus unregistered. He registered deuu)erats under age aiul uniuituralized foreigners. On election day tlie LTnited States supervisors were intimidated and not allowed to discharge their lawlul duties, and were driven from the ])resence of the ballot-boxes after the i)olls closed. The boxes were kept in the exclusive custody of the (Icmocrats. the lirst night. Then they were taken to Alexandria, locked for forty-eight luuirs iit Hooe's private room before they were counted, where, as Governor "Wells and other* positively swore, they were stulfed. At Raiulolph's Mill two sets of boxes, iu violation of law, were kept. In one Avere deposited the votes of those with new registration papers; in the other the votes of those registered iu l.-<70, which were in law as good as the new registration papers. Hooe was a. candidate for the legislature. In wresting the ballot-box from the presence of one of the United States supervisoj-s. he said he "intended to count the radicals out any way.'' Throughout, the federal and State election laws were both flagrantly violated. V. At Cotile, a number of colored voters, with registration pajjers of 1870, were illeti gaily rejected. -^ At Rai>ides poll a number of colored republicans were illegally rejected, on the aM leged gnmnd tliat their names were not on the list, although they had registratiou/ pa))ers indorsed by Hooe. : At Smith's ])oll a number of colored republicans were rejected, on the alleged grouud that the numbers on their certiticatea and the list did not tally. THE FKAUDS IN NATCIIITOCMES. Population— White, 7,312; colored, 10,921>. Registration — White, 1,486; colored. 1,87.5. Warnioth return — McEiiery, 1,250; Kellogg, 555. Atlidavits — United States Supervisors Tunard, Blackstone, Ezeruow, Lewis, and J. Coughlin. From 800 to 1,000 colored men were deprived of registration by the dodges vices of State Supervisor Piersou. The names of 103 he squarely refused to at the single precinct of Cloutierville are sworn to. He pretended to be out of blanks' at this and other points. In Natchitoches he kept a special door for whites to enter and be registered. Instead of the legal ten hours^ he frequently only registered cue hour or two a day. . ^*^ Piersou gave no notice whatever pi-evious to election day where the ballot-boxesA were to be located, but studiously concealed them from republicans, while ever^' dem- } ocrat was posted as to their whereabouts. The day before the election he told the f United States supervisctrs he had instructed the commissioners "to locate the boxes where they d — n please — under a pine tree, if necessary." The Bulali box was hid in an abandoned fodder shed in an old field some distance from Bulah. It was found' ab(mt noon by colored men, who tracked democrats through the woods to it. Previ- ous to its discovei'y. it is supposed to have been stuffed. A large number of colored men who offered to vote here after they found the box were downrightly refused. The Hawthorn box was also hid a mile from the usual place, aud was found iu a sim- ilar manntn-. The voting began before the legal hour, and it is supposed the box was stntfed. A number of duly registered republicans who did live iu that ward were rejected, on the alleged ground that they did not. One hundred aud eighty-eight colored men are sworn, who lived in the Sixth ward, but were rejected, on fhe alleged grouiui that they lived in another ward. Only three boxes were furnislied iu the country, and these were hid. Colored men, in many instances, had to come from,] twenty to forty miles to reach them, and then hunt them up. The United States su])ervisors were intimidated from discharging their duties, and would have been killed had tliey insisted on their ri^rhfs. In the town of Natchitoches\ the democrats were almost all arnu-d as special policemen, and, as otlicers of the law,! (•rowd<-d upward of 800 republicans fnun the polls, and ))reveuted them from voting.! Fifteen hundred and fifty colored and white republicans in this narish, who hid sue-/ ceedeil in registering, were dei>rived of an opportunity to vote. Throughout, tha Fed- eral aud State election laws were flagrautlv violated. 1 and de-| regis terj 126 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. THE I-RAl'DS IX EAST 15ATOX liOUGK. Population — White, G,471; colored, 11,343. Registration — White, 1,431; colored, l,fi37. AVariiioth return — MeEuery, 1,444; Kellogg, I.IGH. Altidavits — B. J. A'^ieuna, Commissioner Lane, United States Supervisors Husted, Fuller, Fornian, Smith, and Pages. Just Lhoo men, most all colored re])ulilieans, were deprived of registration in this parish. It was pretended the registration-books of 1870 had been destroyed, in order to have the opportunity to cut down the republican vote through the farce of an entire new registration. The registered vote of 1870 was 4,928; the re])nblican majority was 1,482. Eradj', the State supervisor, so frittered away the time allotted for registration, ^and obstructed, discriminated against, and squarely refused to register so many col- wed men, only 3,084 voters were registered altogether. Compelling the colored men to alternate with the whites until the whites were all registered, lie would suddenly discover he Avas out of blanks, close his books, and leave for another point, leaving a large crowd of colored men unregistered at each precinct. At the peril of their lives, the United States supervisors in the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth. Sixth, and Seventh wards Avere intimidated and driven from the presence of the ballot-boxes, which were stuffed bj' the democratic commissioners during the night before bringing them to Baton Rouge. At the four boxes where the United States snpeivisors were not intimidated the State count agreed with the federal tally. G. yi. Husted, United States supervisor at Port Hudson, swears that while en route to I'atou Rouge n— While, :r,703: colored, 9,84."). Kegistration — White, r)18; colored, 2,70:5. Warmotli return— :McEnery, 467; Kellogg, l,u;?4. "N Allidavits — The United States supervisor and 1,314 colored men who were deprived / ri the light to vote swear: _•' The overwhelming republican nuijority two years .ago of 2,338 in this f)arisli, where ahnost everybody votes the republican ticket, was cut down to 567 by simply refusing (he population an opportunity to register and vote. The nearest ]»olling-place to most of the voters wa>^ forty uiih^s distant. Each of the 1,:$14 allidavits details ont!;iges of this kind. I III: lUAUDS i.v ir.Hi;viM.i'. i'upulation — White, 3,()6;); colored, •^,67r). Kegistration — White, 743; colored, 3,303. W^armoth return threw out the whole parish. AiUdavits — The United States supervisors and others swear: The colored registered majority of 2,560 in this parish was completely annihilated by throwing out the whole iiarish, on the ground, forsooth, that the democrats had attempted to stuff 230 bogus ballots into the Bayon Goula box, and got caught at it. This was, at least, the only irregularity ever yet charged. This instance is worthy of especial note, in connection with the significant fact that the democrats contiued all their attempts at frauds to I'epublican parishes. The failure to carry a republican parish by stutiing the ballot-boxes is made the pretext by a democratic returning board for throw- ing out the vote of the parish. Thus, in either the failure or success of democratic frauds, the democrats were to be gainers and the republicans losers. THE FRAUDS IN POINTE COUPEE. Population — W'hite, 3,752; colored, 9,229. Registration— White, 1,070; colored, 2,710. Warmoth return — McEiiery, 1,142; Kellogg, 1,052. AtUdavits — United States supervisors B. Dayries, E.Eoubre, Iv.McGowan, W. Tiusly, L. Allen, and others, swear: The IJnited States supervisors were intimidated and driven from tlie presence of the boxes after the closing of the polls. When the voting was completed, their de- mand that the boxes be sealed according to law was disregarded. Almost every box was stuffed. At boxes 5 and 6, 460 republican and 63 democratic votes were cast. But after sleeping one night with the democratic clique, the 460 republi- can votes melted to 20. According to the affidavit of E. Eoubre, General B. B. Sims took box 2, after the voting, in a boat upon the Atchafayla, and with the aid of an accom- idished clerk, in less than one day, ''worked" the large republican majority down to Tlu^ neighborhood of nothing. One Harris, democratic candidate for the legislature, and others, took box 3 by force from the custody of the United States supervisors into a xnivato room. Some of the democrats kept a crowd of colored men at the door at bay. while others inside <[uickly reduced the 2.50 re])ublican ballots that had been ]nit into it to only 20. Just 220 republican and 35 democratic votes were put into box 4, but after one night in the exclusive company of democrats it shook out 235 democratic to only 20 republican votes. TIIK FRAUDS IN MADI.SON. Fopulatiou— White, tCifi ; colored, 7,663. Kegistration — White, 360, colored, 2,365. Warmoth return^McEncry, 828 ; Kellogg, 1,227. Afliuljlican State ticket. No man can vote the republican ticket and live in Wheeler's neighborhood. From 250 to oOO colored men in the parish were deynived of their votes through intimidation. The registration began seven days behind the legal time, and every colored man. old and young, was made to prove liis age before he was registered. Tli(> Gorie's box was wrested from the presence of United States Su])ervisors Flowers and Wells, kept in a private residence all night, and showed next day unmistakable signs of having been broken open, stntied, and blunderingly repaired. A hole was left through which to stnlf additional bogus ballots if uecessa>y to carry the parish. In counting the ballots at Colfax the democratic commissioner would take two l«:il- lots at a time, and placing the democratic one on top, would only count it. AUSCELLAXKOUS FRAUDS. In Ji'ff'crKO II. —The United States supervisors at Camp Parapet swear that 607 ballots were put in the box, over .500 of which were rei)ublican ballots, of a peculiar device, designed by Hon. Charles W. Lowell. The State commissioners themselves swear that over four-tifths of the votes cast were republican ballots of this peculiar device, but that when the box was subse(iuently opened it contained 555 straight liberal ballots that were not cast on election day, and had nnfjuesf ionably been stuffed in. Even the State snpeivisDr of tiie parish, on opening the box, exchiimed : "Here is a palpable fraud!" In Jackson. — The rei)ublieans there were shamefully intimidated. One Bishop is under ^10,000 bonds for participating in this business. After counting the national votes the federal supervisors were lired upon; two were shot and wounded, and all compelled to dee in order that the ballot-boxes might be stuH'ed without molestation. Jii SI. Laiidrij. — I'uited States Supervisor E. L. Andrew swears he was intimidated &om performing his lawful duty. Some iive hundred men were compelled to vote the /democratic ticket on pain of a repetition of the terrible massacre of 18od. About 1,500, \Uy the same sort of intimidation, were deterred from voting. 7^ In Livini/sloii. — Tlie shooting of one colored man and the wounding of another by /democrats intimidated the colored republicans from voting to a great extent. ^ In Lafourche. — Thirteen democrats under age were registered and permitted to vote. Sixty-one democrats registered and voted twice ; t(m of them had the same nutuber and name, and lifty-one had the same number but different names (»u their double cer- titicates, as was ]noven by coui})arison of United Statt-s supervisor's table with State lists after election. Thirty-three tictitious democratic ballots were detected in the 'joxes which were never voted. There were at l,;ast one hundred and lifty of this kind. In Webster parish all the Unitetl States supervisors were intimidated. Fifty colored men were intimidated from voting at poll six by threats of their employer? to discharge them. Mr. J. Kowan, president of a republican club, was arrested i>y the chief con- stable on election day for trying to prevent spurious rei>nblican tickets from being Ijalnied oft" on the members of his club by democrats. Fearing to vote at their own rprecincts, some colored men slip])ed away to Minden. but were followed, threatened Viud intimidated by their employers. A man named Branch dragged his colored ser- vant by the arm to the polls and compelled him, though begging and .shedding tears, to deposit a diMiiocratic ballot. J. M. Waggener, United Statessupervisor at Slungalba, was fiercely threatened with death if he followed the box to Minden. F. S. Heath swears box one, ward one, in exclusive charge of democrats, was brought to Minden unsealed, ami his piotest against counting it, on the ground that it had been sturted. was overrnle(l. At box one, ward six. United States Supervisor Lewis swore voting be- gan before the lawful hour in a box which the democrats refused to Itjt him examine to see that it was not stuffed in advance. At eleven the contents of this box were emp- tied into another, snpi)osed also to be stuffed, which lu" was likewise not i>ermitted to examine. The tally of Mr. Lewis showed four huiulrecf and five republican to (me hun- dred and seventy-five democratic votes cast, but the democratic count produced a dem- ocratic majority. F. S. Heath swears to the names often democr.its wlio voted, but who were not reg- istered until four days after the election. Ill Ten ebon lie.— Suite Supervisor Stokes counted eight boxes, and tliey turned out such heavy republican majorities that seeing no chance to stuff the renniining boxes, he left in the night and resigned, thus giving the Warmoth returning-board a i>retcxt CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 129 to throw out a large repulilican parish, on the ground that the supervisor did uot count the vot<-s. In Catahoula. — Mr. J. J. Randolph, an old citizen, swears the registration did not begin until nineteen days behind the legal time, and that thus from 400 to (iOO colored republicans were denied registration. "s^j--- - 111 JViiiii. — D. Bnintly says he was intimidated from making a republican speech m Winn ; that the colored men were overawed, and afraid to cast their votes for the can^ didates of their choice. ""a //( WcsLliaioH Rouge. — The registered republican majority of 464 was overcome by a J consjiiracy between the democrats and T. T. Allain, a United States supervisor, byj ■which democratic tickets were palmed oti"upon ignorant colored voters for republican/ tickets. ^ In Union. — The intimidation so grossly practiced two and four years ago was to a great extent repeated. A number of voters swear they were driven from the Downs- ville jxill. There were 78:} coloriid and upwards of HO white votiu-s on the rolls of the rt'pnblicau clubs, every one of whom intended to vote the republican ticket, yet only 4^L> votes were counted out for that party. After the congressioual and electoral votes had been counted, the boxes were sealed up, anarty nanu'd Simmons had been appointed to supersede Scott, but too late to get legal possession of the otiice. Without poll-l)ooks, without legally"*^ designated polling-i)laces or commissioners, Simmons and the democratic mob held an t election in defiance of every legal formality. Mr. Scott was intimidated from attempt- y iug to hold the legal election by threats of riot. -^ lu St. Ihlcua. — Sworn evidence is on tile that W. S. Lee, J. Royes, B. Quiun, and M. Lee stullVallot-boxes to be usecl and stuffed. Because democrats committed these frauds themselves, this board threw out this parish with its 1,637 republican majority of two years ago. THE FRAUDS IN NEW ORLEANS. The frauds committed in the city have uot yet been gathered together. Suffice it for the present to call attention to a few facts. St. Louis, at the late election, with a i)op- ulation of HKi.OOO, on a full vote ])olled 36,000 votes. New Orleans, we are told, ])olled on the same day :»H,000 also, although her population is only 191,000, or less than two- thirds that of St. Luiis. Here is a strong indication that over 12,000 of the 3(!,000 votes cast in this city were cast by repeaters upon fraudulent registrath>u papers. Much proof is already at hand to eoniirm this supposition. The letter of Blanch.ird to Hon. S. B. Packard, ]>erem[)torily refusing to appoint any republican connnissioners, points in that diiecri(Ui. Some nu'u have been caught voting as high as sevi-nteeu tinu-s. One hundred and twenty-six registration pai)ers have Vx^en detected which ■were issiu'd for one small house in the Sixth ward. Just before the election Blanchard published a long list of liundreds of colored republicans whom he charged with fraud- ulent njgistration, as thouiih such tilings were possinle with everything in tlie hands of the democrat.s, notifying tliem to show cause why tht;ir names should not be erased. Of course they couitl not I'ead, did not see the notice, did not come, and they W'-rt; dis- franchised. Democratic tickets, with Burke's name for Administrator of Improvements, H. Ex. 91 9 130 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. were priuterl for stuffing purposes after the election, by R. H. Benners, on Camp street, acconliiij;- to sworn examinations on file. So nntrustwortby were the persons having charge of flections in the city, that tlie reformers admit tlieir candidates wonld have been swindled ont of the offices to wbieh they were elected but for the aid of the Federal supervisors. Other and abundant proof of frauds in the city is now being col- lected. They consist mostly in the issuing of fraudulent registration papers, wliicli were voted by repeater.s, unnaturalized foreigners, and minors, and are consequently difficult and slow of detection. DOCUMKNT D. Tahle showhig the irhUc and colored voters — re(jidration of 1872. Parish. Ascension Assumption Avoyelles East Baton Rouge... West Baton Rouge . . Bossier Bienville Calcasieu Catahoula Concordia Caddo Caldwell Carroll Claiborne — De Soto East Feliciana West Feliciana Grant Iberia Iberville .Jackson .leiferson, right bank Livingston Lafourcbe Morehouse Madison Natchitoches Ouachita Plaqnennnes Pointe Coupee , Rapides Red River Richland Saint Bernard Saint Charles Saint James Saint .lolin Saint Landry Saint Mary Saint Martin Tangipahoa Terre Bonne Tensas Winn Vermillion Vernon Webster Winn White. Colored. 1,511 3, 014 1,874 2, 169 1,794 2.208 1,431 1,500 397 861 587 1,795 920 713 729 139 1,010 1,107 296 2, 526 1.549 3, 139 544 586 718 1,910 1,.377 1,298 821 1,303 1. 100 2, 351 590 2, 215 (i30 776 1.149 1 . 263 743 3. 303 1.110 816 550 1,440 760 225 1.704 1,S71 737 1,35S 360 2, 365 1,486 1,875 912 1.630 518 2, 703 1.070 2, 710 1,011 990 441 96t) 599 644 308 401 ;u)o 1,8,50 (i58 2, 068 817 1,717 3, 358 4, 000 1, 150 2, 203 1,038 1,019 919 618 1.201 1,608 386 3,146 1.832 876 845 26S 457 194 848 86() 758 132 45, 909 74, 735 The above table exhibits the registration outside the parish of Orleans, except as to the unascertained figure of the parishes of Cameron, Franklin, Sabine, and Washington. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 161 According to the returns in the recent election, these four parishes would reduce the republican aggregate 1,077, the fnsioni.sts having cast 1,768 and the repuVdicans 691 votes. As to the parish of Orleans, the registration books exhibit no registration figures on the basis of color, and theTusiou ticket was returned elected by about 9,000 niajorit}'. DOCCMEXT E. REGISTRATION ACT OF LOUISIANA. No. 99. AX ACT to provide for the revision .and corri'ctioii of tlie lists of renistered voters of the State, tljo .Tppoiiitiiieut of tlie various officers ncressary therefor, ami to presciibe tlie duties, powers, and com- pensation of tlie same; to pieseiihe certain (Uities for the sextons of the ceineteiies of New Orleans; to jireserihe the penalties for the viohition of the law, and to provide for a new registration in certain parishes and wards. Sectiox 1. Be it enacted hij the senate and house of representatives of the State of Louisiana in general assemhhi convened, That the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall, upon the passage hf this act, and every two years thereafter, ai^point a person to be kuowu as State registrar of voters, who shall hold his ottice for two years from the date of his appointment. The State registrar of voters shall be the supervisor of registration for the i)arish of Orleans, and as such shall perform all the duties and exercise all the powers herein prescribed for the supervisor of registration in a parish. Skc. 2. Be it further enacted, tj'c.. That the said State registrar of voters, before enter- ing u])on the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe to the oath required for State officers, and give bond, with good and solvent security, to the governor of the State in the sum often thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duties. Sec 3. Be it further enacted, 4'c. That the salary of the State registrar of voters shall be three thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly, out of the State treasury, upon his own warrant. Skc. 4. Be it further enacted, 4-c., That the State registrar of voters shall keep his office open every day in the year (Sundays and legal holidays excepted) until further provided. The State registrar of voters shall, with the approval of the State treasurer and finance committee of the senate, rent a suitable office in the city of New Orleans, of which he shall give due notice to the auditor of public accounts. The supervisors of registration for the parishes of Orleans and Jefferson are empowered to rent or hire such offices as may be necessary for the registration of the ([ualified voters, with the approval of the State treasurer and the tinance committee of the senate, of which they shall give due notice to the auditor of public accounts. . All accounts for rent herein l)rovided for shall be written in detail, giving the time occupied and the amount of rent per month, which account shall be certified under oath by the supervisor of regis- tration of the parish as true and correct, aud approved by the State registrar of voters, the treasurer of the State, and the governor; and upon presentation of any such account, so certified and approved, the auditor of public accounts shall issue his war- rant for the sum named therein upon the State treasurer, payable out of the funds appropriated for the expenses of the revision of the next registration and election. He shall have one clerk, who shall receive a compensation of fifteen hundred dollars per annum, jiayable ([uarterly, upon liis own warrant, approved by the State registrar. Skc. 5. Be it further enacted, i)V., That tlie registration records of the State, at present in the office of the secretary of state, shall be transferred to the office of State registrar of voters as soon as said officer shall have been appointed and duly qualified, and said records shall remain in his possession for the purpose of correcting and revising the registration. Sec. (J. Be it further enacted, c it further tnacted, ifr., Tliat it shall be the duty of the State registrar of ■voters to cause to l)e furnished, at the expense of the State, all such books, paper, and blanks as may be necessary to enal)le tlje supervisors of registration to i»roi)erly per- form their duties in a uniform and regular manner. Sec. 9. Be it furthe; evaded, ])ointed supervisor of registration for the parish, when so requested ; and during the time sail registration books shall re- main in the custody of said clerk, he shall be responsible for their safe-keeping, and shall not permit the name of any person to be added to or erased from the list of said reo'istered voters, under a penalty of five hundred (hdlars for each offense, recoverable before any court of competent jurisdiction, one-half to go to the informer and the other half to the school-fund of the jjarish. Si;c. 11. Be it further enacted, .Jc., That the governor shall, six months previous to any general election, appoint in each parish of the State, except the parish of Orleans, ODe supervisor ot registration, who shall hold his office for two years from the date of his appointment. The clerk of the court shall deli \er to said supervisor of legistratiou the books of registration delivered to him by the last su))ers-is(>r of registration. Skc. 12. Be it further enacted, cj'c. That it shall be the duty of the supervisors of each of the jiarishes of the State, a])pointid as aforesaid, to cause to be registered every qualified elector in their respective i)arishes, witlnnit expense to the elector, and in such manner as to show separately the number of qualified electors in each police-jury ward of their respective parishes. That said supervisors are hereby authorized to go from place to place, besides keeping the necessary offices, and to render every facility to the qualified electors, and to take care that all who are qualified to vote shall be registered. Sec. l:^. Be it farther enacted, iff.. That two months previous to any general election the supervisors of registration for the parishes of Orleans and Jetfersou shall each ap- point, for his respective parish, one assistant supervisor of registration for each ward in the city of New Orleans, one for the city of Jefferson, one for the remaining ]iart of the parish of Jefferson on the left baidc of the Mississippi, one for the remaining ])art of the sann^ ])arish on the right bank of the Mississippi River, and one for the right bank of Orleans. The term of office for such assistant supervisors of registratn)n .shall not continue beyond the day of tlie general election aforesaid. Such assistant super- visors shall have generally tlie same poweis and perform the same duties, subject to the directiim of the sujiervisors of registration of their resjiective parishes, as are herein ]nescribed for supervisors of registration, and shall perform such other duties as are hereinafter prescribed. Sec. 14. Be it further enacted, tfr., That the officers appointed under this act, bebn-e entering upon their respective duties, shall si^verally make and subscribe an affidavit before a justice of the ])eace, or some other officers duly authorized to administer oaths or affirmations, that they will iierform their duties with fidelity, and will, to the best of their ability, maintain and protect the rights of all qualified electors within their resjiectivc election precincts, ami will expose all attempts and combinations, that may come to their notice, to ]>rocure the fraudulent registering of ])ersons who are not ((uali- fied electins, within their respective ])recincts. or to jtrocnre the fraudulent votes to be polled at the succeeding election, and shall also each take the oath of office and of eligi- bility prescribed ibr State officers. iSi.c. 1-). Be it further enncled, .jc, That the supervisor of registration for each parish, except the parishes of Orleans an(i Jefferson, shall open his ollfice on the first Monday in Sei)tember before each general election. In the i)arish of Jefferson the su])ervisor of registration shall oj>en his office on the first Monday in Se|iteiiil>er before the general election. The assistant supervisms of registration, in the jiarishes of Orleans and JclVerson, shall o]>en their offices in their respective wards and localities on the first ^Mniidny in Septendier, before each general electiou, at such ])Iaees as the sni)ervisor of registration for the ])arish may designate. Said offices shall be kejtt oi)en to all persons claiming to be registered or (|ualified elect;c. 10. lie it fniilicr enacted, .fc, That each supervisor of registration and assistant supervisor of registration shall receive as compensation seven dollars per day for each day he shall discharge the duties of his office, from the time at which he shall open his ohice until the time when he shall cou)i)Iete his statement of the election. Each super- visor and assistant supervisor of registration shall make out a sixcific account for his com|)ensatiou, sworn to and subscribed by him, which shall be appended to an authen- ticated copy of his appointment. Said account shall be examined, and, if correct, ap- proved by the governor, and the auditor of public accounts shall, upon presentation thereof, issue his warrant upon the State treasurer for the sum named therein, payable out of any funds in the State treasury not otherwise apiiropriated : Provided, That no supervisor of registration shall receive any compensation for his services until he has complied with the provisions of this act. Sec. 17. Be it further enacted, cfc, Tliat each supervisor of registration and assistant sui)ervisor of registration shall have one clerk, who sliall receive, as compensation, iive dollars per day for the time he is actually employed ; ut)t to exceed the length of time for which fhe supervisor or assistant supervisor of registration for the parish or ward may receive pay. Skc. 18. Be it further enacted, 4'c., That any supervisor or assistant supervisor of regis- tration who shall swear to a false account shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to the pains and penalties by law provided for perjury. Skc. 19. Be it further enacted, cf-c. That it shall be the duty of the supervisor of regis- tration for each parish, when he opens his office, to take up the registration-book he has received from the clerk of the district court and proceed to an immediate revision of the same, by striking therefrom the name of every })erson who known by him to have died (jr removed from his parish since the last previous registration, or wliose death or removal from the same shall be nmde known to him ; and upon the applica- tion of any qualified voter, who shall be known by him to have nu)ved into the parish since the last previous registration, or whose removal into the same shall be or shall have been made known to him, to add the names of such voters to the registration- book. In the parishes of Orleans and Jefferson, during the time the work of revision is going on, the supervisor of registration shall visit, or cause to be visited, every dweliing-iiouse in his ward, and make careful inquiry if any person whose name is on his list has died or removed from the ward, and if so he shall take his name therefrom ; or whetlier any qualified voter resides theieiu whose name is not on his list, and if so he shall add the same therelo ; and the supervisor of registration sliall in all cases ascer- tain by inquiry upon what ground the person so registered claims to be a voter. Upon the completion of the revision of the list of qualified voters it shall be the duty of the assistant supervisors of registration to make out a list in alphabetical order of the qualified voters in the ward, city, town, or precinct of which he is the assistant super- visor of registration, and opposite each of said names state whether said voter is or is not a houstikeeper, and if he is, the number of his residence, in towns where the same are numlxued, with the street, alley, or court in which situated, and if in a town where there are no numbers, the name of the street, alley, or court on which said house fronts, also the occupation of the person, and, wiiere he is not a housekeeper, the occu])ation, place of boarding, and with whom. Where any pei'son claims to be registered by reason of naturalization, he shall exhibit his certificate thereof to the sui)ervisor of registr;ition, and in all cases where the person has lieen naturalized, the name sliall be marked " N,"' and if the person has removed into the parish to reside since the hist election, the letter " R" shall be placed opi)osite the name. Skc. 20. Be it further enacted, tj'r.. That before each and every parish, city, town, or ward election, otiier than the general election, the supervisor of registration for the par- ish in which such election shall bi^ held shall open the office for the purpose of revising tlie list of registered voters, by adding thereto the names of all qualified electors who may have become such since the last revision of the registration, and of striking therefrom the names of all persons who may liave ceased to be qualified electors of such parish, and such revision of registration shall be conducted in the same manner and sul>ject to the same provisions as are herein laid down for the revision of registration before the general elections, exce[)t as to time. In the city of New Orleans the offices of regis- tration shall be open fifty days, commencing sixty days before any such election. In the city of Jetfersou the offices of registration shall be open twenty days, commencing thirty days before such election. In all other parts of the parishes of Orleans and Jef- ferson, and in each parish, except tlie parishes of Orleans and Jefferson, the offices of registration shall be open, commencing twenty days before such election. All offices of registration shall close nine days l)efore any election, and on the fourth Monday in August before the holding of any general election, and Ixd'ore the beginning of any revision of the registry, prior to any special election, and regularly therefrom until the closing of the books of registration therefor, the supervisors of registration iu the 134 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. ?aid parishes shall give notice by publication to all -voters who are not registererl, aiul desire to be registered, to come forward and cause the same to be done ; and shall give notice, also, to all registered voters who have changed their places of residence since they were registered to appear and have their present places of residence, or those they will occupy at the time of the election, noted on the books of registry and on tiieir certiticat'<; if further enacted, 4'C-, That every jiersou of foreign birth, claiming a right to be registered, shall, iu addition to the jjroof of I'esidence, prove that lie has been naturalized confornial)ly to the laws of the United States; aud, as evidence thereof, he .shall produce a certificate of naturalization, under tlie seal of the court in which nat- uralization took )dace, duly attested by the clerk of said court in his own proper hand- writing, and shall jtrove by the oath of a (lualitied eh^ctor of the election precinct that he is tlu> jxTsou mimed in the said certificate, and the person to whom it was issued; and shall further answer upon oath, to the satisfaction of the supervisor or assistant super\isor of registration before whom the said certificate may be i)ro(lnced, when and where he was Ixu'u, aud when and where he obtained the certificate, and from whom; aud the said c(n'tificate shall not be evidence that the person presenting it is a natural- ized citizen unless his answers be consistent with the facts certified, aud the proof of his ideniity be satisfactory to the supervisor or assistant supervisor of registration ; and upon such proof being made to the satisfaction of the sui)ervisor or assistant super- visor of registration, but not otherwise, he shall register tlie name of the claiuiant on the registration-books, and shall stamp or write on the said certificate of naturalization the word "registered," with the munber and precinct of the ward or parish and the date of registry. Skc. 2:5. lie it further enacted, i.^-c., That the supervisor of registration for the parish shall carefully examine the registration-books-, and if upon due inquiry and investiga- tion he shall find the luxme or names of any ])erson or i)ersous therein, not entitled to vote in liis ])aiish at the next election, he shall strike the name of every sucli i)ei'S()n therefrom by drawing a line in red ink through the same; but the name of no jierson shall be strickcm from any registratis are found therein have resided for ten days im- mediately preceding the said election in the saigistration to a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than fivi^ hundred dollars, to be recovered for the use of the parish iu which the failure to p(Hform the duty occurred, to be sued for in the name of the parish; and it shall be the duty of the distiict attorney pro tempore of such parish to institute any suit, whenever any such dcliiuiueiicy shall bi^ brought to his knowledge by any com- missioner of th(^ election, or when it is known to himself Sec. 2(i. He it furtlur enacted, 4'''., That the supervisor of registration of each parish .shall keep his oftiee, exet^pt in the iiarish of Orleans, at the court-house of the j»arish, and may establish such places for the registration of voters other than the court-hou.se, not exceeding five iu number, as may be necessary to enable electors to register with as litrle inconvenience as possible : and in all cases publication of the ofiices of regis- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 135 tration, as selected by the supervisors of registration, ishall bo made for thirty days iu the official journal. In the parishes of Orleans and Jefferson, the supervisor of regis- t ration shall establish offices at such places as will facilitate the rej;;isterins«- of voters as far as itossible. The supervisor of registration for each parish shall require every person, before he is registered as a voter, to take and sul)scribe any of the following affidavits, as the case may require, and the supervisor of registration la hereby author- ized to administer said oaths: I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I am tWenty-one years of age, was born (or naturalized, as the case may be) in the United States, and am subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and have been a resident of the State of Louisiana since tlie day of , and a resident of this parish since the day of ■ ■ ■ ■■ . and that I am not disfranchised for any of the causes stated in the first paragraph of article ninety-nine of the constitution of this State. And I do further solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I did not hold any office, civil or military, for onaiisli of Iberia, and of the contiguous parishes of Saint Martin and Saint Mary, .f!;iil!it(! the conduct and to iiiiiiiitMin the ficcdoiii aiid purity of ch'ct ions ; to iircscvihc tht* mode ot ni;il,ss uliall be- Iwdd on the liist Moiidiiy ill No\(;iiil»(;r, tiiid said (fictitious hIuiII he .styled the "general elections. Tliey sli;ill lie held in llie inaiiiier tiiid I'onn, and snhjeet to the regulations hereiiiatlei' picseiilied, and no other. Hkc. 2. J>< itfiirlhrrenaclcd, oll or voting-placci within his precinct. Skc. ti. J!v it further ciiaeted, i|-c., Thiit the elections at each p(dl or voting-place shall ho presided ov(;r by thrcse coniinissioners of (dccdion, residents of the jtarish, who shall bcs able to read ;ind write, to he appointed liy the supervisor of rcgistiation for th<- |)arisli, who shall, liclbre entering upon tht; discdiargci of their duties, take and siili.seribc tho oath or oaths prescribiMl for State ol'ticcrs. Should only one of the (•oniniissioners appointed Ixi pr(%sent, he shall apitoint another, and both together shall aiipoint a third, iind tilt! coniniissioncrs so appointed shall tiike the oath and perforin all tlio duties of coiiinii.ssioiiers of election in tins stiine manner as if they had been appointed by the su))ervisor of registration. Skc. 7. Be it furtlier eiioeted,i'\t.., Tlnit it shall bo tho duty of the coniinissioners of elec- tion to rccciv(! the ballots of all legal voters who sliall idler to vote, and deposit the same in the ballot-box to be ]»r(((/(7/, That tiny voter shall have tho rijrht to deposit his own vote in the ballot-box with his own hand. Si:c. '.(. /.'<• il further enacted, <('•(., That any commissioiKir of (dectioii, constahjo, police oHiccr, or (dection ol'iicer, who shall s(!e any iieison taking from t]\v hands of a voter his ballot with intent to pa.>osit one copy with the clerk of a district dourt of the parish. Skc. 30. Be it further enacted, roved January twen- ty-third, one thousand eight luni(lred and forty-five, entitled "An act to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of President and Vice-President, in all States of the Union;" and such elections shall be held and conducted, and returns made thereof, in the manner and form prescribed V)y law for the general elections. Sec. 3G. Be it further enacted, «)V., That whever the seat of any Senator or Represent- ative shall become vacant, and there shall be a session of tin; general assembly then sitting, or to be held before the next general election, it shall be the duty of the gov- ernor, within five days after being officially informed of such vacancy, to issue his writ of election, directed to the supervisors of registration in and for the parish or parishes in whicli such vacancy may exist, whose duty it shall be, within three daj's after its receipt, to give public notice that an election will he held to fill such vacancy on a (lay to be iK\med by them, which day shall not be less than eight nor more than fifteen days after the publication of such notice, if such election ))e held during or within fifteen days next preceding a session of the general assembly ; but if not, then the ele('tion shall be held not less than twenty nor more than thirty days after the publication of such notice, and shall l)e held and conducted, and returns thereof made, in the manner and form i)rovided by law for general elections. Sec. 37. Be it further enacted, <|'c.. That in all future elections for Senators, Represent- atives, sheriff's, coroners, clerks of district courts, and other officers, if there should be CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 143 an equal nninber of votes j^iven to two or more candidates for the same office, the elec- tion of such office or offices thus not lilled sJiall be again returned to tiie people in the parish or district, as the case may be, public notice of ten days to be iirst given in the same manner as in the general elections. Si:c'. :?H. /)(' (7 fnvlhcr oiacied, <)'r., That the provisions of this act, except as to the time of liolding elections, shall apply in the election of all officers whose election is not otherwise provided for. Skc. 39. Be it furthei' enacted, cf-o.. That it shall be the duty of the governor, at least six weeks before every general election, to issue his proclamation, giving notice there- of, which sliall be jiublished in the official journal of the; State, and copies thereof for- ^^ arded to the several supervisors of registration throughout the State. Skc*. 4(l. Be it further enacted, i\-c., That notice of every general election held under the provisions of this act siiall be given at least tliirty days before the election, by no- tices posted ui> in each precinct, or, if there be au official newspaper published in the parish, by publishing the notice in such pajier. Skc. 40. Be it further enacted, .fc., That the supervisors of registration, or commis- sioners of election, shall, on the day of election, close all driuking-saloons, dram-sliops, groggcrics or i)laces where liquor is sold by the glass or bottle, situated within a I'adius of two mik's of any poll or voting-place ; and said supervisors or commissioners of election shall have the power to call on any sheriff', constable, or police-officer toenforce this regulation. If such sheriff', constable, or police-officer shall refuse to obey any order issued under the authority of this section, the commissioner or supervisor giving the order shall summarily arrest and imprison such sheriff, constable, orpolice-otticer, such imprisonment not to extend beyond the hour of closing the polls. And such sheriff", constable, or police-ofificer so refusing to obey such order shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor in office, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprison- ment for aterni not to exceed six months, nor less than three months, and by a ffne of not nmre than ffve hundred dollars, nor less than one hundred dollars. Skc. 42. Be it further enacted, pears on the registat ion-books to prove his identity if re(iuireer or permit the same to be affixed, or give out, or cause or permit the sanu; to be given out, in blank, whereby it may be fraudulently used, or furnish a naturalization certificate to jujy person who shall not have been duly examined and sworn in open court, in the presence of some of the judges thereof, accoi-ding to the act of Congress, or shall aid in, connive at, or in any way ]>ermit the issue of fradulent naturalization certificates, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; or if any oneshnll fraudulently use any such certifi- cate of naturalization, knowing it to have been fraudulently issued, ov shall vote, or attempt to vote thereon, or if any one shall vote, or attempt to vote, on any certificate of naturalization not issued to him, lie shall be guilty of a misdemeanor ; and either or any of the persons, their aiders or abettors, guilty' of either of the misdemeanors 144 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA, aforesaid, shall, on conviction, be fined in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned in the penitentiary for a period not exceeding three days. Sicc. 47. Be it further enacted, cj-c, That if any person, on oath or aftirniation, in or before any court in the State, or officer authorized to administer oaths, shall, to pro- cure a certificate of naturalization for himself or any other person, willfully depose, declare or afHrm, any matter to be fact, knowing the same to h^ false, or shall in like manner deny any matter to be fact, knowing the same to be true, he shall be deemed guilty of i)erjury, and any certilicate of naturalization issued in pursuance of any such dei)(»siti(m or atbrmation shall be null and void; and it shall be the duty of the court issuing the same, upon proof being made before it that it was fraudulently obtained, to take immediate measures for recalling the same for cancellation ; and any person who shall vote, or attempt to vote, on any paper so obtained, or who shall in any way aid it, connive at, or have any agency whatever in the issue, circulation, or use of auy fraudulent naturalization certificate, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, ui)ou conviction thereof, shall undergo an imprisonnu-nt in tlu' i)enitentiary for not morv than two years, and pay a line, not more thiui one thousand dollars for every such offense, or either or both, at the discretion of the court. Si".C. 46. Be it further enacted, ifc. That at all general elections the names of all can- didates to be voted for in the cities of New Orleans and Jefferson shall be written or printed on one ticket, or slip of paper, and the number of the ward and election pre- cinct in which the ticket is to be voted shall be printed or written on the outside fold thereof. , SiX". 49. Be it further enacted, tjc. That the supervisors of registration in the parishes of Orleans and Jefferson shall, during registration, and at least within six days pre- ceding any general election, furnish to the board of metrojiolitan police commissioners a co|)y of the lists of registered votersin each precinct in said parishes. Skc. 50. Be it further enacted, cj-c, Tha the board of metropolitan police commissioners shall forthwith proceed by means of the police to incjnire into and report to said super- visors the names of all persons falsely, fraudulently, or improperly registered ; and to this end the board of metropolitan police commissioners shall divide each ward into con- venient subdivisions or blocks, and shall assign to each subdivision one or more police officers, wlumi they shall direct and cause to compare the names of the actual residents of said subdivisions or blocks with tin; names of the registered voters thereof, and to re- port to them the names of all persons whom they shall Hud to befalsely, fraudulently, or improperly registered, and the board of metropolitan police counnissionius shall report the same in an alphabetical list, with the names and residences thereof as registered, to the supervisors of registration of said parishes of Orleans ami Jefferson, respectively, who shall immediately make publication thereof in the ofiQcial journal of the State, with noti(!e to all such jjcrsons to api)eai' forthwith at the office of the supervisor of n^gistra- tiou of said parishes, respectively, and show cause wliy their names should not be erased from tile registry list. If any such person shall ajipear aiul show to flu; satisfaction of the supervisor of registration that he has been unjustly reported as falsely, fraudulently, or improperly registennl, or show other sufficient cause why his name should remain on the registry list, his name shall not be erased; otherwise the supervisor of regis- tration shall cause all names so reported to be erasi'd from the registry list, and no person whose name is so erased shall vote at that election. Si;c. 51. Be it further enacted, cJ't., That the mayors of the cities of New Orleans and Jefferson are hereby prohibited from a[)i)ointing commissioners or (tiiair) [other] ofificers to hold or conduct any election whatever, and from doing any act towa-d the holding or conducting of any (flection. Any mayor who shall do any act contrary to the provis- ions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor in office, and, njion cou- vicf ion thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than three months, ami by a line of not less than three hundred dollars. Auy citizen may prosecute any person violating this section. Sicc. 52. Be it further enacted, tfc, That it shall be unlawful for the sheriffs of the parishes of Orleans, Ji^fPerson, and Saint Bernard, or either of thetu, to appoint auy de- puties to conduct or in auy manner to interfere with the elections in said i)arishe8, or to station auy deputies or their officers at any poll or voting-place or at any office of registration, for the purpose of receiving or carrying the ballot-boxes, or to do any act toward conducting the elections, or toward maintaining or i)reser\ing the i>eace on the day of election. Tlu^ whole care of the jieace and order of the cities of New Orleans, Jeffi'ison, and Carrollton, and in the parishes of Orleans. Jefferson, and Saint IJeruard, on the days of election, shall be in tlu' charge of the metropolitan police, suliject to the orders of the governor. Any sheriff' who shall do any act contrary to the provis- ions of this section shall be deemed guilty of :i misdemeanor in office, and upon convic- tnm theii'of shall bt> removed from oftice. and be imprisoned for not less three nmuths, and lie fined not less than three hundred dollars. Any citizen may prosecute any per- son violating the ])rovisions of this section. Si:c. 5:?. Be it further enacted, iSe., That iunnediately upon tlie close of the \wW% on the day of electiou, the commissioners of electiou at each poll or voting-jdace shall seal CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 145 I lie ballot-box by pastiii";' slips of jJiipcr over tlu^ kcy-liolc and the opening in the toi> ihcrtMil", and tastrniiii;- tlu^ same with sealing-wax on which they shall impress a seal, and they shall write the uanii's of the coniniissioiUTs on the saicl slips of paper; they shall forthwith eonvey the ballot-box so sealed to the office of, and deliver said ballut- box to, the sn])ervi8or of registration for the parish, who shall keep his ofliei; open for that pnrpose from the honr of the close of the election nntil all the votes from the several ]tolls or voting places of the precinct shall have been rec(;ived and connted. The snpervisor of registration shall immediately npou the leceipt of said ballot-box note its condition and the state of the seals and fastenings thereof, and shall then, in the presence of tin; commissioners of election and three citizt^ns, freeholders of the parish for snch i)oll or voting-place, open the ballot-box and count the ballots therein, and make a list of all the names of the persons and ofHces voted for, the nnniber of votes for each person, the unmber of ballots in the box, and the nnmber of ballots re- jected, and the reason therefor. Said statement shall be made in tri])licate, and each cojjv thereof shall be signed and sworn to by the commissioners of election of the poll .