1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8977

Mr. SPINOLA moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was Mr. MAISH. The gentleman says he has no objection to my with· passed; and n.lso moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the drawing it. table. Mr. KILGORE. None whatever. The latter motion was agreed to. ORDER OF BUSINESS. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY. Mr. TOWNSHEND. Mr. Chairman, the bil~.s we have mlt!ked for Mr. TOWNSHEND. I call up from the House Calendar a bill (S. consideration to-day are of such a character as perhaps would be o~ 2fl19) to make enlisted men of the Signal Corps responsible for public jected to by the gentleman from Texas or other gentlemen, who have property. declared that they do not wish bills of this class to be passed without The bill was read, as follows: a quorum. I will therefore move that the committee now rise. It is Be it enacted, etc., That, from and after the passage of this act, every officer of useless to present bills and have to withdraw them because of the ques- the Signal Corps, every non-commissioned officer or private of the Signal Corps, tion of no quorum being raised. . and all other officers, agents, or persons, who now have in possession, or may hereafter receive or may be intrusted with any stores or supplies, shall quar­ The motion was agr~ed to. terly or more often, if so directed, and in such manuer and on such forms as The committee accordingly rose; and Mr. CRISP having resumed the may be prescribed by the ChiefSignnl Officer, make true and correct returns to chair as Speaker pro tempore, Mr. McMILLIN reported that the Com­ the Chief Signal Officer of all Signal Service property and all other supplies and stores of every kind received by or intrusted to them and each of them, or mittee of the Whole House on the state of the Union haTing had under which may, in any 01anner, come into their and each of their possession or consideration sundry bills, bad come to no resolution thereon. charge. The Chief Signal Officer, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War, is hereby authorized and directed to draw up and enforce in his bureau a BONDS OF DISBURSING AND OTHER OFFICERS. system of rules and regulations for the government of the Signal Bureau, and of all persons in said bureau, and for the safe-keeping and preservation of all Mr. TOWNSHEND. Mr. Speaker, I now call up the bill H. R. Signal Service property of every kind, and to direct and prescribe the kind, 8873, with Senate amendment, a bill in relation to bonds of disburs­ number, and form of all returns and reports, and to enforce compliance tllere- ing; or other officers, and to monthly payments of the Army. with. _ The Senate amendment was read. Mr. TOWNSHEND. I suppose there will be no objecHon to the Mr. TOWNSHEND. This bill is one that will probablypro>oke some passage of this bill. It simply provides that officers of the Signal considerable discussion, and as i.here is but little time now remaining Corps shall be responsible for property intrusted to them. As it is of the hour, not enough to consider the bill, I ask unanimous consent now the Chief Signal Officer is held responsible for all property, no mat­ that it may go over until the next honr, and that the morning hour of ter where it may be. I ask the bill be put upon its passage. to-day may be considered as having expired. The bill was ordered to a third reading; and it was accordingly read The SPEAKER p1'o tempore. The morning hour has expired. the third time, and passed. Mr. Mcl\HLLIN. I move that the House do now adjourn. _ ll!r. TOWNSHEND moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill - The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the ayes seemed to have it. · the table. Mr. HOLMAN. I demand a division. The latter motion was agreed to. The House divided; and there were-ayes 45, noes 16. The SPEAKER pro tempore_ The bill (H. R. 9907) on the same sub­ · So the motion was agreed to; ·and accordingly (at 1 o'clock and 53 ject will be laid upon the table. minutes p. m.) the House adjom.:ned. There was no objection, and it was so ordered. FRESH .Affi IN ENGINE-ROOMS OF STEAMERS. PRIVATE BILLS INTRODUCED .AND, REFERRED. J Mr. TOWNSHEND. How much time have I remaining? Under the rule private bills of the foRowing titles were introduced The SPEAKER pro temp01·e. The gentleman has ten minutes. and referred as indicated below: Mr. TOWNSaEND. I will yield to the gentleman from Texas [Mr. By Mr. HOL1\1AN: A bill (H. R. 11511) granting a