-vnd by the sn))ervisor of registration. As soon as the snpervisor of registration shall have made the statement above ])rovided for, for each poll in his precinct or parish, and it shall have been sworn to and. snbscribed as above directed, the snpervisor of registration shall inclose in an envelope of strong paper or cloth, securely sealed, one copy of snch statement from each i)oll and one copy of the list of persons voting at each i)oll, and one copy of any statements as to violence or disturbance, bribery, or eorrnption, or other oli'enses specihed in section twenty-nine of this act, if any there be, together with all menmranda and tally-lists used in making the eonnt and state- nn'nt of the votes, and shall send snch package by mail, properly and plainly addressed, to the governor of the State. The snpervisor of registration shall send a second coi)y of said statement to the governor of the State by the next most safe and speedy mode of conveyance, and shall retain the third copy in his own posses.sion. Skc. 54. Be it further enacted, it'c, That the governor, the lieutenant-governor, the secre- tary of state, and John Lynch, and T. C. Anderson, or a majority of them, shall be the retnrning-ofticers for all electh)ns in the State, a majority of whom shall constitnte a (|in))nm, and have power to make the returns of all elections. In case" of any vacancy by deatii, resignation or otherwise by either of the board, then the vacancy shall he tilled by the residue of the board of retnrning-officers. The returning-otHcers shall, alter each election, before entering upon their duties, take and subscribe to the follow- ing oath before a judge of the supreme or any district court : •'I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or afhrni) that I will faithfully ami diligently perform the duties of a return ing-ofticer as prescribed by law ; that I will carefully and honestly canvass and comidle the statements of the votes, and make a true and correct return of the election : So help me God." Within ten days after the closing of the election, said returniug-othcers shall meet in New Orleans to canvass and compile the statements of votes made by the supervisors of registration, and nuike returns of the election to the secretary of state. They shall euntinne in session nntil snch returns have been completed. The governor shall at such meeting o]>en, in the presence of the said retnrning-officers, the statements of the supervisors of registraticni, and the said returniug-officers shall, from said statements,^ canvass and compile the ridnrns of the election in duplicate. One copy cd' snch re- turns they shall hie in the office of the secretary of state, and of one copy they shall nuxke public proelanuition by i)rinting in the official journal and snch other newspa- pers as they may deem propiM', declaring the nanu's of all persons and offices voted for, the number of votes for each person, and the names of the persons who have been duly and lawfully elected. The ret urns of the elections thus made and promulgated shall be prima facie evidence in all courts of justice and before all civil officers until set aside, after a contest uccortling to law, of the right of any person named therein to hold and exercise the office to which he shall by such return be declared elected. The governor shall within thuty days thereafter issue commissions to all officeis thus decdared (dected who are rei(uired l.y law to lit; commissioned. Skc. r>.'i. Be It further en(iele(I,iSc.. That in smdi canvass and compilation the returning- oflicers shall obsiMve the following order: They shall compile lirst the statcnu'uts from all polls or voting-places at which there shall have been a fair, free and peaceable regis- . tration and election. Whenever from any poll or voting-place there shall be received the statement of any supervisor of registration, assistant snpervi.sor of registration, or eommissioner of election, in form as required by section twenty-nine of this act, on aftidavit of three or more citizens, of any riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, arm<;d disturl)ance, bribery, (M' coiinpt intluences, which picvt'iited or tended to prevent a f.iir, free, and peaceable and full vote of all (iualitied electors entitled to vote at .such l>oll or voting-phice, such returning-otlicers shall not canvass, count, or compile the statement of votes from such |>oll or voting-place until the statements from all other polls or voting-places shall have been canvassed and compiled. The retnrning-officers shall tlieii procc'd to investigate the statements of riot, tumult, acts of violence, in- timidation, armed disturbance, bribery or corrupt iutlnencesat any such poll or voting- H. Ex. 91 10 146 CONDITK^N OF AFFAIR!^ IX [.OFISIAXA. place, and if from tlu> evidence of such statements they shall be convinced that such riot, tunnilt, acts of violence, intimidation, armed distiirhance, hribei'v, orcorni[)t in- tlnenccs did not materially iiitcrfere with the purity and freedom of the election at such poll or votmj^-place, or diroved. Si'X'. ;')(). Be il further enacted, 4c-) That it shall be the duty of the secretary of state to transmit to tlie clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate of the last general assemlily a list of the names of sucii persons as, acitording to the returns, shall have been elected to either branch of the general assembly, and it shall be the duty of said clerk and secretary to place the uaiues of the representatives and .seiuvtors-elect, so furnished, upon the roll of the house and of the senate, resjiectively : and those representatives antl senators whose nanu^s are so placed by the clerk and secretary, respectively, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and none other, shall lie competent to organize the house of representatives or senate. Nothing in this act shall be construed to conflict with article thirtv-four of the constitutiim of the State. Sec. 57. Be it further enacted, tfr., That should any of the r<'turniug-officers nanu-d in this act be; a candidate' for any office at any ele(;tion he shall be disqualified to act as rctnrning-officer for that election, and a majority of the remaining returning-officers shall summon some respectable citizen to act as returning-officer ia place of the one 80 dis(|uaiified. Skc. 5^?. Be it farther enacted, tiV., That any civil officer or other person who shall assume or pretend to act in any capacity as a commissioner or other officer of election, to rciceive or count votes, to receive retnrus or ballot-boxes, or to do any other act toward the holding or conducting of elections, or the nuaking returns thereof, in viola- tion of or contrary to the jirovisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by inqirisonmeut in the penitentiary for a term not to exceed three years nor less than oiu; year, and by a fine not exceed- ing three hundred dollars iu)r less than one hundnd dollars. Skc. r-t). Be it further enacted, m conviction thereof sh.all be punished by a fine iu)t exceeding three hundred dollars nor less than one huTulred dollars, aiul by imiirisoumeut for .a period not exceeding three months nor lt!ss than one month. Ski;, (if. Be it further enacted. .Vc, That any person or persons who .shall counsel, aid. connive at, abi-t, encourage, or participate in any riots, tumults, acts of violence, in- timidation, or armed disturbance at or near the office of any supervisor or assistant supervisor of registration, on any day of registration or revision of registrati(Ui, or at or near any \w\\ m- voting-place, on any day of election, shall be deenu'd guilty of a felony, ami on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hun- rovided l)y the law for jieijury. Sec. 8;{. Be it further enacted, <\'c., That the governor shall take all necessary steps to secure a fair, free and peaceable election ; and shall, on the days of election, have CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 141) piirainount charge and control of the peace and order of the State, over all peace and jiolice officers, and shall have the command and direction in chief of all police officers, l)y wlioinsot'vcr appointed, and of all sheiitts and constables in their capacity as officers of tlic peace. Skc. 84- Ik it further enacted, <|''C., That to defray the (expenses of tlie next revision of registration, and of the next gcuieral election, there is hereby appiopriated, out of any funds in tlui treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of fifty thousand dollars, or so nincli thereof as may be necessary. Skc. f^^i. lU' it fitrlher enacted, cj'-c. That all laws or parts of laws contrary to the pro- visions of this act, and all laws relating to the- same subject-matter, are hereby repealed, and that this act shall take effect from and after its passage. MORTIMER CARR, S2)e(iker of the House of Representatives. OSCAR J. DUNN, Lientenant-dortrnor and President of the Senate. Approved March 16, 1870. H. C. WARMOTH, Governor of the State of Louisiana. A true copy : GEO. E. BOVEE, Seeretary of State. Exhibit E. PROCEEDINGS IN THE STATE COURTS. Injunction issued by Judge Dibble, of the eif/hth district court, against re- turmng and canvassing board appointed by Governor Warmoth. November 14. The following? is the original petition filed by tlie attorney-general in the eighth district court under au act known as the intrusion in office a(;t, to preveut Wharton, Hatch, and Da Ponte, appointed by Governor Warmoth, from acting or assuming to be canvassing officers: The State of Louisiana, on the relation of the attorney-general, and ou the informa- tion of the returning-otiticcrs of elections, to wit, Henry C. Warmoth, Frank .J. Herron, John Lynch, James Longstreet, and .Jacob Hawkins, composing the board of said re- turn ing-officers, has filed a petition in this court representing that the above-named returning-officers of election are duly ([ualified as anvh and for making the returns of the election held in this State on the 4th of November instant; that Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Durant Da Ponte are pretending to be such returning-officers and attempting to act as such, and are interfering with the above-named returning-officers of election in the discharge of their duties as such officers, aiul especially with Frank .1. Herron, James llongstreet, and Jacob Hawkins, and are intruding into and usurping the office of returning-officer of election, contrary to and in violation of law and the rights of petitioner. Wherefore the attorney-general prays that said Wharton, Hatch, Da Ponte be cited to answer his jKitition ; and th.-it after all due proceedings they be decreed to be intrud- ers into and usurpers of the office of returning-officers of election; and that Frank J. Herron, .lames Longstreet, and Jacob Hawkins be decreed to be said returning-officers. The al)ove petition is signed by Simeon lielden, attoruey-g^ueral, and A. P. Field and J. Q. A. Fellows, of counsel. November 15. On the next day the attorney-general filed the following supplemental petition, askiug for an u\]i\nct\on pendente lite : The following supplemental petition of the State of Louisiana, ex rel. attorney- general, on information of F. J. Herron et al. vs. Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Du- rant Da Ponte, has also been tiled. That all the allegations in the original petition are true, aiul in addition thereto that the attempt of the said defendants ro act in the manner alleged in said petition, 150 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA, aud to act as the retuiniiig-otiicers of elections, and to act as snch returning-officer, will defeat the object of this suit, and render nu>^atory the judgnjent therein prayed for, and that an injunction is necessary to prevent such a defeat of the oVyects of this suit, and to prevent the law and the rights of the State aud the jiarties in interest from being violated. Wherefore ))etitioner prays for a writ of injunction against defendants, restrain- ing theui from sitting as retnrning-officers of the late election, and from intruding into and usurping the office of returning-officer of elections, and from interfering with Messrs. Herron, Longstreet, and Hawkins in the discharge or performance of their duties. Judge Dibble has ordered the defendants to show cause on Saturday, the IGth in.stant, at 11 o'clock a. m., why an injunction should not issue as prayed for. Mean- while the doi'eudants are ordered to desist from the acts complained of until the hear- ing aud determination of the rule. The rule nisi for iiij auction came on Saturday, November IG, and was continued to Monday, November 18, and was tried. Judge Dibble ordered tlie injunction to issue, aud ])ronounced the following oral opinion : I Extract i'roin Xew Orleans Times.] The State of Loui-siaua. on the information of the board of retnrning-ofificers vs. Jack Wharton et ah. The argument of this case has taken a much wider range than the decision of the court need consider. It seems that the issue made between these persons claiming to be leturning-officers of election should be determined upon (pies- tions of law, aside from any i)olitical issue that may urge ujiou the attention of the court. A petition has been tiled by the attorney-general under an act known as the intrusion in office act. It sets forth that H. (_'. Warmoth, John Lynch, F. J. Herron, Jacob Hawkins, and James Longstreet are, under the provisions of the general-elec- tiou law, the board of returning-ofiicers of election. It charges that F. H. Hatch, Durant Da Ponte, and Jack Wharton are illegally assunung and exercising the duties aiul functions of the board of retnrning-officers, in violation of law. The ])rayer of the petitioners is that the defendants be decreed to be illegally usurping aud unlawfully intruding into these ofBces, and lh;it there be judgment for the .State, declaring that the State and the persons named and joined with tlie State as plaintiffs be decreed to be the board of returniug-ofiticers of election. This petition has simply been filed, and as yet no plea has been made thereto, but a supplemental petition was filed by the attorney-general joining the persons whom he alleges to be the returuing-officers, iu which he alleges that the defendants are likely to so conduct themselves as to render it imjjossible for the court to execute its jndgment, should it be iu favor of the persons joined with the State, and a prayer is made that the injunction issue against these de- fendants, restraining them from acting as retnrning-officers pendente lite. A rule nisi was ordered, aud we have heard argumeut on this application. To this rule defendants have filed an answer, in which they first plead to the juris- diction. of the court, and, .secondly, traver.se the facts set up by the State in the petition and supplemental ])etition. It is insisted by tin; counsel for the defendants that this court is witluint jurisdiction in this case, because the persons alleged to be returning- ofiicers aud the persons charged with illegally intruding into the said offices are not officers within the meaning of the act know'n as the intrusion into office act, aud that therefore this court has no jurisdiction to determine the issue thiis attempted to be made; but the act known as the intrusion into office act Avas enacted as a substitute for all statutory provisions regulating writs of quo ivnrranio, by which intrusion into common law courts int]uire into the rights of persons claiming to exerci.sethe functu)ns of oflice and franchises: and into the statute by which this suit is brought the right is given to inquire into the right of persons to exercise franchises, a word which has a broad significance, and covers the case at bar. These persons were named officers iu the election law, and are claiming to exercise important functions, iu which the whole State is interested, and iu which the whole people of the State are interested, and it is certainly within thi- jjroviiice of the attorney-general to iufpiire into the right of per- sons claiming to exercise the duties of such offices. 'J'hen passing from the (jnestion of jurisdiction, the defendants make issue with the l)laintifl' upon the (piestions of fact set up iu the pc^tition and su))plemental petitions. The act known as the election law provides that all returns of election shall be can- vassed and declared upon by a board of returuing-officers, to consist of the governor, lieutenant-governor, tin; secretary of state, aud John Lynch, and T. C. Ander.son. It was urged l)y counsel for defendants that the ]trovision of the law naming tho.se gen- tlemen as returning-ofiicers seems to be in violation of that provision of the constitu- tion which vests iu the governor of tlie State the api)ointment of officers. But there is a special provision of the constitution which gives to the legi.shiture of the State the CONDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 151 linlit to tiike away tlie powor of the j>"ovt'riiov to appoint officers not vested in liiin hy tilt! eonstitntion. Then it seems tliat tlie law was valid in assuming to name the persons who shall he the i-etnrninji-ofheers of the State. Tlie defendants in this rule insist \\\)(h\ this condition of facts : Tiiat on the T2tii day of Novemher the hoard of retnrninL;-oflii'ers met ; that all tln^ memhers wijri! jjresiMit, except Thomas C. Andeison ; that they ailjourned to meet on the following; day; that on tliat day they i>roceeded to and did declan^ that Anderson and Pinchback were not iinalilied to sit on the board by reason of havini;' been ('andidati^s at tlie election ; that immediately after this decision Jack Wharton, one of the defendants, came into the room and jiresented a commission for the office of secretary of state, ami exhibitt^d bis oath of office ; that he was thereupon seated as a member of the return inj^- board, and that the board as then constitnteil. consistinn- of the governor, John Lynch, and Jack Wharton, jirocceded to and did elect F. H. Hatch and Durant Da Ponte as members of The returning-board to fill the vacancies existing by reason of the disijiialiHcation of Anderson and Pinchback, and that the board is constituted and is now entithsd to jiro- ceed to canvass the result of the election. On the other hand, it is insisted by the State, and the ]iersoi}s joined with the attor- ney-general, that when the board met on the i;?th day of Novtiuilter, Mr. Heiron was secretary of state, sat on the board as sccriio(l as attorney-goneral, culloit on Mr. Beldeu on Thurs- day, and durinj; that day and I"''riday tlu) latter was busy in makinjj a transfer of the office. Yesterday uu)rnincnoral introduced Mr. Ogdcn as hi.s suc- cessor, and presented liis coinniission. The court, throtigh Chit-f .Justic(! Ludtdiiij;', stated that the application for recogni- tion would he taken under advisenuMit, and requested Mr. Ogth'u t(» present authorities in support of his apjilication. No action will be taken before the next sitting of the couit, which will take place on the 2d of December. This ai)i)licatiou was never passed upon. The validity of the conunissions issued by Governor Warnioth to jtersons returned by the board ai)pointed by him, has not come directly before the supreme court; but, as evidence that the su2)reme court did not recognize such commissions, attention is called to the fact that Sheriff Saniruet was continually recognized as the sheriff of the court notwithslandiuo- the commission issued by Warmoth to W. P. Harper, wlu) was returned by his board. DectMuber 19 Governor Pinchback issued a commission to Mr. Har- ]»er, who was regularly returned by the Lynch board, whereupon Mr. Harper presented his comn)ission to the supreme coui't and was formally recognized. The following account is given in the New Orleans Repub- lican : SUPREME COURT. Sheriff Harper, through his counsel, applied yesterday to the supreme court to be recognized as the civil sheriff for the parish of Orlean.s. Upon examination of hi.s bond by the court, it was observed that it had been ajijiroved l>y the recorder of mortgages anterior to the date of the commission presented for the inspection of the court. The conaaission is issued by Acting Governor li. B. S. Pinchback. The court took occasion to notify Mr. Harper that should he present the bond in ]iroper form, and as required by law, he would be recognized as civil sheriff. The court remarked that they did not recognize his official capacity before the date of his last commission, issued by Governor Pinchback. Attorney General A. P. Field was dul.v commissioned by Governor Pinchback, and was Ibrmally recognized by the supreme court, Decem- ber 17. The following editorial account of such action appeared in the New Orleans lJe[)ublictin, December 18: Altorney-Geueral Field yesterday presented his commission to the supreme, the su- perior, and the first district courts, by all of which he was readily and courteously rec- oguiziMl. In the two first-named tribunals there was nothing beyond the ordinary proceedings in .such cases, but on presenting the commission to Judge Abell, that vet- eran jurist embraced the ojiportunity to indulge in some refl(?ctious u])on the situation. Colonel Field was accompanied by .John Ray, esq,, ex-Attorney-General Beldeu, ex- Judge Duvigneaud, and a uiunber of other old memb(>rs of the bar, who appeared as his personal and professional friends upon thi^ occasion. Judge Abell ordered the com- mission to be spread upon tlu^ minutes of the court, at the same time expressing his gratification that he was to be brought into such close official connection with a man whom he had known and respected so long as he had (Jolonel Field. Their first ac- (luaiutance dated back more than a (piarter of a century, and their intercourse had been uniforndy }»leasant. To this the attorney -geneial responded by complimenting Judge Abell as an impartial and honest jurist, and one in whose Ininds the interests committed to him liy tlie State were safe. After «ome furtlier interchange of eomi)li- ments and a few suggestions in regard to old cases on the docket, tlie interview ter- minated. Judge Abell yesterday ai)pli('d to Governor Pinchback for his conunission, which was readily given. Thus we understand that all the law-oftic(!rs elect of the parish now bold conunissions in proper form, and are entitled to the obedience and respect due to their resi)ectivc iiositions. 154 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Governor WarmotJi's seizure of the courts in New Orleans. It became necessary for Governor Warmotli to seize possession of the eighth district court and the sheriff's office. Accordingly, November 21, he issued commissions to W. A. Ehnore, as judge of the said court, and to W. P. Harper, sheriff, and to other officers. At that time no re- turns had been made at all. War moth, before the United States court, swore that he issued the commissions upon "general notoriety" of the elections of the persons commissioned. On the morning of November 22, Elmore proceeded with an armed mob, and seized the eighth district court before the hour to which the court had adjourned. At the hour of eleven Judge Dibble arrived with Sheriff Saiiirnet, whom he directed to open the court. Both judge and sheriff were then forcibly ejected by the mob under the dire(;tion of Elmore. Judge Dibble at all times subsequently claimed to be judge of the court. The following letter addressed by him to Elmore explains itself: Judge Dibble to Judge Ehnore. New Orleans, December ?,, 1872. Sir: In ordei' that there may be uo misapprehtnision of my position, I liereby give you notice that I still claim to be judge dejure and de facto of the eighth district court for the parish of Orleans. I am now restrained by overpowering force from exercising the functions of my office ; but at the proper time, when the constitution and the laws are respected and obeyed or enforced, I will resume the discharge of my duties. Meanwhile, I consider all acts done by you under assumption of judicial authority as coram non judice. If, when the results of the recent election are legally ascertained, j'ou are found to liave been chosen to the office, I will be the tirst to recognize you. Very respectfully, HENRY C. DIBBLE. Hon. "W. A. Elmore. And the following : [Conimunlcated.] LETTER FROM JUDGE DIBBLE TO THE TIMES. New Orleans, December 5, 1872. Editor Xew Orleaus Times : Your correspondent, who assumes to criticise my letter to Judge Elmore, is mistaken in every particular wliere he attempts to show that I have done anytliing which could be construed into an abandonment of my claim. I did not apply to the suin-cine court for a writ of prohibition. I did not consent that any one should make such an appli- cation for me, and no such application was made in my name or in my behalf. On the contrary, I advis(Ml that such an ajiplication ought not to be made, knowing that the su^jrenu! court is without jurisdiction to issue th(,> writ, except in immediate aid of its appellate jurisdiction. I made no agreenu^nt with .Judge Elmore to submit any such question. I stated to him that if the superior courts would sustain his action, 1 would acquiesce, but until then I should claim to be the judge. I have not ai)pi!ared as counsel or attorney in the eighth district court, or in any other court, eitlmr to move for a continuance or for any other proceeding. An appli- cation for a writ or mandiunus against me, as president of the school board, was pend- ing in the eighth di^strict court. I refused to appear personally to nuike any motion in the case, even in my own l)ehalf. I have never stated that I recognised the right of Mr. Elmore to occni)y the bench of the eighth district court. I have never written a letter to Governor Warmoth or to any one else containing any such statenumt. On the contrary, I said to Governor Warmoth and others that I contemi)lated tendering my resignation. I wrote a letter to that effect, but I afterward reconsidered my determination, and did not send it. My intiMition to resign iuiplird that I clainu'd to be jndgi;. I stated to Judge Elmore, in the presence of one of the editors of tlie Times, that I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS^ IN LOUISIANA. 155 still believed myself to be the .juilge of the eighth district court, but that I would uoc seize the ottice by violeuce ; that I would give hiui due notice of auy action I might propose to take. I regret oxceedinglj- the position I have felt myself bound to assume, but I have done whnt I believed to be ray duty. I hold a public office under the constitution and laws of the State. I- am required by article 122 of the constitution to remain in the discharge of my functions until my successor is inducted into office. No man can be legally inducted into oftice until it has been legally ascertained that he has been elected. In contemplation of law I believe Mr. Elmore has not been elected, and the commission held by him is as absolutely void as if it had been issued to a female, to a minor, or by an ex-governor. Were I to consent to his taking the office, I would be giving countenance to a palpable violation of the constitution and laws of the State. A person who seizes a judicial office by violence, and who holds no other commission than one which imports absolute nullity upon its face, when considered in connection with the laws of the State, and those public acts of which courts take judicial cog- nizance, does not hold office undercolor of title, and is not a de-facto officer. I believe that every judgnumt rendered and order made by the learned gentleman who assumes to ])reside in the eighth district court is null and void. I believe that the courts will so decide when the issue is made and presented. Very resj)ectfiilly, HENRY C. DIBBLE. Tlio supreme court did not recoij;uize Mr. Elmore. At oUe time he refused to execute a decree rendered by them, and he was attached for coiitemi)t, Sheriif Sauiruet serviug the process, aud was committed to prison lor ten days and tined $50. SUPREME COURT. This tribunal was in session yesterday morning. Present— Chief Justice Ludeling and Justices Taliaferro, Howell, and Kennard. The rule for contempt taken by Simeon Belden, attorney-general, on the information of George E. Bovee, secretary of state, against Judge W. A. Elmore aud E. T. Man- ning, clerk of the eighth district court, was decided by imposing a fine of i^oO on .Judge AV. A. Ehnore, and conuuitting him for ten days in the parish prison, and Mr. Planning .$.^)0 tine aud live days in the parish prison. In the matter of the mandamus'case of George E. Bovee vs. the judge aud clerk of the eighth district court, and wherein the writ was made absolute, a copy of the decree of the supreme court in said case was yesterday served upon E. T. Manning, clerk of the eighth district court, ordering aud comnninding him to issue the necessary papers, ordering the civil sheritf of this parish to put the relator, Bovee, in quiet and undis- turbed possession of the office of secretary of state. The clerk issued the papers in obedience to the said order of the supreme court. In the afternoon Judge Elmore was released from prison, having been pardoned by Governor War moth. Elmore obtained an injunction against Judge Dibble. The following is an account of the hearing of the rule from the New Orleans Kepubli- cau: EIGHTH DISTRICT COURT. The eighth district-court room was guarded yesterday morning by a posse of (lei)nty sheriffs, as it has been for stjvtTal days, and their heretofore placid existence snlt'end a sudden and rather startling rii)ple by the entrance into the court-room, at 10.4.") a. m., of Judge Dibble, whose ai)pearance was the signal for very quick movements on the part of the sheriifs. two of whom took up their positions at either entrance to the bench, prepared to heroically defend the portals of that si)0t. Contrary to expectation. Judge Dibble very quietly took a seat outside in the court- room. It now trans]>ired that .Judge Dibble had put in an appearance for the trial of an in- junction suit of William A. Elmore rs. H. C. Dibble, for the possession of the office of judge of this court, fixed for hearing. The petition of Judge Elmore in the case has already been published. The answer of Judge Dibble is as follows: 1. That in order that his riglit may be protecteil in the premises, and in order that he may not render himself liable to be defeated in his rights by a plea of estoppel or 156 CONDITION OF. AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. judicial admission, respondent respectfully insists that the honoral)le judge before whom these proceedings are held is not jiulge de jure of the fifth district court afore- said; respondent fnrther insists, in consonance with the theory of his defense and with a view to the protection of his rigiits, that inasmuch as he. resi)ondent, is de jure anil rfe/rtc/o judge of this court, that uo other district judge can legally or constitutionally preside in this court until this respondent has recused himself, and has requested such otlier district judge to preside in his place ami stead. But now this respondent, with- ' out waiving his own right to resume this ilischarge of liis functions only for the pur- pose of defending this action to be tried, admits that the honorable judge before whom these proceedings are hail is de yVirVo judge of the said fifth district court, by reason of the abandonment of the office by his predecessor, and resyiondeut now formally waives the right which hi; chiims to diisignate the judge who shall act in this case, and in con- sonance with thi; theory of his defense, dec'larcs himself secure herein. Further, respondent stat(^s that he was never legally divested of his right to exercise tlie duties of his ofilice of judge of the eighth district court, and that said Elmore never was legally commissioned ; is therefore occupying such office without authority of law ; ' aud therefore resi)ondent denies that in coutemi>latiou of law plaintiff has been com- missioned judge of this court. Respondent especially denies that plaintiff has ever been inducted into the office of judge of this court, or has ever held said office by color of title on any legal authority. Respondent shows that on the — day of November, 1872, the said plaintiff, aided aud assisted by an armed mob, seized forcible possession of this court, excluded this respond- ent therefrom by violence, aud has held the office by force and violence from that time to this, all of which will Ik; fully and conclusively shown. Defendant flum assuming the position of plaintiff in recouventiou, avers that he is de jure uurevious condition of servitude, and thereby, in consequence of the refusal of the rigid of registration, they were deprived of their votes; and that thege ten thousand \oters thus 158 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. refused, if they had been registered, woidd have voted for the coin- phiinaiit iu this bill as candidate
iu Congress, or member of the State leirislatnre, by reason of the denial to any citizen or citizens wlio shall offer to vot<>, of the rigiit to vote, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitutle, his right to hohl and enjoy sncii ofliee and the emoluments thereof shall not be impaired by such denial ; and such person may biing any ajtpropriate suit or pro- ceeding to recover i)osse8sion of such office; and in cases where it sliall appear that tin- sole (pu'stion touching the title to such ofliee arises out of the denial of the ri<'ht tn vote, to citizens who so offer to vote, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, such suit or proc(Hjding may l>e instituted in the circuit or district court of the United States of the circuit or district iu whicli such i)ersou resides. And said circuit or district court shall have, concurrently with the State courts, jurisdiction thereof, so far as to determine the rights of the parties to such otitice by reason of tlie di'inal of the right, guaranteed by the lifteenth article of amendment to the Con- stitution of the United States and secured l)y this act. Your honor will therefore observe that it is a special jurisdiction con- ferred upon this court, and it is unnecessary for me to refer to authori- ties to establish the proposition that the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States is limited by acts of Congress, and that, although the courts, under the constitutional amendment, may be enabled to exercise a more enlarged jurisdiction than that actually conferred by the acts of Congress, yet the arm of the courts is paralyzed until the jurisdiction which, under the Constitution, Congress can confer is actually conferred by a specitic enactment upon the courts. Therefore, in all cjuestions be- fore the circuit court of the United States, we call upon the])arties who invoke the interposition of those courts to produce an act of Congress under which those courts can exercise the constitutional functions which they propose to exercise or whi('h the parties invoke. Now, what is the jurisdiction confeired ? The jurisdiction is conferred upon the court to give relief — to whom '? To a person who, being a candidate for ofiice, is defeated or deprived of that office in coiise(]uence of the deuild of the right to vote secured by the fifteenth ikmendment to the Constitution of the United States, to wit, the right to vote to persons being ot a certain race, color, or i)revious condition of ser\itude. And the act goes on to declare that such person may bring his suit when it shall api)ear that the sole question touching the title to such office arises out of the denial of this constitutional right. Therefore, sir, I say that no case, either in law or in chancery, can be instituted iu this court for the purpose of obtaining possession of a State office, except upon the sole ground that the right to the office has been defeated by the denial to citizens of the riglit to vote on account of race, <;olor, or i)revious (;(uidition of servitude; that if there be other causes; if there be frauds practiced upon black and white; if there be votes excluded for any other cause than the cause assigned by the con- stitutional amendment, the court has no jurisdiction to iinpiiie into the subject; and, therefore, the only part of this bill which the court of chancery can entertain — supposing it to be a bill which a court of chan- cery can entertain at all — is that part of the bill where it is alleged that citizens have been excluded from voting or registration on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude : and if that be all, and this be a bill to perpetuate tesiimony, upon their own statement the bill 160 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. is unnecessary ; and why ? Because they say — and they have brought the evidence i)etbre your honor — that the evidence has been preserved under tlie act of ('onjiTess, and tliey liave got the evidence in their l)OSsession and we have it not. What do they want a bill of discovery for, when they come in here and tell us " we are defeated by the rejec- tion of ten thousand votes, and we have the evidence in our possession ?" Aiul yet you are to enjoin the governor of this State and the legitimate board from counting votes — not rejected votes, because they could not be counted ; not votes the evidence of which has been annexed to these returns and to be submitted to this fraudulent board; no, but votes the evidence of whi(;h, if tliey be legal votes, they have already in their possession, and now bring into this court, where you are asked to inter- pose to perpetuate testimony. They say there are votes suppresseil. And grant tliat the allegation be made that they are suppressed on ac- count of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, then they are suppressed; then they do not appear upon the returns; then they have not been counted ; then they could not be counted ; then the returns do not show these suppressed votes; then, what do you come liere to discover ? You allege a fraud, not only against the sui)ervisors of registration, (and these are the only peo])le who are charged as combining with the governor to accomplish the stupendous frauds stated in this bill.) but you charge a suppression of votes, which could not be accomplished except tlirougli the connivance of the commissioners of election, not appointed by the governor, and against whom no charge has been uuule. You say they have suppressed votes, for they could not be sup[)ressed in any other way. They have not counted the votes; they could not be counted in any other way but by a refusal to count them by the com- missioners of election. You have alleged a fraud in which four parties must participate, the supervisor of registration as well as the three commissioners of election, without charging fraud against the commis- sioners of election, and you say they have accomplished the suppres- sion of votes, which are. therefore, not stated in the returns now on tile in the governor's otitlce. And yet you say that this court has jurisdic- tion by way of a bill, for the pur[>ose of perpetuating that which the goveriioi* could not by anv possibility have in his possession. Then you say that these returns are to be manipulated, are to be altered, are to be mangled; this could not be on account of race, color, or previous condition. Who is to do this ? You say the governor and his fraudu- lent board, and you want testimony to perpetuate the returns as they are. Look at the law, and your honor will perceive that it is utterly impossible that this fraud should be perpetuated as alleged, and in the mode alleged, without going through the courts of all the districts of this State and destroying there the records of those courts. Section 29 of the election law of 1870 says : That in any parish, prfcinct, ward, city, or town, in which, durinn; the time of regis- tration or revision of registration, or on any day of election, there shall be any riot, tu- luult, acts of vioh'nee, intimidation, armed distnrbance, bribery, or corrnpt influences, at any {dace within said parish, or at or near any poll or voting-place, or phtee of regis- tration or revision of registration, which riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bril>ery, or corrupt intiueuces, shall prevent, or tend to prevent, a fair, free, peaceable, and full vole of all the qualiiied electors of said parish, precinct, ward, city, or town, it shall be tlie duty of tlu' commissioners of election — And here there is no fraud charged against these commissioners — — if sucli riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corrupt iutiuences occur on the day of eh'ctiou, or of the supervisor of registration, or any assistant snjjcrvisor of registration of ilie parish, if they occur during the time of registration, or revision of registration — CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 161 Your honor will observe tliat tlic commissioners of election perform tliis duty ou the day of election, and the supervisor of registration upon the day or at the time of registration — — to make in duplicate, and under f>ath. a clear and full statement of all the facts re- lating tliereto, and of the effect produced hy such riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimi- dation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corrupt influences, in preventing a fair, free, peaceable, and fall registration, or election, and of the nund)er of qualified electors de- terred by fiuch riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corrupt iiiduences, from registering or voting, which statcMuent sliall also bo corrob- orated under oath by three respectable citizens, qualified electors of tlio parish : Wheu such statement is made by a commissioner of election, or assistant supervisor of regis- tration, he shall forward botii copies to the supervisor of registration immediately on the close of the election. The supervisor of registration shall forward one copy of all such statements, whether made by himself, or i)y a commissioner of election, or hy an assistant supervisor of registration, to the governor, and shall deposit ouo copy with the clerk of a district court of the parish. So, sir, we are, of course, to presume that if all these statements have been made, which, under the fifty-third section of the bill, must be statements of that sort to give this returning board jurisdiction to act at all; and if Governor Warmoth should determine to destroy all of these statements, still certitied duplicates are tiled with the clerks of all the district courts of the State, and therefore there is no necessity to perpetuate that testinu)ny. What is there, then, to be x)erpetuated ? Is it the list of voters, or the count, whether fraudulent or otherwise, which has been made by the commissioners of election ? The law pro- vides for triplicates of those — one to be sent to the governor by a special messenger, one to be sent by mail, and the third to be preserved by the commissioners of election. Therefore, there is running through the whole system a preservation of duplicates and records of all these statements, and of all of the counts, and of all of the returns ; and it would be a futile act ou the part of the governor, with a view to defeat a particular candidate for the office of governor, to resort to the crime — the high crime — with which he is charged, of the intention to manipu- late these returns ; and, in addition to that, to destroy and suppress them. And, sir, when you come to consider in this connection that this charge is made by a candidate for the office of governor, and not by a candidate for any other office in the State; when in this connection and in connection with that oflice you come to consider the constitutional provision as to who shall be the ultimate returning-board to determine the election of governor and lieutenant-governor, you will find that this party, before he could institute this suit, as he prolesses or says he intends to do, has a remedy beyond Goveriu)r Waruioth ; has a remedy beyond this returning-board; he must show that their action would be final and conclusive. Their action, so far as he is concerned, so far as the office of governor and lieutenant-governor is concerned, is in no manner obligatory upon the two houses of the general assembly when they assemble, in pursuance of the constitution, to count the votes and decide who is governor and who is not. Article forty-eight of the constitution is as follows: The supreme executive power of the State shall he vested in the chief magistrate, who shall be styled the governor of the State of Louisiana. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the lieutenant-governor, clioscn for the same term, be tdected as follows : The <[ualified electors for representatives shall vote for governor and lieutenant-governor at tlietinu- and place of voting for representatives. The returns of every election shall he sealed up and transmitted by the projjcr return- ing ofificer to the secretary of state, who shall deliver them to the speaker of the house of representatives ou the second day of the session of the general assembly then to be holden. The members of the general assembly shall meet in tin; house of representa- tives to examine and count tlic votes. Tlie person having tlie greatest number of votes for governor shall be declared duly elected ; but in case of a tie vote between H. Ex. 91 11 1G2 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. two or more caiulidates, oue of tluMu sliall immediately be choseu governor by joint vote of the ineniixns of tin; fienc-ral assembly. The person having- the greatest number of votes polled for lieutenant-governor shall bo lieutenant-governor; but in case of a tie vote between two or more candidates, one of them shall be immediately chosen lieutenant-governor by joint vote of the members of the general assembly. Do you tell mo that if tliisrotaniiiijr-board, by any fraud on their part, should dedare Kellogf>- elected or McEuery elected, both houses of the general assembly, wlien they meet, would not have a right, as the con- stitutional board authorized to declare who is elected governor and wlio is not elected governor, to imiuire into these alleged frauds, send for du))licates of these supi)ressed or destroyed returns tiled with the clerk of the courts throughout the State, ami adjudicate on this question of elected rel nonf I Ay ant to know, if they undertook to do so, what tribunal in this land could revise their action? 1 admit, that if they excluded a man's vote on account of race, color, or previous condition, this court, conceding this act of Congress to be constitutional, would have jurisdiction.* But what court could revise the action of the general asseml)ly if the election is declared upon other principles, disconnected with the constitutional amendments "? Here are votes alleged to be fraud- ulent. Here are these returns brought up which are said to have been manijntlated. The general assembly is the court of last resort. This constitutional court, the general assembly of the State, determines all these (juestions, and there is no appeal from its decision, except that conferred by the act of Congress, conceding it to be constitutional, where the right to vote has been denied on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Here this party brings his suit, admitting or alleging in this bill that he is defeated ; and, of course, he alleges that he is defeated at the time he brings his bill, otherwise he would have no right to file his bill. Then he is defeated by the state of things which he wishes to preserve in statu quo; he is defeated b\' the state of things in the governor's office. Take things as they exist, take the official returns, aside from all fraud allegetl in regard to matters i^ertaining to the returns before they reached the governor's office. The bill pro'ceeds upon the theory that the complaiiumt is defeated upon these returns, therefore the destruc- tion of these returns would not hitrt him. He is now and then and there defeated. He proceeds upon the theory that he intended to bring an action as a defeated candidate ; and that, as I understand the bill, the defeat was the result of the ten thousand rejected votes, and the result of the suppression of the numberless votes which he does not undertake to define, and Avhich he alleges have been suppressed by the commis- sioners of election. He not only does not undertake to define these votes, but he does not undertake to state in which parish they were suppressed. According to his allegations, in all the parishes of the State there was not to be found an honest commissioner of election or an honest supervisor of registration ; but that all of them were m com- bination with Governor Warmoth, this ]\[ephistophiles, who had diffused his poison throughout the whole oflicial mind charged with the super- vision of this election, and who so contaminated the soid of everybody Avho had charge of the ballot-boxes, that they violated all oaths ami sup- pressed votes at every poll, the number not given ; but fhe allegation is uutde that the number tlms suppressed would be sufficient to change the residt. Here, then, as I said, is a defeated candidate instituting this suit, being already defeated by the returns in the office of the governor, and whose defeat is based ui)on su])pressed votes that are not. there, upon rejected votes of which he has the evidence in his posses- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 163 sion. And this is styled a bill in chancery to perpetuate testimony ; and this is tiled to preserve evidence in the i>ossession of the governor, of which there are duplicates made uiuler the laws of tlie State and re- corded as retpiired bylaw; for they liave macUi no allidavit here that these couiniissioners did not comply witii the law and record those copies. Xow, then, the fraud cliarged in tlu' bill in regard to the returns in the olFice of the governor is a charge that Governor Warnioth desires to exclude votes, and it is based upon the fifty-fourth section of the elec- tion law, which is as follows : * * * The governor shall at such meeting open, in the presence of the said return- ing-ofliceis. the statements of the supervisors of registration, and the said returnjng- ofticers shall, tVoni said statements, i;anvass and compile tlie returns of the election in duplicate. One copy of such returns tlu\y shall tile in the ofhce of the secretary of state, and of one copy thej^ shall make public proclanuition, by printing in the offi- cial journal and such other newspapers as they nuiy deem proper, declaring the names of all persons and offices voted for, tlie number of votes for eacii person, and the names of the persons who have been duh' and lawfully elected. They have no right to declare who is duly and lawfully elected as governor ; that power could not be delegated to this board under the constitution. The section goes on to say : The returns of the elections thus made and promulgated shall be prima facie evidence, in all courts of justice and before all civil officers, until set aside, after a contest accord- ing to law, of tlie right of any person named therein to hold and exercise the office to which he shall by such return be declared elected. The governor shall, within thirty days thereafter, issiie commissions to all officers thus declared elected who are required by law to be commissioned. This law says that the governor shall issue commissions to all such persons thus declared elected, evidently contemplating that this return- ing-board should only declare the election of those officers who are re- quired to be commissioned by the governor, and all ofticers of the State are recpiired to be commissioned by the governor, except the governor hinj.self, who has no commission from any source. This commission is a imblic declaration of the members of the legislature in general assem- bly convened, announcing the result of the vote. Section 55 reads : That in such canvass and compilation the returning-officers shall observe the follow- ing order: They shall compile, fii'st, the statements from all polls or voting-places at ■which there shall be a fair, free, and peaceable registration and election. Whenever from any poll or voting-place there shall be received the statement of any supervisor of registration, assistant supervisor of registration, or commissioner of election, in form as recpiired by section twenty-nine of this act, on affidavit of three or more citizens — So your honor will perceive that it is only upon the reception by this board of the report required to be made by a commissioner of election, or a supervisor or assistant supervisor of registration, under section twenty-nine, on the affidavit of three citizens, that this board of re- turning officers, of which the governor is the head, is authorized to take any action — — of any riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or cor- rupt influences, which prevented, or tended to prevent, a fair, free, and peaceable and full vote of all ipialified electors entitled to vote at such poll and voting-place, such retnrning-ofiicers shall not canvass, count, or compile the statement of votes from such pole or voti g-place until the statements from all other polls or voting-places sliall have been canvassed and compiled. The returning-officers shall then proceed to investigate the statements of liot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corrupt influences, at any such poll or voting-place ; and if, from the evidence of such statements, they shall be convinced that such riot, tumult, acts of violence, in- timidation, armed disturbance, bribcuy, or corrupt influences, did not materially inter- fere with the purity and freedom of the election at such poll or voting-place, or did not prevent a sufficient number of qnaliiied voters thereat from registering or voting to materially change the result of the election, then, and not otherwise, said returning- officers shall canvass and compile the vote of such poll or voting-place with those pre- 164 CONDITION OF AFFAIES IX LOUISIANA. viously canvassed and compiled; but if said returning-ofBcers shall not be fnlly satis- fied thereof, it shall be their duty to examine further testimony in regard thereto, and to this end they shall have power to send for persons and papers. If, after such examin- ation, the said returning-officers shall be convinced that said riot, tumult, acts of vio- lence, intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery, or corrupt influences, did materially interfere with the purity and freedom of the election at such poll or voting-place, or did prevent a sufticicnt number of the qualified electors thereat from registering and voting to materially change the result of the election, then the said returning-officers shall not caiivass or compile the statement of the votes of such i)oll or voting-place, but shall exclude it from their returns. You will therefore perceive that the onlj' power wliatsoever given to this retiuiiinff-board, is to go through the simple clerical labor of adding together the returns made by the commissioners of election, duplicates of which are filed with the clerks of the courts throughout the State; and the only other jurisdiction which it has is, that when these state- ments are made by the supervisors of registration or the commissioners of election in regard to fraud or violence upou the aftidavits of three citizens, then I say it is constituted a board to investigate and deter- mine upon that question ; and if they come to the conclusion that riot, tumult, or unfair practices prevented a fair vote at any particular ])oll, they do not reject any particular vote, but their jurisdiction gives them only the right to exclude the poll, and exclude all the votes, black and white. There is no discrimination in regard to color. There is no con- stitutional right guaranteed b}- the fifteenth amendment which ap])lies exclusively to the protection of the rights, in regard to voting, of those of a certain race, condition, or color, which this board has any control over. They have no jurisdiction on that subject. It is im])ossible to exercise the jurisdiction conferred in a way to create a case coming under the constitution or under the enactment of Congress. Your honor will remember that this fraud is charged upon hiin with the view, as Kellogg asserts in his bill, that Governer Warmoth desires to exclude votes, and the implication is of necessity that Governor Warmoth will count, unless your honor interferes to prevent this enormous fraud, all the votes and exclude none of the boxes ; for the charge made, thongh twisted and turned with that verbose phraseology which makes it difficult to extract the essence and the idea of the bill, when analyzed, and when you eviscerate the real charge, is, that all of this manipula- tion, suppression, and fraud, is simply with the view to exclude votes, or rather to exclude returns ; and I call the special and particular atten- tion of your honor to that clause of the bill, to show that I have inter- preted it correctly. After describing the conflict between these two boards, the bill goes on to say : * * * That your orator believes, and therefore avers the fact to be, that it is the intention and deliberate plan of the said defendants aforesaid, pretending to act as re- turning-board as aforesaid, to nuike such pretended canvass of votes as shall cftect an apparent defeat of your orator, aiul declare tlie said AIcEnerj' elected as governor of said State ; that to produce said result they will give eii'ect to all such fraudulent cer- tificates and returns as tend to produce such an efi'ect, and tend to exclude from all consideration, count, or canvass, all votes of persons of color that have been supressed or prevented from being cast, 'f * * I have read this extract to show that these returns, even if destroyed, by no means affect the votes rejected or the votes suppressed, because, of course, they are not included in the count or in the returns which are on file in the office of the governor. The bill goes on to say : And your orator further shows that said defendant, H. C. "Warmoth, claiming to bej in possession of the returns of a largo number of tlie supervisors of registration, re-l fused to o])en said statements of the supervisors of registration in the presence of saidi returning-officers, being inlluouced in said refusal, as your orator believes, by the fearl that said retiirning-board would make due and jHOper investigation of the truthfuluessj of said returns and statements. » » * CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 165 Now, the only due ;inreciate these important changes ; granting that he has the right to arrogate to himself that sort of self-complacent satisfaction manifested by the insinuation that we are the Bourbons and he the man of progress, so far as the constitutional theory is concerned — so far as the Constitution has been affected by the amendments ado])ted since the war : yet I can tell him that he forgets that whatever may have been the past, so far as this election is concerned, in respect to the constitu- tional amendments, both parties stood upon the same platform. l>oth parties accepted Jthe fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, and declared that they accepted them in good faith ami honor. Both parties agreed to stand by them. Both parties, one represented by j\[r. Greeley, the great defender of the colored race, and the other by Grant, the repre- sentative of the constitutional amendments, agreed upon this question. Therefore it comes with bad grace from the learnef us who are engaged in the attenq)t to maintain the i)urity of the ballot-box, to assert simi)ly our local rights under a legitimate State government, are forgetting our duty to the Constitution, and will at- tempt to rise before this court and make an argument upon a constitu- tional theory, wluch we concede that the war, iu part, has destioyed, and to which we submit, and which in other i)arts has been changed by the constitutional amendments referred to. lie must think, indeed, that progress lies upon only one side of this case, and that we, who con- ceive that we are right, (although I grant him the same privilege,) are blinded by the prejudices of the past, and are not able to see the case as it is presented bv the light of the nineteeuth century and of the year 1872, instead of 1801. IGf) CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. But still, althougli I say that we are up to the times and recoo^nizei • tbese coustitiitioual chauges, and perceive that there is diliiculty incou-ll sequence of these changes in drawing the line of demarkation between what has been changed and what has not. because the questions are in- tricate, we do not concede that the constitutional government created by our ancestors, by which the States are separated from the Federal Government, and charged with the execution of certain local affairs, while the General Government is classed with our foreign and general domestic affairs — we do not recognize that all these land-marks have been destroyed and broken down by the constitutional amendnu^nts re- ferred to, and that the State to-day, as the counsel sneeringly said, is a miuii('ii)al government, which it was in the power of Congress to destroy if. it pleased ; when the very essence of the Government depeiuls now, as it did when it was first formed, uj)on the constitutional theory that there are States having separate and independent powers, under a gen- eral government which under the constitutional amendments has more enlarged powers than it had before. It is true the Constitution was changed, but it was only changed to the extent of the powers conferred by that instrument and its amendments, all others being, as they were in the beginning, reserved to the States or the people thereof resi)ectively. What really is the eft"ort here, sir? The insinuation in regard to the constitutional power was thrown out for an object. The effort here is practically to have the United States court interpose, when the act of Congress does not give it i)ower to do so, and declare who is or who shall be the legal board of returning-ofiicers for this State; and the ])re- text is that we have corrupted all of the officers of election ; that the men elected have participated in this corruption; that even a candidate whose reputation up to this time has never been assailed in any court of justice or elsewhere, Governor M(;Enery, has participated in these frauds, and your honor has actually enjoined him for the time being — unadvised, of course — from acting as governor of this State. And, sir, when in the face of these alleged frauds we bring in the affidavits of all who are charged with them, denying them ; when there is no evidence whatsoever of such frauds except the allegation made by the comi)lain- ant in his bill; when we go a step farther and say, "^ow you have charged us with fraud, we believe that you desire to get i)ossession of these returns for a fraudulent pun^ose on your part. You have restrained us from counting these votes in the Federal court ; we have restrained you from cart ; and yet this constitutional lawyer, who is up to the progress of the times, calls a constitutiomU function, performed by the chief executive, over which nobody has any control, a coup d'etat ; as if the governor of this State, or of any other State in the Union, could ever be guilty of a coiq) d'etat iu the exercise of his coustitutioual fuuctious. They say that this coup CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. 107 d^etat is to be carried out by a fraud. What fraud, sir, can we commit ? They say that we desire, through the instrumeutality of Hatch, DuPonte, the g-overuor, and Wharton, to perpetrate these euormous frauds on the State. What do we do ? We come in now and lay down our power ; we abandon tlie position where we are enabh'd to commit this fraud ; we surreu(h^r the authority to act as returuiuo-. ofticers of this board, because the repealing act repeals that authority; and, in order to put our act beyond all question, we convoke the newly elected legislature to nominate and appoint officers who shall count these returns and give everybody a fair show. Does that show fraud? The man M'ho occupies the vantage ground, the man who is in i)osses- siou, the man who is enabled by the])hysical power of the State, as the executive, to cari-y out, so far as the State courts are concerned, his objects of fraud, if he desired to do so — that man, when charged with fraud in this court, conies in and says : " To show that these allegations are false, to sliow that they are perfectly baseless, to show^ that these men themselves have entered into a s(;heme to get possession of these votes, in order to defraud the people of this State, I come forward now ; I sign this bill ; I give up my i)ower; I surrender the means of per- petrating the fraud, as you allege; and call in an umpire, a third party, the legitimate tribunal of the State, to select those into whose hands I will confide these returns, and who, openly and before the public, will engage in their can«vass and count these returns." And this is a coup iVetat. Why, sir, there is nothing- on earth that Governor Warmoth could do, for the purpose of protecting the purity of the ballot-box and of these returns, which would satisfy these people, except to surrender them into the hands of — whom ? Into the hands of a board, depending for its existence upon a removed secretary of state, or alleged secretary of state, who is a defaulter; dei)ending for its ex- istence upon a man who, contemplating that his machinations with Lynch would be discovered, apprehended that he would be removed; because on the 8th, a week before he was removed, he goes to Douglass, and employs him to make him a seal of State, to enable him to say that he had the seal of State ; imagining that the notion which prevailed .in old English times, that the party who had the seal ot the State had the otQce, was still in vogue — he goes, I say, on the Sth, in anticipation of the very fact which occurred, in order to defeat the legitimate action of the executive in removing him, and pre- pares this seal, and then, when the question arises, he goes into court, and swears that he has the seal. We proved that he had it not ; and we proved that the only seal was then in the office of the secretary of state, and his own employe had re- fused to deliver the one ordered by him, because he considered it crim- inal to deliver it to a person who did not occupy the position of secretary of state. Because we will not surrender these returns to the board created by this man, and have them counted by him and another man named Lynch, who swears that at the meeting of the board, when the vote was i)ut in regard to Haicih and DuPonte, the governor being present, Wharton being present, llerron being present, and Lynch being- present, he voted "Xo;" when all the other witnesses, interested ami disinterested, swear that he did no sucli thing; that tiie \'ote was ])ut; that Hatch ami DuPonte w-ere declared elected; that they were sworn in ; that Lyn(;h voted neither nay nor yea; that he acquiesced in their being sworn in; that he did not say a word until ai)pealed to by Her- ron to leave, and it was oidy^after repeated importnnities on the i)art of Herron that he snatched up the minutes and left the room. Tliis man, 168 CONDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. Ts^lio comes here before this court and goes before the eighth district court and swears that he voted naj-, (just about as true as the allega- tions contained in this most admirable bill,) because the governor will not surrender the votes of the ])eo]jle of this State to a board createdl bv these two i^ersons who, after all that occurred in the governor's| office, retreated, go before the chief justice and are sworn in, repre- senting themselves as constituting the board ; because the governor will not submit the votes of the people of this State to the scrutiny of such a board, he is charged with fraud, and that, too, by whom! This very secretary of state himself, who was put into the position, he occupied by Governor Warmoth in 1S71, on the removal of George E. Bovee, and now, after he holds the office by virtue of this removal,' after lie has enjoyed it by virtue of this removal, after he has pleaded in the very suit the record of which has been brought before you the legality of this removal, and claimed the possession of the office by virtue of this removal, he turns round and says, when he is removed, that it is a very different thing; that the governor has no power to re- move him, although he had the power to supersede George E. Bovee, who was elected secretary' of state in 1SG8. ]Srow, sir, what has the sujn-eme court of this State said upon the legal status of Mr. Herron ? The record which I referred to before is the one where the lower court adjudicated that the governor had the right to suspend, and an appeal being taken was dismissed, and the supreme court never expressed any opinion upon it; but in the case of Wittgen- stein against Fairfax and Herron they did express an oinnion. Witt- genstein had been appointed assistant secretaiy of state by Bovee, who had been elected secretary of state*. After the election of Bovee, and Herron taking possession of the office, the latter undertook to appoint an assistant secretary of state, an office created by the laws of Louisiana. Tliat assistant secretary of state thus appointed was named Fairfax, and he took the place of Wittgenstein, who was then in the office. There- upon Mr. Wittgenstein sued Mr. Fairfax, claiming to be the legal assistant secretary of state. What does tlie supreme court say upon the subject? The case is number 3005, and the opinion was delivered by Justice Taliaferro on May 23, "1872: The goveruor is without power to appoint a secretary of state, unless a vacancj'^ occur in the otfice, and then only ad hitiTim, as proviilotl by the constitution. Concecl- ing tliiit, in the case of the suspension of the secretary of state from the performance of tlu' duties of tlic office, the governor would have, on general princijiles, the right to ai)point a person to discharge the duties of secretary of state, ujjon which we express no (!])inii)n, the person so nppointeil would be clothed only with ministerial duties, such ' as arise in the usual routine of office business. The secretary of state is vested by law witli the power to appoint an assistant secretary of state. Tiiis is not a mere minis- terial duty. The person charged with the perforiuance of the ministerial duties of the secretary of state, during his snsi)ension from office, is without jiower to remove from otitice, and much less witiiout the i)ower to appoint to odice, an assistant secretary, for the reason tluit he himself is not secretary of state. The appointment of Fairfax to tin? ol'lice of a-;si.stant secretary of state by Herron is therefore nugatory and without ed'ect. Wittgenstein's right to that otlfice was in no manner impaired by the actic n taken in the matter by Herron. Tlie snsjiension of Bovee from office by the governor did not affect the riglit of Wittgenstein to discharge the duties of the oftice of assistant secretary of state, and tlie ejection of the latter from office was without warrant or authority of law. We think the judgment of the court a quo erroneous. !Now, sir, in a matter of this sort, it is not necessary for me to cite authorities to show that the courts of the United States will always fol- low in regard to the construction of State constitutions and State laws in reference to the officers of the State, the decision of the highest tri- bunal of the State. Here, then, is a decision of the sui)reme court of the State of Louisiana, to the effect that all that was effected by the CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 1G9 governor was the suspension of Bovee from tlie discharge of the duties of the office of secretary of state ; that, notwithstaiuling his suspension, he remained and was and is secretary of state ; that the api)ointment of assistant secretary of state beh)ngs to tlie secretary of state; that, therefore, Herron, being appointed by Governor Warmoth during the snspension, was only authorized to discharge the ordinary routine du- ties of the oflice. The appointment of the assistant secretary not being a mere ministerial duty, and Herron not being secretary of state, but Bovee, Herron had uo right to remove Wittgenstein and appoint Fair- fax. There was uo vacancy' in the office of secretary of state, Bovee still tilling it, notwithstanding he was paralyzed by the suspension by tlie governor in executing physically its duties. What is the result ? That this man, who claims to be secretary of state, notwithstanding he got possession by the removal of his predecessor and his own appoint- ment by the governor, was nothing more nor less, there being no provis- ion of the constitution of the State regulating the power of suspension, than a mere clerk, selected by the executive, from the necessities of the case, to discharge the routine duties of the office of the secretary of state, which never was made vacant by the suspension, and which Bo- vee tilled then, and fills now, only his power is paralyzed by the suspen- sion. If this be the proper view taken of this fact, what right has Her- ron, being a mere clerk, to question the power of his master to dis- charge him ? I repeat the word, master. He holds no office ; the secretary of stateship is an office. Bovee holds it in a constitutional view, but he is not discharging the functions of it. Herron discharged them for a time ; he did it as the clerk of the governor. His master \)\xt him there, his master removed him ; he holds no office ; he has no ten- ure ; it is undefined bj' law ; it has no term; it has no legal existence, so far as the statutes of the State are concerned ; and, therefore, it is a temporary employment of a clerk to perform temporary duties. He is in the position of a clerk in a store, whom his employer can at any time discharge ; and yet he goes oft" and has a seal made, as if he was invested by the people of this State or by the laws of this State with the office, which he had a right to hold in spite of the removing power of the governor. Therefore, away with this man Herron, either as to fact or as to legal j)ower. But, sir, what are the facts that occurred when this board assembled? They talk about schemes of fraud on our part. What did they do? On the 12th of November they convoked this board, and immediately Mr. Lynch and Mr. Herron, in pursuance of the scheme they had evi- , dently been concocting, (for I speak by the minutes,) moved that the vacancies in the places of Anderson and the lieutenant-governor, who were incompetent to serve in consequence of being candidates at the election, should be filled. The governor, taken by surprise, seeing the scheme which these parties had in view, fought for a postponement, and after some debate it was postponed to the 13th. The governor, on the 13th, paralyzes this man Herron by removal. They meet at the board ; he calls in Jack Wharton, whom he had appointed secre- tary of state, and who shows his commission. Herron, notwithstand- ing his removal, with the imi)udence of a man who will engage in anything for reward, made an eftbrt to put the proposition that Long- street and Hawkins should be selected. The governor thereupon stopped him, and said, " You have nothing to do here. I propose Hatch and DuPonte." The vote is taken. Herron voted no — so he says; the governor voted yes ; Lynch said nothing. Hatch and DuPonte were immediately called in ; they were sworn in, Lynch saying nothing, still 170 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. H seated at the table. Herron, seeing; t'ley were sworn in and that he no longer conld be of any nse in carrying" ont the scheme which they had in view, calls Lynch away, who takes oflt' the minutes with him, think- ing- tliat the minutes, like the seal, constituted the board, and ]>roceeded to the office of the chief justice to be sworn in as a board, without having convoked the board, without having- asked the governor to as- semble to constitute the board ; and they set themselves up as being the leg-al board. Now, if there is any principle of law that "is well settled, it is the principle which governs this point. I am arguing upon, the supposition that Mr. Lynch did not vote, but that the governor did; admitting that Mr. Jack Wharton did not vote, or was not authorized to vote, though he did. The minutes are that Mr. Jack Wharton voted also ; but throw Jack Wharton out and throw Herron out, then the only two remaining officers were the governor and Mr. Lynch, two legally constituted officers. The one puts a vote, and votes for certain individunls; the other sits silent and says nothing. They are sworn in, and he' says nothing. I say, sir, that that is an election. In 2 Burrows, l^age lOlS, is laid down the following : At this meeting the mayor nominated Mr. Scagrave, which none then opposed. The vote was taken, and nine voted for Mr. Seagrave, after which ten or (as it is said) •eleven protested against any election at all at that time. Bnt mere silence is not a negative, either express or implied, and as no other person was proposed, and nine voted for him and none against him, he w as well elected. That was the argument of the counsel : Lord Mansfield saw no doubt in this case. Here was an assembly duly suunnoucd; one candidate was named — The only names mentioned in this case were those of Hatch and Du' Ponte. Governor Warmoth i)revented any other from being named — — they had no right to stop in the middle of the election. The mayor did not put any question for adjournment, nor was theie any. # » * Lord Mansfield confirmed his former opinion. He said the protesting electors had no way to stoj) the election when once entered upon, but by voting for some other per- son than Seagrave, or at least against him ; whereas here they had only protested against any election at that time. Mr. Justice Wilmot: There was a case of Rex vs. Withers, (Pasch., 8 G. II, B. R.,) wliere out of eleven voters five voted and six refused, and the court there held that tlie six virtually consented. In the case oi' Regina ?'S. Boscaweu, (P. 13, Anne R. R.,) (in Truro,) where ten voted for Roberts and ten for Boscaweu, a non-inhabitant ; the votes given for the non- inhabitant, where inhabitancy was necessary, wore holden to be throwa away. So in the case of Taylor ?-.s. Mayor of Bath, (Tenjj). Ld. Ch. J. Lee, B. R.) Lord Mansfield ; Whenever electors arc present and don't vote at all, as they have done here, they virtually acquiesce in the election made by those who do. That case is again reported more fully in the 1st William Blackstone. Suppose an election should be proclaimed in New Orleans for mayor to-morrow, and we, believing that there is a mayor already elected, or for some other cause do not choose to go to the polls, and it turns out that we are mistaken, and that really an election should have been held to-morrow ; and suppose that two men go to the polls and vote for Mr. A. B., and all the balance of the ])eo])le of the city refuse to go and pro- test against it, those two votes would elect the mayor, notwithstanding the fact that the balance of us protested against it ; for the only mode by Avhich a man can protest against anj^ election is to go to the polls and vote against the candidate [)resented. There is no such thing as protesting against an election : ami the only way in which you can defeat a man is to vote against him, or to put u|> another candidate for whom you ■will vote in preference. Yon cannot say that you will not vote at all, CONDITION OF AFFAIES IN LOUISIANA. 171 because those who do vote will decide the question. You cannot file a long' protest, because protesting is not the way of defeating the candi- date who is noniihated: you must vote in the negative. Tlierefore the principle is, that if all the electors were present in an assembled body, and if only one man votes upon a proi)osition and the others are silent, the proi)osition is carried. And mark, sir, that Mr. Lynch sat still and saw these men sworn in by eTudge Cooley, who testifies to the fact, without making any protest, or undertaking to make any remark upon the subject, without moving any reconsideration of the vote, whicli he had a right to do, I presume, under parliamentary rules. He does nothing of this kind, but simply takes possession of the minutes, after repeated importunities on the part of Herrou to leave the room, and abandons the place where he should have remained to discharge his du- ties there by voting in the negative, moving a reconsideration, or by taking some other step which he might consider necessary to vindicate his rights as a member of that board. He does nothing of that sort, but acquiesces entirely, so far as his conduct is coiu;erned, in what had taken place. Then these people assemble together ; they go before the courts, and they swear that they are in the possession of the offices of commissioners of election — swear, sir, to a fact which is le- gally untrue. I say it is untrue, because they say they are in possession and claim to be what is called the de facto board ; as if, sir, there could be a de facto officer under any government who is not physically in possession of the archives and papers of the office, and who is not physically discharging the duties of the office, and wlio, in the dis- charge of those duties, is not recognized by the highest power — that is, the executive of the State or of the nation, who has the Army and Navy at his back to enforce the exercise of the duties of that office. The de facto officer is the one recognized by the executive of the State, who en- forces that recognition by physical i^ower. That is the de facto officer; that is the one who is in possession. In this particular case this argu- ment api)lies with extreme force, because the very law creating thi^ board declares that the returns of the election shall be transmitted — to Avhom ? To the board f No. One copy to be sent by a special messenger to the governor ; the other to be transmitted by mail to the governor. What is the governor to do? The governor, then, in possession of these returns by law as the chief executive of the State, is called on, and he only, to open those returns in the presence of this board, and submit them to their scrutiny. Tlie governor is thus ve:'.ted with the power of recognition, for the^ board tlnit he opens the votes before is the board recognized by him. The governor, then, is not only vested with the power of recognition, but also witli the physical power of carrying out his recognition; and if the board recognized by him, if the board having the physical power to carry out its orders and decrees, is not the board de facto, I know not, sir, what a de facto officer is. Therefore, so far as that question is con- cerned, I hold that the courts of the United States have no right to de- cide who is or who is not a State officer, and certainly they have no right to do it in a collateral way. Here, in the course of this investi- gation, it may become necesvsary, in another view of the case, to deter- mine which is or which is not the legal board of retnrning-officers. They have no right tohave that question determined collaterally, either in the State courts or in tlie Federal courts. The only way in which the right to office can be tried is by the writ of quo warranto in the Federal conrts, or by a petition, filed by the attorney-general, in the State courts. All courts are bound to recognize the officer in the actual exercise 172 CONDITIOX OF AFFAIKS IX LOUISIANA. of bis office, aud cannot allow tlie question of who is or who is not the le- gitimate ofiQcer to be disi'-ussed or entered into in any suit wherein the qnestiou may come collaterally before them. Is it necessary- for me to refer to decisions to establish that proposition? Is it not a conceded proposition that the right to hold office cannot be tried collaterallj', but that it must be by a direct action aud by writ of fpio tcarranto f I will refer to some authorities : 42 Alabama, 491; 25 Arkansas, 336; and in this State the supreme court decided (in 21 Annual, p. 655) that the right to office can only be contested by a writ or suit brought by the attorney-general; and in Michigan it was held that a writ of mandamus was not a proper proceeding to contest the right to office; and the Supreme Court of the United States (in 3 Wallace, 236) held that the writ of quo warranto could not issue except in the name of the sover- . eigu. That was a case where the officer of a Territory was supposed to be in office illegitimately, aud a suit in the uature of a writ of quo warranlo was bronght in the name of the Territory. The Supreme Court decided that, the Territor}-^ not being a sovereign, the suit should have beeu brought in the name of the United States, and reversed the judgment which had beeu granted in the lower court. In order that your honor may see the extent of that decision, I will read a part of it : The writ of quo warranto was a conimou-law writ. In the course of time it was superseded by the speedier remedy of an information in the same uature. It was a writ of right for the Kiuf>-. In the Euglish courts an infornuition for an offense differs from an indictment chieliy in the fact that it is presented by the law-otUcer of the Crown, Avithout the intervention of a grand jury. Whether filed by the attorney-gen- eral or master of the crown office, aud whether it relates to public offenses or to the class of public rights specified in the statute of 9 Anne, ch. 2U, in relation to which it luay be invoked as a remedy, it is brought in the name of the King, and the j)ractice is substantially the same in all cases. Any defect in the structure of the information may be taken advantage of by demui'rer. In this country the proceeding is conducted in the name of the State or of the people, according to the local form in indictments, and a departure from this form is a substantial antl fatal defect. In \Vallace v. Ander- son this court said that the writ of quo warranto could not be maintained except at the instance of the Government; and as this writ was issued by a private individual, without the authority of the Government, it could not be sustained, whatever might be the right of the prosecutor or the person claiming to exercise the oflice in question. In tlie case of the Miners' Bank c. The Uuited States, on the relation of grant, the intbrma- tion was filed in the name of the United States, in the district court of Iowa Teri-itory. The sufficiency of the information in this respect does not appear to have been ques- tioned. A State court cannot issue a writ of mandamus to an officer of the United States. "His conduct can only be controlled by the power that created him." The validity of a patent for land issued by the United States "is a question exclusively between the sovereignty making the grant and grantee." The judges of the supreme ^^ourt of the Territory of Nebi-aska ai'e a]ipointed l)y the President and continued by wfche Senate of tbi^ United States. The peo])le of the Territory have no agency in a]>- l>oiuting, and no power to renrove them. The Territorial legislature cannot i)rescribo conditions for the tenure or loss of the office. Such legislation on their part would be a nullity. Impeacbnieut and conviction by them would be futile as to removal. The right of the Territorj- to prosecute such an information as this would carry with it the power of a motion without the conseut of the Government from which the appoint- ment Avas derived. Therefore, for this court to enter into a discussion as to who is or who is not the legal returning board, and to determine it in this collateral way, is not only Aiolating the general principle of law that no court cau determine the right to office, except in a direct action, but is violating the farther principle that no other than the government which created the office and appointed the officer can institute the proceedings, no matter what officer it.umy be. This has been decided, under the usurp- afion act, by the supreme court of this State, and this is the law every- where. Indeed, until the usurpation act of 1868 was passed by the legislature of this State, there was no proceeding kuowu to the laws of CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 173 Louisiana by which usurpation into a public office could be tried, the code of practice having coufined the relief exclusively to officers of cor- l»oratioiKS. The article of the code of practice expressly detiiies public offices to be offices emanating- from the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate, or without it, and says that they would be provided for bj' special laws ; but until the act of 18G8 was passed there was no remedy for usurpation of a public office. There was a remedy for a man who claimed to be elected to contest the election iu a particu- lar way, and thus claim the office; but there was no remedy for a man who had been put in possession of the office and was then excluded from it by somebody else, until the usnrpatiou act of 18GS was passed. Therefore, I say, sir, that they are asking you to issue a writ of quo warranto, by an injunction enjoining these State officers from perfoi'm- ing these functions imposed upon them by the law; and to issue an injunction based upon the principle that these defendants are not the legitimate board, would be deciding a question over which you have no jurisdiction, and a question where, in the administration of the law, your honor is bound, like the courts of the State, to recognize the de facto officer until he is displaced by a legitimate judgment in a legitimate proceeding. This power of contesting an election, may it please your honor, is not a judicial power, except in so far as it may have been by ex- press enactment submitted to the arbitration of the court by the legis- lative T>ower of the government. That princii)le, sir, as i)art of the jurispriulence of Louisiana, has been settled bj^ an adjudication of the supreme conrt of this State. [The judge here left his seat for a few minutes. After he had re- sumed his chair, Mr. Semmes continued his argument.] May it please your honor, I had laid down the [)roposition that the power of counting votes incidental to contesting an election, and consequently of bringing suits in regard to contested elections, was not in the nature of judicial power, but that by its nature it was administrative, and only became subject to the judicial authority to the extent to which it had been subjected to the scrutiny of the judiciary by a special enactment of the legislative branch of the government. I tidce and present this view for the purpose of making this application : That if tlie i)ower be of the nature I have described, not in itself judicial, but only made so to the extent to which it has been confided to the judiciary by enact- ments of the legislative department of the government, even tiien it can only be exercised in the manner and in the mode indicated by the legislative department; and the only mode by whi(;h a scrutiny into an election, or by which the results of an election can be inciuired into, ** under this act of Congress, is in a suit instituted by a defeated candi- date, after the result of the election is declared, to recover jwssession of an office, tipon the ground that he was defeated by the exclusion of votes by rea- son of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. And the circuit courts of the United States cannot exercise their power, either by bill in chancery or otherwise, unless the suit be for possession of the office. I hope that I make the proposition understood as elearl^^as I have it in my own mind. It is, to repeat, that it is not in the scope of judicial power to inquire into an election ; that it is in its nature an administra- tive function ; that suits for office, which necessarily involve an investi- gation into an election, did not exist anterior to laws authorizing the courts to nnUvC these investigations, and then otdy to tlie extent which the legislative department had seen fit to authorize tlu\iudiciary to act, and only in the mode in which it is authorized to make such investiga- tions. I will read from 13th Annual (p. DO) the opinion of Judge 174 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Spofford ill the case of the State of Louisiana on the relation of O. S. Eousseau, praying for a mandamus against the. judge of the second judi- cial district court. Tliat was a case where, tlirough an ouiission in our election law, the district courts of the State had beeu granted no power to entertain controversies lookiug to the Judicial scrutiny of votes for the office of Judge of the second Judicial district. Judge Spofford says: If the statntci under which he attempts to proceed does not emhrace his case, he is without a standing in court. The contesting of votes is not a judicial function, only so far as made such by special statutes. Indeed, some may have gone so far as to question whether this is not wholly a matter of administration, which cannot with l)ropriety be referred to the judicial tril)anals at all. At any rate, it is clear tliat such Tribunals cannot usurp any greater control over this business than is specially imposed upon them by law. In the absence of a statutory autiiorization, they are without jurisdiction of the matter, ratio)ie materiw. The consent of parties cannot give juris- diction, and all courts Ixifore whom such an uni',uthorized controversy is brought must decline, ex officio, to render any order which would recognize a right to sustain the case. I have referred to this case to show that this is a special Jurisdiction, the result of special enactments, and can be exercised in no mode ex- cept the mode designated in the statute, and to no extent beyond the limits therein (U^scribed. To enforce that provision there is a principle of law which declares that neither the courts of the United States nor of the State will interfere to control the action of officers charged with the exercise of those public duties which are discretionary in their char- acter. Xow, this returning board, as a board, is a court. The case upon which the court is authorized to decide is made up upon affidavits, sworn to l)y three citizens, accompanied by the statement of the super- visor of registration ; the case is submitted to the board ; they then examine it, and if they think that there has been such interference with the elective franchise as to require that the matter should be really and seriously considered, they form themselves into a court; they are au- thorized to send for persons and papers; they make an investigation, and upon the result of that investigation they announce a judgment, and that Judgment is executed by either rejecting or retaining the poll which has been questioned. Here, then, is a case of the exercise of an important public function, an administrative function by administrative officers, in which the du- ties are not simply ministerial, for the board is invested with a large and most extraordinary discretion. You arc not only asked to enjoin ns as the legitimate board from acting at all, but you are invoked through the instrunientality of an injunction — an injunction njade a part and parcel of a bill for the perpetuation of testimony, a matter unheard of in a court of chancery — to stop entirely the wheels of the State government. I say, without the fear of contradiction, that there was never before a bill to i)erpetuate testimony accompanied by an in- junction. You are asked, sir, to prohibit us from going on and perform- ing these groat administrative public functions; and we contest your right to do f:o, first, upon the specific ground that you cannot investi- gate the right to office in this way, and then upon the general ground that a court of chancery ought not to interfere with the administrative duties of public officers in regard to elections. In 4Sth Illinois, page 481), this question came up. There they wanted to stop the election altogether. And Mhat are you doing here ! This restraining order is stopping the machinery of thisState; thisrestraining order is practically arresting the State government. If the theory for which the learned counsel on the opposite side contend be sustained, that you have this CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN . LOUISIANA. 175 power to interfere, then there can be a declaration of the election made by nobody, one side beinthing about aniendnients. They embraced in one com))rehensive system, under this act 98, all the law regulating the subject of elections in this State, and repealed all other laws on that subject. This, then, is the law of the laud. The second section provides as follows : That five persons, to be elected by the senate from all political parties, shall be the retnrniug officers for all elections in the State, a nuijority of whom shall constitute a qnoi lun, and have power to make the retnrus of all elections. vSo that it creates a board in an entirely different mode from tl)at ado[)ted in the preceding law. That act recognized as members of that board certain parties by name, to wit, T. (J. Anderson, John Lynch, and the governoi', the lieutenarit-governor, and the secretary of state, virtute (\(licii. The legislature itself, I say, selected by name two of the members of this returning-board, and designated certain oflicers as con- stituting the other three. This last actthrows the duty upon the senate of .selecting this board from time to time, and declares that it shall be selected from all political parties. There is no term to the ottlce or to the [)erlormance of its duties. The election must be held by the senate every time a State election takes i)lace; whereas under the old law Anderson and Lynch were permanent members, and the other three Avere members as long as they remained in their })laces as governor, lieutenant-governor, and secretary of state. These are the differences in the constituent elements of the two boards. Your honor will i>er- ceive that this law contemplates at every election a fair return, through the instrumentality of i>ersons selected, for the time being, by each suc- cessive senate. Xow, why is it that this law, which is exi)licit, does not repeal all ])receding acts ' The gentlenmn referred me to a case in the Supreme Court of the United States, reported in 2 Wallace, which has nothing whatsoever to do witli the piinciple involved in this case. What is that case? A pilot, who exercised a certain authority under an act of 18()1, in California, had ])erformed certain duties, for which he was entitled to so much (compensation. A subsequent act repealed that law, and instituted a new mode of i)iloting. He, having i»erformed the services while the previous act was in existence, claimed his com- pensation. The Supreme Couit very correctly decided that the repeal of the law, by which the nuxle of pilotage was changed, in no manner affected his right to his comi)rnsation, which had accrued luider the act which was in force at the time that he rendered the services. I would not contend for the oi)posite proposition. In the course of its decision the Court says : And_ it is clear that the legislatnre did not intend, by the repealing clause in the act of 1SG'4, to impair th(! right to fees which had arisen under the original act of IKil. The new act re-enacts substantially all the i)rovisions of tiie original act relating to ])ilots and pilot regulations for the harbor ot .San Francisco. It subjects the. pilots to similar examinations; it rccpiires like (|uali(ications ; it prescribes nearly the saun; foes for similar services; audit allows halt-pilotage f(^es under the same circumstances as .providt'd in the original act. It a]t)Kars to have been passt-d for the jiurposc of em- bracing within its provisions tlie jiorts of Mare Island and LJenicia, as well as the port I of San Francisco; of creating a board of pilot examiners for the three ports, in place! of the board of jiilot connnissioners for the port of San Francisco alone, and of pro-1 hibitiug the issue of licenses to any persons who •oere disloyal to the Goveriunent of J CONDITION OF AFFAIR8 IN LOUISIANA. 181 the United States. The now act took effcet siinultaneously with the repeal of the first act; its provisions may, therefore, more properly be said to he snhstituted in the ])lac6 of, and to continne in force with modifications, the provisions of the ori<;inal act, rather tlian to have altrogated and annulled them. Tliorofore this is an autliority for sa,viii<»: that if this ohl act is coiitimied ill force at all, in consoqncnce of some of the provisions bcin^' the same in the new act, it is only consiih^red in force witli the in;>tlifications made by the new act; and the most important modification, is that the board is not desig-uated by the legislature as being com posed of the gov- ernor, the secretary of state, and lieutenant-governor, but is to be selected by the senate. If your honor will read the act through, you will And that it was contemplated that it should be put in operation so as to govern the election of 1872. l>ut, sir, it is said that this election is a unit; that the law which was in existence at the time the ballots were cast the legislature has no power to change, so far as the counting of the votes is concerned. In other words, it is contended that the legislature had created a board with power to investigate into the results of this election, which board has been arrested in its action ; and that the legislature, if it were to assemble now, could not put an end to this litigation by an express enactment that these returns shall be submitted to somebody else. Is not that the proposition ? Is not that the ultimate result of the princi- ple advanced! For if the election is such a unit that it is indivisible — that it is, like an immaterial substance, not capable of parts, and that therefore it is utterly impossible to divide it — then the legislature cannot assemble to-morrow (although there is no (luestion about the legality or constitutionality of its assembling) and pass an act which will, in ex- press terms, take this disagreeable controversy out of the hands of the judiciary. Certainly no such coustruction as that will prevail. What, then, is the character of this board I Is it not, as the counsel himself admitted in the opening argument, a tribunal or court of a s])ecial char- acter, constituted for a special purpose, to investigate into and determine these questions in regard to the returns of the election ? The reading of the act will satisfy any inquiring mind that that is the nature of this board ; that it is a court of si)ecial jurisdiction, created for special pur- poses, and exercising discretionary power in particular cases. The su- l)reme court of this State has recognized as a court a similar tribunal, which is charged with the duty of registration of voters. ]Sow, may it please your honor, was it ever heard of in a court of jus- tice, that when a court which is trying a case is deprived of jurisdiction over that case, it nevertheless could proceed to adjudicate it ? AVhy, sir, one of the most remarkable cases tiiat ever oc(mrred in the history of this countiy shows how fallacious the argument is. Do you remember that, under the construction of the Constitution of the United States anterior to the adoption of the eleventh amendment, States might be sued by citizens 1 After that amendment was adopted, the question came up in the Supreme Court of the United States as to the ett'ect of the adoption of that amendment upon the suits then pending in the courts. If you examine the language of the eleventh amendment to the Constitution, you will find that it de;;lai'es that the article shall not le so construed as to apply to any suit of a (Utizen against a State. There is no prohibition ; there is no repeal; it is simply an amendment, that it shall not be so construed. In 3 Dallas, p. 378, the Supreme Court of the United States held that tlie eleventh amendment applied to suits at the time the amendment was adopted as well as to suits brought after it; and therefore that, in the case then pending; the Supreme Court of 182 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. the United States was deprived of jurisdiftion. Again, the Snprerae Oonrt of the United States has held that where an apjjeal is taken from a judgment, which judgment was correct at the time it Avas rendered, because of the hiw then in force, and jiending the appeal the law was repealed, the appellate court is bound to reverse the judgment, because it must be a correct judgment at the time that the final adjudication takes place. That, sir, was decided in the case of Peggy, 1 Cranch, p. 180. Justice Martin, in 17 Louisiana, decided that an action begun under a law and not perfected under it becomes void. Thereh)re, any proceeding begun by these commissioners under this law, and not per- fected under it, is entirely void. That this board is a court, or in the nature of a court, was decieal. (Butler r. Palmer, 1 Hill E., ;Vi4) Tliis rule has been ajiidied in regard to penal statutes, as I shall have occasion heieafter to show : and the same rule has been held as to the cousequeuces of tlie repeal against a civil light, so long as it remains inchoate. Such was the case in tlio case of Miller, (1 Blackstoue K.. 451.) In that case the repeal Avas held to work the same consequences against a civil light. Miller, an imprisoned iusolvent, had been compelled to assign his property, and was entitled to be discharged by an order of the court of quarter sessions as early as the twenty-sixth of September, 1761. But the 2 George III, ch. 2, had already i)assed, re- pealing the conipulsorj' clause — such repeal to take place fiom and after the nineteenth t)f November of that year. The insolvent urged his discharge, but the; sessions ad- journed from time to time till after the nineteenth, then refused to grant it on the ground that the repealing act had taken place. On motion for a mandamus. Lord Mansfield, chief justice, delivered the opinion of the court, and held that no jurisdic- tion now remained in the sessions. He cited the repealing clause, which, to be sure, 'was ^•ery strong, that from and after, S^e., the same is hereby repealed, to all hitcnts (Did 2ii(>'2'»scs uhafnocvcr. But this, according to what was held iu Surties v. Ellison, and other cases on the repealing clause, in Geo. IV, ch. 16, was no more than a simple repeal. The lirst section of the 6 Geo. IV simply lepealed all the previous statutes of bankruptcy ; but by the last section the section was not to take effect till the first of September, 1.^25. And there being no saving clause as to acts of bankrui)tcy commit- ted, or any inchpate proceedings under the former acts, it was held that the court had no power to iuiplv a saving clause, although it was i)lain that by a mere inadvertence in legislation the kingdom was left for a time entirely destitute of its bankrupt law. The couit was pressed for a construction which miglit avert so great a general evil. But Lord Tenterdeii said, " We are not at liberty to break in upon the general rule;" though he admitted that it was very unfortunate that an act of so much importance should have been frauH-.d with so little care. In a previous case Best, C. J., said, that on the first of September all former acts were entirely got rid of. (Meiggs r. Hunt, 12 Moore, ;j,j7, ;}.')'J ; S. C, 4 Bing., 2111) In a sulisequeut case a struggle was made to save a deposition as evidence which had been taken to supjiort a coniiiiission of l)ank- rnptcy under the former statute, ("> (Jeo. II, ch. 'M), sec. 14.) but which deposition did not happen to have been eurolled as that section reipiired, in order to make it admis- sible. A stronger case could not be put. It was in all other respects completely under the former statute : but the party inale repeal : and Lord Ch. J. Tindall laid down the rule aiiplieable to such a case. He said, " 1 take the effect of a repealing statute to be to obliterate it (the statute repealed) as completely from the records of the Parliament as if it had never jias.sed, and that it must be consid- ered as a law that never existed, excejit for the ]>uri)ose of those .letions or suits which ■were commenced, prosecuttd, and coiiLludcd while it was an existing law."' Section 766. It will be perceived that the rule laid down in this and several other CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. 