p:msion to George CRAIN] to introduce a bill. . Pulskamp-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. . Mr. CR.A.IN, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 11510) By Mr. LAFFOON: A bill (H. R.11512)forthereliefofW. M. Rhea­ to compel owners of steamers to supply fresh air to the engine-rooms; to the Committee on War Claims. which was read a first and second 'time, referred to the Committee on Also, a bill {H. R. 11513) for the relief of William McGriyer-to the Commerce, and ordered to be printed. Committee on War Claims. ORDER OF BUSINESS. By Mr. J. J. O'NEILL: A bill (H. R. 11514) granting a pension to Fredericka Werheide-to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Mr. TOWNSHEND. I move that the Honse now resolve itselfinto Committee of the Whole House ou the state of the Union to consider Also, a bill (H. R. 11515) granting a pension to Charles G. Sanders­ bills reported from the Committee on Military Affairs. to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. The motion was agreed to. · Also, a bill (H. R. 11516) granting a pension to JulinsSauer-tothe The House accordingly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Committee on Invalid Pensions. · Mr. McMILLIN in the chair. By Mr. 0. B. THOMAS: A bill (H. R. 11517) for thp relief of Will­ iam Miller-to the Committee on Military Affairs. MILITARY RESERVATION, PLATTSBURGH, N. Y. By Mr. ATKINSON: A bill {H. R. 11518) granting a pension to Mr. TOWNSHEND. I call up for -present consideration the bill (H. George Chappel-to tbe Committee on Invalid Pensions. R. 11252) to construct a l'Oad from the village of Plattsburgh, N. Y., through and along the Government military reservation in said village. The bill was read at length. Mr. TOWNSHEND. I move that the bill be laid aside-- SENATE. Mr. KILGORE. I do not think I would be in a condition to agree THURSDAY, September 27, 1888. to that to-day unless there is a quorum present. [Laughter. .] Mr. TOWNSHEND. Of course, if the gentleman insists upon a Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. J. G. BUTLER, D. D. quorum, although I think it a meritorious bill, and if my friend would NAMING A PRESIDING OFFICER. examine it he would reach the same conclusion; but I understand the situation, and withdraw the bill. Mr. MANDERSON called the Senate to order and said: The Secre. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania [M:r. MAisH]. tary will read a communication from the President pro tempore of the Senate. NATIONAL CEMETERY, FREDERICKSBURGH, VA. The' Secretary of the Senate [:M:r. ANSON G. McCooK] read as Mr. MAISH. Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to call up for present con­ follows: sideration the bill (H. R. 1907) to provide for macadamizing the road UNITED STATES SENATE, Washington, D. C., Bepte:mher 27, 1888. from the railroad to the national cemetery in the city of Fredericks­ I name the Senator from Nebraska, .Ir. MAl.--nEBSO:Y, to perform the dut-ies of . ' burgh, Va. the Chair to-day. JOHN" J. INGALLS, The bill was read at length. P1·esident pro tempare. Mr. ~IAISH. I move that this bill be laid aside to be reported to Thereupon Mr. MANDERSON took the chair as Presiding Officer for the Honse with a favorable recommendation. to-day. • Mr. KILGORE. Mr. Speaker, I have no objection to having the THE JOURN .A.L. I sense of the House taken upon the motion of the gentleman from Penn­ sylvania to lay this bill aside with a favorable recommendation. The Journal of yesterday's proceedings was read and approved. If everybody votes for it and I against it, I will have to call a quorum. YELLOW-FEVER SUFF.EI:.ERS. If you want to go that far I have no objection. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MANDERSON). The Chair lays Mr. MAISH. The gentleman from Texas will not call a quorum, I before the Senate the amendment of the House of Representatives to · understand. the joint resolution (S. R. 110) in aid of the sufferers from yellow fever. Mr." KILGORE. Oh, yes, I will. [Laughter.] The amendment of the House of Representatives will be stated. - Mr. STRUBLE. That is quite a difference of opinion. The SECRETA& Y. Strikeout all after the resolving clause and insert: Mr. MAISH. Then I withdraw the bill. That the sum of $100,000 be, and t?e same hereby is, app~opriat~d out of ~ny Mr. KILGORE. All right. money in the ·.rreasury not otherwise appropriated, to be Immedi!'