183 cases Las no respect whatever to the circiimstaiiee that tlie repeah'il statute was either of a criminal or jurisdictional charaeter. Nor is it perceived wliy, in cases of civil riiflits, an exception is not just as practieahle in favor of a jnrisdietion given to enforce the right, as to the right itself. On authority tiien, at least, no rigiits arising under the repealed statute can V)e saved except by express reservation in the repealing statute, or wh(!re those rights have been perfected by taking every step which deix-nded for its force on the former act. There is a fall discussiou of the subject, but I extract only the cream, iu order not to detain your honor or fatigue myself by readinu" three or four paj;es of similar law. Your honor need not look beyond this book for all the authorities on the subject, unless there are some which have arisen since the [)ublication of this work. If, sir, I am right in this pro- l)osition, there is an end to this litigation, because tliere is nobody to enjoin. The plaintiff" and defendant are dead. The plaintiff board and the defendant board are " gone where the woodbine twineth ;" and your honor, therefore, is relieved from the necessity of investigating this ques- tion of fraud. But suppose I am mistaken as to that, who brings this suit ? William Pitt Kellogg, a Senator of the United States at the time of his nomina- tion, a Senator of the United States at the time of his alleged election, a Senator of the United States at the time this board was proceeding to cauvass these returns, a Senator of the United States at the time of the institution of this suit, a Senator of the United States at the time of the argument of this cause. Is he iu a position to question this election ? Is he, under the constitution of Louisiana, entitled to this office if elected ^ If not, there is no use in making any investigation as to whether he was or Avas not elected ; for, if he was ineligible at the time the election took place, if ineligible at the time that this suit was instituted, if ineligi- ble now, he has no interest in raising these issues, he has no interest in coming forward and niaking these charges. Your honor will remark that he files his bill uytou the ground that he will at some future day in- stitute a suit to claim the office of governor. It is a promise upon his part which he is not l)ound to fulfill; and if he did violate his promise I don't believe that many tears would be shed in the State of Louisiana in consequence of it. The question presented here is not only one of eligibility under the constitution, so as to reiuler the election as to himi void, but it is also a r of the constitutional article. If I were i)ermitted to roam into the field of imagination, I think I could well picture the views that operated upon the mind of the person who first conceived that article; for it is but a coi)y from other consti- tutions, and preceding constitutions of this State. I can imagine that he might have seen, in the dim vista of the future, a custom-house sur- rounded with Gatlin guns, and United States officials in charge of a republican convention; he might have inuigined a convention assem- bled in some country parish of this State, i)resided over by the United States surveyor of this port, controlled and mauipnhited by the United States marshal, su[)ported by United States employes, from whose sala- ries five per cent, would be exacted in order to be successful in se(;uring the nomination of some chief oflicer of the United States Government. He might have inmgined a convention controlled by ;ive him a right to take the State office upon or after resigning the Federal office. The word " eligible " in this section means capable of being chosen — the subject of selection or choice. That is the bead-note. The article of the constitution referred to is as follows : No person holding any lucrative office under the United States or any other power shall be eligible to any civil otfice of profit under this State : provided, that offices in the militia, to which there is attached no annual salary, or local officers and post- masters, whose compensation does not exceed five hundred dollars iier annum, shall not be deemed lucrative. The court goes on to saj' : The counsel for the appellant contends that the true meanuig of the constitution is that the person holding the Federal office described in the twenty-first section is for- bidden to take a civil State office while so holding the other; lint that he is cai)ablc of receiving votes cast for him, so as to give him a right to take the; State office uiion or after resigning the Federal office. But we think the plain meaning of the words quoted is tlie opposite of this construction. The language is not that a Federal officer shall not liold a State office while he is such Inderal ofiicer, but that he sliall not, while in such Federal office, be eligible to the State office. We understand the word "eligible'' to mean capal>le of being chosen — the subject of selection or choice. The people in this case were clothed witli this power of choice ; their selection of the can- didate gave him all the claim to the office which he has; his title to the office comes from ihcir designation of him as sherilf. But they could uot designate or choose a man not eligible—), e., not capable of being selected. They might select any man they chose, subject only to this exception, that the num they selected was capable of taking what theyjhad the power to give. We do not see how the fact that he became capable of taking" the office after they had exhausted their power can avail the appellant. If he was not eligible at the tinu^ the votes were cast for him, the election failed. We do not see how it can be argued, that by the act of the candidate the votes, whjch when cast were inetiectual, because not given for a qualified candiilate, became eflfectual to elect him to oflice. Can it be contended, that if Grow had not been a citizen of the county or of the State at the time of the election, or had been an alien at that time, that the bare fact that he did so become a citizen at the tinu; he quiilified would entitle hira to the office ? Or suppose a man, when elected, under sentence and conviction for crime — if suclia case can be, supposed — would a pardon before qualification give him a right to hohl the office ? When the words of the constitution are plain, we cannot go into curious speculation of the policy they meant to declare. It may, however, have been a part of the policy of the provision quoted to preveutthe employment of Federal patronage in a State election. Therefore, sir, I say that he has no right to this oflBce, if elected ; 'he has no right to say to the people of this State, " Vote for me at yonr election, and then, if I choose to take the oftice I will take it ; if I choose to put myself in a position to qualify I will do so." It would then be a matter depending entirely ui)ou his own volition. Why, sir, to such an extent is the doctrine carried, that a party must be eligible at the time of the election, that there are decisions of the higli courts in England 186 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. to the effect that votes given for an nnqualified or ineligible candidate, at the time of the election, are votes thrown away, and cannot be counted. In the celebrated case of Gosling vs. Veley et «/., reported in 7 Adolphns «& Ellis, N. S., the coart of king's bench, Lord Deniuan, de- cided that votes given for a person who is notoriously unqualified are votes thrown away, and that the party qualified receiving the next highest nnmber is elected. Tlie same doctrine has been pronounced in the case of The People vs. Clute, reported in October, 1872, where the supreme court of Xew York, after a most elaborate investigation into the case, held that votes cast for a candidate by persons having notice of his ineligibility were void. That is a case in which this wliole doc- trine is examined. I will not tire the court by reading the decision. The point is, tliat ineligibility at the time of the election renders the votes cast for the ineligible candidate void, and therefore he cannot qualify himself for an ofitice to which he is not elected, from the fact that the voies cast for him cannot be counted at all. If that be true, it is l^erfectly immaterial ho\^ many frauds Governor Warnioth and his board may commit, so far as this complainant is concerned. But, sir, suppose I am wrong as to that proposition. I still take the ground that this court's time cannot be encroached upon to adjudicate future riglits which may never arise. If the complainant comes here claiming that this court has equity jurisdiction to issue this injunction for the pairpose of perpetuating testimony to be used in a suit that he intends to bring, he must show that he is in a position to bring that suit; he must show that he is in a position now to stand in court. He could not bring a suit for thfe office of governor as long as he occupies the position of United States Senator, because he has no interest in- volved which would be recognized in a court of justice. If the court should render a decree in his favor he could not take the office, lie is not debarred from the office by denial of tlie right to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; but he is debarred the office by virtue of the constitution of the State, which says that no Senator of the United States sliall hold the office of gov- ernor, or be eligible thereto. He is now, being in the position of Sen- ator, without right to bring this suit, because he is not cai)able of hold- ing the office. Will your honor, therefore, allow the valuabh^ time of this court to be wasted in going info an investigation to determine these momentous (juestions of fraud between these parties, and to determine these momentous constitutional questions, and after you have done so, for Mr. Kellogg to turn around and put the decision in his favor in his liocket and go away from tlie State, because he does not choose to be qualified and resign his office under the United States? It is a different case where a man is qualified at the time of his election. He can go into a court of justice to have his right asserted, and then, if he does not choose to exercise it, it is his business; but his right is a i)ersonal right: it is a vested right. The decision of your honou now would not he in favor of any personal or vested right, or of any existing right; but in favor of a possible condition of things which may or may not arise. It seems to me that, under the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Cross and Du Yalle, reported in 1st Wallace, this court is not going to lose its time ui)Ou the adjudication of prospective, contingent future rights. The book is not here, but I assert the proposition. It was a case where the parties called upon the court to decree what would be their rights on a future contingency; and the Supreme Court of the United States cited with approbation the opinion of Lord Justice Turner, of the court of chancery appeals CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 187 of England, to the effect that tlie time of the court must not be allowed to be wasted in the adjudication of future rigiits, but that the party seeking relief must have some vested right at the time. Now, may it please your honor, I believe I have discharged the duty which was imposed upon me in the opening of this case on behalf of the defense. I have presented all the law which Itlunk we will present, so far as the principles which I contend for have been discussed. What I have to say in conclusion is this: that upon a motion for an injunc- tion, the universal rule in chancei'y is that the court will not intervene to restrain any one from a(;ting merely upon the allegation that certain apprehended frauds are about to be committed, without specific allega- tions and proof, outside of the mere allegations, of the frauds which it is api)rehended the party will commit. I read from 7th Robertson's New York Reports, 280 : The bare allegation of a fear that defeuclant is about to do some act, without alleging the facts and circumstances which prima facie justify such fears, will not authorize au injunction to restrain the commission of an apprehended act. The other principle to which I desire to call the attention of the court is, that on a motion for an injunction, where the affidavits and the an- swer deny all the allegations in the bill, the injunction, if issued, should be dissolved; and, of course, on a rule nisi the injunction should not issue at all. (3 Roberton's X. Y. Reports, 523 ; 26th Maryland, 82 ; 37th Georgiaj392; ith New Jersey.) And where collusion and fraud are charged, the answer of one defendant is considered sufficient for all. Now, sir, that being the case here, we have nothing but the bare allega- tion of VVilliam Pitt Kellogg that the governor and these gentlemen are about to commit these enormous crimes and offenses, in which he charges that a contract was made with every supervisor of registration, before his appointment, to carry out this contemplated scheme by which the voice of tlie people was to be defeated — an allegation, sir, which the statutes of the State prove to be false, because the registration law was l)assed in 1870, which requires the appointment of registrars throughout the State, and of the chief registrar, whose office should continue for two years; and the chief registrar of this State had been in office two years before this election. This complainant, Kellogg, was nominated for office, as sworn to in the answer, in July, 1872, and the i)resum])tion is that the governor of this State exercised his duty under the registra- tion act in the ai)pointn)ent in 1870 of these officers. There is no allega- tion in the bill that he removed those who were incumbents and ])ut in new ones for the i)urj)ose of carrying out and perfe(,*ting this conspiracy. So that the very first allegation in the bill — that the scheme was to control the votes of this State by these fraudulent api)ointments — is un- true, on tlie face of the statute of the State. There is no allegation in the bill, in regard to the election commis- sioners, that these frauds were to be committed by the commissioners of election. Their reiiutation, at least, is unsullied and unstained, so far as this complainant is concerned ; and the frauds in regard to sup- l)ressing votes could not be committed, except through the instrumen- tality or the fraudulent conduct of the commissioners of election. Y'our honor will notice, that of the ten thousand voters alleged to have been ex- cluded from the right of voting, not one single solitary voter has had his affidavit tiled in this case to sliow that he was so excluded on account of rac<', color, or previous condition of servitude. If we are to take the three or four allldavits which I have read as a sam[)le of the five thou- sand which they ;r in belialf of the defendants. I think it may i)e safely said that with sut;h an array of talent, and such ample opptutunity tor prep- aration, if the defendants have failed — as I think ihey have utterly — in their line of argument to show that the court is without jurisdiction, they have left altogether unobstructed the course of reasoning which 190 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. sliows on the part of tliis court a jurisdiction comprehensive and com- plete. Indeeil, so clear is my view of tUis part of the case that I think yonrhonor will be recreant to your duties as a judge, placed here to admin- ister the laws of the United States, if you do not extend the relief asked for, and that swiftly and with all the authority of the circuit court. I say I have enjoyed this discussion. But it does seeui to me that when "we come back from a consideration of the matters to which the ehxjueuce of the defendants' solicitors have taken us, and look at the case before your honor, we shall see how few and simple are the principles really at issue, and upon which this case must be solved. I propose in the tirst place to say a word upon the question of the eligibility of Mr. Kellogg to the office of governor. If the court pleases, this question may readily be disposed of by the simple remark timt, this being a suit in e(iuity brought in aid of a contemplated suit at law to test his title to the oflice of governor; the objection of ineligibility could only with proi)riety be urged in the suit at law. In that suit it will be an issue of fact, to be found by a jury under the instructions of the court. Strictly speaking it is foreign to this case and cannot be here inter- posed ; but the objection has so little weight that for one I should be I)erfectly willing to have it considered now and here in this case before your honor. The language of the provision of the constitution of the State of Louisiana, ui>on which defendants' solicitors rely, is as follows: "No member of Congress or any person holdingoftice under tiie United States Government shall be eligible to the ofhce of governor or lieuten- ant governor." This ])rovision — as has been correctly stated by the learned solicitor, Mr. Hunt, who preceded me — is fouml in the constitu- tions of 1812, IcSlo, and 1852. In the constitution of 1812 there is this difference, that another class of persons are declared not to be eligible, namely, " any minister of a religious society." This clause, "minister of a religious society," was omitted in the constitution of 1815, and in the subse(iuent constitutions. 1 desire to call your honor's attention in this connection to the fact that the constitutions of the other States have a similar provision, varying more or less, but substantially the same. For instance, the constitution of the State of Texas, section 13, article 7, contains the following provision : " No member of Congress, or any l^erson holding an office of tiust under the United States, or either of them, or under any foreign power, shall be eligible as a niember of the legislature, or hold and exercise any office of private profit or trust in this State." Now, if the court pleases, the question is, Avhat do the words " eligible to the office of governor" mean ? The dictionaries give two definitions to the word "eligible" — one, "capable of being elected;" the other, " capable of holding;"' and the (juestion is whether the framersot the con- stitution meant to i)rohibit the i)ersons named from being voted for, or from holding the office. I think the ordinary definition was in the minds of the framers : that they nieant to say that no man shall serve two masters; that no man should be so situated that his allegiance should be divided; that if he was an officer of the United States he should not hold the office of governor of this State. 1 think the noscifur a sodas argument heli)s very much to bring us to this conclusion, for we find that the minister of a religious society was in the first instance within the exclusion. We find that in other States a person holding any office under a foreign i»owei- or a sister State is excluded. 1 think the framers ■were not observing the nicety of the derivative meaning, but they struck at this idea of double masters, of double allegiance, in language which by the popular mind would be well understood to prohibit simply that. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 191 J^ cannot yield my assent to tlie tlieory which has been ])iit forward with so much phuisibility and ingenuity, tliat the object of this provision was to prevent a candidate wlio was a nuMuber of Congress from using- the patronage of that position during the canvass. When we consider that this ])rovision originated in the year 1812, we readily see that such a suggestion would then have had very little force, for I think I am war- ranted in saying that at that time the patronage of a member of Con- gress was scarcely e<]ual to that which is enjoyed by my friend Mr. Clai- borne, the clerk of the district court, which is (;onfined to the api)oint- ment of one or two deputies. The vision, therefore, which haiuited my friend, ]\Ir. Seinmes, of seeing United States officers marshaled to secure a nomination, Avas Ibrever remote from tliis provision. The i»rovision had a meaning which is quite consistent with the words used if we refer to the tenacity with which at that time the doctrine of State rights were held, and the firmness and universality almost with which any encroach- ment upon the sovereignty of a State was resisted. I see in this provision only a prohibition on the part of the State of Louisiana, with more or less of the attributes of sovereignty, tliat no person who held the office under the United States should hold the office of governor or lieutenant-governor. A similar question has repeatedly come before both houses of Con- gress; and they have uniformly held tliat if the disability, whether springing from non-age or participation in the rebellion, did not exist at the time the member proposed to take his seat, that he should be seated. By the Court. There is a historical fact contemporaneous with the adoption of the constitution of 1812 which I will bring to the notice of the counsel on both sides. The late Governor Claiborne was the ter- ritorial governor of the Territory of Orleans, ai)pointed by Mr. President Jefferson. At the time that that Territory was erected into the State of Louisiana he was elected the first governor of Louisiana under the con- stitution of 1812, and tlius passed from the chair of the territorial gov- ernorship into the chair of the governor under the constitution. Mr. BiLLiNas, resuming. Such a contem[)oraneous construction, adopted, as we may say, by the very framers of the constitution, so clearly shows their meaning in this phrase as to take away the necessity of any further argument on that point. I come now, if the court pleases, to the point raised by Mr. Justice Howe, which was in substance that the act passed by Congress in 1870, and the act amending the same, were unconstitutional. His view is, that the provisions of the Constitution known as the fifteenth amend- ment, simply prohibited a State in its capacity as a State from abridg- ing the right of suffrage on account of ra(;e, color, or previous condition. I submit that this was the object of the fourteenth amendment, which provided in substance tliat if any class of iiersons were excluded from voting they should be excluded from the liasis of reiu'esentation in the lower house of Congress. But the fourteenth amendment, as I shall show in another connection, had proved utterly inadequate, and there- fore it was that this all-inclusive, sweeping fifteenth amendment was submitted and ratified. I know not how ('ongress could enforce the fifteenth amendment, did the amendment simply speak of the action of a State. The article of the Constitution which provides a guarantee of a republican form of government to each State bears with it all the force which 'Mr. Justice Howe would attribute to this amendment. I think, therefore, that the object of the provision which we are consid- ering was to reach much further, and prevent any State, through its officers under its laws, or under color of its laws, or under color of any 192 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. of ifs proceedings, from abridging practically — not simply in theory — the riglit to vote. I think this view is conclusively made manifest by the |)receding and contemporaneous events, to which I shall allude in connection with the question of jurisdiction, and that when Congress by such an overwhelming vote enacted this enforcemeut act they were not mistaken as to the scope and meaning of this great amend- nu'nt. I thiidv the object of that amendment was to put it into the power of Congress, by any tneans which they judged requisite, to pro- tect every citizen of every State practically and effectively in the exer- cise of his right to vote. Then we come to the question to which all the counsel have more or less addressed themselves: Has this court jurisdiction of this case? and if it has, by virtue of what statute or what ])art of the statute? In ])resenting my view of this (juestion, I shall call your honor's attention to the laws of Congress which give jurisdi(;tion, and then to tlu' historical facts which go to show what remedies were intended to be afforded by showing what evils existed. In the view which 1 shall have the honor to submit, the jurisdiction of the circuit court over the subject of }»reventing or interfering with the right of any citizen to vote on account of race, color, or pi-evious condition, whether that attempt be made ni the exclusion from registra- tion, from casting a vote, or from having a vote effectively counted, is as complete as is the jurisdiction of the circuit court over the subject- matter of patents. The case has been argued on the other side as though the jurisdiction of the circuit court rested entirely upon the twenty-third section of the original act ; but I think I shall show that there is a much broader jurisdiction in the act and in the amendment. I wish hei'C to read the declaratory parts of the statute. The first sec- tion provides that "all citizens of the (Juited States who are or shall be otherwise (jualitied by law to vote at any election by the peojde in any State, territory, district, county, city, parish, townshij), school district, inunici[)ality, or other territorial subdixision, shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all such elections, without distinction of race, color, or previous condition of servitude ; any constitution, law, custom, usage, or regulation of any State or Territory, or by or under its authority, to the contrary notwithstamling." Now, if the court pleases, that is the key-note to this whole statute. There is the declaration of what the members of Congress designed should be secured; there is the measure of jurisdiction which is given to this court; and all this notwithstand- ing the ))rovisioiis of any State to the contrary. Then we come to the third section : " Whenever, by or under the authority of the constitution or laws of any State or Territory, any act is or shall be requirehen in the opinion of the court lie or she shall be a suitable person for that pur- pose. Section 4 provides that if any apprentice shall leave the employment of his or her master or mistress without his or her consent, said master or mistress may pursue and recapture said apprentice, and bring him 198 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. or ber before any justice of the peace of the county, whose duty it shall be to remand said apprentice to the service of his or her master or mis- tress; and in the event of a refusal on the part of said apprentice so to return, then said Justice shall commit said apprentice to the jail of said county, on failure to ,i>ive bond, until the next term of the coujity court; and it shall be the duty of said court, at the first term thereafter, to investij;-ate said case; and if the court shall be of opinion that said apprentice left the employment of his or her master or mistress without ftood cause, to order him or her to be punished as provided for the punishment of hired freedmeu, as may be from time to time provided for by law for desertion, until he or she shall agree to return to his or her master or mistress : Provided, That the court may grant continuance as in other cases. The vagrant act, Novemher 2-4, 1865. Section 1 defines who are vagrants. Section 2 provides that all freedmen, free negroes, and mulattoes in this State over the age of eighteen years, found on the second Monday in January, ISOO, or thereafter, with no lawful employment or business, or found uidawfully assembling themselves together, either in the day or night time, and all wliite i)ersons so assembling with freedmen, free negroes, or mulattoes, or usually associating with freedmen, free ne- groes, or mulattoes, on terms of equality, or living in adultery or forni- cation with a freedwoman, free negro, or mulatto, shall be deemed vagrants, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in the sum not exceeding, in the case of a freed man, free negro, or mulatto, fifty dollars, and a wliite man two hundred dollars, and imi)risoned at the discretion of the court, the free negro not exceeding ten days, and the white man not exceeding six months. Section 3 gives all justices of the peace, mayors, and aldermen juris- diction to try all (piestions of vagrancy; and it is made their duty to arrest parties violating any provisions of this act, investigate the charges, and, on conviction, i)unisli, as provided. It is made the duty of all .slier- itfs, constables, town constables, city marshals, and all like ollicers to report to some ofticer having jurisdiction all violations of any of the provisions of this act, aiul it is made the duty of the county courts to inquiie if any officer has neglected any of these duties, and if guilty to fine him not exceeding one hundred dollars, to be paid into the county treasury. Section provides that the same duties and liabilities existing among white i)ersons of this State shall attach to freedmen, free negroes, and nudattoes, to support their indigent families and all colored ])aui)ers, and that, in order to secure a supi)ort for such indigent freedmen, free negroes, and nudattoes, it shall be lawful, and it is hereby made the duty, of the boards of county police of each county in this State to levy a poll or capitation tax on each and every freedman, free negro, or mu- latto between 'he ages of eighteen and sixty years, not to exceed the sum of one dollar aniuially to each person so taxed, M'hicU tax, when collected, shall be paid into the county treasurers' hands, and constitute a fund to be called the freednu'irs p;ui[)er fuiul, which shall be applied by the commissioners of the poor for the nmintenance of the poor of the freedmen, free lu'groes, and mulattoes of this State under such regula- tions as may be established by the boards of the county police in the respective counties of this State. Section 7 provides that if any freedman, free negro, or mulatto shall CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 199 fail or refuse to pay any tax levied according to tbe provisions of the sixth section of this act it shall be prima faeieevUleuce of vagrancy, and it shall be the duty of the sliei'ift' to arrest such freednian, free negro, or mulatto, or such persons refusing or neglecting to pay such tax, and proceed at once to liire, for the shortest time, such delinquent tax-i)ayer to any one who will pay the said tax, with the accruing costs, giving preference to the employer, if there is one. ALABAMA. December. — Bill passed making it unlawful for any freednian, mu- latto, or free person of color in this State to own fire-arms or carry about his person a pistol or other deadly weapon, under a penalty of a tine of one hundred dollars or imprisonment three months. Also malv- ing it unlawful for any i)erson to sell, give, or lend tire-arms or ammu- nition of any descrii)tion whatever to any freednian, free negio, or mu- latto, under a penalty of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, at the discretion of the jury. SOUTH CAROLINA. An act preliminary to the legislation induced hy the emancipation of alaves, October 19, 18G5. Section 4 i^rovides : That the statutes and regulations concerning slaves are uow inai)i)licable to persons of color; and although such per- sons are not entitled to social or political equality with white persons, they shall have the right to acquire, ow^n, and dispose of property, to make contracts, to enjoy tbe fruits of their labor, to sue and be sued, and to receive protection under the law in their persons and property. An act to amend the criminal law, December 19, 1865. Section 10 provides: That a person of color who is in the employment of a master engaged in husbandry', shall not have the right to sell any corn, rice, ^leas, wheat or other grain, an}' flour, cotton, fodder, hay, bacon, fresh meat of any kind, poultry of any kind, animal of any kind, or any other product of a farm, without having written evidencn from such master, or some person authorized by him, or from the district judge or a magistrate, that he has the right to sell such product; and if any i)erson shall directly or indirectly purchase any such product from such persons of color, without such written evidence, the purchaser and seller shall each be guilty of a misdemeanor. Section 11 provides: That it shall be a misdemeanor for any person not authorized, to write or give to a person of color a writing which professes to show evidence of the riglit of that person of color to sell any i)roduct of a farm, which, by the section last preceding, he is for- bidden to sell without written evidence; and any person convicted of this misdemeanor shall be liable to the same extent as the purchaser in the section last preceding is made liable; and it shall be a misdemeanor for a person of color to exhibit as evidence of his right to sell any pro- duct a writing which he knows to be false or counterfeited, or to have been written or given by any person not authorized. Section 13 states : That persons of color constitute no part of tbe militia of the State, and no one of them shall, without permission in writing from the district judge or magistrate, be allowed to keep a fire- 200 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. arm, sword, or other military weapon, excejit that one of them who is the owner of a farm may kee}) a shot-gun or ritle, such as is ordinarily used in hunting-; but not a pistol, musket, or other tire-arm or weajjon appro- priate for puri)oses of war. The district judges or a magistrate may give an order under which nuy weapons unlawfully kept may be seized and sold, the proceeds of the sale to go into the district-court fund. The ]>()ssessiou of a weapon in violation of this act shall be a raisde- meanoi', which shall be tried before a district court or a magistrate, and in case of conviction shall l)e punished by a line equal to twice the value of the weai)on so unlawfully kept 5 and if that be not immediately paid, by corporal punishment. Section i-t provides: Tiiat it shall not be lawful for a person of color to be the owner in whole or in part of any distillery where si)irituous liquors of any kind are made, or of any establishment where spirituous licjuors are sold by retail ; nor for a person of color to be engaged in distilling any si)irituous liquors, or in retailing the same in a sliop or elsewhere. A peison of color who shall do anything contrary to the ])rohibitions hereiji contained shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction may be ]>unished by tine or corporal punishment and liard labor, as to the district judge or magistrate before whom he may Ix^ tried shall seem nu^et. Section 22 provides: That no person of color shall migrate into and reside in this State, unless within twentj' days after his arrival withiu the same he shall enter into a bond, with two freeholders as sureties, to be approved by the Judge of the district court, or a magistrate, in a penalty of one thousand dollars, (;onditioned for his good behavior, and for his supi)ort if he should become unable to support himself. An act to estaJ)Ush district courts, December 19, 1865. Courts are established to have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to ap- peal, of all civil causes where one or both the parties are persons of color, and of all criminal cases, wherein the accused is a person of color, and also of all cases of misdemeanors alfecting the person or property of a person of color, and of all cases of bastardy and of all cases of vagrancy not tried before a magistrate. An indictment against a white person for the homicide of a person of color shall l)e tried in the sui)erior court of hnv, and so shall other in- dictments in which a white i)erson is accused of a capital felony affect- ing the person or property of a person of color. Order of General Sickles disregarding the code, January 17, 18GG. January 17, 18G6, ^Nfaj or- General Sickles issued this order: (Geupral Orders No. 1.] llKADQlWHTKli.S DeVAUTMENT OK SoUTU Ca1U)LIXA, January 17, 186G. I. To tlic (Mid that civil rjolits and iimiiniiitifs may be enjoyed ; that kindly ndations auionji the inhabitants of (he Statu may be established; that the rights and duties of the employer and the free laborer respeetively may be defined; that the soil may be (■nltivated and the system of tree labor nndertaken ; that the owners of estates inay be secnie in the i)ossession of their lands and tenenn-nts ; that jtersonsable and willing to work may have employment; that idleness and va'Xiancy maybe diseonntenaneed :ind s as it existed iu the Southern States in the year ISOtl and subsc- queiltly, as taken from their own statutes; and that picture ]»resentert itself be fore Con gre-ss. The thirteenth ainendnuMit had prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude; tlie fourteenth auieudnient had, so to speak, made a conditional offer to iiuluce the States to grant to all the right of suffrage. Yet we see, in the language of (leneral Terry's order, the shackles still npon the freedman; he was still treated as a criminal; was put up at auction and hired out; he was sid)jected to a ditb rent penal code; tried by a different court from a white man— in a word, all was done to impede his progress which could possibly be done. Under these laws, which your honor will perceive had been adopted with a considerable degree of uniformity throughout the reconstructed States, showing a purpo.se at once common and deep-seated, the freed- man would have had little protection to even property or life, nonu)tive for self-elevation, little opportunity for education. He must have re- mained ignorant, poor, and forever removed from the career which, of right, as well as in the interests of the State, should be open to all the 204 CONDITION or AFFAIRS I\ LOUISIANA. i cliildreii of men upon whom God's siinlight falls. It is in some respects a darker picture than that presented by slavery, for it shows the for- mer masters, in spite of the terrific rebukes of Providence, which had come in tlu^ sliape of the plagues of the war, still determined to humiliate and degrade the freedman, still unwilling that he should enjo3' the com- monest rights of the citizen. It was Pharoah still refusing to let the children of bondage go free. Was the remedy, then, proposed by the fifteenth amendment too severe or too far-reaching? Would any thing- less have applied ? Four millions of ])eople were thus helpless before the law; and they were citizens. Could such a state of things continue to exist in a republic ? What would the world say of a country or body-politic which would allow sueh oi)pression in its midst ? What was to be the solution of this diflicult (]uestion ? What could be done in order to provide an effectual cure for this evil? Philanthropy and statesmanship alike demanded a radical and universal remedy — a remedy as potent and plastic as the evil was strongly entrenched and extensi\e. The only salutary and sure cure was to be found in the fifteenth amendment, which guaranteed to all citizens, without distinction of race, color, or previous condition, the complete right to vote, and in the act of Congress passed to enforce the same, which placed the protection of that riglit in the circuit court ; gave the circuit court jurisdiction of all cases arising in law or equity under the act which sought to protect all citizens in their right to vote. Was Congress so short-sighted — can we so impugn their wisdom as to suppose that this significant ehange in the fundamental law of the land, and this extended and lamified statute and the amendment thereto, which were t'ljually searching, that the practical i)rotection to the freed- nien was simjjly that a defeated candidate might bring his quo tear- rantof U this view of the other side be correct, what better illus- tration of the labor of the mountain and the bringing forth of the mouse '] jS'o. That statute, based upon that broad provision of the Constitution, bears with it a force and power which includes every attemjit to de- l)rive the citizen of his vote on account of race by a suit in damages if the attemi)t has been accomplished, and by a i)rohibitory process if the attempt is unexecuted; and that right to vote is made by the statute to extend from the first movement in the way of registration down to the final promulgation of the last officer who should canvass or compile the returns. This, and nothing else, would have been a vindication of the colored man in the Southern States in his right to vote. Tliis was precisely the protection which was secured to him. The language and scope of the act, the purpose, as declaretl in its title and in every line, the broad language in which the jurisdiction is conferred, show that it was designed to have, and does have, an extent of application com- mensurate with the necessitj- which I have shown caused its enactment. This case itself shows the occasion, the object, and the argument for a statute so authorized, so framed, ami so to be construed. Without the jurisdiction vested in this court, 2(),0{)0 frecdmen would be deprived, on account of race, of the right to vote, and the verdi<,'t of the people, as expressed at the i)olls, would practically and I may say overwhelming- ly, be reversed. It is this construction, or there is no available ren)edy for the deliberate and gigantic system of frauds which, as alleged in the bill, covered like a sea this whole State. But, if it were possible, let us for a moment regard this as a mistaken view ; that all Congress intended- was to give a party the right to bring his action in the nature of a (luo narranto to contest the title to oltice; and tliat the fifteenth section of theamendmeutj when it speaks of every CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 205 CRse in law niul ecinity, speaks only of such cases in equity as would in strictness be in aid ot tliis one suit at law. Upon tliat narrow "ground, still tbe plaintiftstands secure. ]\Iy friend ]\Ir. Eustis, in his exceedinf;ly able and subtle argument, seemed to thiidc that the objection that all parties to this suit were citizens of Louisiana was fatal. But after examining- the doctrine as laid elbre the court, deserves, perhaps, a word of explanation. It would seem, from a remark in the opinitm, that the power of the court upon the bill was limited to a case between the jiartiesto the original suit. This was probably imt intended, as any party may file the bill whose interests are effected by the suit at law. I say, then, if we were pushed to maintain this suit simply upon the grouud that it is a suit in equity ancillary to a suit at law, and without which the suit at law would be nugatory, that upon the doctrine of the case just stated the equity jurisdiction is sufficient upon the ground that the court, havingjurisdictiou of the suit at law, and having certain- ly some equity jurisdiction given by the fifteenth section, must have au- thority to hear a suit in equity, whose sole object is to lay the founda- tion for the suit at law. But I put the jurisdiction of the court upon the broad ground that the puri)ose of the statute and the language of the statute wouhl not be answered unless the court had jurisdiction of every case iu e(iuity, arising from a threatened or an acconq)lished infraction of the rights declared and guaranteed by these statutes. Before leaving this branch of the case, I desire to call the attention of the court to an analogous class of cases. This court has jurisdiction of all cases involving i)atents. The subject-matter gives the jnri.sdic- tion. The statute which creates the jurisdiction iu the case of patents 206 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. is siniil.ir to that Avliich gives jiirisdictiou in cases of interference with the ri-ijlit of citizens to vote. The language of both statutes is, in all cases of law or equity arising out of the subject-matter. Xow, if luy brother Hunt institutes a suit against me in this court, and alleges that I am infringing upon his rights under a patent which he holds by as- signment from General Cam^jbell, and the issues in the cases are made up, alrliougli one of the individual issues may be whether the transfer from (leneral Campbell to Mr. Hunt was valid, still that incidental question is carried by the general jurisdiction conferred. In fact, unless the court had jurisdiction of the incidental questions, either of patents or voting, general jurisdiction would be of little avail. And in the case I have i)nt, although ]Mr. Hunt and juyself are both citizens of this State, still, if, to decide the case it became necessapy for the court to pass upon the validity of the assignment along with other issues, it is bound to do so. So, in this case, the court having ju- risdiction by virtue of the subject-matter, if the incidental question has arisen who are the legal board of canvassers, that question must be met and disposed of by the court. It is an incidental question fairly inci- dent to the great matters included within the jurisdiction of the court, and therefore covered by it. I>ut I deny that it is a collateral (juestiou, because, as between the plaintiff in this bill, who alleges that these par- ties are about to violate his right, and these parties, it is a direct ques- tion. True, there might be a suit instituted between this board of canvassers and another, and the issue might there be made as to which was the legal board. But where a party is charged with assum- ing the functions of an office to whicii by law he has no title, and the object of the suit is to enjoin him from exercising the functions of that office in a manner prejudicial or fatal to the rights of the i)laintift', arid the issue is joined on those facts, I deny that that issue is collateral. In a suit between Mr. Kellogg and another person to which this board, alleged to be illegal, were not parties, the issue as to their legality might be liable to the objection that it was set up collaterally, but not here, where they are parties to the suit. Before I leave this branch of the subject I desire to call your honor's attention to the debates in the United vStates Senate upon the passage of this act. (Counsel here read from the debates of the United States Senate in the Congressional (Jlobe of 1S7U.) Your honor will perceive that not alone the republican Senators, but the democratic, seemed to con(;ede, in the discussion, that tliis act not only ai)i)]ie(l to all State ofllicers excepting members of the legislature and Congress, but that even the twenty-third section authorized any pro- cedure which would snjx'rvise, and indeed correct, the canvass of votes. Youi- honor will perceive from what I reant to allow this vast number of peoi)le to be in our midst and to re- main disfranchised. Their former masters had shown a disposition, and possessed the power, to reduce them to a state bordering upon slavery, and having the denial of the rights of freemen if it did nt)t carry with it all the horrors of slavery; tliey had shown a disposition not to re- lieve the oppressed condition of the former slave, or to elevate liim, but had gone upon the old idea that he represented oidy so mu(;h labor. It was a last effort of slavery to retain its virtual power, tiiough under the name and system of freedom. Congress undoubtedly felt, as the civilized world must feel, that if the freedman was ignorant it was not his fault, for he had been compelled to live under a system of laws, as any one will discover by reading the acts of the several slave States, where it was a felony or high offense, severeh' ])uuishal)le, to teach a slave to read ; and I may say here, that that very st«itute prevailing throughout the South, proves that there was at least a desire on the part of the slave to learn to read and write, else why this stringent prohibi- tion! Be that as it may, he was ignorant and helpless; but he had to be protei)lu'ati()n and utility; its summary and grand i)rac- tical application of declaratory principles, the seeds of wliich commenced "with tlie utterances of our Saviour, and which in general enunciations our fathers themselves uttered in the Declaration of Indei)eudence. But it is here practically set out and made a fundamental and structural part of the Government, ami he who reads hereafter the history of this great civil war and of its results, will hnger longest and felicitate man- kind most upon this great bulwark here set up for the protection of all classes and all races. I submit that this case is properly before the circuit court, i>rovided the bill contains such allegations as to bring the case within the purview of the statute as thus expounded. Let us then for a mouient consider what is the object and what are the allegations of this bill. T cannot, as I api)roach tliis bill, refrain from again stating that I feel an increas- ing admiration for the skill which my friend ,Mr, Beckwith, its author, has here shown as a pleader. It seems to me that, with i)ro])riety, it niigiit take its place in our text books as a model of equity pleailing, and that, too, although the subject embraced in it is so new, and this, so far as I know, is the tirst civil case that has arisen under this statute. The object of the bill is this: It has two aspects. It says, in the first place, that the complainant in the bill was the candidate for governor, and submitted himself to the suffrages of the people of this State; that he has been and is about to be deprivc^l of the votes in two ways: first, that voters were prevented Irom registration and subse(pient vot- ing, on ac^count of race, color, and previous condition ; that these votes Avuuld have been cast for him, and, therefore, in law should be regarded by the canvassers as having been cast for him. The second aspect is, that the votes of a certain class of citizens, although allowed to be cast, are about to be excluded from the effective count or canvass on ac- count of their race, color, or previous condition of the voters ; and that these votes so about to be excluded were cast for him ; that unless there is an interference by this court of equity, those votes which were prevented from beijig cast, as well as those which had been cast, will be prevented frym being canvassed. Therefore, he asks that your honor •will issue an injunction and restrain these people, who made the combi- nation elnirged in the bill, from defeating the complainant and from clouding his title. Now, 1 submit that, if I have been correct in the main argument which 1 have addressed to the court, this resum*' of the substance of the bill brings it within the jurisdiction of the court. I say, further, that the allegation of the bill" that it seeks to preserve and perjjetuate these returns, so that they may be used in a direct action at law, gave a substantive and independent "ground of jurisdiction. The case made by the bill is one where ten thousand freedmen have been excluded and ten thousand more freedmen are about to be excluded from voting. It is twenty thousand cases in one. Every excluded vote, every vote about to be excluded, gives your honor jurisdiction. There is a case which concentrates in itself under the allegations the cases COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 209 of twenty tliousaii; tlu-namesot all jiersoiis and otticers voted for,the uuml)erof votes for each person, and the names of thei)eisons who havebeen dulyahd lawfnlly elected. The iitnin of the eh clion thnsmadeand promulgated shall be ;*nHirt/ evidence in. all courts of justice and befoic :ill civil oftii( rs, until set aside altera contest according to law, of the right of any jieixin named therein to hold ami exercise the ottice to which he shall, by such return, be de( hired elected. The goveru(U- shall, within thirtv days thereallir, issue commissions to all ollicers thus declared elected, who are reipiiied ijy law to be ccunmissioned, l^ow, if the court pleases, by a reference to the act approved Novcm- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 211 ber 20, 1872, section 2, your honor will perceive that the five persons who were to constitute a board of returning-oiiicers have precisely the same duties, take identically the same oath, and hold in all respects the same office as the board of returuing-officers uuder the act of 1870. Uy a reference to section 44 of the act last referred to, your honor will perceive that the board of returuing-officers is to make their return to the secretary of state, who shall make a list of the officers elected to the senate and house of representatives, and upon that list the organi- zation shall be made of the two houses ; the language of the statute being that the persons upon the lists made by the clerk and secretary, respectively, in accordance with the foregoing provision, and none other, shall be competent to organize the house of representatives and the senate ; so that your honor will see that if the view pressed by the other side were to prevail, to wit, that the approval of the act ou the 20th of iSTovember, 1872, operated as a repeal of this act of 1870, and abolished the board of returuing-officers, and caused their functions en- tirely to cease, then this state of things would follow — we must have a board of returuing-officers before we can have a senate legally organized, and we must have a senate before we can have a returning-board, for the returning-board niake up the list upon which the senate is organized, and the senate elect the board of returning officers. Is not this puzzle, call it Chinese or any other, the fair result of the reasoning on tiie other sidef It is a dead lock ; there is no extricating the State from the dif- ficulty in which they would plunge us. Nor would it do for the gover- nor to appoint, because the statute authorizes him to appoint, only when thS legislature have designated no way in which the offices are to be filled, and here they have designated the way and thereby excluded all others. I put this question : Suppose that on the first Monday of November, at twelve o'clock meridian. Governor Warmoth, having held this act, against the wishes of all good people of the State, in his pos- session for upward of eight months, and whije the election was going on, having commenced at six in the morning, should have approved this act, what would be the effi^ct ? Can it be said that the election must be suspended? Must it not follow that the various officers, those at the polls and those who canvass the returns, must continue their duties until they are relieved by their successors .' Now, i submit that article 122 of the constitution of the State ot Louisiana was designed and calculated to prevent just such a dilemma. That article is as follows : "All officers shall continue to discharge the duties of their offices until their successors shall have been inducted into office, except in cases of -impeachment or suspension." Now, then, if we concede, for the sake of argument, that the governor could approve this bill on the 20th day of November, 1872, and that thereby it became a living law, and that thereby the old law was re- pealed, the board of returuing-officers must still continue, under the constitution of this State as above cited, to perform the functions of their office until the new board selected in the method pointed out by the new law is inducted into otlice. Any one who reads with care these two acts, that of 1870 and that of November 20, 1872, will perceive that both, in the eye of the makers, were designed to operate upon an elec- tion as an entirety ; upon the i)rc|»:iratory machinery, the actnal casting of the vote, and the uumner in which the summary or result of the bal- lots was to be ascertained. Ail this was sought to be etfected at once ; and weie it necessary the point couhl well be taken that it was not in the power of the governor, by approving this act, provided his approval wouUl have the effect claimed by the other side, to create the confusion 212 CONDITION OF AFFAIES IN LOUISIANA. of liglits wliich would follow, by giving- to bis approval tbe efl'ect daiiiuMl by tbo otber side. The board of canvassers were balf through with their work when the a[)proval was effected. Shall the new board come in and hnish the reniainiiig- half ? Is it not clear that the ordi- nary dangers which attend the canvass of votes, and interfere with the fairness of results, would be a thousandfold aggravated if this division was allowed ; for a division of responsibility would be absolute irrespon- sibility. Article 110 of the constitution provides that '■ no ex post facto or retroactive law shall be passed." Of course, ex post facto laws com- prise all criminal statutes, and retroactive laws are meant to include the statutes upon all civil matters, and is thus clearly put in our consti- tution. It was oidy recently that this retroactive jn'ovision was put in the various constitutions, and the i)urpose of it is clear. If your honor will refer for one moment to the case of the Charles River Bridge against the Warren Bridge, 11 Peters, page 420, it will be perceived that the court si)eaks with regret that a provision like the one under considera- tion was not to be found in the Constitution of the United States. Fortunately, our constitution has that provision, and that of itself ren- dered it impossible for the governor by any act of his, the approval of a law or other act, to divest any vested right. The law could not retro- act; it could only apply to an election where it could apply to it in toto, that is to say, where it could affect the whole of it, where a senate legally convened should have selected, by the method pointed out by the new law, the board of canvassers. In any other view we should have dire confnsion of rights in reference to the persons voted foV, and a hiatus in the governmeut. Indeed,! submit that the logic and argu- ments of our friends on the other side, if pushed to their fair logical conclusion, would lead to this, that the entire election was a nullity, be- cause it is clear that the law-makers never designed to change the method of procedure at the point at which the governor sought by his ill-timed, if not ill-designed, approval to effect the change. Do the other side wish this result? or, rather, do they believe that their chances are better to have this election held as void ? If not, then I submit there can be no division. The canvassers who were charged with the duty of maUing this canvass must com})lete the work. I submit, then, that any other mode of reasoning than the simple one which I have just argued would involve us, as a State, in inextricable embarrassments, and that article 122 furnishes us with the only solution of the whole matter: and we may state the conclusion in this way, conceding all that the other side claim, that the old board of canvassers must con- tinue to act as canvassers until the new one is inducted into office. I am reminded by my friend Colonel Field that a gentleman of rare abilities and great legal lore, ]Mr. Roselius, has given to the mayor an opinion, which has been made public, to this effect: that after a legisla- ture has ceased to exist and another legislature has been chosen, that it is out of the power of the executive to approve an act passed by the defunct legislature; because, he says, with great force, he can do one of two things — he can approve an act, or send it back with his reasons ; but he cannot send it back with his reasons, because the legislature that originated it has ceased to exist. Therefore, he cannot approve it. This view is not uecessaiy to the complainant's case, for 1 think I have shown that the point made by the solicitors on the other side is not well taken ; but this view of Mr. Boselius furnishes another and in- ilependent answer to their objection. Your honor will judge of the rea- son that this opinion bears upon its face ; and T know that great weight CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. 