.tcly availa- XI.X--562 8978 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTE:MBER 27' hie, to·be expended in the discretion of the President of the United States in aid several thousands of whom depend alone on this particular labor for a liveli­ of S~ate or municipal boards of health, or otherwise, to prevent the introduc­ hood. tion of cholera. or yellow fe>er into the United States from foreign countries, or That by the act of Congress approved March 3,1883, chapter 121, the duties on into one State or Terl"itory from another, or in the suppression of or preventing tobacco in leaf unmanufactured and not stemmed are 35 cents, and on stemmed the spread of said diseases, or either of them, in infected districts. tobacco 40 cents per pound. That the duties on the stemmed tobacco being only 5 cents per pound more Mr. EDl\IDNDS. I examined the amendment yesterday. I very. than the unstemmed tobacco, the manufacturers are thus enabled to get their much fear that it misses the most urgent point where aid is required, toba.cco from Cuba already stemmed and at a. slight excess in cost over the un­ and that is the capacity to use any of this money in aid of those who stemmed tobacco, and the manufacturers here are availing themselves of this privilege and employing or giving employment to laborers in Ouba. are sick or are in distress and starvation, as the newspapers report to us That the result is that gradually but surely the laborers here who are em· from day to day so. many are. In tbe hope, therefore, that something ployed in this special branch of the cigar industry are being discharged and de­ better may be done, I move that the Senate non-concur in the amend­ prived of this mode of obtaining a living, and one-half or more of the laboring population of this island are being driven from their legitimate field of labor by ment, and ask for a conference thereon with the House of Representa- being thus brought into competition with the cheap labor of Cuba. tives. · Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that the duties on tobacco in leaf The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont moves that unmanufactured and stemmed be increased, or that the act of Congress abo>e mentioned be otherwise amended so as to prevent them from being brought the Senate non-concur in the amendment proposed by the Honse of Rep­ into competition with the aforementioned cheap labor in the island of Ouba. resentatives and ask for a conference thereon. And your petitioners will ever pray. The motion was agreed to. REPORTS OF COAIIDTTEES. By unanimous consent, the Presiding Officer was authorized to ap­ Mr. COCKRELL, from the Committee on 1\Iilitary Affairs, to whom point the conferees on the part of the Senate; and 1\fr. EDMUNDS, Mr. was referred the bill (S. 3578) to perfect the military record of James ALLISON, and Mr. CoCKRELL were appointed. T. Hu~hes, reported it without amendment, and submitt~d a report PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. thereon. (' Mr. BLAIR. I present a memorial of stone-cutters· of the United BILLS INTRODUCED. States, remonstrating against the passage of the Mills tariff bill. The 1\Ir. SABIN introduced a bill (S. 3593) granting a pension to Frank­ remonstrants are practical stone-cutters, ~nd the original signatures ot lin B. Dorothy; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the the meri are appended. I find them located in Dallas, Tex.; Denver, Committee on Pensions. Colo.; Memphis Junction, Ky.; Hallowell, Augusta, Clark's Island, Mr. CALL introduced a joint resolution (S. R. 111) rebting to yel­ South Thomaston, St. George, Rockland, Round Point, Long Cove, low fe>er and epidemic diseases; which was read twice by its title, and and Tenant's Harbor, in the State of Maine; Worcester and Milford, referred to the Committee on Epidemic Diseases. :Mass.; South Ryegate, Rutland, and several other places in Vermont; Mr. MITCHELL introduced a bill (S. 3594) granting a pension to Niantic, R. I . ; Roxbury, Bridgeport, New London, and other places Robert Steward; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the in the State of Connecticut; a large number of places in the State of Committee on Pensions. New York, in the city of New York and vicinity, Long Island, Brook­ Ur. HAWLEY introduced a bill (S. 3595) making an appropriation lyn; many places in the State of Minnesota; Washington, D. C.; Kan­ to aid in the erection of a monument to the members of the First and sas City, Mo.; the city uf Topeka, Kans. ; Cincinnati, Ohio; Rock Isl­ Second Regiments United States Sharpshooters who fell in the battle and, Ill.; St. Louis a-nd St. Joseph, in the State of Missouri; Indian­ of