213 will be attaclied by the court to any deliberate opinion of Mr. Christian Roselins. Tliat gieat name is entitled to a wei-^ht which few names are entitled to at the bar of America. His life has been spent here from the agG of eighreen ; he has risen by the force of his genius from obscu- rity to his present great eminence, and he stands today, by consent of the bar of America, in the maturity of his study and liis learning, the very first civil-law lawyer in the countiy, nnd facile princeps in a knowl- edge of the ht to make the boat go the other way. The acts of Lynch and Herron, to be consistent, to be at all reconcilable with their known purpose — a pur- pose admitted by those who tried to testity against them — must have been what they themselves said it to have been, they must have voted for Hawkins and Longstreet. This is the only fact in dispute, and the principle that men must be presumed to act from their known motives settles it. One other point alone remains to be considered in connection with the organization of that board. I can hardly call it a point of law ; it seems to me it should be called a point of force, a point of lawlessness. It is as to whether the governor had theright to dis])lace General Herron as secretary of state, and substitute in his stead Wharton. It is to be re- marked here that both Governor Warmoth and the complainant, so far as the title of General Herron to the ofitice of secretary of state is con- cerned, are in the situation of parties to an ejectment suit, each claiming under the same title. For the purpose of this case. General Herron was dejure as well as de facto secretary of state. Indeed, Governor Warmoth, to be consistent, must contend that he had the highest sort of title, be- cause he had been installed in this ofitice by a police force, a source of title much resorted to by him during his administration. But the story that the executive of this State tells your honor as to the displacement of Gen- eral Herron is this : "I found that General Herron was a defaulter, and thereupon I removed him and appointed another secretary of state," when the very act which authorizes a defaulter to be removed provides that he shall be removed after a judicial investigation and a judicial finding. So that the pretext put forward by the governor for removing General Herron as a matter of law pertaining to this case is too idle to require comment. Viewed as the act of an executive of a State, coming into a court in chancery and solemidy spreading upon the record that he thus disregarded all law in the name of a 'conservator of law, it would merit the severest reprehension, was it a matter proper to be animadverted upon. To my mind, h", might as well and as properly have come into court and stated that he shot General Herron as that he removed him. He would have as much law for shooting as for removing, and I think he takes nothing by this ])oiut ; and the only inference that can be diawn from his attemi)t to remove General Herron is, that he was pcrl'ectly Milling to set aside all law, and that lie did not even claim to be governed in his action as executive by law. I am reminded in this connection of a remark made during the inves- tigation bfore the congressional committee, in the adjoining room, by my tiiend Colonel Carter, who Mas testifying as a witness before the committee. !Mr. Steele was conducting the exiimination. It appeared that Mr. Uovee, the i)redecessor of General Herron as secretary of state, had been elected by the people at the same time with the governor, and his term of ollice was the same; that the constitution provided alike that the governor and secretary of state should be removed by impeach- ment, or the address of two thirds of both liouses ; that Governor War- moth, without any articles of impeachment, without any action of the legislature, without any action of any court, himself decided that the secretary of state had improperly promulgated a law, and, therefore, should cease to be secretary of state, and thereupon by the force of the CONDITIOX OF AFFAIKS IX LOUISIANA. 215 police lie ejected him from the otiice of secretary of state and inducted another in his stead. Said Mr. Steele, " Colonel Carter, what pretext was there for the attempted removal of Mr. Bovee ?" " Well," said Col- onel Carter, " I do not know of any clause of the constitution upon which it is based, but 1 believe they call it the Hupreme executive iwicer:'' Now, if the court pleases, this sui)reme executive power, unknown to the law or the constitution, uncontrolled by constitution or statute, and backed up by police, constabulary and military power, may be defined to be the source of all our woes in this State, and couies i)retty near what in old times they used to call a despotism, and it seems to me that it is an act of a character which an executive would be slow to spread upon the records of this court. 1 wish to say a word about General Uerron. He has been assailed by one of the solicitors on the other side. I know not why. I know his family. I know him personally. I know his record. He is a gentleman by birth and instinct. His family is one of the most respectable in the laud. He is a man of parts, not easily trifled with, and he had a record in the Federal Army, com- mencing, I think, as a lieutenant and ending as a major-general, which, for brilliancy and for the real bravery which it evinces, any man in the world might be proud of. I say this, not that I think General Herrou needs it, but I think it simple justice to him that it should be said. Now, then, accordiug to the facts, as they appear in this case, the governor, Mr. Lynch, and General Herron went on and elected Long- street and Hawkins. These four gentlemen, together with Governor Warmoth, are, it seems to me, beyond all contravention, the board of canvassers of the State to-day. It matters not that the governor has signally failed in his attempt to manipulate the board ; it matters not that it will seriously interfere with all his plans ; it matters not that it will count- men out, and perhaps justly, whom the governor would like to have counted in ; but, accordiug to tlie law and the facts, tliese five men are the legal board of returning-ofilcers. And all the com])laiuant asks for is that this board of canvassers shall be allowed in a proper way to complete its canvass, and fairly ascertaiu the result of this election. Here is a State which has just gone through a general election, and some three or four hundred officers have been voted for by the i)eople, and the whole machinery of the State is stopped siuiply because the governor has failed to make up a board of canvassers as he pleased. All that is asked is, that the clearly legal board shall be allowed to go on with the canvass according to the established laws, and we shall have done with this tremendous disregard of tlui rights of the people, with this tyranny, with this unauthorized, unjustifiable conduct on the part of the executive. We have had quite enough of it, and we never shall swing back into the groove of law and order until we cease to justify or to attempt to avail ourselves of such infractions of law. It is useless to talk about inaugurating reforms through and in the name of such violations. The legal question as to the board of canvassers is, Are these men the legal board ot canvassers? The question, so tar as it concerns the community, is, Shall there be a fair count .' Shall the officers elected be declared to have been elected, or sliall we have this one-man power coming in ui)on us and despotically putting out one board of canvassers and putting in another ? Shall all this avail this executive in a court which is bound to probe to the bottom all iiis claims of law and equity? It seems to me as if the approval of this act referred to was in accordance with the design of the governor, to 216 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. create great confusion in this community, and in the midst of that con- fusion liave liis board of canvassers inaugurated, and to Lave at the meetini: of tlie legislature, which he has convoked, something' very simi- lar to the scenes of last winter, when a cordon of policemen settled the question as to who was or was not a member of either house. Does any man doubt why this act was approved who is familiar with the facts of the times! This law, which all my friends and I myself labored last winter to have passed, and which the i)eoi)leof this State demanded almost at the point of insunection, sliould be i)assed — that this should be aHowed to slumber until the election, wliich it was desired to aflect, had ])assed, and tlien on the 20th day of November it should be ap- proved. Do you think that this was done from motives of public utili- ty, from a desire to advance the public w;eal ? Or was it simply to carry out the private purposes of Henry Clay AVarmoth, in the interest of which this State government has been run for the last two years ? I submit that this act should have no favor from this court ; that it was avowedly to aflect the jurisdiction of this couit, to marshal the votes so that on the Oth of December, by a careful adjustment of the i)olice ami military, he could, upon the assembling of the legislature,|manage things as he pleased. It seems to me that this was the whole intent of his approval. If so, it was not worthy in design, and cannot avail him in any respect to escape the juiisdiction of this court and the authority of its orders. But, your honor, suppose that this court were at this stage of the case to droj) its hands from this action, and that we were to be refused this injunction, and that your honor should take no action as a chan- cellor in reference to the i)reservation of these most imi)ortant records called returns, how would it leave this community — because I cannot listen to gentlemen urging facts outside the case, and trying to press them \\\Hm the court, when it seems to me that all the morale, all the equity, all the n)otives from a high-toned public policy are clearly with the comi)lainant. But what would hapi)en if your honor should refuse us this remedy f ^Vhy, the result would be a repetition of the events of last winter — that a legislature will be atten)pted to be inaug- urated which shall be selected by Governor Warmoth and his police officers. AVill this community stand this? Will the great northern community syn)pathize with it? AN'ill Congress look with favor upon it? AVill the Chief Executive of this nation, charged with the high re- sponsibility of recognizing and determining the ])olitical status of gov- ernments, subject only to the revision of Congress, will he, I ask, allow it? What would it be but ])lunging us anew into these scenes which have so disgraced us, so impoverished us, I might almost say, so i)au- perized us ? How can we get out of these things until with one voice the people say wehavedoneforeverwith this business of the executive suj)rem- acy, with this sui)reme executive i>ower ! For if we are to live under a tyrant, let us at least select him ; and let ns select him as a monarch, with a view to founding a monarchy, which shall at least be respectable. Bear with me while I make a personal allusion: Some reference has been made by two solieitoi's, my friends on the other side, to events which hai)pened at *' liaton Jlouge,'' where my friends i)resented my name as a candidate for the governorship. I have only to say that the events which there transpired and which have since trans])ired here, only satisfy me in a way dearer to me than any other act, of the kindness and sympathy and the inteiest of the people of this community of all classes in my humble self I recollect nothing of Baton Rouge except the gra- tification Avhich that disclosure created; and I should illy repay this CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 217 coiniuniiity, wlio have in all tbings'and with one accord been kind to me, did I not upou every occasion, and especially upon tliis, raise my voice against any attempt at further Mexicanizing this State government. Toward the two parties who were voted for as candidates for gover- nor in the last contest I entertain nothing but the kindest feelings, notliing but tlie most profound res|)ect. I know Coh)nefMcEnery's re- cord well, and it is certainly a most creditable one. Mr. Kellogg ai)pears to me in the fust i)lace as the recognized candidate of the republican party who has, as L believe,- been elected as governor of this State. lie comes also from a position in the senate with a record of which any man in this country might be very jirond. lie has labored for the material interest of this State there, and he has labored for the protection of the proscribed here, and it seems to me he has with distinguished talent done the full measure of his duty as senator. I believe that either Col- onel McEnery or Mr. Kellogg wonld discharge the duties of the ollice of governor with all their ability, and the ability of either is not small. But I would not be willing that either of them should obtain his seat bj' the waywardness and nnhallowed manii)ulation of the law by a despotic executive. In arguing this case 1 feel it is not the case of Kellogg against Warmoth that I am urging, but that of all the people of the State of Louisiana against Henry C. Warmoth. 1 have no personal feelings against Governor Warmoth. Personally, 1 have the kindest feelings towards him. When he was at the age of twenty-four years inaugurated gover- nor of this State, with the tremendous opportunities before him which he then possessed, he had my most hearty sympathy. When he was hissed in the theater, simi)ly because he was elected by the colored votes, he had my outspoken symi)athy. When I saw him, from motives, as I thought, of personally aggrandizing and enriching himself, perverting, and, indeed, subverting the whole system of our government, at a time when, if we had had a good man for governor, we could have had as good a government as they have in Massachusetts; when I saw him doing all this, and when I saw the disasters that, through his conduct, have one after another rolled in upou this State, I could not withhold my voice from speaking against such acts. Let them be continued, and when the next congressional committee meets here and asks a witness as to the value of real estate in New Orleans, instead of stating that he would not take the lower part of the city and pay the taxes, he will say that he will not take the whole city and pay the taxes. In conclusion, I ask your honor, not alone in the name of the rights of Mr. Kellogg, which are so clear and transiiarent, but in the name of the whole people of this State, to save us by the method which in the pro- vidence of God has been put into your hands — to save this community and this State, which I know your honor loves with an endearment which has resulted froui your residence of many years here— to save them from this lawless auil diibiuched rule— to save themfroai this des- potism— to save the State, as oidy it can be saved, by the tirm, fearless, and swift laun(;hing of the mandates of this court against this high- hauded wrong-doer. 218 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Circuit court of the United States, fiftb circuit aud district of Louisiana. CiESAR C. Antoine r. lu equity — Xo. C851. Henry Clay Warmoth et al. j Bill of complaint. DlSTKICT OF LOIISIANA, SS : To tlie judges of the circuit court of tbe United States for the district of Louisiana : Ciesar C. Antoine, of Caddo Parish, a citizen of the State of Louisi- ana, brings this his bill against Henry C. Warmoth, Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, Durant Ha Poute, William Vigers, Charles H.Merritt, Y. A. AVoodward, J). B. Penn, S. Armstead, B. P. Blancbard, tbe board of metropolitan police, a body corporate duly incorporated by the laws of the State of Louisiana and domiciled in the cit}^ of Kew Orleans, ■whereof P. B. S. Pinchback is president, and William Baker, Jas. Reyual, William Eobinson, R. Brewster, and George Baldy are mem- bers; A. S. Badger, superintendent of metropolitan police, and Thos. Isabelle, P. S. Wiltz, J. S. Taylor, J. E. Austin, G. He Ferret, E. Booth, A. Voorhies, A. J. Lewis, B. F. Jonas, T. B. Stamps, H. S. Cage, R. C. White, T. C. Anderson, J. M. Thompson, E. L. Weber, A. S. Herron. Robert Worrell, O. H. Brewster, E. M. Graham, J. W. McHonald, A. H. Leonard, C. J. C. Packet, James G. White, J. F. Kelly, J. J. Millon, and James Timony ; J. A. Shakespeare, J. A, Rice, and J. Finney ; E. Itl. McCaleb, Charles Montaldo, W. B . Barrett, and W. L. Stanford ; T. B. Blancbard, F. C. Zacharie, F. Fusillier, V. O. King, A. Garidal, L. S. Roderiques, John Barrow, John Helaney, William Steven, W. C. Kinsella, C. Kummell, J. B. Eustis, J. McConnell, A. J. Humont, E. L. Bower, E. Riviere, P. Landry, and C. N. Lewis, of Ascension Parish; E. B. Cox and Nunea Vives, of Assumption Parish ; T. J. Edwanls antl W. K. Johnson, of Avoyelles Parish; T. L. Mills, T. Bynum, and J. S. Gardere, of East Baton Rouge; J. L. Lobdell, West Baton Rouge; W. S. Corkeran, of Bienville Parish; W. H. Scanlaud and L. P. Sandedge, of Bossier Parish; J. C. Moncnre, George L. Smith, and J. Sella Martin, of Caddo Parish; \V. H, Kirkman, of Calcasieu Palish ; Thomas J. Humble, of Caldwell Parish ; Paul Jones, of Cameron Parish; George C. Benham and (3ain Sartaiu, of Carroll Parish; Allen J. Davis, of Catahonla Parish; W. F, Moreland and Thomas Price, of Claiborne Parish; David Young and George Washington,- of Concordia Parish ; J. B. Elam and A. F. Stephenson, of De Soto Parish ; John Gair and James Laws, of East Feliciana Parish; James W. Armstead, of West Feli(aana Parish; F. W. Norris, of Franklin Parish; J. H. Hadnot, of Grant Parish; L. A. Siiaen, of Iberia Parish; J. R. Cavan- naugh, of Jackson Parish; E. H. Hubin, William Kern, and C. W. Lowell, di' Jeiferson Parisli ; J. D. Frahan, of La Fayette Parish ; John S. Billim and O. Harang, of La Fource Parish; T. G. Davidson, of Living- ston Parisli ; James R. McDowell, of Madison Parish ; C. C. Davenport, of Morehouse Parish ; E. L. Pierson and W. A. Ponder, of Natchitoches Parish, W. F. Southard, and D. Hill, of Ouachita Parish ; H. Mahoney, of IMaquemines Parish ; J. P. Harris and L. B. Clairborne, of Pointe Coupee Parish ; L. Texada, John J. Swan, and J. P. G. Hooe, of Rapides Parish ; CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 219 E. W. Dewees, of Red River Parish ; IT. F. Vickers, of Richland Parish ; J. F. Smith, of Sabine Parish ; R. V. J)ncros, of Saint Beinard Parish ; M. Hahn, of Saint Charles Parish ; D. K. (Jornian, of Saint Helena Parish ; Henry Deiuas, of Saint John l>ai)tiste Parish ; Benjamin R. Gantt, J. F. Little, E. D. Estilette, and L. D. Prescott, of the Parish of Saint Landry Parish'; Victor Bochou and L. A. Martinet, of Saint Martin's Parish ; James Costello and M, J. Foster, of Saint Mary Parish; J. G. Tate, of Tano-ipahoa Parish ; J. R. Stewart and J. S. Mathews, of Tensas Parish ; J. J. Booles, of Union Parish ; P. Fontelieu, of Ver- million Parish ; J. R. Smart, of A'ernon Parish ; A. C. Bickham, of Washington Parish ; J. P. Shultz, of Webster Parish ; W. A. Strong, of Union Parish ; all citizens of the State of Lonisiana, and inhabit ants thereof; and therenpou yonr orator complains: That in accord- ance Mith the constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana a general election was held in said State in all the parishes there- of on the fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1872, at which election there were, by law, to be voted for and elected, a gov- euor and lieutenant-governor, as well as all olhcers in the executive, judicial, and legislative departments of the government of the State of Louisiana; that at said election your orator was duly nominated for and was a candidate for election by the sullVage of the lawful voters of said State for the office of lieutenant-governor of said State, to which oftice he was and is in all things eligible; that at the same election the said defendant D. B. Penn was also a candidate for election to the same oftice ; that according to the law of the State of Louisiana govern- ing and controlling said election no person ^vas a qualified elector, or entitled to vote at said election, until he had been registered in a list of persons entitled to vote at said election ; tUatthe provisions of the law of said State relating' to registering vested the ai)pointmeut of the offi- cers, whose duty, bj law, it was to register all such voters, in said Ueury C Warmoth; that at all times since your orator (who is a person of color) became a candidate for such election, the said Henry C. War- moth, governor of said State, has repeatedly avered his intention to adopt and use all the means in his power, and to so exercise uidawfullj' and extend his powex, and the power conferred upon him by his position as governor, as to unlawfully defeat the election of your orator; tbat for that purpose and to aid in said scheme, he appointed the said de- fendant, B. P. Blanchard, State register of voters, a person in all things pliable and subservient to his will, and willing in ail things and by all unlawful means to aid and assist the said Henry C. Warmoth in exe- cuting his said plans and schemes; that he also, in the appointment of au[)ervisors of registration, and assistant supervisors of registration, so selected persons for said olhces as to obtain tbose also [)liable to his will, and who would concur with and aid him in the execution of his unlaw- ful plans and fraudulent devices. To that end and for that purpose, your orator is advised, intbrmed, and verily believes, the said Henry C. War- moth did especially make it a condition i)recedent to the appointment of such officers, that they should in all things, and by all unlawful means within their ])ower, assist in the accomplishment of said ends; and your orator further saitli that one of the unlawful devices, plans, ami' schemes of the said defendant Henry C. Warmoth was through the instrumentality of h\^ said officers, and with their aid and by the pretended aid of laws of the State to disfranchise a large number of the citizens of the State of Louisiana of African descent, in all respects lawfully entitled to the franchise, by refusing to register the said citi- zens upon the list of registered voters, by reason of their race and color, 220 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. / and by such means to deprive your orator of tlie vote of a large uiimber / of tbc citizens of tbe State, wbich votes, if tlie same bad been permitted to be cast and deposited in tbe ballpt-baxes, wouhl liave been cast in favor of yonr orator; tbat in the execution of, and carrying out of, said sebeuie tbe said Henry C, AVarmotb and bis said confederates were [ so far successful as to i)revent tbe registration upon tbe lists of regis- 1 tered voters of a large inunber of persons lawlblly entitled to vote. 1 Tbat your orator verily believes tbat at least ten thousand voters were \^o refused or prevented from registration. And .your orator further shows unto your honors tbat after tbe time for registration of Voters in said State, immediately prior to said election, bad exi)ired, the said II. C. Warmotb and bis said confederates, in order to further etfect and carry out their said unlawful schemes to deprive your orator of bis election to said oflice of lieutenant-governor, not con- tent with having deprived said citizens of the opportunity and right of registration, afterward, and on the day of said election, when said per- / sons so refused registration as aforesaid ottered to deposit their ballots ' for your orator in the ballot-boxes at tbe place of election, did cause them to be refused tbe right to deposit said ballots, to the injury of your orator. That your orator is in i)ossession of evidence of that fact, pre- \served under tbe provisions of the act of Congress approved IMay 31, 1870, entitled, "An act to enforce the right of citizens of tbe United States to vote in the several States of this Union, and for other pur- poses," and the acts amendatory thereto, and your orator avers that he is informed and verily believes tbat the number of persons of color and of African descent who, on the day of said election, so ottered todeposit their ballots for your orator in the ballot-boxes at the various polling- places in the State of Louisiana, would fully amount to ten thousand persons, and that the persons so ottering said baUots were in each and every instance persons of color, and were refused the right of franchise on account of race and color. And your orator, further complaining, shows unto your honors tbat be has reason to believe and does believe that on the day of said election a large number of citizens of tbe State of Louisiana, in all things duly entitled to and qualilied to vote, did on tbe day of said election dei)Osit their ballots in the ballot-boxes for your orator for said ottice, and their ballots should in law and justice have been counted for your orator as tending toward establishing his election to said ottice, and that said bal- lots, after the same had been so cast and deposited, v.ere excluded from count and consideration, and that tbe said defendant Henry C. War- moth, conspiring and combining with the said defendant B. P. Blan- chard, and with tbe supervisois and assistant supervisors of registration by him so ap})ointed as aforesaid, has caused a dishonest, incorrect, and false count of the votes cast in tlie several parishes of said State at said election, and has ialsified and caused false, untrue, and fraudulent returns and ccrtilicates of tbe result and canvass of the votes cast in the several parishes in said State at said election to be made and returned, and that said count, canvass, and certificates are so false and untrue, for the rea- son that a large number of the ballots deposited in the ballot-boxes at said election by persons of color have not been counted and considered, and the evidence thereof ]»reserved and certified so that the same ma^' be canvassed and considered by the returning-otticers for elections in said State, and be verily believes tbat tbe votesand ballots sosuppressed were cast for and in favor of your orator as lieutenant-governor of said State, and if considered and counted, as they should have been, would in all things been sulbcient to elect him to said office, and your orator avers tbat he has reason to believe and doesbelieve that said votesand ballots CONDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. 221 were so rejected and said returus and certificates so falsified in fartlier- auce of and as part of said scheme to deprive a sufficient number of persons of color and of African descent of theri^l^t of franchise, and to so suppress a sufficient number of ballots cast by said persons I'rom your orator for his office as lieutenant-ijovernor, so as to make it appear that your orator had been defeated and that the said defendant David B. Penn had been elected, and your orator thereby deprived of said office and the emoluments thereof, to which he is lawfully entitled. And your orator further shows unto your honors that said scheme of fraud and wrong- was far reaching in its character, and that it was the intention of the said defendant Henry C. Warmoth; and of the said defendant B. P. Blan(;hard, whom i'or said purpose the said defendant Henry C. Warmoth found a pliant and willing tool, not only to compass and accomplish the said scheme of defrauding of their lawful right of franchise a large number of the legal voters of African descent, but also to so manage and control their said scheme as to destroy the proofs and cover up the means and instrumentalities by which it had been eftected ; that for that purpose the said defendant, B. P. Blauch- ard, State registrar of voters, with the knowledge and connivance of the said defendant Henry C. Warmoth, issued secret directions and in- structions to the several supervisors of registration in the various par- ishes of the State, and through them to the commissioners and other officers connected with the State election, tending to inform such officers of the means by which said frauds were to be eftected, and the steps and precautious to be taken to cover and conceal from discovery their acts and intentions ; that said instructions were in part oral and in part written 5 that said defendants were well aware that the officers (super- visors of registration and election) appointed by authority of the United States, if allowed to discharge the duties required of them by the laws of the United States, would discover and prevent the consummation of their plan, and that in order to defeat the purposes for which said acts of Congress were adopted, and in order to deprive your orator of the evidence of frauds and of the rejection of votes on account of the race and color of the voter, the said defendant B. P. Biauchard unlawfully wrote and delivered, or caused to be delivered to each of said supervis- ors of registration confidential instructions, of whi(;h the following is a specimen : [Confitleutial.] • Statk ok LocisiAXA, Offick of Statu Kixiistuak of Votkus, Sew Orleans, October )>i, 1872. Sii;: 111 additiou to the instiiictious coutaiued in circular Xo. S, from this office, you are instructed: 1. In counting the balh)ts after election, count first the, votes cast for presidential electors and iiienibers of Congress, keeping separate tally-lists on the Form No. 1, pro- vided for that purpose, and making up and completing the statement of votes for eacli poll upon Form No. 1, then close the box, reseal it, and piocc(}d in a similar manner until all the national votes have been counted. Then proceed with the counting of the State and parish votes, bearing in mind the fact that the United States superrisors of election and deputy marshals have no right whatever to scrutinize, inspect, or be present at the counting of the State and parish votes. •2. As soon as the count in each ease is completed telegraph the result to this office at once; should there be no telegrapl'-ollice at the court-house, dispatch a messenger by the quickest route to the nearest telegraph-station. :'>. The stationery, ifec, furnished for each parish is to be equally distributed aumng all the i)olling places, and at least one copy of the election laws must be furnished to each poll. Ivesnectfully, B. r. BLANCH ARD. Stale Bef/istrar of Voters. L. E. Bf.ntley, Esq., Supetrisor of Eegi>!tra1io», Parish of Jscciniiou. 222 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. That said iustructions were so given in order to deprive your orator of the benetit that would luive accrued to biiu by tbe evidence of the rejection of the votes of persons of color being preserved, which would have been the case had the inspectors of election appointed by the authority of the United States been permitted to perform their duties. Your orator avers that the sole purpose of the said defendants Henry C Warmoth and B. P. Blanchard in excluding from the canvass of the ballots cast at the said election the Federal supervisors of election, was to enable them to reject said votes Avithout hinderance, and without any record of their wrongful act, being kei)t or preserved in suck man- ner as to be of value to your orator as evidence to establish his right to said office; and your orator further shows unto your honors that in order to further perfect and execute said scheme of fraud, the said B. P. Blanchard as State registrar of voters issued to the several sni)ervisors of registration other secret and confidential instructions to be obseived by them in the conduct of said election, of which the following is a specimen : [Ctnfidential.l State of Louisiana, Oi'FiCK OF State Registijah of Voters, iVtic Orleans, October 28, 1872. Sill : Yoii will i)lease direct coiiiiuissioncrs of elecfion to receive no votes upon the atTidavits supplied by tlie radical party under the enforcement act, unless tbe person applying or olifiing to vote is known by them to have been wrongfully refused regis- tration. Respectfully, B. P. BLANCHARD, Slate Ih'fjistrar of Voters. L. E. Bkxtlky, Es(i., • Supervisor of Begistration, Farish of Ascension. P. S. — In case of rejection of any vote upon such affidavit call upou re-fpectaMe ge.utle- Dicn present at the polls as witness. Your orator avers that confidential communications of like character were addressed to all the supervisors of registration, and that said com- munications conveyed to said supervisors of registration a meaning be- yond that which was apparent upon the face of them, and that they were written in accordance with a concert and agreement existing between said ]>lanchard and the State supervisors of registration, which conveyed to them the real import and meaning of such communica- tions ; that said instructions were intended, and in fjict are directions to the said supervisors of registration, to unlawfully reject the ballots of persons of color, and that the word n'rovf/fulli/, underscored in said communication, has a meaning very different from its common t^ignifi- cation and was intended to direct the said officers of election to dis- criiniimte against persons of color and African descent. And your orator further shows unto your honors that whenever the said defendant Henry C. "Warmoth discovered that any of said super- visors of registration, were unwilling to embark in said scheme of fraud and were unwilling to obey his instiuctions and aid in his schemes, he, without authority of law, dismissed them from office and ai)pointed such persons in their stead as would in all things aid in the execution of his said schenu', and through the instrumentality of such wrongful and despotic acts obtained sui)ervi.sors of registration comi)letely subser- vient to hi.s Avill. And your orator further shows unto your honors that in order to fully consummate the said scl.eme of wrong aud fraud, it was necessary and CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 223 important for the said Henry C. Warnioth and his said conspirators and confederates to so obtain control of the canvass and board of returniiif?- otticers, whose duty it was to canvass, estimate, and determine tlie bal- lots cast at said election in favor of the several candidates for election, as to prevent discovery of the fact that a large number of ballots de- posited at said election had been excluded from the count of such bal- lots on account of the race and color of the voters by whom such ballots had been deposited for your orator, as well as to prevent any count, can- vass, or estimate of the ballots of such persons of color as had been offered to be deposited in the ballot-boxes for your orator by ])ersons of African descent as aforesaid, and which by the laws of the United States should have been considered counted and credited to your orator. And your orator, further comi)laining, shows unto your honors that, by the law of the State of Louisiana governing- elections, it is made the duty of the supervisors or assistant supervisors of registration tor the various parishes in said State, immediately upon the close of the polls on the day of election, and after the ballot-boxes had been by the commissioners of election returned in due form of law to the supervisors of registration, to proceed, in the presence of the commissioners of elec- tion and three freeholders of the parish for each ])o]l or voting i)lace therein, to opeu the ballot-bos and count the ballots therein, and make a list of all the names of the persons and officers voted lor, the number of votes for each person, the number of ballots in the box, the number of ballots rejected, and the reason therefor; that such statement is re- quired to be made in triplicate, and each copy thereof signed and sworn to by the commissioners of election of the poll and by the supervisors of registration ; that it is the further duty of said supervisor to inclose in an envelope of strong paper or cloth, securely sealed, one copy of such statement from each poll, and one copy of the list of persons voting at such poll, and all intmoranda and tally-lists used in making the count and statement of the votes, ami send such package by mail i)lainly and properly addressed to the said defendant Heury C. Warmoth, governor of the State. And your orator, further complaining, shows unto your honors that the law of the said State provides that the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, and John Lynch and T. C. Anderson, or a majority of them, shall be the retnrning-officers for all elections in the State, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum, and have power to make the returns of all elections; that in case of any vacancy by death, resig- nation, or otherwise, by either of the board, then the vacancy should be filled by the residue of the board of returningotticers; that said law further provides that, within ten days after the closing of the election, said returning officers shall meet in New Orleans to canvass and compile the statement of votes made by the supervisors of registration, and make returns of the election to the secretary of state ; and they shall continue in session until such returns shall have been completed ; that the gov- ernor shall at such meeting open, in the i)resenee of said returning-otfi- cer, the statements of the supervisors of registration, and tiiat the re- turning officers shall, from sueh statements, canvass and compile the re- turns of the election in duplicate; that one coi)y of such retniii shall be tiled in the office of the secretary of state of said State, and ol one copy they shall make publi(; proclamation by i)rinting in the ollicial journal, and such other newspapers as they may deem [uoper, declaring the names of all persons and officers voted for, the number of votes for each person, and the names of the persons who have been lawfully elected; the returns of the elections thus made and promulgated are, by said 224 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. State law, declared to be inma-fack evideuce in all courts of justice, and before all civil oliicers, of the right of any persou named thereiu to hold and exercise the office to which he shall by sucli returns be declared elected. xVnd your orator further shows that, by the law of said iState, the said board of returning-otiicers are vested with full and competent authority and jurisdiction to examine into the truthfulness of any such statement. Certificate of return to hear testimony, require the produc- tion of papers and to investigate into tlie fairness of the election in any of the several parishes, polls, or election precincts in said State, and to determine whether persons who were by law lawfully entitled to vote at such election, were deprived of or refused the right of franchise by reason of race, color, or previous condition, or otherwise, and if it ap- pears that a sufficient number of the qualified electors entitled to vote at any poll or voting-place, were refused the right of franchise unlaw- fully, so as materially to change the result of tlie election, said return- ing-otficers are prohibited from canvassing or compiling the statement of votes of such i)oll or voting-])lace in tlieir returns, but are required to exclude it therefrom. I'our orator, further complaining, shows unto your honors that ten days after said election and at the time when said returning-board was by law required to meet, the same did so meet; that the defendant, 11. 0. Warmoth, as governor of this State, was present at suck meeting: that P. B. S. Pinchback, lieutenant governor; Francis J. Ilerron, sec- retary of state; and John Ijynch, were also present, constituting a majority of said board; that it was then and there determined that said P. Jj. S. Pinchback and T. C. Anderson being candidates for office at said election and interested therein, were dis(puilified from acting on said board, thereby reducing the members of said present to the said defendant AVarmoth, the said Francis J. Herron, and the said John Lynch, who still constituted a majority of said board; the said board then proceeded, by authority of law, to fill said vacancies in said board, and tilled the same by the election of Jacob llawkius and James Longstreet; that said board was thereupon properly organized to pro- ceed to said canvass and were duly sworn according to law. And your orator further shows that said defendant, Henry C. War- moth, pretending to be in possession of the returns of a large number of supervisors of registeition, refuses to open said statements of super- visors of registration in the presence of said returniug-officers, being in- lluenced in such refusal, as your orator verily believes, by the fear that said returning-board would make due and proi)er investigation of the trutldulness of said returns and statements, and that the said scheme for excluding lawful ballots would be defeated, or that evidence of the fraud that had been so committed, and of the fact that a large number of persons had at such election olfered to vote and had been denied the right to vote, contrary to the Constitution and acts of Congress, would be discovered and preserved in such form that the same could be used and of avail in any action of proceedings instituted by your orator to oint the said defendant, .lack Wharton, to the office of secretary of state; and that the said Jack Wharton, willing" to aid in the said unlawfnl scl)eine, i)retended to be secretary of state, and, as such, a meiuber of tlie said returning-board; that said de- fendant, Ilenry V. Warmoth, thereupon pretending that he had con- ferred the office of secretary of state on said Wliarton, combined with said Wharton, and they together pretended to have elected as members of said returningboard the said defendants, Frank 11. Hatch and Durant Da Ponte; and that, although they and all of them Avere well aware that all said actings and doings were, in all respects, fraudulent and in vio- lation of law, and that none of the said defendants, except the said de- fendant Warmoth, had any colorable right to proceed to the canvass of said statements, certificates, or returns, and that he, the said War- moth, had no right to open or submit the same to any persons other than the said Lynch, Hawkins, Lougstreet, and Ilerron, yet the said defemlants, Vwirmoth, AVharton, Hatch, and Da Ponte, in order to aid in such scheme of fraud, pretend to be a lawful returning-board: that the said defendant, Warmoth, as your orator is informed and verily ]>elieve?;, while refusing to open and deliver said statements, cer- tificates, and returns to said legal returning-officers, who were organ- ized and in actual session, has in fact opened and submitted the same to said conspirators and intruders, excluding said lawful re- turning-officers from any canvass; that yonr orator believes, and there- fore avers the fact to be, that it is the intention and deliberate plan of the said defendants aforesaid, pretending- to act as returning-board as aforesaid, to make such pretended canvass of said votes as shall effect an apparent defeat of your orator, and declare said D. B. Penn elected as lieutenant-governor of said State; that, to produce said results, they intend to give such effect to such frandulent certificates and returns as teiid to produce such result, and intended to exclude from all consideration, count, or canvass all votes of persons of color that have been suppressed or prevented from being cast ; and that it was their intention by such frauds to deliver to the pretended secretary of state such certificate or returns or pretended result of their canvass as would make it appear that your orator is defeated and the said D. B. Penn elected, and thereby ileprive your orator of said office : and that while their canvass or return, as yonr orator is informed, would be per- fectly void in law, yet the same wonld embarrass, hinder, and delay him in the prosecution by legal proceedings in this hom^rable court to estab- lish his rights to said ofitice, to which^he verily believes he is Justly en- titled, and to which he has been legally elected ; that he is informed and believes that it was the intention of the said pretended returning- board, in furtherance of the scheme, to destroy all of said returns and certificates received from the supervisors of registration, and thereby suppress and place beyond the reach of your orator evidence which would be important and indispensable in the prosecution of legal pro- ceedings to establish his right to said oflice; and he verily believes that it is the intention of said defendant, Warmoth, to place all the said cer- titlcates and returns of suj)prvisors beyond the reach of the regularly- constituted board of returning-officers, and thereby deprive your orator of any legal official canvass of said votes, and of tlie evidence that a Just, honest, and truthful canvass of said votes by the officers or persons by law designated to canvass the same would furnish, tending to show his right to said office of lieutenant-governor. H. Ex. 01 1~> 226 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISLINA. And your orator further shows unto your honors that, after the organ- ization of said l>oaid of returuiuji-ofticers, as above set forth, that the said F. J. lierrou, actin<];- as de facto secretary of state, and while they were eujiaged in the canvass of said votes and certificates, by tlie judg- ment of the honorable the sui»renie court of the State of Louisiana, in a case depending in said court, the said F. J. IJerron was ousted from the oliice of the secretary of state, and George E. Bovee, the duly-elected se- cretary of state, re-instated in said otticejthatiiniuediately after said judg- ment, and about the 2d day of December, 1872, the said Bovee, having taken and subscribed tlie oath re(juired by law, became one of said re- turning-ofticers in the place of said Herrou. And your orator further shows unto your honors, that on or about the lOth day of November, 1872, Wm. Pitt Kellogg, a candidate for governor of said State at said election, in order to arrest the said fraud- ulent acts of the said defendauts, Warmoth, Wharton, Hatch, and Da Ponte, and to prevent the cousunimation of such frauds to his injury, filed and exhibited his bill of complaint in this court, on equity side thereof, against the said last-mentioned defendants, which said Case is numbered 0830 of the docket of this court, and obtaiue«l from your hon- ors such restraining orders and injunctions as should have comidetely arrested and terminated said scheme. Your orator, for further detail and particular in this behalf, craves leave to refer to the record of said proceedings in equity now remaining in the court. And your orator further shows unto your honors that said defendant, Henry C. Warmoth, having no regard for either the laws of the State of Louisiana or the laws of the United States, or the orders and direc- tions of this honoiable court, in a great measure disregarded the com- mands of your honors; but when he became apprehensive that this honorable court would enforce and compel obedience to its orders and mandates, and that it was unsafe to disregard the same in all respects, he, in collusion ;uul confeti()n that said last-mentioned act provides that the board of returning-otticers, although charged with prec^isely the same duties and i>o\yers as those imposed by the act in force when said election was held, provides a different method ami umnner of designating and appoint- ing the returning-officers, requiring such officers to be elected from the various ])olitical parties by the vote of tlie senate of the State; that after having aj)proved and, as he pretends, given the effect of law to said last-mentioned act of the legislature, the said H. C. War- I CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOl'ISIANA. 227 moth, pretending that tbe effect of said approval of said act was in law to sweep out of existence the board of returnino-ofticers, who were en- gaged in lawfully canvassing the result of said election, did, in a surrep- titious and clandestine manner, secretly combining and confederating with the said defendants, Thomas lsabeile,P.8. Wiitz, J. S. Taylor, J. E. Austin, and George Ue Feriet, preteiul to usuri) the province and power of the collateral branch of the general assembly of said State, a brancli of said assembly not at that time in existence, "except as to part thereof, less than a quorum, aud pretended to appoint the said last-named de- fendants returniug-ofiflcers to canvass, consider, and umke returns con- cerning said election. That your orator is informed and verily believes tliat they pretended to hold a session as returning-ollicers, to do the bidding of the said de- fendant, AVarmoth, and although well knowing that they had no right or authority as returning-ofidcers, and that the said H. C. AVarmoth could confer no such authority upon them, that tbey, in combination with the said Warmoth, and iu deiiauce of the orders of this court, did pretend to make a partial canvass of said election, and did publish in the New Orleans Tijues, a newspaper published iu the city of Xew Orleans, a pretended proclamation, a copy of which is herewith filed, marked Exhibit B, and made part thereof; that the said defendants and the said persons named in the said proclamation, conspired together and caused said proclamation to be made, for the puri)ose and with the Intent of unlawfully creating and establishing the persons named iu said proclamation a general assend)ly for the State of Louisiana, to be con- vened under color of title pretended to be conferred by said pretended canvass and proclamation as a general assembly, well knowing that they derived no title or evidence of election from said wrongful acts, and well knowing that many of the defendants, herein named iu said proclamation, had never been elected to said pretended positions in the general assembly of said State; that the said defen. Penu elected to tlie otlice of lieu- tenant-governor, and thereby deprive your orator of said otlice, and of any possibility of asserting his right to have canvassed and effect given to the votes of persons of color so cast and ofterearti('ipating in the organization of said house, except that the said Henry C. Wurmoth is not hereby prohibited from i)articipating in the canvass and return of the members elected to the said branch of said general assembly, so to be convened, provided he do the same in conjunction with andin thepreseuceof said George A. Bovee, James Long- street. Hawkins, and Lynch, but not otherwise; and that he further be enjoined and restrained from in any manner ob- structing or hindering the said W. Yigers, clerk of the said house of representatives, or the said secretary of the senate, Charles H. ]\Ierritt, in the free and unobstructed discharge of their duties, or in full and complete obedience to the orders of the court, and from suspending, removing, them or either of them from office, or ai)point- ing or aiding or abetting any other person or persons to perform any act} which, by law or the orders of the court, devolved on either the said Vigers, Merritt, or upon George E. Bovee, secretary of state, and from recognizing any validity in aiiy act done or performed by any other person or persons pretending to act in the office or capacity of either of said officers; and that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to A. vS. Badger and chief of metropolitan police, and to each memV)er of the board of metropolitan police, and to the board of metropolitan police, enjoining and restraining them and each of them from interfering in any manner with the organization of either branch of the gen- eral assembly to be convened on the 0th day of December, A. D. 1872, or at uny time thereafter, except to preserve the peace, and to prevent no person from having access to either of the halls of said houses who is certified by (.reorge E. Bovee as being a member-elect of the same; and that writs of injunction also issue di- rected to the said E. Booth, A. Voorhies, A. J. Lewis, B. T. Jonas, L B. Stamps, i). S. Cage, K. C. AAliite, T. C. Anderson, J. M. Thompson, D. a. Weber, A. S. Herron, Jfobert Worrall, O, H. 15rewster, E. J.l. Gra- ham, J. W. :\IcDonald, A. H. Leonard, J. C. Packett, James G. White, J. T. Kellj*. enjoining and restraining them, and each of them, from par- ticipating in any manner in the organization of the senate to be con- vened on the 0th day of December, A. D. 1872, or at any time there- after, or from doing any act or thing toward, in, or about the organiza- tion of said senate, either by casting a vote, or otherwise, unless his name shall be and appear on the list of names of members of said senate, trans- mitted to the secretary of the same by George A. Bovee, secretary of state, having been elected thereto; and that a writ of injunction also issue to the said .1. J. ^Mellon, James Timonv, J. A. Shakspeare, J. A. Rice, and J. J. Finney, E. H. McCaleb, Charles Montaldo, >V. B. Barrett, W. L. Stanford, Y. 13. Blanchard, F. C. Zacharie, F. FusiHer, Y. O. Iving, A. Gavidee, L. S. Ifodriguez, John Barrow, John Dehuiey, William Stevens, W. C. Kinseller,C. Kummell, J. B. Eustis, J. McConnell, A. J. Dnpont, E. L. Borrans, E. Eiviere, P. Landry, C. A. Lew is, E. B. Cox, l!^uma Viras. T. J. Edwards, W. K. Johnson, T. L. ]\lills, and F. Bynum, J. S. Garderd, J. L. Lobdell, W. S. Cocheander, W. II. Scanlan,' L. P. Sandidge, J. C. Moncure, George L. Smith, J. Sella Martin, W. H. Kankman, Thomas J. Humble, Paul Jones, George C. Bonhand, Cane Sartain, Allen J. Davis, W. F. Moreland, Thomas Price, David Young, George Washington, J. P. Elam, A. F. Stephenson, John Gair, Janu^s CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 231 Laws, Jaiues W. Arm stead, F. W. Xorris, J. H. Haduox, L. A. Snack, J. R. Cavanagh, E. A. Knbin, William Kerr, C. W. Lowell, J. D. Traliam, John S. Lillim, O, Havang-, T. G. Davidsoi), James II. MclJowell, C. C. Davenport, E. S. Pierson, \V. A. Ponder, W. T. Southard, ]). Hill, H. Mahonej-, J. P. Harris, L. B. Claiborne, L. Texadas, J. Swan, H. F. Vickens, J. F. Smith, E. N. ])ncros, M. Hahu, D. K. Oorman, Henry Demas, Benjamin P. Ganth, J. F. Little, E. J). Estilette, L. ]). Preseott, V. Ptochou, L. A. Martinette, Thonias (Jastello,*:M. J. Foster, J. G. Tate, J. Pr. Stenaut, J. S. Matthews, J. J. BDoles, P. Fontilien, J. P, Smart, A. C. Bickham, J. P. Schnltz, AVilliam A. Strong", enjoining and re- straining them, and each of them, from participating in any manner in the organization of the lionse of representatives to be convened on the 9tli day of December, A. 1). 1872, or at any time thereafter, or from doing any act or thing toward, in, or about the organization of the same, either by casting a vote or otherwise, unless bis name shall be and ap- pear on the list of names of members of said house, transmitted to the clerk of tbe same by George A. Bovee, secretary of state, as having been elected to the same. And that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to Charles H. Merritt, secretary of the senate of the last general assembly, enjoining and restraining him from placing, causing, or suffering to be placed upon the roll of the senate to be convened on the 0th December, A. D. 1872, or at any time tbereafter, or from placiiig, causing, or suffering to be placed upon any list of members-elect to said last-mentioned senate, or from aunouncing, causing, or suffering to be announced as a member elected to said last-mentioned senate, or from recognizing, or causing, or suffering to be recognized as a member elected to said last-mentioned senate, or from in any manner designating, or causing, or suffering to be designated as a member of the said last-mentioned senate, prior or during the organization thereof, any ijersou whose name shall not be transmitted to him by George A. Bovee, the secretary of state, upon a list of the names of such persons as have been elected to the said last-mentioned senate, and from in any manner acting upon any other list, except the one so transmitted by the said George A. Bovee, in the organization of the last-mentioned senate, and to disregard in said or- ganization all other lists. And that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to AYilliam Vigers, clerk of the house of representatives of the last general assem- bly, enjoining and restraining him from placing, causing, or suffering to be placed upon the roll of the house of representatives to be con- vened on the 9th of December, A. D. 1SG2, or at any time thereafter, or from placing, causing, or suffering to be placed upon any list of members elected to said last-mentioned house, or from announcing, causing, or suffering to be announced as a member elected to said last- mentioned house of representatives, or from recognizing, causing, or suffering to be recognized as a member elected to said last-mentioned house of representatives, or from in any manner designating, or caus- ing, or suffering to be designated as a member to the said last-mentioned house, prior or during the organization thereof, any person whose name vshall not be transmitted to him by George A. Bovee, the secretary of state, upon a list of the names of such persons as have been elected to the said last-mentioned house of representatives, and from in any man- ner acting upon any other list, except the one so transmitted by the said George A. Bovee, in the organization of the last-mentioned house of representatives, and to disregard in said organization all other lists. And that a writ of injunction also issue, directed to said George A. 232 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Bovee, enjoining' and restraining Litn from receiving any return or re- turns of the election of any State officers, or of the members of either branch of the general assembly of the State ot Louisiana, excepting such returns as may be received by or tiled in the office of him, as sec- retary of state, from the board of returning-officers, and a majority of the same, composed of Henry C. Warmoth, James Longstreet, and Jacob Hawkins, andJohn Lynch, and himself; and from delivering, causing, or fuifCering to be delivered to any speaker of the house of representa- tives any return, excei)t re(;cived and filed as above stated, of any elec- tion whatever, or from making, or causing, or suffering to be made any list of names 6f the members elected to either branch of the general assembly, except from and according to returns so received and tiled as above stated. That a writ of injunction also issue, directed to the said Jack Whar- ton and Samuel Armstead, and each of them, enjoining and restraining them and each of them from receiving any returns of the elections held in the State of Louisiana, on the first Monday of Xovember last past, for members of the general assembh', or from transmitting to William Vigers, the clerk of the house of representatives, or to Chas. H. Merritt, the secretary of the senate of the last general assembly, or to any other person, any list of names which is or i)urports to be a list of names of such persons as are the name of any jierson who, according to^any re- turns, shall haAC been or shall be stated, or claimed, or assumed to have been elected to either branch of the general assembly called to convene on the Oth day of December, A. D. 1872, or that may be called to con- vene at any future* time, or from making any statement or doing any- thing calculated or designed to furnish a basis for the organization of either of said branches of the said general assembly, or from delivering or interfering, conniving at or aiding, or suffering any other person to deliver to the speaker of the house of representatives, or any other per- son, any returns at any election whatever. And that writs of injunction may also issue, directed to the said Thomas Isabelle, P. S. Wiltz, J. S. Taylor, ,L E. Austin, and G. BeFer- rier; also issue against the said IL C. Warmoth, Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, and Durant Da Tonte, comnmnding them and each of them to refrain and desist from pretending to act together as a board of re- turning-officers, or as rcturning-officers of elections, from canvassing or attempting to canvass or consider any certificate, document, affidavit, return, statement of votes, or any paper whatsoever properly relating to said election, and from attemi)ting to make a canvass, declare, or publish any ]u-etended deduction, calculation, statement, or proclama- tion based thereon, or pretended to be derived therefrom, in anj' way relating or pertaining to said election held on the 4th day of November, 1871', or certifving to any candidate for office at said election any cer- tificate of election or any statement of the result of said election tend- ing to show any right to office in any person growing out of ballots cast at said election, and from meddling with, altering, suppressing, falsify- ing, obliterating, or destroying any document, paper, voucher, proof, statement of votes, or ceitificate relating to said election. And may it further please your honors to, in the first instance, grant and allow said orders and writs of injunction herein prayed tor 2)(')i(Iente lite ; and alter due proceedings had, may it further please your honors to order and decree that all of said writs of injunction, as above herein prayed for, be made peri)etual. Aiul your orator further shows unto your honors that he verily be- lieves the actings and doings of the saicl defendants, as herein set forth CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 233 and complained of, are in all tilings unlawful, and arc conceived and carried on by said defendants for the sole purpose of overtlirowinji- and subverting the republican form of government guaranteed to the State of Louisiana by the Constitution of the United States. That said object is intended to be accomplished by depriving the said people of said State of the choice of its officers, by fraudulently disregarding the right of the duly- elected officers of said State of the right to administer the offices of said government, and substituting, by fraud and false certilicates and evi- dences and canvass, persons who have never been elected to positions of trust and office in said State, and to confirm said pretended title to office by destruction of evidence of the actual vote cast at said election, and that your orator verily believes that unless your honors imme- diately allow, on the filing of this bill, a restraining order, restraining the said defendants, and each and every one of them, from doing the acts for Avhich onr orator herein prays they may be restrained, your orator fears that, before the hearing and determination of a motion for an injunction, the said defendants will have completed their nnlawful scheme of fraud, and will have destroyed proof upon which your orator must rely to support his legal right to the seat of lieutenant-governor aforesaid, and your orator will be defeated thereby. Wherefore, your orator prays that your honors will grant and allow such restraining order, to the same range, effect, and extent as your orator has herein prayed ; that said several defendants may be restrained and enjoined, and that the said order be maintained in full force until your honors shall have heard and determined a motion or rule on said defendants to show cause why the writs of injunction herein prayed for should not be allowed. And may it also please j'Our honors to order and adjudge that the said defendant, H. C. Warmoth, within a period of time to be fixed by your honors, to make and deposit in this honorable court, in the office of the clerk thereof, full, true, and exact sworn copies of each and every paper, document, affidavit, tally-sheet, list, sworn statement, or certificate, or letter which he may have received or may have come into his possession from any commissioner or commissioners, or any officer, concerned in the control or management of said election, or who had any duties to perform in connection therewith, and from all supervisors or assistant supervisors of election, in any manner relating to said elec- tion, in order that the same may be beyond the power of destruction by the said defendant, Warmoth, and his said confederates, and in order that the same may be saved to your orator as evidence, to enable him to establish his right to the office as aforesaid in any judicial proceedings which he may be compelled to institute in this court to establish and vindicate the same, and that the same may be also preserved for use or proof in support of your orators bill in this behalf, and to estal)lisli his right to the relief by him herein and hereby prayed for ; and that tlie said evidence, documents, &c., to be produced remain on file in this court, in order that the same may be preserved as evidence in any action which your orator may be required to institute in this court to establish his right to said office. And may it please your honors to grant unto your orator the most gracious writ of subpama, under tlie seal ot the honorable court, directed to each and every of said defendants named lu the bill of complaint, commanding them, and each of them, to be and appear before vour honors on some day certain, to be named in said writs, then and there to make fnll and complete answers to all and singular the premises, (your orator hereby moving answers under oath by said defendants,) and stand to and debate all such orders and decrees 234 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOIISIANA. as your honors shall deem fit to make in the premises. And that your honors grant unto your orator such other- and farther relief in the premises as to your lionors may seem meet and just and as eciuity may require : ami vour orator will ever pray. C. (!. ANTOINE. J. R. BPiCKWITH. E. C. BiLLT;vfGS, Counsel and Solicitor for Complainaiif. District of Louisiana, ss ; C. C. Antoine, complainant m the foregoing bill of complaint, being first duly sworn, deposeth and saith that the allegations and matters stated and set forth in said bill of complaint are true as therein set forth, except as to such matters as are therein set forth upon informa- tion and belief, and that as to all such matters he verily believes the same to be true as therein stated. c. c. a:ntoine. Sworn to iiiid subscribed before me this 7th day of December, A. D. 1871i. E. n. DURELL, Ju(]ge. Circuit court of the United States in and for the district of Louisiana. C. C. Antoine } vs. \- No. 6S.51 — in equity. n. C. \YAR3I0TII bt als. ) Befitraining order. — I.ssued December 7, 1872. Whereas the plaintiff herein has this day filed and exhibited his bill of complaint against the said defentlent IL C. Warmoth, and the other defendants named in said bill of complaint, and has therein prayed that injunctions, ^eHr7en/e lite, issue against the defendants therein, and that a restraining order be also issued restraining the said defendants as ])rayed for in said bill from doing or i^ermitting to be done the acts in said bill com]diiined of : Now, therefore, on motion of J. 11. Beckwith and E. C. Billings, solic- itors for comi)lainant, it is ordered that the defendants named in said bill do show cause on the 11th day of December, 1872, why injunctions, pendente lite, should not be allowed as prayed for. It is further ordered that said delemlants each and every one of them be, and are hereby-, commanded and restrained to the extent and effect as in said bill of complaint prayed [the clerk 7cill attach to this order a copy of the prayer for injunction as set forth in said hill of €omplaint\ until the hearing and determination of said rule for injunction, and until the further order of the court in the premises. E. H. DURELL, Judge. Atrue and correct copv of the original order on file in this cause. F. A. W00LFL1<:Y, Clerk. Wherefore your orator humbly i)rays,that your honor will grant unto him all just and proper relief in the premises; that you will allow and grant unto him the most gracious writ of injunction issued under the CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 235 seal of this honorable court, directed to the said defendant, Henry C. Warmoth, enjoining' and restrainino- him from in any manner, directly or indirectly, by himself or throu.Qh any other ofticer of the State, city, or parish, or through any other person, from controlling or attempting to control, interfering with, or attempting to interfere with, the organization of either branch of this general assembly of the State of Louisiana, called to assemble on the 0th d;iy of IJeceinber, A. D. 1872, or that may be called to assemble at any future day, and from directly or indirectly, either by himself or through any other person, preventing any person claiming to be a member of said general assembly from having full and free ingress and egress to and from the place, building, and room of that branch of said general assembly of which he may claim to be a member, or from issuing any written or oral order or instruction, request or di- rection, calculated or designed to directly or indirectly c(»ntrol or inter- fere with the organization of either of tlie branches of said general assem- bly, or calculated or designed to i)rcven t any person from having free access thereto, who claims to be a member thereof, and from doing any act, or from giving- any order, direction, or making any request which may, directly or Indirectly, prevent or hinder any person from being present and taking part in the orgardzation of said sennte, called to convene on the said 0th day of December, or at any future day, mIio may be re- turned as a member thereof by the board of returning-officers, com- posed of the said Henry 0. AVarmoth, George E. Bovee, James Long- street, Jacob Hawkins, and John Lynch, and wliose name shall also be transmitted by the said George E. Bovee, secretary of state, to Charles H. 3Ierritt, the secretary of the senate of the last general assembly, and placed by the said Merritt upon the roll of said senate, so to be convened, ami from in any manner, directly or indirectly, aiding or abetting any jiersou who is not so returned by said returning-board as a member of said senate, so to be convened, and whose name is not so transmitted as a member elected to said senate, and is not so })laced upon the roll of said senate, from participating in the organization of said senate, and from doing- any act, or from giving any order, direction, or making any request which may directly or indirectly prevent or hinder any })erson from being present and taking part in the organization of said house, called to convene on the said 0th day of December, or that may be called to convene at any future day, who may be returned as a member thereof by the board of returning-otlicers composed of the said Henry C. War- moth, George E. Bovee, James Longstreet, Jacob Hawkins, and John Lynch, and whose name shall also be transmitted by the said George E. Bovee, secretary of state, to William Vigers, the secretary of the liouse of the last general assembly, and placed by the said William Vigers upon the roll of said house so to be convened, and from in any manner directly or indirectly aiding or abetting any person who is not so returned by said returning-board as a member of said house, so to be convened, and whose name is not so transmitted as a member elected to said house, and is not so placed upon the roll of said house, from participating in the organization of said house. Except that the said Henry C. Warmoth is not hereby prohibited from participating- in the canvass and return of the members elected to the said branches of said general assembly so to be convened, provided he do the same in conjunction with ami in the presence of said George E. Bovee, James Longstreet, Jacob Hawkins, and John Lynch, but not otherwise. And that he further be enjoined and restrained from in any manner obstructing or hindering- the said William Vigers, clerk of the house of representatives, or the said secretary ot the senate, Charles H. 23 G CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. Meriitt, in tlie free and unobstructed discharge of their duties, or in full and coinpk^e obedience to the orders of this court, and from suspending, removing them, or either of them from office, or appointing or ordering, or abetting any other person or persons to jterform any act which by law or the orders of this court devolves on either the said Vigers, Merritt, or ujton Cieorge E. liovee, secretary of state, and from recognizing any validity in any act done or performed by any other person or persons pretending to act in the office or capacity of either of said officers. And that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to A. S. Badger, chief of metropolitan police, and to each member of the board of the nu'tropolitan police, and to the board of metropolitan police, enjoining and restraining them and each of them from interfering in any manner with the organization of either branch of the general assembly to be convened on the 9th of December, A. D. 1872, or at any time thereafter, except to i»reserve the peace, aud to prevent no person from having ac- cess to either of the halls of said houses who is certified by George E. Eovee as being a member-elect of the same. And tliat writs of injunction also issue directed to the said E. Bootb, A. Voorhies, A. J. Lewis, B. F. Jonas, T. B. Stamps, D. S. Cage, B. C. \N'hite, T. C. Anderson. J. M. Thompson, E. S. Weber, A. S. Herron, Bobert Worrall, O. H. Brewster, E. :\[. Graham, J. W. McDonald, A. H. Leonard, C. J. C. Puckett, James G. White, J. F. Kelly, enjoining and restraining them and each of them from participating in any manner in the organization of the senate to be convened on the 'Jth day of Decem- ber, A. D. 1S72. or at any time thereafter, or from doing any act or thing toward, in, or about the organization of said senate, either by casting a vote or otherwise, unless his name shall be and appear on the list of names of members of said senate transmitted to the secretary of the same by George E. Bovee, secretary of state, as having been elected thereto. Ami that a writ of injunction also issue to the said J. J, Mellon and James Timonv, J. A, Shakespeare, J. A. Rice, J. J. Finnev, E. H. .AlcCaleb, Chas. .Alontaldo, W. B. Barrett, W. L. Stanford. T. B. Blan- chard, jr., F. 0. Zacharie, F. Fusillier, V. O. King, A. Garidel, L. S. Koderiguez, John Barrow, John ])elaney, Wm, Stevens, W. C. Kinsella, C. Kummell, J. B. Eustis, J. McConneil, A. J. Dumout, E. L. Bowers, E. Eiviere, P. Landry, C. ]S^. Lewis, E. B. Cox, Numa Yives, T. J. Ed- wards, W. K. Johnson, T. L. Mills, T. Bynum, J. S. Gardere, J. L. Lob- dell, W. S. Cockernam, W. II. Scanlan, L. P. Sandidge, J. C. Moucure, (Jeo. L. Smith, J. Sella Martin, W. H. Kirkman, Thos. J. Humble, Paul Jones, Geo. C. Bonham, Cain Sartain, Allen J. Davis, AV. F. Morelaud, Thos. Price, David Young, George Washington, J. P. Elam, A. F. Stephenson, John Gair, Jas. Laws, James W. Armstead, F. W. Norris, J. H. Hadnot, L. A. Snaer, J. K. Cavannaugh, E. A. Hubin, Wm. Kern, C. W. Lowell, J. D. Trahau, John S. Billim,"^0. Ilarang, T. G. Davidson, James K. McDowell, C. C. Davenport, E. L. IMerson. W. A. Ponder, W. F. Southard, D. Hill, II. Mahoney, J, P. Harris, L. ]i. Claiborne. L. Texada, John ,L Swan, J. G. P. Hooe, E. W. Dewees, H. F. Vickers, J. F. Smith, B. V. Ducros; ]\r. Hahn ; D. K. Gorman, Henry Demas, Ben- jamin B. Gantt, J. F. Little, E. D. Estilette, L. D. Prescott, V. Bochon, L. A. jMartinet, James Costello, M. J. Foster, J. G. Tate, J. R. Stewart, J. S. ^lathews, J. J. Booles, P. Fonteliu; J. II. Smart, A. C. Bickham, J. I*. Schnltz, Wm. A. Stroug, enjoining and restraining them and each of them from participating in any manner in the organization of the house of representatives, to be convened on the ninth day of December, A. D. 1872, or at any time thereafter, or from doing any act or thing toward, in, or CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 237 about the organization of tlie same, either by casting a vote or other* wise, unless his name shall be and a[)pear on the list of names of mem- bers of said liou.se transmitted to the clerk of the same by George E. Bovee, secretary of state, as having been elected to the same. And that a writ of injunction may also issue, directed to Charles H. Merritt, secretary of the senate of the last general assembly, enjoining and restraining him from placing, causing, or suffering to be placed upon the roll of the senate lo be convened on the ninth December, A. D. 1872, or at any time thereafter, or from placing, causing, or suffering to be placed upon any list of members-elect to said last-mentioned senate, or from announcing, causing, or suffering to be announced, as a member elected to said last-mentioned senate, or from recognizing, or causing, or suffering- to be recognized, as a member elected to said last-mentioned senate, or from in any manner designating, or causing, or suffering to be designated as a member to the said last-mentioned senate, ])rior or during the organization thereof, any person whose name shall not be transmitted to him by George E. Bovee, the secretary' of state, upon a list of the names of sucli persons as have been elected to the said last- mentioned senate, and from in any manner acting upon any other list except the one so transmitted by the said George E. Bovee, in the organization of the last-mentioned senate, and to disregard in said or- ganization all other lists. And that a writ of injunction may also issue directe;., No. G851 of the doctket of the circuit court of the United States for the district of Louisiana, referred to and made a part of the subjoined restraining order. t«i:AL.] F. A. \YOOLFLEY, Clerk. Jakuakv 3, 1873. United States of America, circuit conrt of the United States, fifth cir- cuit and district of Louisiana. Clerk's Offkje. 1, Francis A. Wooltley, clerk of the circuit court of the United States for the filth circuit and district of Lt)uisiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing pages contain and form a full, complete, true, and perfect transcript of the record and prcceedings had, except entries from min- utes of continuances, &c., in the case of C. C. Antoine r.v. H. C. AVar- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 239 i moth et als., Ko. 6851 of the docket, so far as the same now remain of record or ou file in said court. Witness my hand and the seal of said court, at the city of New Or- leans, this 3d day of January, A. D, 1873. [SEAL.] ^ F. A. WOOLFLEY, Clerk. Circuit court of the United States, fifth circuit and district of Louisiana. William P. Kellogg ) vs. > In equity— No. G830. H. C. Wakmotii et als. ) Bill of complaint. District of Louisiana, ss : To the judges of the circuit court of the United States for the district of Louisiana: William Pitt Kellogg, of the city of New Orleans, a citizen of the State of Louisiana, brings this his bill against Henry C. Warmoth, Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, Durant Da Ponte, and John JR-IIenry, all citizens of the State of Louisiana and inhabitants thereof, and against the New Orleans Eepublican Printing Company, a body-corpo- rate duly created and chartered by the laws of the State of Louisiana, and domiciled therein, publishers of the New Orleans liepnblican, a newspaper, being the official journal of the State of Louisiana, of which company W. E. Fish is president, and thereupon your orator comi>lains and says that in accordance with the constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, a general election was held in said State, in all the parishes thereof, on the fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1872, at which election there were, by law, to be voted for and elected a governor and lieutenant-governor, as well as all otticers in the executive, judicial, and legislative departments of the government of the State of Louisiana ; that at said election your orator was duly nominated for and was a candidate for election by the sutirages of the lawful voters of said State, for the oflice of governor of said State ; that at the same election the said defendant John Mi-Enery was also a can- didate for election to the same oflice; that, according to the law of the State of Louisiana governing and controlling said election, no person was a qualified elector, or entiled to vote at said election, until he had been registered in a list of persons entitled to vote at said election ; that the provisions of the law of said State relating to registering, vested the appointment of the oflBcers Avhose duty, by law, it was to register all such voters, in said Henry C. Warmoth ; that at all times since your orator became a candidate for such election, the said Henry C. Warmoth, governor of said State, has repeatedly avowed his inten- tion to adopt and use all the means in his power, and to so exercise un- lawfully and extend his power and the i)ower conferred upon hinr by his position as governor, as to unlawfully defeat the election of your orator; that, for that purpose, in the apt)ointment of the supervisors of registration and the assistant supervisors of registration, he has so selected persons for the ofiice of supervisors and assistant supervisors of registration as to obtain persons pliable to his will and who would concur with and aid him in the execution of his unlawful plans and 240 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. fraudulent devices ; to that eiul and for that purpose, your orator is advised, informed, and verily believes the said Henry C. Warmoth did especially make it a condition-precedent to the appointment of such officers, tliat they should, in all things, and by all unlawful means within their power, assist in the accomplishment of said ends ; and your orator further saith that one of the unlawful devices, plans, and schemes of the said defendant, Henry C. AVarnioth, was, through the instrumen- tality of his said oilicers and with their aid, and by the pretended aid of laws of the State, to deprive a large number of the citizens of the State of Louisiana, in all respects lawfully entitled to the franchise, by refus- ing to register the said citizens upon the list of registered voters, by reason of their race, color, and previous condition ; that in the execu- tion and carrying out of said scheme, a large number of citizens of tlte State who are colored, and who had been in a former condition of servi- tude, were so refused registration on various frivolous and unlawful pretexts and pretenses, amounting, as your orator verily blieves, to at least ten tliousanlan of the said defendants aforesaid, pretending to act as returning- board as aforesaid, to make such pretended canvass of said votes as shall effect an apparent defeat of your orator and declare the said Mc- ICnery elected as governor of said State 5 that to produce said result they will give eifect to all su(;h fraudulent certiticates and returns as tend to produce such an eflect and tend to exclude from all considera- tion, count, or canvass, all votes of persons of color that have been sup- pressed or [)revented from being cast, and that it is their intention by such frauds to deliver to the pretended secretary of state such certifi- cate or return, or pretended result of their canvass, as will make it appear that your orator is defeated, and the said McEnery elected ; and that while their canvass or return, as your orator is informed, would be l)erfectly void in law, yet the same would embarrass, hinder, and delay liim in the prosecution of legal proceedings in this honorable court, to establish his rights to said otlice, to which he verily believes he is Justly entitled and to which he has been legally elected; that he is informed and fears that it is the intention of the said pretended returuing-board, also in fnrtherence of their said scheme, to destroy all of said returns or certiticates received from supervisors of registration, and thereby suppress and place beyond the reach of your orator evidence which will be important and indispensable in a prosecution of legal proceedings to establish his right to said office; that he verily believes that it is the in- tention of the said defendant, Warmoth, to place all said certiticates and returns of supervisors beyond the reach of the regularly constituted board of returning-officers, and thereby (lei)rive your orator of any legal official canvass of said votes and of the evidence that a just, honest, and truthful canvass of said votes would furnish, teiuliug to show his right to said ofhce of governor. And further complaining, your orator shows unto your honors that he is further informed and verily believes that the said defendant, ]\IcKneiy, is fully cognizant of said plans and schemes, and ai)proves the same, and is willing to aid in its accomplishment by pretending to believe that the result of such pretendrMl canvass, if thereby it is made to ai>i)ear that be lias received a majority of the votes cast at said election, would confer on him the right to said oflftce, and that your orator verily believes that it is the intention of said defendants to make a sham and fraudulent return and count, declaring the said IVrcEuery elected, and publish the same in the official Journal of said State, the New Orleans Republican, printed and issuetf by said defendant the New Orleans lie- publican Printing Company. And your orator, further complaining, shows unto your honors that 244 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. all the said actings and doings are contrary to equity and gjood conscience; tbat your orator is entitled to the benefit of a canvass, by the legally constituted board of returning-otificers, and* that unless saiervisor of registration are destroyed, or ])laced beyond the reach of said legal board of retnrning-officers, eviting to make a canvass, to make, declare, or publish any pretended deduction, (jalculation, statement, or proclama- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 249 tioii based thereon, or pretended to be derived tlierefioni in nny way re- lating or pertaining to said eleetion, mentioned in tlie said bill of com- ])laint, held on the 4th day of Novemoer, 1872, or certifying to any can- ilidate for oftice at said election any certificate of election or any state- ment of the resnlt of said election tending to show any right to office in any person growing ont of ballots cast at said election, and from med «iling with, altering, snppressing, falsifying, obliterating, or destroying any document, paper, voucher, proof, statement of votes, or certificate relating to said election. And it is fuither ordered that the said John McEnery be commanded, enjoined, restrained, and inhibited from in any manner acting or pre- tending to act as governor of the State of Louisiana, and from making any pretensions or asserting any claim to the office of governor of said State by virtue of any pretended evidence of election thereto under or by virtue of any certiticate, document, or count, canvass, or adjudica- tion, now or hereafter made by the said defendant, II. (!. Warmotli, and the said defendants, Jack Wharton, Frank H. Hatch, Durant Da Ponte, in this bill charged to be unlawfully combined and conspired as return- in g-officers. And it is further ordered that the said New Orleans llepublicun Print- ing Company, under whose control and direction the newspaper called the New Orleans liepnblican, the official Journal of the State of Lou- isiana, is published, whereof W. R. Fish is president, be enjoined and restrained from in any manner publishing any otlicial notice, tlocument, or statement relating to any canvass or statement of votes made or pre- tended to be made, or in any manner emanating from the said II. C. Warmoth and said Jack Wharton, Frardv II. Batch, Durant Da Ponte, (U- either of them, as a pretended board of returning-ofticers of elections, in anv manner relating to the said election held on the 4th day of November, A. D. 1872.' And it is further ordered that the said defendants, II, C. Warmoth, Jack Whaiton, Fraidc H. Hatch, Durant Da Ponte, John McEnery, ami the New Orleans Republican Printing Company, named in the bill of <;omplaint this day filed, be so commanded, enjoined, and restrained until the further order of this honorable court. AfarshaVs return of service. Received, November 17, 1872, by the United States marshal ; and on the same day served cojnes of the within order as follows: On H. C. Warmoth, by handing tlie same to him, in person, at the Saint Charles Hotel in this'^city ; on Durant Da Ponte, at the same time and place, and in like manner ;' on John McEuery, by handing to him at Moreau's res- taurant in this city ; on the New Orleans Republican Printing Company, by handing the same to W. R. Fish, the president i)f said company, at his office on Camp street, near Poydras; on Jack Wharton, by handing to him in person at the Saint Charles Hotel; and on the eightet-nth day of the same month and year, served copy on F. II. Hatch, by hand- ing the same to him in person, at his office. 33 Carondelet street. ^ T. W. DfKLVNIO, Deimty United IStatcs Marshal. 250 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. Motion to shoic cause for contempt of orders of court. Entered and filed November 19, 1872. Circuit eonit of the United States, district of Louisiana. vs. ^ No. 0830. H. C. Warmoth, ) On motion of J. R. Beckwith and William 11. Hunt, solicitors for com- plainant, and on su In equity. H. C. Warmoth et als. > William P. Kellogg, being first duly sworn, deposeth and saitli that he is advised and informed, and thereby believes, that the said defend- ants, H. C, Warmoth, Durant Da Ponte, Ja(!k Wharton, and Frank H. Hatch, are now and at all times since the making ami service of the restraining order, issued in this cause, have been acting in disregard aTul in disobedience thereof, in contempt of the lawful orders of this court. CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. 2.^)1 and have aided, abetted, and countenanced the continued po.ssession, custody, and canvass of the returns, certificates of officers, connected with said elections by persons other than the said Lynch, Lougstreet, Herron, and Hawkins, and have in other material respects disobeyed the orders of this houorable court. WM. P. KELLOGG. Sworn to and subscribed before nie this 19tli November, 1872. J. W. GUKLEY, United States Commissioner. Affidavits of C. C. Anfoine and others, offered in evidence, November 2~>, 1872. * United States of Amerkja, State of Louisiana, ss: This day personally appeared before me, the uudersijjued, clerk of the circuit court of the Uuited States for the fifth circuit and district of Loui- siana, C. C. Antoine, who, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a citizen of the United States, a resident and legal voter in the i)arish of Caddo, in said State of Louisiana; that he was in the i)arish of Caddo at a general election held on the 4th day of November, 1872, as State otlicers,^^ and electors for Presideut and Vice-President and members of Congress^ was voted for, and knows from his own knowledge ami fiom reliable infor- / matiou received from others, which he believes true, that more than five ' hundred colored voters, legally qualified to vote in said parish, were de- ) nied the right to vote, and were prevented from voting ou account o)^ their color and previous condition of servitude. C.C. ANTOINPl Sworn to and subscribed before me, November 18, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. United States op America, Slate of Louisiana, ss : This day personally a])peared before me, the undersigned, clerk of the circuit court of the United States for the fifth circuit and district of Louisiana, Joseph B. Lott, acitizen of the United States, and a legally qualified voter of the parish of Rapides, in the State of Louisiaua; and that he was in said parish in the months of September, October, aud up to the day of November, 1872 ; that he is w\'ll acquainted with the voters of siiid parish ; that he attended various places ap- pointed to register voters in said parish in the months of Sei)tember and October, 1872, and he knows from his own knowledge, and from in- formation received from various sources, that he verily believes true, that the registrar of voters of said parish refused, and knowingly omit- ted, to register a large uumber of colored persons legally qualified to register and vote in said parish, to wit: fifteen hundred, on account of their color and former condition of servitude, and that numbers of per- / sons were by the wrongful and illegal acts aforesaid of said registrar^ deprived and denied the right of voting. JOSEPH B. LOTT. Sworn to aud subscribed before me, November 18, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. 252 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. United Sta'ies of America, State of Louisiana, ss : This (lay i)ersoiially aj)peare(l before me, the imdersij^netl, clerk of the eircuit court of the United States for the fifth circuit and district of Ijouisiaua. George Y, Kelso, a citizen of tlie United States, and a le- jrallv (lualilied voter of the parish of Rajiides, in the State of Louisiana, and that he was in said ])arish in the months of September, October, and nj) to tlie day of November, 1872 ; that he is well ac([uainte(l with the voters of said ])arish : that he attended various places appointed to register voters in said parish in the months of September and Octo- ber, 187-J, and he knows from his own knowledge, and from information received from various sources, that he verily believes trm?,that tlie regis- trar of voters of said parisli refused and knowingly omitted to register a hirge number of colored [)ersons legally qualified to register and vote in said parisli, to wit: fifteen hundred, on account of their color and for- mer condition of servitude, and that numbers of persons were, by the wrongful and illegal acts aforesaid of said registrar, deprived and de- nied the right of voting. GEORGE Y. KELSO. Sworn to and subscribed before me November 18, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commisxioner. United States of Americ;a, State of Louifiiana, ss: This day, personally appeared before me, the undersigned, clerk of the circuit court of the United States for the fifth circuit district of Louisiana, Joseph ('onaughton, a citizen of the United States, and a legal qualified voter of thejiarishof Rapides, in the State of Louisiana: and that he was in said parish in the month of Se])teinber, October. and np to the day of November, 1872 : that he is well acquainted with the voters of said parish ; that he attended various places ap- pointed to register voters in said parish, in the months of September and October, 1872, and he knows from his own knowledge, and from in- formation received from various sources that he verily believes true, that tlie registrar of voters of said parish refused, and knowingly omit- ted, to register a large number of colored persons legally qualified to register and vote in said parish, to wit, fifteen hundred, on account of their color and former condition of servitude; and that numbers of persons were, by the wrongful and illegal acts aforesaid of said regis- trar, deprived and denied the right of voting. JOSEPH CONAUGHTON. Sworn to and subscribed before me November 18, 1872. F. A. AVOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. United States of America, State of Louisiana, ss : This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned, clerk of the circuit court of the United States for the fifth circuit and district of Louisiana, Harry Lott, a citizen of the United States, and a legal qualified voter of the i)arish of Rapides, in the State of Louisiana; and that he was in said parish in the mouth of September, October, and ui) CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. "IfC) to the (lay of November, 1872; tliat be i.s well acquainted witb the voters of said parish; that he attended various phices appoiided to register voters in said parish, in the months of Septend)er and October. 187li, and he Icnows from liis own knowledi;e, and from information re- ceived iVom various sources that he verily believes true, tlmt the regis- trar of voters of said parish refused, and lviu)\vin,iilyonutted, to register a large numl)er of colored persons legally qualitied to legistcr and vote in said parish, to wit, tifteen hundred, ou account of their color and former condition of servitude; and that numbers of ])ersons were, by the wrongful and illegal acts aforesaid of said registrar, prevented and denied the right of voting. HAKRY LOTT. Sworn to and subscribed beibre me November IS, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United states CommtHHioiwr. DOCUMENTS Filed by complainant November 19, 1872. Minutes of proceedings of board of returning-o-fficers, State of Louisiana^ general election of 1872. FIRST DAY. New Orlj^ans, November 12, 1872. Board met in the governor's office. Mechanics' Institute. Present: Governor H. C. Warmotb, LieuteniintClovernor P. B. S. Pinch back, Secretary of State F. J. Herron, and John Lynch. Absent: T. 0. Anderson. No Judge being present' to administer the recjuired oath to the mem- bers of the board, after effecting an organization by ai>pointing (Jov- ernor Warmoth chairman, and John Lynch secretary, and alter some conversation as to the eligibility of Messrs. Pinchback and Anderson to serve on the board during the canvass of the i)resent election, both being candidates for office, tlie board adjourned to 12 o'clock m. to- morrow. JOHN LYNCH, tSecretary. SECOND DAY. New Orleans, November 13, 1872. Board met in the governors office at noon. Present: Governor Warmotb, Lieutenant Governor P. B. S. Pinch back, Secretary of State V. J. Herron, and John Lynch. Absent: T. ('. Auilerson. The minutes of vesterdav's meeting were read and approved. Chief Justice Ludeling being announced, was introduced and admin- istere«"r 18, 1872. Letter of General Longstreet to Governor Warmoth demanding the returns of election. Offered by complainant November 25, 1872. Mechanics' Institute, Kovemher 15, 1872. Sir: I have instructions from the State board of election returns to see that all election statements of the election of Noveuiber the 4th in CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 255 tliia State are properly and promptly placed in the possession of said board. I must therefore ask that you place the same iu the possession of Assistant Deputy Marshal W. F. Loan, in order that he may deliv^er the same to Mr. John Lynch, president of the board. I am, sir, very respeetfullv, vour obedient servant, .IA:MES LON(iSTltI':ET,. Deputy ^Supervisor. Governor H. C. Warmoth, Present. A true copy : JAMES LONGSTREET, Deputy United IStates ISupcr visor. Answer of Governor Warmoth to General Longstreet demanding election returns. . Oft'ered by complainant j!!>rovember 25, 1872. State of Louisiana, Executive Department. New Orleans, November l.">, 1S7L'. Sir: In reply to your letter, just received, informing me that you have instructions to see that all election statements of the election of November 4th in this State ai-e j)roperly and i)romptIy placed in the possession of said board, and asking that I place the same in the pos- session of Special Deputy Marshal W. F. Loan, in order that he may deliver the same to Mr. John Lynch, president of the board, I have to say that I do not recognize your authority as deputy supervisor to make such demand, nor have I any knowledge of the existence of any such body as that presided over by Mr. John Lynch. The election returns received by me as president of the State board of canvassers are, and will remain, in the possession of myself as president of the State hoard of canvassers, in accordance with the law of the State, and 1 ahtne am authorized to hold and open them. Verv respeetfullv, vour obedient servant, * ' H. C. WARMOTH, Governor of Louisiana. General James Longstreet, Deputy United States Supervisor. A true coi)v : JAMES LONGSTREET, Deputy United States Supervisor. Petition. Offered by complainant November 25, 1872. Eight district court, parish of Orleans. No. 3550. State of Louisi- ana et al. vs. Franklin -J. Herron. To the honorable the Judge of the eighth district court iu and for the parish of Orleans, in the State of Louisiana : The petition of the State of Louisiana, represented by Simeon Ileldon, 256 CONDITION OF AF-PAIRS IN LOUISIANA. attorney -general of said State, in his ofiScial capacity as aforesaid, re- spectfiiily re[)re8ents, upon tlie information of George E. Bovee, secre- tary of state of tiie State of Louisiana, who is joined with the State of Louisiana and made paity complaining and plaintiff herein, that said George E. IJovee was elected secretary of state of the State of Louisi- ana at tlie giMieral election held on the 17th and 18th days of A])ril, in the year A.l). 