Gettysburgh; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the apolis, Ind.; Riverdale, Cal.; and many other places. The I!lemorial­ Committee on Military Affairs. ists, addressing the Senate of the United States, state: He also introduced a bill (S. 3596) for the relief of the esinte of the 'Ve, the undersigned, r espectfully petition your honorable body not to pass the late James B. Sinclair; which was read twice by its title, and referred so-called Mills bill without striking the item of" Stones, unmanufactured or un­ to the Committee on Military A.:fthirs. dressed, fret:stone, granite, sandstone, and all building or monumental stone" from the free-Jist, as we believe the importation of rough stone into this coun­ VIANCEY TAGGART-ORANGE OF REFERENCE. try free of duty will be an injury to us and those who quarry stone in this coun­ try and benefit no one but the importers and foreign quarry-owners and quarry­ Mr. .SH ERMAN. The bill (S. 3585) for the relief of Viancey Tag­ men, whv do not contribute to the support of this Government. We will not gart was erroneously referred to the Committee on Pensions instead of enter into o. long argument on this question, but petition for the right to be the Committee on Military Affairs. I move that the former commit­ beard in protest against this attempt to injuted March 3,1887, to 1\ir. PASCO. I present a petition of between fi,e and six hundred find and report to the Senate the facts bearing upon the merits of the claim and citizens of Key West, Fla., very la1·gely interested in the manufacture all the facts contemplated by the provisions of said acts. of cigars, calling the attention of Congress to a deficiency in the revenue Mr. EDl\ffiNDS. Does that come from a committee? If not, it laws which operates very disadvantageously to the manufacturers of ought to be referred to the Committee on Claims. cigars, owing to the slight difference between duties upon stripped1and 1\ir. STEWART . It comes from the Committee on Claims. It is unstripped tobacco. The facts are fully set forth in the petition, and the correction of a mistake in a 'former reference. as it is short I ask lea\e that it be printed in the RECORD, omitting the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada asks for names. the present consideration of the resolution. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida presents a llfr. STEWART. I will explain it to the Senator from Vermont. petition and asks that it be printed in the RECORD without the names. The committee ordered the case to be referred under the two acts, and Is there objection? The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered. The by mistake the resolution simply made the reference under the act of petition will be referred to the Committee on Finance. 1883, and it should be under both the act of 1883 and that of 1887. The petition is as follows: This simply corrects the mistake. To the honorable the Senate and Hou~e of Represenlat-iveJJ of the United States: Mr. EDMUNDS. Reserving the right to object for a moment, I wish Your petitioners would most respectfully represent that they are citizens of to say that the ordinary form of t.hese resolutions has been simply to the United States and of the State of Florida., aud residents of the city and make the reference to the Court of Claims and cite the statutes. I ob­ island of Key West. - That the principal business of the island of Key West is that of the manu­ serve that this resolution goes on and proceeds to declare what the court factw·e of cigars, which gives employment to more than one-half of the popu­ shall do. That may be precisely what the statute req nires it to do. If lation, wlrich is over 20,000. it be, of course it does no harm. If it be not, then it is outside· of the That the number of cigars manufactured on !he island of Key West during the past year was 95,000.000, and the greater part of this quantity was made of statute and of our authority ami propriety. imported tobacco from the Island of Cuba. Therefore I ask that the matter may be laid aside in order that I may That among the various processes of preparing this tobacco in the factories compare the resolution with the statute and see bow it is. previous to its being made into cigars is that of stemmin g the tobacco , or, as it lS -generally termed in the factories, "stripping •' the tobacco, taking t he center The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be temporarily stem from the leaf, and this work is d one h ere chiefly by women and children, laid aside.