18GS. Tiiat the term of said office, under the constitution of the State of Louisiana, is four years, and the salary thereof three tliousand dollars. Now, })etitioner represents that said George E. Bovee, after his elec- tion as aforesaid, qualified as required by law, was commissioned by t':e goveruor of Louisiana, Henry O. Warmoth, assumed the duties of said offi(;e about the 15th day of June, A. D. 18GS, and continued to exercise and j)erforui the duties of secretary of state as aforesaid until the 29t\\ day of August, A, D. 1871, when he was forcibly ejected from the office, of secretary of state by Franklin J. Herron, a resident of the city of New Orleans, assisted by Superintendent Badger, Captain Edgeworth, and three other persons belonging to the metroi)olitan police of the city of New Orleans. That ha\ iiig (ejected said Bovee, secretary of state as aforesaid, the said I'^raukliu d. Herron took jiossession of the seal of the State of Louisiana, and the State archives, and all papers belonging to the State of Louisiana, which by law belong to the custody and keeping of the secretary of state. That said Franklin J. Herron has thus usurped, intruded into, and is now unlawfully holding and exercising the functions and duties of sec- retary of state of the State of Jvouisiana, a public officer created by the constitution of the State of Louisiana. That said Herron pretends to exercise said functions by virtue of autlu)rity from His Excellency H. (■. Warmoth, governor of the State of Louisiana. But petitioner avers that the term of office of George E. Bovee not having expired, and there being no vacancy therein, the governor of Louisiana was without authority of law to either remove or suspend said IJovee from the exercise of the functions and duties of said office. That said Bovee holds his office by virtue of his election thereto under the constitution of the Slate, and that his tenure of oftice does not de- pend upon executive will, but is fixed and limited by the organic law of the State of Louisiana. That said Bovee is the secretary of state as aforesaid, and entitled to exercise the duties and functions thereof. Betitioners further rei)resent that the amount of money in controversy, apart from the question of title to otJice, (,'xceeds the sum of five hundred dollars. Wherefore, the premises considered, ix'titioner prays that the said Franklin J. Herrou bedidy cited to appear and answer the allegations and demamls contained in this petition, and alter due ami legal pio- ceedings had, that there be judgnicnt in favor of plaintiff, decreeing George E. Bovee to be secretary of state of Louisiana, and as such en- titled to exercise all the functions aiul duties pertaining to said office, and entitled to the custody and keeping of the seal "of the State of Louisiana, with the archives, books, and papers belonging to said State, and that he be put iif possession thereof, and maintained in said oflice; and further, that said Franklin J. Herron be decreed to have usurped and intruded into said office of secretary of state, and as such is unlawfully holding and exeicising the fuuctious and duties of the coxj)rnox or affairs in loiisiaxa. '2')1 office of secretary of state as aforesaid, a public office under the consti- tution of tlie State of Louisiana, and that he deliver the same to George 1]. Bovee, with everything- pertaining thereto, and taken possession of as aforesaid. They pray for such other and further relief as may Ite necessary, and fur general relief in the premises. SIMEON BELDEN, Atfornet/ficncral of JjovlsUmn. Judfjiuenf. In this case, sul>mitted to the court for determination, after delibera- tion and for the reasons assi'gned in the written opinion this day delivered and fded, the court considering the law and the evidence to be in I'avor of the defendant — It is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that this suit be dismissed at the cost of the plaintilfs. Judgment rendered October 10, 1871, and signed October 20, 1871. CHAS. :\[. EMERSOX, Jt(d. Lovee, by the governor of the State for malfeasance in office ; that the governor was empowered and authorized to make such susi)ension, and the a))poinlment of respon- dent, on the forowing grounds, and for the foKowing reasons: First. That the said George E. Bovee had Molaied iiic law and his oath of office in this, in taking a paper purporting to be the bill incor- l)orating the Crescent City Water Works Company, ])repared by Oscar J. Dunn, lieutenant-governor of the State, and ex-officio president of the senate of the State, and George W. Carter, speaker of the house of re- presentatives of the State, or by some other person to respondent unknown, and certitying that the same had been presented to the gov- ernor of the State for his approval on the twenty-tifth day of February L871, and that the legal time for the same had elapsed before the adjourn ment of the legislature of the State without the return of the same to the house in which it had originated, and that this the said I)ill had l)ecome a law without the approval of Mie governor, from lapse of time, when the said Bovee knew that such was not the fact, and that he was certifying H. Ex. 01 17 •258 CONDITION OF AFFAIKS IN LOUISIANA. to that which he tcuew to be iiutrue, in this, that the said paper was not the bill passed by the legislature, enrolled by the proper comuiittee, and signed by the proper officers as such original bill, but that the same was an original })aper purporting to be a copy of the original from which it was not nnideand with which it was never compared. Second. That at the time he, the said Bovee, gave such certificate he knew that the original and only bill passed by the legislature was in the possession of the governor, who had refused to approve and intended to veto the same at the meeting of the legislature on the next meeting thereof. Third. That the said Bovee knew when he gave the same certificate, and so the fact is, that the said original bill was not presented to the governor for his approval five days before the adjournment of the legis- lature, and that the same was not entitled to become a law through any apiiroval or action of his whatever. Fourth. That the said Bovee certified that the said charter of the said Orescent City Water Works Company had become a law Avhen he knew that such was not the case, contrary to the will, consent, and ap- ])roval of the governor, and with the fraudulent intent to injure the ►State, and to endeavor to make that a law which did not have the legal sanction for that purpose. That the said im[)roper, illegal, and unjust conduct of said Bovee gave the governor, who is charged with the conservation and enforcement of the laws, the right to suspend him and put respondent in his place until the meeting of the legislature in January next. Wherefore respondent prays that plaintiti's petitition be dismissed and his demand rejected. SEMMES & MOTT, WM. GRAKT, Attorneys for Defendanin. A true copy. O. W. TEXXISOX, ncimiii Ckrk. Affidavit of John Lynch. Ofered by (.•omi)lainant November 1*3, 1S72. Eighth district court ibr the i;arish of Orleans. Xos. 13545, 1354:6. John Lynch, being duly sworn, says that the annexed document, nnirked A 1, is a true, full, and complete transcri[)t of the minutes of the board of returning-officers of the election of November 4, 1872, as held on the twelfth and thirteenth of November instant, and that all those minutes are a true, full, and complete record of e\'erything thafc trans- pired at the sessions held on those d.iys, and that no other business was transacted by the board of returning-officers on those days than is con- tained in said minutes, except that, after the adjournment of the board, a communication was addressed to Messrs. Longstreet and Hawkins, notifying them of their appointment, a copy of which is annexed as a part hereof, and nuuked A 2, and that they afterwards presented their respective oaths of office on the same day, hereto annexed as part hereof and marked A 3 and A 4. Affiant further swears that at the time of 'the administering of the oaths of office, as detailed in the minutes, to affiant, 11. C. AVarmoth and F. J. Herron, all three took the oath simultaneously. It was adminis- tered to them by Chief Justice Ludeling; that he was not present when CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOIISJANA. 2')\^ any oath was administered to F. II. Ilateli or Diirant Da I'onte as re- turning-oflicors of election, nor did lie ever consent to recognize them or Jack AVIiiuton as such : that at the time he left the room wherein the meeting- was held, and as he was going out, there was the appear- ance of an oath being administered to :Messrs.Jlatch and Da I'onte, but the administering of such oath had not been completed ; that subse- een, in possession of the police since the loth of November instant. A true copy. IIOBERT LYNXE, Dejniiij Clerl: Filed Xovember ID, 1S72. State of Louisiana, Executive Department, Keiv Orleans, November 13, 187i'. Whereas by an amendment of the constitution of the State, adopted at the general election held iN^ovember 70, 1870, it is provided that '' no person who at any time may have been a collector of taxes, whethei' State, parish, or numicipal, or who may have been otherwise intrusted with i)ublic money, shall be eligible to the general assembly or to any office of profit or trust," &c.; and Whereas official information has been received at this office that F. J. Herron is indebted to the State for moneys collected by him as tax collector in and for the sixth district, city of Is'ew Orleans : Now, therefore, T, Henry Clay Warmoth, governor of the State of Louisiana, charged with the faithful execution of the laws under the constitution of the State, and in due observance of the provisions of the amendments to the same, do issue this my order removing F. J. Ilerrou from the office of secretary of state, and do hereby appoint Jack Whar- ton to discharge the duties of said office. Given under my hand and the seal of the Stale this ir.th day of No- vember, A. D. 187li, and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-seventh. [SEAL.] H. C. WARMOTH, Governor of Louisiana. Y. A. Woodward, Assistant /Secretary of State. A true copy from the records oh tile in the office of the secretaiy of state. [SEAL.] Y. A. WOODWARD, Assistant JSirretari/ of Stointinent of said supervisors or other officers charged M'itb the conduct of said election. That it is untrue, as charged in said bill, that affiant had any con- nection with or knowledge of any ])lan to deprive a large number or in- deed any citizen of the right to register on account of race, color, or previous condition, or for any other cause. Affiant denies tliat by any scheme of which he has knowledge, or with which he had any connection, ten thousand voters, or indeed any number of voters, were refused registration or the right to \ote at the election which took place on the fourth day of Xoveniber last. lie denies that he adopted the nseans charged, or any other means whatsoever, to deprive voters of their franchise, and to defeat the elec- tion of coniphiiimnt by preventing their ballots from being cast. Affiant denies tliat ten thousand voters, or any inimber of voters, were refused registration through a.ny conspiracy to which he was a party, who afterwards offeied to vote for complainant, and were rel'used as charged. Affiant denies that complainant is in possession of any evidcp.ce, under act of thirty-first of May, 1870, or any other act amendatory tliereof, which goes to show that any of the complaints of said bill against af- fiant are true. lie denies that there are documents, having' the least truth in them, which show that from three to five thousand jiersons, or any number of persons, were refused their light either to register or vote, on account of race, color, or previous coii(Ution. CONDITIO?; OF AFFAIK'S IX LOUISIANA. 201 lie denies that lie lias conspircil with supervisors or assistant super- visors of registration, to cause a dishonest, incorrect, and false count of the votes cast in the several parishes, or that he has caused false and untrue returns and certificates of the result and canvass of the votes cast in the several parishes as charged, by not counting" the bal- lots deposited by persons of color, or that any ballots cast for complain- ant, whether by colored or white persons, have been suppressed or not counted, Avith his knowledge or by his connivance or consent. Afdant denies that Jacob Hawivins or James Longstreet were ever elected members of the board of returning' officers, or that said persons were ever recognized upon said board, of which affiant is president. That it is utterly untrue, as charged, that affiant refuses to open the returns, iuliuenced by fear that the board of returuing-oflicers would make a true and proi)er investigation of the truthfulness of returns, and the scheme for excluding- ballots would be defeated, or that evidence of frauds that had been committed and of the fact that a large nuiriber of ijersons had at such eleetiou offered to vote ami had been refused, contrary to law and laws of the Uuited States, would be discovered and l^reserved in such form as that the same could be used and made avail- able in any action or iiroeeeding- instituted by complaina'.it to determine the right to otrice. Allot this is specially denied by affiant as without the least founda- tion or appearance of truth, as well as the charge that he caused an adjournment of the board of reiurning-officers for the purpose of con- cealing or covering up frauds, or to prevent the proper and legal can- vass, or that he ejected F. J. Herron from the office of secretary of state for the purposes charged. Affiant now denies that he is a party to any plan and scheme, or con- spiracy of any kind whatsoever, the object of which is to suppress or destroy, or place beyond the reach of the complainants, any documents or evidence of any kind relating to the election which might avail or aid the complainant in any suit he might have the right to bring, either before this or any other court of justice. Tliis deponent' says that said" F. J. Herron w^s appointed l)y this deponent, as governor of this State, in the year 1871, to discharge the duties of secretary of state during the suspension of George E. Bovee, who had been elected secretary of state at the general election of 18G8, and who was suspended by this deponent for malfe;\sance in office; that he removed said F. J. Herron from the discharge of the duties of sec- retary of state on the thirteenth of November, 1872, as he had a right to do; that at the meeting of the returning-officers of election, F. H. Hatch aud Durant Dd Ponte were duly selected returning-officers: that at said meeting Herron having been removed and Jack "Wharton^ aii- pointed secretary of stiite, this deponent, in the presence of said Whar- ton and Lynch, moved the appointment of said Hatch and Durant l>a Ponte as returning-ohicers, and said motion was put and declareil car- ried, the said Lynch not voting '\vea" or ''nay." This deponent further says that suits are now pending in the eighth district court, parish of Orleans, in which the said Longstreet, Hawkins, Lynch, and Herron claim to be the legal returning-officers, and that this suit is brought against said Wharton. Da Ponte, and Hatch, and this suit is undetermined, and a similar suit brought in said court by said Herrou against said Wharton, claiming the ofhce of secretary ot state, is pending already, as appears by copies of the petition in said suits herewith tiled. This deponent says that the complainant, at the time ol the clcclnm, 262 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIAXA. on tlie 4tli of^sToveinbor, 1872, and ever since, and now is, a Senator ot the United States. H. C. WAIJMOTH. Sworn to this 19th day of Xoveinber, 1872. JOHN I J. WELLEK, United States CommiHHioner. Petition. To the honorable the eighth distriet court for the parish of Orleans: The petition of the State of Lonisiana, on tlie rehition of the attorney- general, and on llie information of tlie retnrninf»-oi1icers of election, to wit, Henry <- AN'armoth, Frank J. llerron, John Lynch, James Long- street, and Jacob Hawkins, composing the board of said retnruing- orticers, respectfnlly represents, that the above-named retnrning-ofticers of elections are dnly (pialiiied as such for making the returns of the election held in this State on the 4th of November instant ; that Jack AYharton, F. IL Hatch, and Diirant Da Poute are pretending to be such returning-otllcers, and attempting to act as such, and are iuterfering with the above-named returning-ofticers of elections in the discharge of their duties as such oiliceis, and esi)ecially Avith Frank J. llerron, James Longstreet, ami Jacob Hawkins, and are intruding into and usurping the oHice of returning-olticers of elections of the State, contrary and in violation of law and the rights of petitioner. Wherefore, the premises considered, i)etitioner prays that said Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Durant J>a I'onte be cited to answer this petition, and thataftei'all due proceedings, tliey be decreed to be intruders into, and usuri)ers of, the olVice of returning-oi'licers of election, and that Fraidv J. Herron, James Longstreet, and Jacob Hawkins be decreed to be such returniiig-officers: and petitioners further pray for costs and all general relief. SIMEON B ELD EN, Attorney-General. A. r. Field and J. (^. A. Felloavs, if Counsel. A true copy: EGBERT LYNNE, Deputy Clerl-. Siq^plem entu 1 petitio n . Eighth distri(;t court, No. '.'5515. State of Louisiana, c.v rel. attor- ney-geneial, on information of F. J. Herron vs. Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Durant Da Fonte. The supplemental petition of the phiintifts herein respectfidly rep- resents — That all the allegations in the original ])etition are true, and, in addi- tion thereto, that theattem])tof thesaid defendants to act in the njanner alleged in said petition, ;ind to sit as the returning-ollieers of elections, and to act as such returning-ollieers, will . A. Fellows, 0/ Counsel A true copv: liOBEKT LYNNE, Depiit;/ (Jlerlc, 26(5 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX L0UI8IAXA. Affidavit of John McEnery. Ofteied by defendaDts November 25, 1872. United States circuit court for the district of Louisiana, Xo. 38G0. TTil- liani P. Kellogg vs. H. C. Warniotli ef ah. ,Io!iu ^IcEiiery, made a defendant herein, being sworn, says: That he is not cognizant of any ])lan, or scheme, or doings, by any ])arty or})er- son intrusted by law with any duty connected with the said election of the fourth of November, 1872, by which any other than a legal result was to be nccomplished ; nor is he cognizant of the intention of any one to make a sham or fraudulent return or count; and he expressly denies that he has ever, or does now, approve any such attemi)ts or designs, as charged in the bill ; that he holds no oflice or commission, and has nothing whatever to do with any court or return or canvass of votes: but is an entire stranger to the official conduct or private acts of any person intrusted bv tlie laws with conducting said election. JOHN 3ICENEEY. Sworn to and subscribed before, me this 19th of November, 1872. F. E. YIXOT, United States Commissioner. Affidavit of Joel- Wluoton. (Offered by defendants November 25, 1872. Eighth district court. No. i;551-(). The State of Louisiana e.r reJ. at- torney-general vs. Jack AVharton et als. J. AYliarton, being sworn, says: That the facts set forth in the sub- joined official report of the board of returning-officers are true, and that the vote electing F. II. Hatch and Durant Da Ponte was taken in the l)resence of John Lynch, who did not vote either yea or nay, and that after said Hatch and Da Ponte were sworn in as members of said re- turning-board, F. J. llerron stated that the proceedings were irregular, and proi)osed to said Lynch that they should withdraw, and the said Lynch, a few moments afterward, did withdraw. Office Boatji) of Eetuexing-Officeks, Xcic Orleans, Xovcmher 14, 1872. The board met at 11 o'clock, Tuesday, November 12, 1872, at the governors parlor, in the State-house. Present, Messrs. AVarmoth, governor ; Pinchback, lieutenant-gov-- ernor; Herron, secretary of state, an."){> of the docket of the eighth district court for the parish of Orleans, the said ¥. J. Herron set up and relied on the suspending order aforesaid to maintain the validit.v of his appoint- ment aforesaid to discharge the duties of secretary of state as afore- said. JACK WIIAKTOX. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 18th day of November, 1871'. W.AL GIJANT, United States Co)]imis,sioner, Di.styief of Loui.sUina. H. C. Warmoth sworn, say.s that he has read tlie foregoing aliidavit and the facts therein stated are true. HP]X]1Y C. WAiniOTe. Sworn and subscrilied to before me this 18th day of November. 1871'. W]\L GRANT, United States Commissioner^ District of Louisiana. Affidavits of Wharto)!, Warmoth, <(nd Sheridan. Offered b^' defendants November 2.">, 187l\ J. Wharton, being sworn, says: That the facts set fort in the subjoined ofiicial report of the board of returning-offlcers are true, and that the vote electing F. H. Hatch and Durant ]3aPonte was taken in the pres- ence of John Lynch, who did not vote either yea or nay, and that after said Hatch and Da Poute were sworn in as members of said returning- board, F. J. Herron stated that the proceedings were irregular, and pro- posed to said Lynch that they should withdraw, and the said Lynch a few moments after did withdraw. JACK AVHAIJTON. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 18th day of November, 1872. W.^r. CKANT, United St((tes Co)nmissio)ier, Distriet of Louisiana. H, C. AVarmoth, being sworn, says: He has read the foregoing afti- davit, and the facts therein stated are true. H. C. WAKMOTH. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 18th day of November, 187l'. W^l. (HJANT, United Sfat<'s Commissioner. District of Louisiana. George A. Sheridan, being sworn, says: He has rrad the foregoing affidavit, and the facts therein stated are true, (iEOKGK A. SIIEKIDAN. Sworn and subscribed to before nu' tills 18th day of November. 187l'. \\y\. GKANT, United Sta'.es Commissioner, District of Jjnilsiinio. 270 CONDITION OV AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. Order suspending Bovec and appointing Herron. Offerc*resented to the governor of the State of Louisiana for his approval, and not having been returned by liim to the house of the general assembly in which it originated within the time prescribed by the constitution of the State of Louisiana, has become a law without liis approval. The said certificate having been made by the said Bovee with the knowledge, communicated by the governor of the State of Louisiana on the fourth day of May, 1871, that said bill would not become a law, or be acted ui)on, until the first day of the next session of the general as- sembly ; and Whereas the said Bovee has knowingly, willfully, unlawfully, and with the pur])ose of injposing upon the people of the State as law that Avhich he knows has not become law: In'ow, therefore, I, H, C. Warmoth, governor of the State of Lou- isiana, charged with the faithful execution of the laws under the con- stitution of the Stale, do issue this my order suspending the said G. E. Bovee from the ofitice of secretary of state, and do hereby a])point F. J. Herron to discharge the duties of said office until the legislature shall act upcii the subject in accordance with the constitution. Giv(n under my hand and seal this 20th day of August, A. 1). 1871, and of the Independence of the L'nited States the ninety-sixth. SEAL.J H. C. WAEMOTH, Governor of Louisiana. O. ]). BllACiDON, Private Secretary to Governor. A true copv from the records of the office of the secretarv of state. Y. A. WOODWAKD,"^ Assistant iSecrctarj/ of State. Ixemoval of llcrron and appointment of Wharton. Oftered by defendants November 25, 1872. State of Lox^isiana, Executive Depaiitment, Neic Orleans, yovemher 13, 1872. Whereas, by an amendment of the constitution of the State, adopted at the general election held November 7, 1870, it is provided that no person who, at any time, may have been a collector of taxes, whether State, parish, or municipal, or who nmy have been otherwise intrusted with public money, shall be eligible to the general asi^iembly, or to any .office of profit or trust under the State government, until he shall have CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 271 obtiiiued adiscbarge for the amount of such collections, and for all i»iil)- lic moneys uitli M'hicli be may bave been intrusted; Aud wbereas official inibrmation lias been received at tliis office tbat F. J. lleiron is indebted to tbe State for moneys collected by bim as tax-collector iu and for tbe sixtb district of New Orleans : ifow, tberefore, I, Henry (May AVarmotb, governor of tbe State of Louisiana, cbarged witb tbe faitbful execution of tbe laws uiuler tbe constitution of tbe State, and in due observance of tbe i)r()visions of tbe amendments to tbe same, do issue tins my order removing V. .]. llerron from tbe office of secretary of state, and do bereby appoint Jack AVbar- ton to discbarge tbe duties of said otfice. Given under my band and tbe seal of tbe State tbis tbirteentb day of November, eigbteen bundred and seventy-two, aiul of tbe inde- peudence of tbe United States tbe ninetv-seventb. [SEAL.] "^ H. C. AVAiniOTH, . Governor of Louisiana. Y. A. AYOODAVAED, Assistant Secretary of State. A true copy from tbe original on tile in tbe office of tbe secretary of state. Y. A. WOODWARD, Assistant ^Serretari/ of State. Commission of 'I. Wharton. Offered by defendants. Tpie United States of A:\ierica, State of Louisiana : By Henry Clay Warmotb, governor of tbe State of Louisiana. In tbe name and by tbe autbority of tbe State of Louisiana, know ye, tbat I bave nominated, constituted, aud appointed, and by tliese pres- ents do nominate, constitute, and appoint Jack Wbarton secretary of state in and for tbe State of Louisiana. And I do autborize and em- power bim to execute and fnltill tbe duties of tbat oilice according to law, and to bave aud to ludd tbe said office, witb all tbe i)owcrs, privi- leges, and emoluments to tbe same, from and after tbe date bereof. In witness wbereof I bave bereunto signed my name and caused tbe great seal of tbe State to be affixed, at tbe city of New Orleans, tbis tbirteentb day of November, in tbe year of our Lord one tbousantleigbt bundred and seventy-two, and of tbe Independence of tbe United States of America the ninety-seven tb. By tbe governor : 'y. a. Woodward, Assistant Secretary of State. A true copy : H. c. wae:motil A. WOODWAlfD. Assistant Secretari/ of Stafi. 272 • (■f>Xl)ITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOnSIAXA. AXficlavif of 0. 1). Bracidon. Oifereil by (lefeiulaiits NovcMiiber 2,"), 1872. (). I). Jiragdon, private secretary of the governor, deposes and .says : That lie was present at the meeting of the board of retarning-oliicers, and during the wliole of the session on Wednesday, 13th November. That when the i)resident of the board put the motion to select Messrs, F. II. Hatch and Durant Da Ponte to fill the vacancies caused by the rejection of ^Messrs. Pinchback and Anderson, 3Ir. Warnioth and Jack Wharton voted ''yea," and tliat Mr. Lynch did not vote '-yea'' or "nay," but was silent during the vote. That Messrs. Hatch and Da Ponte were sworn in by W. H. Cooley, judge of the sixth district court of the parish of New Orleans, in the presence of 'Six. Lynch, who did not rise frouj his seat during that time, nor protest against the action taken, and that it w.as only after Messrs. Ilatch and ])a Ponte had taken their seats that Mr. Lynch was prevailed upon by the importunities of F. J. Herron to leave the board. That the said Lynch did so then, without any word of i)rotest against the action which had been taken by the board. The deponent further states, that ]\Ir. Lynch took with him the minutes of the previous day's proceedings, against the remonstrance of the g'overnor : that it is not true that a motion was made and put to elect James Longstreet and Jacob Hawkins. ]Mr. Herron attempted to make such a motion, but was interrupted in the midst of his attempt by the governor, and prevented from completing the motion ; nor did Mr. Lynch protest against the said Wharton taking his seat as secre- tarv of state or member of the board of canvassers. (). D. BKAGDOX. Sworn and subscribed to before me Xovember IS. 1872. W:\[. GEAXT, United Stdfcs Coitunis.sioncr, Di.sfricf of IjOuifiira(/doii. Offered by defendants November 2,"), 1871'. State of Louisia]S'A, rarinh of Orlecois : The undersigned personally appeared before , who declared and said, that it is to their knowledge that since the appointment of .Jack Wharton to the office of secretary of state, the said Jack AN'har- ton has been in lull and complete possi-ssion of the s;iid office of secre- tary of state. That the i)olice of the metropolitan police district has not been in possession of said office, but that said Jack Wharton, by himself or his employes, has been in actual possession of said office, and all its archives, as well as the seal of the State. W. L. CATLIX. B. P. BLANCHAKl). ().]). BPAGDON. Sworn and subscrilx'd to bel'oie me this ISth dav of November^ 1872. WM. (IKAXT, United iStdtcs ConnnisHioner, Pistriet of Louiaiana. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. 2 To Affidavit of William H. Cooley. Offered by defendants November 25, 1872. State of Louisiana, Parish of Orleans : Before me, the undersigiied authority, personally api)eared William H. Cooley, who, after beiuf? duly sworn, deposes and says : That on Wednesday, 13th ISTovember, 1872, he was i)resent in the {govern- or's office, in the Mechanics' Institute, where the board of State can- vassers met; that it is to his knowledge that Governor Warmoth, during the sessions of the board, made a motion that Messrs. Durant Da Ponte and F. H. Hatch be declared duly appointed in the stead of Thomas 0. Anderson and P. B. S. Pinchback, both determined to be in- capable; that the said motion was put and carried ; that John Lynch, one of the board of canvassers, was present during the whole (if the proceedings, and, upon the motion aforesaid of Governor Waniiotli, did not vote, either in the negative or affirmative, but the motion having been carried, the affiant, in his judicial capacity, administered tlie oath of office to the said parties, to wit, Messrs. Durant Da Ponte and F. H. Hatch, who thereupon took their seats at the table occupii-d by the board of State canvassers. Deponent further swears that dining the whole of the above proceedings the said John Lynch was present, sitting at the head of the table, and only withdrew after the said Dai'onte and Hatch were regularly sworn and inductetl into office ; and deponent further swears that said John Lynch did not attempt to depart from the room until the said Hatch and Da Ponte were sworn in, seated at the table of the board of canvassers, and until the governor as president of the board had declared the said board organized aiul ready for bnsiness, and had proceeded to break oi)en some of the returns of the election; further, affiant says that the said John Lynch did not protest against the seating of Jack Wharton as one of the members of the board of canvassers. W. H. COOLEY. Sworn and subscribed to before me this ISth dav of November, 1872. WJLLIA.AI GRANT, United States Commissioner, District of Louisiana. Affidavit of Y. A. Woodward and 0. D, Bragdon, Offered by defendants November 25, 1872. Y. A. Woodward, assistant secretary of state, deposes and says that he has been assistant secretary of state continuously for the past three months, and has had in his possession, as. such, the seal of the State of Louisiana; that he turned the said seal over to Jack Wharton, secretary of state, on Wednesday, 13th of the present month ; that the said seal was kept in the safe of the governor, except when in actual use, for safe-keeping; and that no other seal has been in use, as the seal of the State, during the time that he has H. Ex. 91 18 274 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. been assistant secretary of state ; that it is not true, and cannot be true, that F. J. Herrou has the seal of the State in his possession. Y. A. WOODWARD. Sworn and subscribed to before me November 18, 1872. WILLIAM GRANT, United States Commissioner, District of Louisiana. O. D. Bragdon deposes and says: That the facts as stated above he knows to be true. O. D. BRAGDON. Sworn and subscribed before me this 18th dav of November, 1872. WILLIAM GRANT, United States Commissioner, District of Louisiana. Affidavit of John Douglas. Offered by defendants November 25, 1872. John Douglas, being duly sworn, deposes and says : That F. J. Herrou called on him on Friday, the eighth day of the presentmonth, and ordered him to make a seal of the State of Louisiana for the office of the secre- tary of state. It was to have been made by me and ready for delivery on the following Tuesday. General Herrou did not call on Tuesday, but did call on the following Thursday. He then demanded the seal, which I refused to give him, for the reason that I observed by the press that he had been removed from the office of secretary of state. He asked me if I did not know that I was liable for damages for my refusal, to which I resjionded that I was willing to take the responsibility. I still have the seal in my possession. JOHN DOUGLAS. Sworn to and subscribed before me this ISth dav of November, 1872. O. M. TENNISON, Deputy Cleric, Eighth District Court. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 18th day of November, 1872. WM. GRANT, United States Commissioner. Interrogatories to H. C. Warmoth, hy complainant. Filed November 20, 1872. Circuit court of the United States, district of Louisiana. In equity No. 0830. William P. Kellogg vs. IL C. Warmoth et al. And now coiiu'S the complainant herein, by J. R. Beckwith and Wil- liam H. Hunt, liis solicitors, aiul e.xliibits and tiles in court interrogatories to be answered by the said defendant, H. C. ^A'armoth, as directed and allowed 1\\ the order of this honorable court, requiring the said defend- CONDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 275 ant to show cause why he shoiikl not be punished for contempt of the orders and authority of this honorahU^- court, as follows : Interrogatories propounded to the defendant, J I. C. Warinorh, under and in accordance with the order heretofore made in this cause, recjuir- ing him to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of the authority of this court. First. On wliat day and at wliat liour of the day were you served with a copy of the restraining- order granted in this court ? Second. Had you any knowledge of the existence of said restraining order before the service of a copy of the same on you ? If yea, state the day and hour when you so became acquainted with the fact that said order had been allowed. Third. Had you at the time you first knew of the existence of said order in your possession any certificate, statement of votes made by any supervisor of registration or other otficer or officers of ehn-tion in any manner connected with an election held in the State of Louisiana, on the 4th day of November, x\. D. 1872, and have you received any such document, paper, statement, or certificate since the service of said order ? Fourth. Have you, since the date of the service of, or of your know- ledge of, said restraining order, permitted or allowed any person, other than John Lynch, Frank J. Herron, James liongstreet, and Jacob Haw- kins, to see, inspect, have access to, read, or consult any pai)er, document^ return, or certificate alluded to or in any manner referred to in the said third above propounded interrogatory, or in said restraining order, or the bill of complaint in this cause? If yea, state the names of all such j)ersons, and why they had access to the said documents, and why and for what purpose you permitted such access. Fifth. Is it not true that you have allowed do(;uments, statements of votes, or other writings or statements referrey of the restraining order issued in this cause? If yea, state when, from what ofiicer or olllcers or person said document, package, and envelope came, and when and in whose presence the same was or were so opened, and who and what persons besides yourself have seen the same opened, or have seen any such documents. Ninth. Is it m)t true tlmt you have advised clerks, which you claim to have appointed in connection with .lack Wharton, Durant J)a I*onte, Frank H. Hatch, or any other person or persons claiming to act as 276 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. returnins-officers of electiou, that the restraiuing order issued in this cause did not afiect them or any of them, and have you not permitted them, or some of them, to have custody of papers relating to said elec- tion, and had knowledge of the fact that calculations, counts, state- ments relating to said electiou have been made since the service of said restraiuing order? Tenth. Is it not true that you have, since the date of the restraining order in this cause, issued commissions to some officer or officers who was or were a candidate or candidates for election to office, either State, parochial, and municipal, at the election held in this State on the -Ith day of November, A. D., 1872 ! If yea, when did you issue such com- missions, to what person or ])ersons, and for what office or offices ? Eleventh. Is it not true that you have issued a commission to some person as sheritf of the parish of Orleans (either civil or criminal) who was a candidate for election at the last election in this State, the elec- tion referred to in the bill of com])laint in this cause ? If yea, state the name of the person or persons commissioned, the day and hour when such commission or commissions were delivered to such person or per- sons, and upon what evidence of election the same was or were issued 5 state particulars in full. Twelfth. Have you done any act relating to said election referred to in the bill of com[)laint or tending to make known to you or any other person or i)ersons the result of said election since the service of the restraining order in this caused If yea, state what you have done or what you have any knowledge of having been done, in full detail and particulars. J. E. BECKWITH, Solicitor for Complainant. MarsliaVs return. Keceived by United States marshal November 20, 1872; and, on the same day, month, and year, served the within interrogatories on the within-named H. C. Warmoth, by handing the same to him, in person, at the Mechanics' Institute in this citv. • C. E. STEELE, Deputy United iS fates Marshal. Interrogatories to F. H. Hatch, Burant Da Ponte, and Jaclc Wharton, hy complainant. Filed November 20, 1872. Circuit court of the United States, district of Louisiana. In equity. No. G830. AVm. P. Kellogg vs. H. C. Warmoth et al. And now comes the complainant herein, by J. E. Beckwith and Wm. H. Hunt, his solicitors, and exhibits and tiles in court interrogatories to be answered by the said defendants, Jack Wharton, Durant Da Ponte, and Frank II. Hatch, as directed and allowed by the order of this hon- orable court, requiring the said defendants to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of the orders and authority of this honorable court, as follows : Interrogatories i)ropounded to Jack Wharton, Durant Da Ponte, and Frank II. Hatch, under and by virtue of the order of the court requir- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 277 ing- them to show cause why they slionld not be punished for con- tempt of court for disobedience of its orders, and recpiired them to answer in writing, under oath, interrogatories propounded totliem. First. Is it true that you, any, all, or either of you, have acted with the defendant, H. C. Warmoth, as retnrning-officers to (canvass or coin- pde any of the statements of votes made by sn[)ervisors of registration about or concerning an election held in the State of Louisiana on the 4th day of November, A. I). 187L> ? If yea, state the day and hour at which you first began so to a(;t, and the day and hour when you ceased to do any act as returning-oflicers, and severally state the day and tlie hour of the service of the restraining order in this cause on you respec- tively. Second. Have you, or either of you, at any time since you knew of the existence of said restraining order, done, either individually or col- lectively, with each or any of you, or with the defendant, II. C. War- moth, any act tending toward canvassing any statement of \ otes cast at the said election referred to in the bill of complaint? If .yea, state the date and full details and particulars of such act or acts. Third. Have yon, or either of you, seen, had access to, read, or in any manner had made known to you, or either of you, the import, contents, statement, or any deduction made from any statement of votes, ('ertiti- cate, or document relating to said election referred to in the bill of com- plaint herein, which should properly be canvassed by returning-othcer of election ! If yea, state what paper or document you have seen, Avhen, where, and by whose aid or connivance any such matter was made known to you. Fourth. Is it not true that you, and each of you, have been well aware that persons claiming to be clerks, appointed under alleged au- thority of the titty-tifth section of "An act to regulate the conduct and maintain the freedom and purity of elections," &c., approved March KJ, 1870, and a law of the State of Louisiana, have had free access to papers and documents relating to said election of November I, 1872, and have been canvassing or examining the same since the date of the service of the restraining order in this cause ? If yea, state the names of such per- sons, and what they have done in that respect in full detail. Fifth. Have you, or either of you, approved, made, or assisted in making, or signed, countersigned, attested, or verified any statement of canvass or calculation of the votes cast or the majority of votes cast for any person who was a candidate for office at said election, showing or tending to show the election or defeat of any such candidate, or any commission issued to any such person or persons as an offit'er, State, parochial, or municipal? If yea, severally state in full detail the char- acter and date of all such act or acts. J. R. BECKWITH, iSolicitor for Comp ht in a n f. 3IarshaVs return of service. Received November 23, 1872, by the United States marshal ; and, on the same day, month, and year, served each of the within-named per- sons with a copy hereof, personally, in this city. New Orleans. Novend)er 22, 1872. CHAS. R. STEELE, Deputy United iState.s Martihal. 278 CONDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. Copy of record of suit No. 13545, in the eighth district court for the parish of Orleans. Offered by complaiiiaut ISTovember 25, 1872. To tlie lioiionible the eiglitli district court for the parisb of Orleans: The petition of the State of Louisiana ou the relation of tlie attorney- general, and on tbe inforniation of the returuiug-officers of elections, to wit, Henry C Warinoth, Frank J. Herron, Jobn Lyncb, Jaiui'S Long- street, and Jacob Hawkins, composing the board of said returning-offi- cers, res[)ectfully represents that the above-nanied returning-officersof elections are duly qualified as such, and for making the returns of tbe election beld in this State on the Ith of November instant ; that Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Durant Da Poute are pretending to be sucli returning-officers and attempting to act as such, and are interfer- ing with the above-named returning-officers of elections in the dis- charge of their duties as such officers, and especially with Frank J. Herron, James Longstreet, and Jacob Hawkins, and are intruding into and usurping the office of returning-officers of elections of the State, contrary to and in violation of law and the rights of petitioners. AVherefore, the premises considered, ])etitioners pray that said Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Durant Da Ponte be cited to answer this petition, and that after all due proceedings they be decreed to be in- truders into and usurpers of the office of returning-officers of elections, and that Frank J. Herron, James Longstreet, and Jacob Hawkins be decreed to be such returning-otlicers ; and petitioner further prays for costs and all general relief. SIMEON BELDEN, Attorney- General. A. P. Field and J. Q. A. Fellowes, of Counsel. Filed 14th November, 1872. KOBERT LYNNE, Deputy ClerJi'. Eighth district court. No. . State of Louisiana, ex. rel. attorney- general, on information F. J. Herron et als. vs. Jack Wharton, F. H. Hatch, and Durant Da Ponte. The supplemental petition of the plaintiffs herein respectfully repre- sents : That all the allegations in the original petition are true, and in addi- tion thereto that the attempt of the said defendants to act in the manner alleged in said petition, and to sit as the returning-officers of elections, and to act as such returning-officers, will defeat the object of this suit, and render nugatory the judgment therein prayed for, and that an in- jun(;tion is necessary to prevent such a ally entitled to possession and is in actual possession of the office of secretary of state of the State of Louisiana; that he is entitled to hold and to exercise the functions and duties of said office until his successor, elected at the general election held in the State of Louisiana on the 4th day of November, 1872, shall have been lawfully inducted into the said office. The petitioner further represents that one Jack Wharton, a resident of the city of New Orleans, is illegally assuming to be and is illegally asserting a right to the possession of the said office of secretary of state, in violation of the constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana; that the said Jack Wharton has no color of right or authority to possess or exercise the functions of the said office, or to possess the said office, but that, nevertheless, he asserts himself to be and assumes to be secre- tary of state, as aforesaid ; and to that extent the said Jack Wharton is illegally and unconstitutionally usurping and intruding into the said office, in violation of the constitution and laws as aforesaid. The State of Louisiana, by these proceedings, joins the said Francis J. Herron herewith, and prays that the said Jack Wharton maj' be cited to appear and answer these proceedings; and that, after all due and legal proceedings had, that he may be decreed to be usurping, intruding into, and unlawfully assuming or asserting the right to exercise the functions of the office of secretary of state as aforesaid. And further- more, the petitioners pray that a judgment may be rendered in favor of the plain titt", and in favor of the said Francis J. Herron, secretary of state, as aforesaid, herewith joined with the State of Louisiana, decree- ing the said Francis J. Herron to be entitled to iiave and to hold the office of secretary of state, and to be entitled to exercise the functions of said office ; and that the decree may be so rendered as to maintain him in possession of said office until his successor has been inducted into office as aforesaid. The petitioner prays for all such further and general relief as the exi- gencies of the case may demand or the law warrant, and for costs. S. BELDEN, Attorney -General of Louisiana. A. P. Field and J. Q. A. Fellows, of Counsel. Filed 14th November, 1872. EOBERT LYNNE, JDejmty ClcrJc. To the honorable eighth district court for the parish of Orleans : The supplemental petition of the State of Louisiana, through Simeon Belden, attorney-general" and of Francis J. Ilerron, secretary of state of the State of Louisiana, with respect, represents : That these i)roceeilings have been taken and are had with the view of nmintaining the said Francis J. Herron, herewith joined with the State of Louisiana, in possession of the office of secretary of state, which the said Francis J. Ilerron is uow legally and actually possessing and exercising; that Jack ^Yharton, defendant herein, has threatened and is now attempting, in violation of the constitution and laws of the State, to take forcible possession of the office of secretary of state of the State of Louisiana, and is, by force and arms, asserting a right to CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 283 possess and exercise that office ; and tliat tlie said defendant, Jack Wharton, is futherniore attemptinji-, illegally and unconstitntionally, to exercise certain of the functions pertaining to the office of secretary of state, which are not actually discharged in the olli<,'e of the secretary of state, especially the right to sit as a member of the returning-board, organized for canvassing the returns of the general election under the act relative to elections in the State of Louisiana. The petitioner further represents that, in order to prevent a violation of the constitution and the law, and in order to maintain the said plain- tiff in the possession of said ofti(;e ])ending these proceedings, in con- formity to the constitution and the laws, and in order to prevent the said Jack Wharton from assertinga right to orattemi>tingt<) obtain pos- session of the said office of secretary ot state, and in order to prevent t!)e said defendant from attempting to exercise any of the functions of the oflice of secretary of state, or doing any act pertaining to said office, and especially to prevent the said defendant from attempting to exercise the duties of a member of the returning-board, under the law relative to elections in the State of Louisiana, it is necessary that a writ of injunction issue, restraining the said defendant from attempting to as- sert a right to the office of secretary of state, or to exercise any of the functions of said office. Wherefore the petitioner prays that the said Wharton be cited to answer this petition that a writ of injunction may issue herein enjoin- ing Jack Wharton, defendant herein, from attempting by any manner or form to obtain possession of the office of secretary of state of the State of Louisiana, and enjoining him, the said Jacrk ^Vharton, from as- serting a right to the said office in any other nuinner than by legal pro- ceedings in accordance with law, and enjoining him, the said defendant, from exercising or attempting to exercise, any of the functions Dcrtain- ing to the office of secretary of state in connection with the canvass and returns of the general election held throughout the State of Louisi- ana, on the 4tli day of November, 1872. The petitioner pravs for general relief and for costs. • S. BELDEX, Attorney-Gowral of Louisiana. J. Q. A. Fellows and A. P. Field, of Counsel. Personally appeared the undersigned, wdio, being duly sworn, says all the facts and allegations in the foregoing petition are true. F. J. HERKON. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of Xovember, 1S7U. ROBERT LYNNE, Deputy Clerl: Let this supplemental petition be fded and the defendant U- cite*]. Let the defendants be ordered to show cause on Saturday, Noveml)er KJ, at 11 o'clock a. m., why an injunction should not issue, as withm prayed for and according to hiw. Meanwhile let the defene conducted and managed, and returns thereof shall be made, in the same manner as is })rovided for general elections. Sec. 25. Be it further enacted, tjc. That it shall be the duty of the governor to com- mission all officers-elect, except members of the general assembly, the governor, and the members of the police jury. Sec. 2(i. Be it further enacted, cfc., That in any parish, precinct, ward, city, or town in which during the time of registration, or revision of registration, or on any day of (dection, there shall be any riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, and disturbance, bribery or corrupr inllviences, at any place within said parish, or at or near any poll or voting-place, or i>lace of registration, or revision of registration, which riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, and disturbance, bribery, or corrupt influences shall i>revent, ortend to prevent, a fair, free, peaceable, and full vote of all the (qualified electors of said parish, pn-cinct, ward, city, or town, it shall be the duty of the commissioners of election, if such riot, tumult, acts of violence, intimidation, and (listur[)ance, bribery, or corrupt intiueuces occur on the day of election, or of the supervision of registration CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 291 of thfi parish, if tlioy occur flnrinj; tlie timo of rci^ristnition, or revision of rcresen- tatives, sheriffs, coroners, clerks Of the district courts, and other otticers, if there should be an ecpial number of votes given for two ttr more candidates for the same ofiice, the election for such office or offices thus not filled shall be again returned to the people iu the parish or district as the case may be, public notice of ten days to be first given in the same manner as in the general elections. Skc. 32. Be it further enacted, cf-c. That the provisions of this act, except as to the time of holding "elections, shall apply iu the election of all officers whose election is not otherwise provided for. Skc. 33. Be it further enacted, .fc. That it shall be the duty of the governor, at least six weeks before every general election, to issu(^ his proclHination giving notice thereof, which shall be published in the official journal of the State, and copies thereof for- warded to the several supervisors of registration throughout the State. Skc. 34. Be it further enacted, c('c.. That notice of every general election hehl under the provisions of this act shall bo given at least thirty days before the election, by notices posted nj) in each precinct, or, if there be an olticial newspaper pulilislied in the parish, by pulilishing the notice in such jiaper. Skc. -35. Jie it further enacted, Jj-c, That the s.ipervisors of registration or commission- ers of election shall ( u the day of election close all drinking-saloons, dram-shops, grog- geries, or places wheie liouor is sold by the glass or bottle, situated iu the radius of two miles of any poll or voting-place ; and said supervisors of registration or commis- sioners of election shall have the power to call on any sherifi', constal)!!', or police officer to enforce this regulation, if such, sherifi'. constable, or p(dice ofiicer shall refuse to obey any order issued under th(> authority of this section, thi' super\ is(u- of registration giving the order shall summarily arrest and imprison such sherilf, constable, or police 292 COXDITIOX OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. officer, snch iniprisonnient not to extend beyond tlie hour of closing the polls. And such slieiitf, constable, or police officer so refusing to obey such order shall be deemed gnilty of a misdemeanor in office, and upon conviction tliereof shall be pnnished by im- ]trisonmeut for a term not to exceed six months nor less than three months, and by a tine of not more than five hnndred dollars nor less than one hnndred dollars. Skc. 3(i. Be it further enacted, tfc., Tliat the governor, any justice of tiie peace, alder- man, mayor, judge, or any State ollicer wlio may be present at or have knowledge- of any drinking-saluon, dram-shop, groggery, or place where liquor is sold by the glass or bottle, which is open contrary to tlie provisions of the foregoing section within the limits therein proscribed, may in writing order any police ofiicer or constable to seize any such liquors, or any carriages or vessels containing the same, or any booths or tents erected within said limits for the purpose of exposing such intoxicating liquors for sale. Sv.c. 37. Be it further enacted, t^-c, That the constable or police officer to whom such orders shall be delivered sliall thereupon seize all such licjuor, carriages, vessels, and materials of any such tent or booth, and hold and detain the same until twenty-four hours after the close of the election, then to be delivered on demand to the owner or the person from whom they were taken, ou the payment of ten dollars for the safe-keep- ing of said articles. Six. 38. Be it further enacted, c^c, That if these effects be not thus demanded, the same shall be sold at i)ublic auction by the police officer or constable making the seizure ; and the proceeds of such sale, after deducting costs of sale and safe-keeping, shall be paid to the owner of the articles sold or the person from whom the same was taken. Skc. 39. Be it further tuacled, n of this act, shall be deemed guiltj' of a misdemeanor in office, and upon conviction thereof shall be removed from office and punished by a tine of* not less than one hundred dollars, and imprisoned for not less than three nor more than six months. • Skc. 54. Be it further enacted, tfc, That any person who shall, by threats of discharge from employment, of withholding wages, or proscription in business, influence or attempt to influence any voter in the casting of his vote at any election, shall be deemed guilty of a misdenu;anor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, which shall go to the school fund of the l^arish, and be imi)risoned in the parish prison for not less than three mouths. Sicc. 55. Be it further enacted, tj-c. That any jjcrson who shall discharge from his em- ployment any labon-r, employe, tenant, or mechanic, who shall have been working for such per.son under contract, written or oral, for a specified time, before such time shall have expired, or who shall withhold from any laborer, employe, tenant, or mechanic any part of the wages due to such laborer, employe, tenant, or mechanic on account of any vote which such laborer, employe, tenant, or mechanic has given, or proposes to give, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, one-half of which shall go to the school fund of the parish in which the ofi'ense was committed, and by imprisonment in the i)arisli {)rison for not less than three months. !Si;c. 5(). Be it further enacted, clc. That any person who shall molest, disturb, inter- fere with, or threaten with violence any connuissioner of election, or i)erson in charge of the ballot-boxes, while in charge of the sauu', shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a line of not less than five hundred dollars, or l)y imprisonment in the penitentiary not le.ss than one year, or both, at the discretion oftht? court. Skc. 57. lie it further enacted, <^c.. That any person not authorized by this law to receive or count the ballots at any election, who shall, during or after any election, and before the votes have bt^-n counted, disturb, displace, conceal, destroy, handle, or touch any ballot after the same has been received from the voter by a commissioner of elec- tion, shall 1)«! deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall upon conviction thereof bo punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, or by iuiprisonmeut for not less than six months, or both, at the discretu)n of the court. Skc. 5.'