\ 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. '8979

1\fr. STEWART. I will state that the last part of it is in the usual t-o the Florida coasts without permits.} All vessels should be compelled to touch at Key West if they are bound for Florida, and a. first-class quarantine sta­ form. tion should be established there. Mr. ED~mNDS. It may be. '£he only hope we have is that some great and noble citizen will start this Mr. SPOO~ER subsequently said: Before the Senaior from Vermont work. "You are the man" who can do this. You a.re known and respected all over the land. You are recognized as a pure man, a leader. Yo~ city is our [Mr. EDMUNDS] left the Chamber he requested me to say that after great city. Your people give their wealth freely. The governors and officers havinp examined the resolution introduced by the Senator from Ne­ of the cotton States will listen to you. They will not distrust the President and vada LMr. STEWART] he is satisfied with it, and interposes no objec­ his soldiers if the latter are necessary. The people will hail the United States officers and managers gs heavenly ministers. You can accomplish this work, tion to its passage. Therefore, if there is no objection, I ask that the and I know of no one else who can. resolution be passed. The Government I know is now helping, but they are not permitted to control The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection being withdrawn to affairs. The whole thing should be in Government hands: It is the only hope. I know that politics can not get ~ixed up with it. I am a. Republican (usnally}, the resolution proposed by the Senator from Nevada, the question is my neighbor$ are men of both armies-nearly all are Democrats-and for two upon the adoption of the resolution. years we have been hoping and praying that the United States would take The resolution was agreed to. charge. The protection of the Florida coast is no longer a State question; it is now of more importance than the Indian frontier, and the prosperity of the IMPORTATION OF CONTAGIO:N OR INFECTION, whole nation is at stake. Will you not spea.k out and save us? I hope I am not uselessly wasting :vour time, and I believe I am doing my 1\Ir. CALL submitted the following resolution; which was read: duty to my country and my State by writing this. I do honestly believe I am Rnolved, That the Committ~ on .Epid.emic Diseases are hereby instructed to only writing that which every citizen of Florida has in his heart. consider and report before the adjournment of this session of Congress, by bill I am, very respectfully, or otherwise, such additional legislation as may be necessary or useful to pre­ JAMES M. VAN HOOK, vent the importation of contagious or infectious diseases from foreign countries A Oi.tizen of Fort Meade, Polk County, South Florida. e to submit to that course, but it seems to antir.e, to prevent the pread of contagion. The remedy ought to be applied in me that a reference is very immaterial. There is nothing in the reso­ the places where the fever exists and on a system so comprehensive as to assure lution to which the committee can object. It simply requires them the country that every precaution has been taken to stamp out this disease which produces such havoc in human life and such destruction of property. to report at this session, and certainly in the face of a request of the .A.ski!lg your early attention to this important subject, I am. mayor of the greatest city in population and in commerce in the Yoru·s, sincerely, · United States, simply to take action, not saying what action, but that ABRAMS. HEWITT, Mayor. Hon. WILKINSON CALL, some efficient action should be taken, with the existence of this epi­ United States Senate Chamber, Washiagton, D. 0. demic, al,ready threatening t.o spread over a large portion of the coun­ The letter to which the mayor of New York refers, and which he try, there can be no objection to the Senate acting immediately upon incloses to me, is from James M. Van Hook, a citizen of Fort Meade, the subject. Polk County, South Florida, and is as follows: , The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection being made, the resolu­ CHARLESTOWN, IND., September 22, 1888. tion will lie o>er with the motion to refer it to the Committee on Epi­ Ho:..-oRABLE Sm: I am a native of this State. I entered the Union Armv, demic Diseases. served through the war, and cn.me home broken in healtli. About seven or RELATIO~S WITH GREAT BRITAIN AND CANADA. eight years ago I moved to Fort Meade, PolK County, South Florida. I love my adopted State and hope to live there until the end. Mr. SHERMAN. I am directed by the Committee on Foreign Re-' On the day that yellow fever was discovered in Jackoonville I was in the city lations to report back to the Senate the resolution directing that com­ on my way north to consult my old family physician and then 1·eturn to my mittee to inquire into and report-at the next session of Congress the Southern home. Although the roads are obstructed down there, and there is great danger of taking the disease, I intend to get to my home. I may have to state of the relations of the United States with Great Britain and the go fir::!t to Key West and then come np the 10ad from Punta Gorda to my home. Dominion of Canada. We report back the resolution without recom­ There are thousands ofNew Yorkers in Florida, and they are deserving of help. The citizens there are from every State of the Union. The old citizens are mendation, with a. view that it may be placed upon the Calendar to mo tly from the Southern States. I as urc you tha.t these people are a unit in be the subject of debate in the Senate. It is the desire of the commit­ theit' desire to have the Government take charge of the coast (and interior) reg­ tee to get all the information and all the light upon the subject before ulations regarding health, etc. You will find that there is no regular quaran­ its final reference to the committee. tine law in force between Florida and the southern port·s, or was not a few weeks ago, and the customs office was merely a formal office. People could The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio, from the leave any of the southern ports and land on our coast and carry death and dis­ Committee on Foreign Relations, reports back a resolution which will ease all over the United States withont a question being asked them by any be read. one in authority. Yonr cities will be desolated next summer by fever, cholera, The Secretary read the resolution submitted by .Mr. SHERMAN Sep­ and other diseases if our 11000 miles of seaoo:J.St is not guarded. A man of ordinary abiltty, with a little authority, could ha>e checked the tember 17, 1888, as follows: fever at Key ""est. "' * * You doubtless remember the messages sent to the Resolved, That the Committee on F<>reign Relations be directed to inquire into Surgeon-General from these places. The fever was kept alive all winter at aud report at the next session of Congress the state of the relations of the Uniteel Plant City. The Surgeon-General did all he could, but be was not allowed to States with Great Britain and the Dominion of Canada, with such measures as do any real work. Of course we (of Florida) expected Jacksonville to be deso­ are expedient to promote friendly commercial and political intercourse between lated after the one case appeared there. I can not write the particulaTR. for it these countries and the United States, and for that purpose have leave to sit would take up too much of your valuable time. In our locality there will not during the recess of Congress. likely be a fever-killing frost in the next t en years. and if the proper work is not done the fever will get a good start next spring and sweep over lhe whole The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio reports the country. The whole people of Florida * * * are praying and hoping for resolution without recommendation, and asks that it be placed on the help. Tho3e who were in charge have had two years of failure. The St.rt.te of Florida can no longer hope to conquer the fever, and the other States demand Calendar. It will be so ordered, unless there be objection. protection. One-fifth of the money already donated by the noble people of New 1\11·. TILAI.R. I wish to inquire of the Senator from Ohio whether York City, pla..ced in proper hands, would hM·e saved Key West, and all othe:J; the resolution which he has just reported back and had p1aced upon United States towns-for the fever can Lie surely trailed from Key West to every fever-stricken point. the Calendar is likely to be early called up for the consideration of the Personally I am not afraid of the fever. I think as I am an invalid I would Senate? not recover from an attack of it, but I am not afraid, and expect to face it in a Mr. SHERMAN. I am not authorized ta say. The Committee on few days. · Now,thereis only one way t-o sa>e<>urcountry froma.l:orribleseason next year. Foreign Relations conceive the subject to be of very great importance If the work is not done I believe all the cities of the South and many in the and do not desire to rush to its consideration until they have full in­ North will get used to the terrible cry," Bring out your dead." The people of Cuba are already entering Florida, and so ooon as the" scum" ofEuropeascertain formation. the fact that they can enter Florida from Cuba there will be cases of cholera and Mr. BLAIR. So that if any Senator desires to make remarks on the fever enter this "<>pen back door." (Coasting schooners often pass from Cuba subject, he can do so immediately? '.

8980 CONGRESSIONAL REC,ORD-SENATE. SEPTEMBER 27,