^. IJe it further enacted, cfr., That any jierson not authorized by this law to take charge of the ballot-boxes at the close of the election, who shall take, receive, conceal, displace, or in any manner handle or disturb any ballot-box at any time between the hour of the clo.sing of the j)olls and the transmission of the ballot-box to the clerk of the district court, or during such transmission, or at any tinui prior to the counting of the voles, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and on conviction thereof shall be pun- ished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars, or by imiirisonment in the peni- tentiary for not less than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court. Skc. .')'.!. Jle it further enacted, dc, That it shall be nidawfid for any person to carry any gun, pistol, bowie-knife, or any other dangerous weapon, concealed or unconcealed, on any day of election, during the hours the polls are open, or any day of registration CONDITION OF AFFAIES IN LOUI.SIANA. 295 or revisiou of registriition, within a distauco of one-half niile of any place of,rpf»istia tion, or revision of rejfistration, or election poll. Any person violatii) Si.itr „f Louisiana. Approved : November 20, 1872. A true copy. Y. A. WO( )L>\VAUD, Assibtant Seattary of State. 296 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy from the original on file in the office of the secretary of state. Given nnder my hand and the seal of the State, this 2lst day of No- vember, A. D. 1872, and of the Independence of the United States the ninetv-seventh. [SEAL.] Y. A. WOODWARD, Assistant Secretary of State. Answers of F. H. Hatch to interrogatories. r. H. Hatch answers respectfully, to all the foregoing- interrooatories, that since the service upon him of the restraining order issued in this case, in fact since the filing- of the bill of complaint, he has done nothing whatever as returning-officer of elections 5 and he answers all said interrogatories in the negative. r. H. HATCH. Sworn to and subscribed before me, November 22, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. Ansicers of JacTc Wharton to interrogatories. Filed November 22, 1872. Jack Wharton answers respectfully all the foregoing interrogatories, that since the issue of the restraining order or the tiling of the bill of complaint in this court he has done nothing whatever as returning- officer of elections ; and he answers all said interrogatories in the negative. JACK WHARTON. Sworn to and subscribed before me November 22, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. Ansioers of Durant Da Ponte to interrogatories. Filed November 22, 1872. W. P. Kellogg vs. H. C. Warmoth etal. United States circuit court — No. C830. Durant Da Ponte, being duly sworn, deposes and says— In answer to interrogatory No 1 : It is not true as to myself, nor with- in my knowledge, as to any other defendant in this case. In answer to interrogatory No. 2 : 1 have not. In answer to interrogatory No. 3 : I have not. In answer to interrogatory No. 4: I am not aware of the facts stated. In answer to interrogatory No. 5 : No. DURANT DA PONTE. Sworn to and subscribed before me November 22, 1872. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Cominissioner. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 297 Order on F. H. Hatch and Jack Wliarton to show cause, d;c. Entered and filed November 23, 1872. Circuit court of the United States, district of Louisiana. No. . William P. Kellogg vs. H. C. Warmoth et al. And now comes the complainant herein, by J. R. Beckwith, AYilliam II. Hunt, and E. C. Billings, his solicitors, and on suggesting to the court that the said defendants. Jack Wharton and Frank H. Hatch, have failed to comply with the order of this honorable court, ordering and requiring them severally to true, full, and complete answers make to the interrogatories filed and exhibited in this cause upon the rule and order requiring them to severally show cause why they should not severally be attached and punished for contempt of court, and it ap- pearing their said several alleged answers are imperfect, partial, evasive, and indefinite — It is ordered that the said defendants, Jack Wharton and Frank H. Hatch, do, on or before 11 o'clock a. m. of Monday, the twenty-lifth day of November, A. D. 1872, in writing, under their several respective cor- poral oaths, and according to the best of their several resi)cctive knowledge, information, and belief, full, true, and specific and uuevasive answers make to each and every of said written interrogatories so tiled and exhibited in this cause. 3larshaVs return of service. Received November 23, 1872, by the United States marshal, and on the same day, mouth, and year served a copy hereof on Jack Wharton and Frank H. Hatch by handing the same to each of them in this city personally, C. R. STEELE, • Deputy Marshal. Answers of F. H. Hatch to interrogatories. Filed November 25, 1872. . Now comes F. H. Hatch, and, for more specific answers to the inter- rogatories propounded to him in the matter of the rule for contempt m this case, says: To the first interrogatory : No. To the second interrogatory : No. To the third interi'ogatory : No. To the fourth interrogatory : No. The restraining order was not served on me untd after the lOtn ot November, 1872, to wit, until the IDth of November, 1872, but I knew of its existence on the morning of the 17tli of November, 1872. 1 , Is. 11 AxUli. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of November, 1872. F. B. Vl>iOi, United imitates Comvimioner. 298 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Answer of Jade Wharton to interrogatories. 1 Filed Xovember 25, 1872. No\v comes Jack Wharton, and, for more specific answers to the inter- rogatories propounded to him in the matter of the rule for contempt in this case, says : To the first interrogatory : No. To the second interrogatory : No. To the third interrogatory : No. To the fourth interrogatory : No. To the fifth interrogatory : No. The restraining order was not served on me until after the 16th of November, 1872, but I knew of its existence an hour or so after it was served on Governor Warmoth ; that is to say, about 8 or 9 o'clock p. m., on the lOth of November, 1872. JACK WHARTON. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of November, 1872. F. B. VINOT, United States Commissioner. DEFENDANT'S ANSWER. Wm. p. Kellogg, ^ vs. > No. GS30. In chancery. H. C. Warmoth et als. ) In the circuit court of the United States for the fifth circuit and district of Louisiana. The answer of Henry G. Warmoth, one of the defendants to the bill of complaint of William Pitt Kelh)gg, o<)m[)lainant. This defendant, reserving to himself all right of exception to the said bill of comi)laint, for answer thereto saith : This defendant admits that there was a general election held on the 4th day of November, 1872, in the State of Louisiana, under the author- ity of tlie laws of the said State; that a governor, lieutenant-governor, and others were to be, and were, voted for at said election ; that the com- plainant and John McEnery were candidates for governor ; that by the law of the State no person was qualified to vote as an elector until he had been registered in a list of persons entitled to vote at said election ; that the provisions of the law of the State at that time relatifig to reg- istering vested in this respondent, as governor of the State of Louisiana, the appointment of the officers whose duty it was to register all such voters. And this defendant, further answering, saith, that it is not true, as charged in said billof comi)laint,thatatall times since thecomplainant be- came a candidate for such election this respondent, governor of the State of Louisiana, has re[)eatedly avowed his intention to adopt all means in his power, and to so exercise unlawfully, and to extend his power and the power conferred on him by his position as governor, as to unlawfully defeat the ele(;ti()n of complainant ; nor is it true that for the said i)ur- l^ose, in the appointnuMit of the supervisors of registration, he has se- lected persons for the office of supervisors and assistant supervisors of registration as to obtain persons pliable to his will, and who would con- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 299 cur with, and aid him, respoudeut, in the execution of any unhiwful plans and Iraudulent devices; nor is it true that to that end, and for that puri)Ose, this respondent did espe(;iall.y, or any otiier wise, luiiUc it a condition precedent to the appointment of said officers that they should in all things, and by all unlawful means within their power, assist in the accomplishment of said eiids. That it IS not true that one of the unlawful devices, plans, and schemes of the respondent was throujih the iiistrumeutality of the said register- iug-ofQcers, and with their aid, and l»y the pretended aid of laws of the State, to deprive a large number of tlie citizens of the State of Louisi- ana, in all respects lawfully entitled to the franchise, by refusing to register the said citizens upon the list of registered voters," by reason of their race, color, and previous condition : nor is it true that in the exe- cution of said scheme, or in the execution of any otlier scheme, a large number of citizens of the State, who are colored, and who had been in a former condition of servitude, were so refused registration on various frivolous and unlawful pretexts and i)retenses, amounting to ten thou- sand votes, or any other number. That it is not true, as charged in said bill, that this respondent adopted the means and devices aforesaid, or any other means or devices, for the purpose of depriving said voters of their right of franchise as aforesaid, with the intent thereby to prevent their ballots being cast for the com- plainant, and thereby to defeat complainant's election to the office of governor. And this defendant, further answering, saith, he knows not, and has not been informed, save by the said complainant's bill, and cannot set forth as to his belief or otherwise, whether, when the said supervisors of registration had completed the registration of the qualitied electors of the State, they had succeeded in preventing the registration of a large, or any number, of electors, as charged in said bill of complaint ; nor that when persons so refused registration as aforesaid offered to deposit their ballots for the complainant in the ballot-boxes at the places of election, they were refused the right tode[)osit said ballots; nor that the complainant is in possession of evidence of that fact, preserved under the provisions of the act of Congress of May 31, 1S70, and the acts amendatory thereto; nor that there are in existence from three to five thousand documents of the same character that have been in the same manner preserved, with the ballots attached to said affidavits and certificates, in which the complainant was included by name, as candi- date for the office of governor of the State of Louisiana ; nor that the persons so offering to deposit said ballots were in each and every in- stance i)ersons of color, and were refused the right of franchise on account of race and color. And this defendant, further answering, saith, that it is not true, as charged in said bill of comjdaiiit, that this respondent, combining and conspiring with the supervisors and assistant supervisors of registra- tion by hiin appointed, has caused a dishonest, incorrect, and false ac- count of the votes cast in the several i)arishes of this State at said elec- tion. Xor is it true, as charged in said bill, that this resi)ondent has falsified and caused false and untrue returns and certiUcates of the result and canvass of the votes cast in the several parishes in this State at said election; nor that said count, canvass, and certificates are so false and untrue, for the reason that a large number of the ballots deposited in the said ballot-boxes at said election by jiersonsof color have not been counted, and considered, and the evidence thereof i)reserved and certi- fied, so that the same may be canvassed by the returniugofficers for 300 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. elections in this State; nor is it true that they were so suppressed, or that any ballots were suppressed and not counted and considered that were cast for and in favor of the complainant as governor of this State, or that they were in all things sufficient to have elected the complainant to said office; and this respondent denies that he has any knowledge of any suppression of any votes whatever, or that he ever authorized, aided, or abetted the suppression or false return of any votes cast at said elec- tion, or did any other unlawful act to defeat the election of the com- plainant. This defendant, further answering, saith, that it is true that the returns of the elections for the precincts of the State were, by the law as it stood on the 4th of November, 1872, to be sent by mail addressed to this respondent as governor of the State of Louisiana. That the law as it then stood jirovided that the governor, lieutenant-governor, secre- tary of State, Jolin Lynch, and T. C. Anderson, or a majority of them, should be the returniugofficers of all elections of the State, a majority of whom should constitute a quorum, and have power to make the returns of all elections ; that in case of vacancy the same should be tilled by the residue of the board; that within ten days of the election the returning-board should meet to canvass and compile the statement of votes made by the supervisors, and make returns to the secretary of State; that the governor should at .such meeting open in the presence of naid returning officers the statements of the supervisors of registration, and that the returning-officers should from said statements canvass and compile the returns of the elections in duplicate; that oue copy of such returns should be filed in the office of the secretary of state, and of one copy they shall make public i)ro(;lamation by printing in the official journal, and such other newspapers as tliey may deem proi)er, declaring the names, &c., of persons elected, &c., and said board was vested with full authority to examine the truthfulness of the returns, and reject or accept the same, should it appear that a sufficient number of the quali- fied electors entitled to vote at any poll or voting-plai;e were refused the right of franchise unlawfully, so as to materially change the result of the election; and this defendant further says that the law on the sub- ject of elections, under and by which the said board of returning officers was created and came into existence, was repealed, aiul ceased to be the law of Louisiana by an act of the legislature of Louisiana approved the twentieth day of November, 1872, which said act went into operation on the day of its passage, and the said returning-board ceased then and thereby to exist. And this defendant, further answering, saith, that it is not true, as charged in said bill of complaint, that the said board was reduced by the ineligibility of P. B. S. Pinchback and T. C. Andersou to thisrespoiident as governor, Francis J. Herron as secretary of state, and John Lynch; andthat said board, so constituted, and beinga majority of said board, did fill the vacancies therein by the election of Jacob Hawkins and James Longstreet; and that said board was properly organized to proceed to said canvass of said returns; and that they, the said Herron, Hawkins, and Longstreet, wereduly sworn accordingtolaw, and qualilied toactas mem- bers of said board ; but the fact is that the said Herron was not secretary of state of the State of Louisinna at the time alleged, he having been removed from the temporary discharge of the duties of secretary of state by the act of this respondent for good and sufficient cause thereto moving, the said Herron being a defaulter to the State of Lou- isiana, and incapable of holding office therein, as will appear by the l>roclamation thereof, now on file in tiiis case, and Jack Wharton, oue of CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 301 the defendants ill this suit, was then discharging the duties of secretary of state, in possession of that office; that no eh'ction or selection of the said Hawkins or Longstreet, or either of them, as nieiiil)ers of said hoard, was made in the presence of this respoiuk'nt, nor were tln'y, or either of them, voted for in his i)reseiice, or put to the vote as members of said board ; and the said Herron not being the secretary of state of Louisiana, did not form one of a board to seh'ct or eh'ct members of said returningboard. And this respoiuk'nt denies that said lii'iron, or Longstreet, or Hawlcins was ever legally and i)roperly organized and qualified as returning-officer under any election law of Louisiana. This defendant, further answering, saith, that this respondent as governor of the State, Jack Wharton as discharging the duties of secretary of state, and John Lynch composed the board of returning-ofticers under the law of Louisiana until that law was repealed; that under said law, as it then existed, the said members of said board met at New Orleans on the l.'5th day of Koveinber, 1872, and on the motion of this respondent, in the presence of said John Lynch, this respondent and said Jack Wliarton, acting in their aforesaid cai)acities as governor and secretary of state, voted for the selection of F. H. Hatch and Durant Da Ponte as members of said board, and they were then and there legally elected and (pialitied as members of said board; that after the election and (pialification of said Hatch and Da Ponte, in the presence of said John Lynch, the said Lynch withdrew from the said meeting and went off with said F. J. Herron, and they, the said Lynch and Herron, Irauduleutly, illegally, and improperly conspired with the said Jacob Hawkins, James Long- street, and William P. Kellogg, the complainant, did set up a ])retended board of returning officers, and claimed the right to act as such, con- trary to law, and right, and justice, for the purpose of obtaining the returns from the several voting-precincts in the State, with a view of altering, destroying, and rejecting the same so as to conceal the true result of said election, defeat the true intent of the voters of the State, by fraudulently declaring the election of the said Kellogg as governor, and the election of others, their friends, to otlier ottices, and in turther- ance of this conspiracy, and to defeat the ends of justice and the voice of the i)eople, the said Lynch, styling himself as president, and the said Longstreet, styling himself one of the members of the board of re turning-officers, demanded of this respondent the returns from the various precincts of the State, and in the still further pursuance of the said conspiracy and fraud, the present suit was brought. And this defendant, further answering, saith, that it is not true as charged in said bill of complaint that tiiis respondent, "claiming to be in possession of the returns of a large number of the supervisors of registration, refused to open said statements of the supervisors of regis- tration in the presence of said returning-officers, being intiuenced in said refusal, as your orator believes, by the fear that said returning- board would make due and proper investigation of the truthfulness ot said returns and statement, and that said scheme for excluding lawful ballots would be defeated, or tliat evidence of the frauds that had been committed, and of the fact that a large number of persons had at such election offered to vote, and had been denied the right to vote, contrary to the Constitution and laws of Congress, would be discovered and jh'c- served in such form that the same could be used, and ot avail m any action or proceeding instituted by your orator to determine his riglit to the office of governor of said State, but the said Henry (. . W armoth made frivolous excuses for not discharging his saul duty, and said boanl of returning-officers adjourned uutU the next day without any tur- dU2 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. tlier action, when, in order to cover up and conceal said frauds, and to prevent the proper legal canvass of said votes, the said defendant Henry C. Warinoth, without nny h'nal authority or color of law, pre- tended to eject the said Francis J. Herron from the office of secretary of state, and with force and arms attempted to take forcible possession of the records and archives of the office of secretary of state into his custody, and without warrant or color of law pretended to appoint the said defendant Jack Wharton to the office of secretary ot state, and that the said Jack Wharton, willing to aid in such unlawful scheme, l)retended to be secretary of state, and as such, a member of said returu- ing-board; that the said defendant Henry 0. Warm oth, thereupon pre- tending- that he had conferred the office of secretary of state on said Wharton, combined with said Wharton, and they together pretend to have ele{;ted as members of said returning-board the said defendants Frank H. Hatch and Durant Da Ponte, and that although they and all of them were well aware that all said actings and doings were in all respects fradulent, and in violation of law, and that none of said defend- ants, except the said defendant AVarmoth, had any colorable light to proceed to the canvass of said statements, certificates, or returns, and that he, the said Warmoth, had no right to open or submit the same to any persons other than the said Lynch, Hawkins, Longstreet, and Her- ron, yet the said defendants Warmoth, Wharton, Hatch, and Da Ponte, in order to aid in such scheme of fraud, j)retend to be a lawful return- ing-board ; that the said defendant Warnu)th, as your orator is informed and believes, while refusing to open and deliver said statements, certifi- cates, and returns to said legal returning officers, who were organized and in actual session, has in fact opened and submitted the sanu^ to said conspirators and intruders, excluding saul lawful returning-officers from any can\'ass; that your orator believes and, therefore, avers the fact to be that it is the intention and deliberate i)lan of the said defendants afore- said, i)retending to act as returning-bo;ird as aforesaid, to rmike such pretended canvass of said votes as shall effect an apj)areiit defeat of your orator and declare the said 3IcEnery elected as governor of said State; that to produce said result they will give effect to all such fraudu- lent certificates and returns as tend to produce such an effect, and tend to exclude from all consideration, count, or canvass all votes of l)ersons of color that have been suppressed or prevented from being cast, and that it is their intention by such frauds to deliver to the pre- tended secretary of state such certificate or return, or pretended result of their canvass, as will make it api)ear that your orator is defeated, and the said McEiu>ry elected; and that while their canvass or return, as your orator is informed, would be perfectly void in law, yet the same would embarrass, hinder, and lainant has any interest in the result of said election of the fourth of November, 1872, or can profit by the lesult of the same, and this de- fendant furthermore denies that this court has jurisdiction of the sub- ject-matter of this .suit, or that it can render any judgment, order, or decree in the i)reniises. And this respondent furthermore denies that your honors have any right to investigate the question of whether the complainant has or lias not been elected governor of the State of Loui- siana, in the manner and for the purposes set forth in said bill of com- plaint. And the defendant, further answering, saith, that one Geo. E. Bovee was duly elected secretary of state of the State of Louisiana, at the general election held in the'year 18GS, was qualified, commissioned, and took possession of said office. That in August, 1871, this respondent for good and sufficient cause suspended tlie said Bovee from the exer- cise of the functions of his office, and appointed and commissioned the said Fraiu'is J. Herron to discharge the duties of secretary of state, aud the said llerrou is estopped from denying the right of this respond- CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 305 ent to remove liini from the performance of the duties of said ofiice of secretary of state of Louisiana ; and this UKANT DA PONTE. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of November, 1872. F. B. VI NOT, United States Commissioner. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 25th day of November, 1872. K. LOKW, United States Commissioner. H. Ex. 91 20 306 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IX LOUISIANA. APPENDIX. Exhibit 1.— (Filed with bill.) Form of affidavit fo he iiifed irheiievcr ani/ pcrftou has been prevenied from dcponitiiuj his vote hy any illegal or wrongful means of the commissioners of election. [XoTE. — If any lefial votcr'lias been prevented from casting his vote, from any canse, fill out the fol- lowing affidavit iind deliver same lo United States supervisor of the pull where he would hare cast his vote, who will retnrn same to IP. A. Woolfley, chief supervisor.] State of Louisiana, Parish of St. Tammany: On the 4th day of November, 1872, I, Richard Waddle, a duly qualified voter in the parish of St. Taintiuiny, ])resented iny.si-lf at the jxylling-place located at Covinjitoii, in said jiarisli, which had been designated by the supervisoj- of registration as a poll, and offered to i)eribrni all acts required to entitle nie to vote, and was i)re])ared to exhibit to the conunissi(»uers of election at said \hA\ a certificate of registration furnished me during the registration of October, a copy of which is attached, showing me to be entitled to vote in the aforesaid parish. I further state that, owing to the iUegHl acts of the commissioners of election, I was deprived of my right to vote as a citizen and legal voter, to wit : Ref(nired by the State supervisor to furnish three qualified voters before he could register him. [XoTE. — Here state means used in preventing the voter from voting.] I further state that I was prepared to offer and should have offered to the commis- sioners of election at said poll for deposit in the ballot-box the ballot hcrcuisto at- tached, had I not ^^rongfully been i»revented by tlie illegal acts of the aforesaid com- missioners from so doing, and that the wrongful acts or omissions of said commissioners to receive and dejiosit my ballot, to be counted, is a denial of my rights as a citizen under the act of Cougrtsss entitled "An act to enforce the rights of citizens of the United States to vote in the several States of this Union, and for other ))nrposes," ap- jiroved May 151, 1870. I further demand that my ballot be counted and returned for the several camlidates named thereun, as pro\ ided bv said act. his RICHARD -f WADDLE. mark. [Ballot attached.] Begular national repahliean ticlcet — election Xorcmhcr 4, 1872. For President, General U. S. Grant. For Vice-President, Henry Wilson. Presidential electors. At large, M. F. Bonzano, Jules Lanabere, Chas. E. Halstead. 1st district, L. C. Rou- dauez. 2(\ ubhc accounts, Ciuirles Clinton. Secretary of state, P. (t. Dcslonde. At- torney-general, A. P. Field. Sui)erintendeut of public education, W. G. 15rowu. Con- gress at large, P. B. S. Pinchback. Ftu' 4:?d C(mgress, J. H. Sypher. For judge, 6th judicial district, W. B. Kemp. District attorney, 0th judicial district, F. M. Bankstou. For senator 11th senatorial district, E. F. Ilerwig. Parish ticket of St. 'Tammany. Pari.sh judge, Hiram Newell. Sheriff, Win. Tally. Recorder, Gustave Dupart. Clerk of court, F. E. Gnedry. Coroner, Thomas Hadeaux. House of rejircsentatives, A. J. Cousin. I'olice jurors. 1st, Henry Heiser ; 2d, J. E. Smith ; :5d, F. Roquet ; 4th, Lonis French; Tith, Fritz Mathis. Justice of the peace, Oth ward, John Davis; 6th ward, Jules Maillie. Constables, Moses Davis, E. R. Shaham. (Signatures of two witnesses who are cognizant of the truth of the affidavit.) his GOSSE + WILLIAMS. mark. Subscribed and sworn to this 14th day of November. 1872, befcu-e me. HIRAM NEWELL, Parish Judge. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 307 PAiasii OK St. T.v.mmaxy, Xorcmhrr 4, 1HT2. I certify that I was at the poniiijj;-plafo above mentioned on the day of t-li-ction, Novenihei- 4, lsr-2, and ihat the statenuuit of Mr. WiuhUe above subscribed to is true in every paiticiilar. WM. A. HUTCHINSON, United States Sttpvrcinor of Election at mid poll. KxiuniTS.— (Filed with bill.) Form of affidavit to he used wheiierer ain/ person has been prerented from drpositiiif/ his vote by any iUeyul or nrone/fai means of the commissioners of election. [NOTF,.— If any loRnl voter lins been y)rev(nito(l fiora casting his vote, fi oiii any canse, fill out tlic fol ' lowiufi attiid(s, iire-sented myself at the polling-i)la(e located at Alexandria, Rai»ides, -in said jiarish, which had been designated by the suptMvisor of registration as a poll, ,and claimed the right to vote njton the foregoing evidence of having offered to do all .^cts prerecjuisite to entitle me to register as a voter in said parish, and of having been refused, denied, or unal)le to obtain registration by J. G. P. Hooe, supervisor of regis- .tratioj). I further state that I offered to the commissioner of election at said poll for deposit in the ballot-box the ballot hereunto att.-iclied, and said commissicnier refused to re- ' ceive said ballot, and illegally and wrongfully prevented the ballot attached from be- ing ])1aced in the ballot-box and connti'd, to flu' denial of my right as a citizen and legal voter. I fnrtlier demand, under the provisions of the act of Congress, entitled "An act to enforce the rights of citizens of the United States to vote in the sev.-ral States of this ITnion, and for other ])urposes," approved May 31, 1870, that my ballot be counted and returned for the several candidates named thereon, as i)rovided by said act. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 309 [Ballot attaclied.] BcguJar vatiointl rcptihlican ticket — ejection yocember 4, 1872. For President, Geueral U. S. Grant. For Vice-President, Henry Wilson. Presidential electors. At laro;e, M. F. Bonzano, Snles Lannbcre, Charles E. Halstead. First district. L. C. Koiidanez. Second district, A. K. .Johnson. Third district, Milton Morris. Fourth district, Joseph Taylor, Fifth district, John Kay. State ticket — election November 4, 1872. For p;overnor, William Pitt Kellotjg. Lieutenant-governor, C. C. Antoine. For auditor of public accounts, Charles Clintou. Secretary of state, P. G. Di'slonde. At- torney-general, A. P. Field. Superintendent public education, W. G. Brown. Con- gress at large, P. B. S. Pinchback. Forty-second Congiess, short term, Harry Lott. For Forty-third Congress, Samuel Peters. For district judge, ninth judicial district, John Osborn. For district attorney, N. A. Robinson. For senator, twenty-third sen- atorial district, George Y. Kelso. rarish ticket, Rapides Parish. Parish judge, C. V. Ledoux. Sheriff, .John DeLacey. Recorder, V. M. Porter. Coroner, W. H. Shadburu. Clerk of court, William Hustmeyre. House of represen- tatives, Joseph Conuaughton, Henry Worthy, John Mayon. Police jurors: First, .John Clements; second, William Kelso; third, T. G. Compton ; fourth, Jesse Clifton; lifth, M. C. Barbee. Justice of the peace: Alexandria, T. .J. Severns; Cotile, Louis Gohlnian ; Pineville, W^. L. Gray; Rapides, Henry King ; Lamonrie, Dawson Allen; S[)ring Hill, Robert Duke; Cheney ville, Jesse Ford. For constables: Pineviile, Jacob Kennedy; Rapides, Jack .Josiah ; Cotile, John Jackson; Lamourie, Ctesar Morgan; Spring Hill, Turner Wiggins; Cheney ville, David Jones. SAM X BROWN. iiuiik. Signatures of two witnesses ■who are cognizant of the truth of affidavit. L. J. KENNI^DY. CARTER CARR. Subscribed and sworn to, this 4th day of November, 1872, before me. THOMAS J. SEVERNS, J. P. Pahish of Rapides, Xovemhcr 4, 1872. I certify that I was at the polling-place above mentioned on the day of election, November 4, 1872, and that the statement of Sam Brown, above subscribed to, is true in every particular. J. W. PORTER, United States Supervisor of Election at said poll. AN ACT to enforce the rights of citizens of the United States to vote in the Beveral States of this Union, and foi other purposes. — Approved May '.il, 1870. * * # # Sf •» * Section 3. That whenever, l)y or under the authority of the constitution or laws of any State, or the laws of anj* Territory, an act is or shall be required to be done by any citizen as prerequisite to qualify or entitle him to vote, the offer of any such citizen to perform the act required to be done as aforesaid shall, if it fail to be carried into execution by reason of the wrongful act or omission aforesaid of the person or officer charged with the duty of receiving or permitting such performance or offer to perform, or acting thereon, be deemed and held as a ])erformance in law of such act, and the person so offering and failing as aforesaid, and being otherwise qualified, shall be en- titled to vote in the same manner and to the same extent as if he had in fact ])erformed such act ; and any judge, inspector, or other officer of election, whose duty it is or shall be to receive, count, certify, registt-r, re])ort, or give effect to the vote of any sucli citi- zen, who shall wrongfully refuse or omit to receive, count, certify, register, rejxjrt, or give effect to the vote of such citizen, upon tin; presentation by him of his aflidavit, stating such offer and the time and place thereof, and the name of the officer or person whosft duty it was to act thereon, aiul that he was wrongfully lux-vented by such person or officer from performing such act, shall, for any such oli'ense, forfeit and pay 310 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. the Sinn offtoOO to the person aggrieved therehy, to be recovered l»y an action on the case, with lull costs, and sncli allowance for connsel fees as the conrt slmll (h-eni just, and shall also, for eveiy snch otlense, he guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on con- viction thereof, he fined not less than s50(), or be imprisoned not less than one mouth and not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the conrt. * *• # # * ■» # Sec. fi. That the district courts of the United States, within their respective districts, shall have, exclusively of the courts of the several States, cognizance of all crimes and olfensfs committi'd against the provisions of this act, and also concurrently with the circuit courts of the United States, o all causes, civil and crimiual, arising under this act, except as herein otherwise i)rovided, and the jnrisdictiou hereby conferred shall be exercised in conformity with the laws and practici- governing United States courts; and all crimes and olfenses committed against the provisions of this act may be ]iro.se- cuted by the indictment of a grand jury, or, in cases of crimes and olfenses not infamous, the prosecution may be either by indictment or iufornnition hied by the district attor- ney in :i court having jurisdiction. * » # . * *■ » * Skc. 23. That whenever any person shall be defeated or deprived of his election to any office, except elector of President or Vice-President, Representative or Delegate in Congress, or member of a State legislature, by reason of the denial to any citizen or citizens who shall offer to vote of the right to vote on account of race, color, or pre- vious i,-(»ndition of servitude, his right to hold and enjoy such office, and the emolu- ments thereof, shall not be impaired l)y such denial; and snch person may bring any ap])ropriate suit or }uoceeding to recover jjossi'ssion of such office; and in cases where it shall .-iijpear that the sole; (luestion toucliing the title to such office arises out of the denial of the right to vote to citizens who so offered to vote on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, snch suit or proceedings may he ilistituted in the circuit or district court of the United States of the circuit or distriet in which snch person resides. And said circuit or district conrt shall have, concurrently with the State courts, jurisdiction thereof, so far as to determine the rights of the partU'S to^ such office by reason of the denial of the right guaranteed by the hftecnth article of amendment of the Constitution of the United States, and secured by this act. Exhibit 4. — (Filed with bill.) XorK. — If, afli-r any person Ims been registered, the supervisor wrongfully strikes the name of sncli person from tfie refriitration 'ist. or if, tor any other reason, the vote of a dnly qiialitied voter is refused, fill otU the foilowinff affidavit, and deliver same to United States supervisor of the polt v\-here the vote was refused, who will return siiuie to F. A. AVooltiey, chief supervisor : Statk oi" Louisiana, Parish of Orleans, Seventh Ward : On the 4th day of November, 187'2, I, Eugene Charles, a dnly qualified voter in the parish of Orleans, .seventh ward, presented myself at the polling-place located at Frenchman, Seventh ward, in said parish, which had been desigmited by the super- vi.sor of registration as a p(dl, and claimed the right to vote; that I exliil>ited to the commissioner of election at said poll a certificate of registration furnished me during the registration of 1870, a cojiy of which is attached, showing me to be entitled to vote in the aforesaid parish; that the comnii.ssioners alleged that my name did not appear upon the registration list. KOTE.— Or if the voter has lost Iiis certificate, here statu the fact, piviiij; tlie year it was issued. I further state that I offered to the commissioners of election at said poll for deposit in the ballot-box the ballot hereunto attached, and said conunissicuiers refused to receive said ballot and illegally and wrongfully i)rcvented the ballot attached from being placed in the ballot box and counted, to the denial of my rights as a citizen and legal voter. I further dennind under the jirovisions of the act of Congress entitled "An act to enforce the rights of citizens of the United States to vote in the several States of this Union, and for other pnri)oses," approved >|ay 'M, 1870, that my ballot he counted and returned for the several candidates named thereon, as provided by said act. [Ballot attached.] ItCf/Klar national rcpnhlican ticket — election Xorcmher 4, 1872. For Presideut, Generi.l U. S. Grant. For Vice-President, Henry Wilson. I're.siden tial electom. At largt — M. F. Bonzano. Jules Lanabere, Charles E. Halsfead. First district, L. C. Rouilanez; second district, A. K. .lohnson ; third district, Milton Morris; fourth district, Joseph Taylor; hfth district, John Ray. CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 311 State ticket. For governor, William Pitt Kollofjs'. Lieutenant-governor, C. C. Antoine. For auditor jiublie aceontits, Churk's Clinton. Secretary of state, P. G. Deslonde. Attorney-general, A. P. Field. Superintendent public education, W. G. Brown. Congress at large, P. B. S. Piuclihaek. For forty-tliird Congress, first district, J. H. Sypiier. General assembly, tJiird senatoiial district, J. A. Massicot; hou!?6 of represent- atives, Seventh ward, L. S. Kodrignez, John Barrow. rarifsh ticket, Orleans j^arish. Civil sheriff, C. S. Sauvinet. Criminal sheriff, J. L. Herwig. District attorney, F. G. Chamberlain. District judges: first district court, M. A. Dooley; second district court, S. Belden; third district court, E. Meunier; fourth district court, B. L. Lynch; fifth district court, ,J. \V. Gurley; sixth district court, Alfred Shaw; seventh district court, Sanuu'l R. Walker; eighth district court, H. C. Dibble. Clerks of courts: first district court, A. F. Lynd ; second district court, F. Pace, jr.; third district court, Charles A. Baquie; fourtii district court, Edward DeBlois ; fifth district court, Joseph Presas; sixth district court, John Kaiser; seventh district court, J. O. Lainez; eighth district court, Thomas Lynne. Coi-oner, second and third districts, A. Cagnolatti. Fourth justice of the peace, Fred Toebelmanu. Constable, fourth justice's court, Jules Gomez. City o/jVt'ii' Orleans, municipal ticket. Mayor, W^ R. Fish. Administrator'of finance, Felix Labatut. Administrator of police, C. J. Adolph. Administrator of improvements, James Lewis. Administrator of commerce, C. W. Ringgold. Administrator of public accounts, S. D. Moody. Administrator of assessments, T. Lilienthal. Administrator of water-works, P. Coyle. his EUGENE y, CHARLES. mark. Attest : F. A. W., Derbigney, between Saint Bernard and streets. Inquire of John Langhouse, Seventh ward. (Signatures of two witnesses who are cognizant of the truth of the affidavit.) Subscribed and sworn to this 4th day of November, 1872, before nie. F. A. WOOLFLEY, United States Commissioner. Paiush of Orleans, Seventh Ward, Xoremher 4, 1872. I certify that I was at the polling-place above mentioned on the day of election, November 4, 1H72, and that the statement of Eugene Charles, above subscribed to, is true in every particular. United States Supervisor of Election at said Poll. United States circuit court — lu equity. William Pitt Kellogg ) vs. [ No. G830. Henry C. Warmoth et al. ) Filed December G, 1S72. OPINION OF THE COURT. This application comes before me under a bill to preserve evidence to enable the complainant to prosecute a suit at law. Tliis'bill is well- known to courts of chancery, and is founded upon the statute, being chapter 104 of the second session of the Forty-tirst Congress, sixteenth Statutes at Large, page 140, entitled "An act to enforce the rights of citi- 312 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. zeiis of the United States to vote in the several States of tliis Union, aiul for other purposes," antnrns of all elections. In case'of any vacancy by der.tli, n'sinnation, or otiicrwisc, by citlier of the board, then the vacancy shall be tilled by the residue of tlie board of returnin^-nrticers. The riiturninij-olHcers shall, after each election, before entering on tlieir dniies, take and subscribe to the following oath before a judge of the supreme or any district court : I, A. IJ., do .solemnly swear (or aflfirui) that I will faithfully ;uid diligently perform the duties of a returning-officer as prescribed by law ; that I will carefully and honestly canva.ss and compile the statements of the votes, aucl make a true aiul corroot return of the election : so lielp me God. \Vithiu ten daysjiftcr the closing of the election said returning-officers shall meet in CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 315 New Orleans to canvass and compile tlie statement of votes made by the commissioners of election, and make letnrns of TJie election to the secretary of state. Tliey shall con- tinue in session until such returns have been ouuiiiled. The presiding officer shall at such meeting open, in tlu^ presence of the said return in o-ofticers, the statement of the com- missioners of election, and the said returning-ofiicers shall, from said statements, can- vass and compile the returns of the election in duplicate ; one copy of such returns they shall tile in the office of the secretary of state, and of one copy they shall inake public liroclamation by ])rinting in the official journal and such other newspapers as they may deem proper, declaring the names of all persons and officers voted for, the number of votes for each person, and the nan.ies of the persons who have been duly and lawfully elected. The leturn of the election thus made and promulgated shall be pr'ma-facie evidence in all courts of justice and before all civil officers until set aside after a con- test, according to law, of'tlie riglit of any person named therein to hold and exercise the office to which he shall by such return' be declared elected. The governor shall, ■within thirty days thereafter, issue commissions to all officers thus declared elected, who are reiiuired by law to be commissioned. Skc. 44. Z>ci7//n-^/)f'rc«rtc/erf,4r.,. That it shall be the duty of the secretary of state to trans- mit to the' clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate of the last general assembly a list of the nanu^s of such persons as, according to the returns, shall have been elected to either branch of the gtMieral assembly ; and it sliall be the duty of the said clerk and secretary to ])lace the uanuis of the representatives and senators elect so furnished niK)n the roll of the house and of the senate, respectively; and those repre- sentatives and senators whose names are so placed by the clerk and secretary, res])ec- tively, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and none other, shall be competent to organize the house of representatives or senate. Nothing in this act shall be con- strued to conflict with article thirty-four of the constitution of the State. I see, therefore, no way of avoiding the conclusion that, in any view of the case, the Ilerron board of letnrning-ofiicers are still authorized to continue their duties, and are still entitled to the protection of the court. The cf)urt keeps within the acts of Congress and the fifteenth amend- ment. It does not pretend in any way to make a governor of the State, or in any degree to interfere with the voice of the people exi)ressetl through the ballot-box. WLat it does is to aid in making known the voice of the people, in accordanc^e with sections three and twenty-three of the act of Congress, and with section fifteen of the amendment thereto, and in its action is only a clearly needed adjunct of the legal returning-board. Many propositions were discussed during the argu- ment which it is not necessary for me to now pass upon. It is enough that I find the statute constitutional; that the court has jurisdiction, and that the board of returning-otticers, composed of H. C. Warmoth and Messrs. Hawkins, Lyncli, Longstreet, and Plerrou, are the legal board, and as such entitled to the protection of this court. ■ As to the question of the ineligibility of the complainant in the bill to the othce of governor, this question cannot arise under the bill, and could only come before this court in a direct action at law to test the title to the office. It is not, therefore, necessary or proper for me to de- cide it now ; but were it otlierwise, I would say that the reason of the thing seems to favor his eligibility, the object ot the provision of the constitution being to prevent a man serving two masters and having a divided allegiance. And the fact that, contemporaneously with the adoption of the constitution which first contained this provision, the then territorial governor was by the then constitutional convention made governor of the State provisionally, and at the ensuing election made by the people the first governor of the State, would seem to indi- cate that the meaning of the inhibition was understood to be as I above stated. It only remains for me now to make the following order : 316 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. Circuit court of the United States, district of Louisiana, in equity. Wm. Pitt Kellogg, complainant, "} I Henry C AVAinioxii, Jack Wharton. ! Xo. 0830. — Order en- Frank II. Ilatcli, Durant Da Ponte, ana('ity, to in- spect, consider, have access to, canvass, or tamper with any pai)er, docu- ment, atiidavit, statement of votes, return, or written proof relating to said election, or to the fairness and correctness thereof, tliat may have heretofore or uuiy hereafter come into his hands or possession, and which by law should i)ro[)erly be laid before, submitted to, (»• consid- ered by such returning-ofticers of ele('tion in making a canvass thereof ; and that the said detendant H. C. Warmoth be further enjoiiu'd and inhibited from altering, suj)[)ressing, mutilating, destroying, or secreting any such document, proof, or paper. And that he further desist and be enjoined from in any manner inter- fering with,obstructiug, or hindering the said Lynch, Longstreet, Bovee, and Hawkins, or either of them, from full and completi? access to, as well as custody of, such docunu^nts, i)roof, or paper. And thathe further desistand be enjoined troni in any manner interfer- ing witii, obstructing, or hindering the said Lynch, Longstreet, Bovee, ami H.iwkins, or either of them, from tull and ci)m])lete access to, as well as cu^itody of, such documents, pa])eis, and i)roofs relating to said election, as he may or shall have in his possession, custody, or control, or as they shidl or may demand, either by refusing to deliver such doc- uments or proofs to them, or either of them, or by any suit or [)roceed- ing instituted with the intent to hinder, delay, or obstruct them in the l)erformance of their duty as returning-otlieers; and that he be turtlier re- strained and enjoiiunl Irom issuing any commissions to any persons l)ased upon any calculation, (ledu(;tion, or pretended canvass of ballots east at said election, or make, publish, sign, or deposit in the office of the se(;re- tary of state or in any other [»ublic ollice, or cause to be so deposited, any (Utcument, statement of persons (dected to any offices or positions of trust at said election, and from giving any eftect to the same, if al- ready !iled and deposited, unless the same be with the concuireut action and lawfully given consent of the said Lynch, Hawkins, Hovee, and Longstreet, or a majority thereof, or of a sufiicient -number of them to constitute a majority of a board of returnnig-othcers. And it is further ordered that the said defendants, Jack Wharton, CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA. 319 Frank H. Hatch, Diiraiit Da Ponte, and the New Orleans Republican Printing Company, until the tinal hearing- of this cause, or until the fur- ther order of the court, be severally and respectively enjoined and re- strained to Mie same extent, efl'ect, and manner as said c<»inplainant has in his bill of complaint prayed they may severally and respectively be restrained. "And that writs of injunction in due form of law issue against the said defendants in accordance witli the terms of this order. And that the restraining order heretofore issued and allowed in this cause continue in full force and elfect until the court shall otherwise order. Witness the Honorable Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of the United States, at the city of New Orleans, this Oth day of December, in the year of our Lord 1872. [seal. I F. A. WOOLFLEY, Clerk. MarsliaVs return. Received December 7, 1872, by the United States marshal, and on the same day, month, and year served the within-named persons with a copy of tliis injunction, as follows : On IJ. C. Warmoth, by handing the sanie to him in person at the Saint Charles Hotel, in this city ; Jack Wliarton, sanie day, month, and year, served the within injunction by haiuliiig the same to him in person at the Saint Cluirles Hotel, in this city ; on Darant Da Ponte, same day, month, and year, by handing the ^ same to him in person in this city; on Frank H. Hatch, sanieday,iB| month, and year, by handing the same to him in person in this city; on ^ the New Orleans Republican, December 9, 1872, by handing the same to W. R. Fish, president of said paper. C. R. STEELE, Deputy United States Marshal, United States of America, circuit court of the United States, fifth circuit and district of Louisiana. Cleek's Office : . I, Fiiincis A. WoolHey, clerk of the circuit court of the United States ^ for the fifth circuit and district of Louisiana, do hereby certify that the foregoing 115 pages contain and form a full, complete, true, and i)erfect transcri[)t of the record and |)roceedings had, excei)t entries from the nutnites of continuances, &e., in the case of WiUiam P. Kellogg vs. H. C. Warmoth et als., No. (»8;3l) of the docket, so far as the same now remain of recoiil or on tile in said court. Witness my hand and the seal of said court, at the city of New Or- leans, this :U\ day of January, A. D. 1873. (Nine words erased. Eight Avords interlined.) Ap[)roved. [SEAL.] F. A. AVOOLFLEY, Cleric. ^.. < v_^- ««c:.x-' < d.t^« . .^c ,-ddcd'<: V < \ - -c<-... c t d'c: ^ <>- •- <€:'^ Um- m aft - /v ^ "'> "-*rir f-. ' \f> ^ '^ ' A A ^ 'V r. ' f'^;*vr;*iKpSSS :--.!'W(J^