~Ir. SHERMAN. The resolution is on the Calendar and can be called a building for the accommodation of the Congresl'lional Library.' approved April15, 1886, as requires the construction of said building substantially accord­ up at any time to make observations upon it. So far as the commit­ ing to the plan submitted to the Joint Select Committee on Additional Accom­ tee are concerned, I am inclined to think that they would not desire modations for the Library of Congress by John L. Smyth meyer, and so much of to press a final vote upon any measure on this subject until the next the first section as provides for a commission. together with the eighth section of said act, be, and the same are hereby, repealed, and the duties of said com­ session of Congress, but I am not authorized to say even that. mission under said act are hereby devolved· upon the Chief of Engineers of the MESSAGE FROM THE llOUSE. Army, who shall annually report to Congress, at the commencement of each session, a. detailed statement of all the proceedings under the provisions of this A message f1·om the Honse of Representatives, by Mr. CLARK, its act, and hereafter, until otherwise ordered by Congress, no work shall be done Clerk, announced that the House bad agreed to the report of the com­ in the construction of said Library except such a.s is herein provided for, and all contracts for work or materials not necessary for the execution of the work: mittee of confererrce on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the contemplated herein are hereby rescinded. And all loss or damage occasioned one hundred and tenth amendment of he Senate to the bill (H. R. thereby, or arising under said contracts. together with the value of the p .an for 10540) making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the G?vern­ a Library building submitted to the Joint Select Committee on Additional Ac-­ commodations for the Library of Congress by John L. Smithmeyer in the Ital­ ment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 18 9, and for other purposes. ian renaissance style of architecture, may be adjusted and determim•d by the ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED. Secretary of the Interior, to be paid out of the sums heretofore or hereby ap­ propriated : Pro'Vided, That before any further contracts are let for the constl·uc­ Toe message also announced that the Speaker of the House had. tion of said building, general p1ans for the entire construction thereof shall be signed the following enrolled bills: prepared by or under the direction of the Chief of Engineers of the Army, which plans shall be subiect to the inspection and approval of the Secretary of \Var A bill (S. 145) for the relief of Edward Braden and Job W. Angus; and the aecretary of the Interior: And provided furthfJr, That the total cost of A bill (S. 320) for the relief of John D. Adams; said building shall not exceed $4,000,000 exclusive of appropriations he.retofore A bill (S. 937) for the relief of David L. Brainard and others; made." And the 9ennto nuree to the snmo, A bill (S. 1044) authorizing the· Secretary of the Treasury to state W. B. ALLISON, . and settle the account of James M. Willbur with the United States, EUGENE HALE, and to pay said Willbur such sum of money as may be found due him F. M. COCKRELL, thereon; Managers on the part of the Senate. WM. H. FORNEY, A bill (S. 1101) granting a pension to Rachel A. Sinkinson; JAMES N. BURNES, A bill (S. 1500) granting a pension to Margaret M. Miller; THOS.RYAN, A bill (S. 1582) for the relief of the estate of Lucien Goyaux; Managers on the part of the Hou.sz. A bill (S. 1501) granting an increase of pension to Madison M. Mere­ The roport WM concurred in. dith; PRESIDENTIAL APPROVALS. A bill (S. 1668) for the relief of A. M. Woodruff; A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. 0. L. A bill (S. 1958) granting~ increase of pension to Eleanor B. Good- PRUDEN, one of his secretaries, announced that the President had on fellow· · the 26th instant approved and signed the following acts and joint res­ A bill (S. 2201) for the relief of Laura E. 1\fa{}dox, widow and ex­ olution: ecutrix, and Robert Morrison, executor., of Joseph H. Maddox, de~ An act (S. 186) to amend section 1225 of the Revised StatuUls, con­ ceased; cerning details of officers of the Army and Navy to educational insti­ A bill (S. 2346) grantillg an increase of pension to Jennie Hart Mul­ tutions, etc.; lany; . An act (S. 2252) to incorporate the Georgetown "Barge, Dock, Eleva.. A bill {S. 2411) for the relief of C. A. Williams and others; tor, and Railway Company; A bill (S. 2675) granting an increase of pension to Lieut. James R. An act tS. 3447) ameq.datory of "An act relating to postal crimes Durham· and amendatory of the statutes thereifl mentioned," approved June A bill '(s. 2711) restoring Phebe McLaughlin to the pension-roll; 18, 1888, and 1or other purposes; A bill (S. 2720) granting a pension to John B. Ross; An act (S. 124) granting a pension to Henry F. Kaiser; A bill (S. 2836) granting a pension to William E. Taylor; An act (S. 1988) granting a pension to Henry R. Blakiston; A bill (S. 2838) granting an increase of pension to Betsey A. Mower; An act (S. 2576) granting a pension to Richard Hudson; A bill (S. 2887) granting a pension to George H. J obnson; An act (S. 2713) granting a pension to Pierre Bottineau; A bill (S. 3125) restoring the right of pre-emption to Alfonso Roberts; An act (S. 2913) granting a pension to Mary Sturgess; A bill (S. 3276) granting restoration of pension to Sarah A. Wood- An act (S. 2938) granting a pension to James McDonald; bridge; An act (S. 2951) granting a pension to M:rs. Mary Morrison Elliott; A bill (S. 3471) to authorize the construction of bridges across the An act (S. 3130) granting a pension to Patrick Welch; Kentucky River and its tributaries by the Louisville :::3outhern Railroad An act (S. 3186) granting a pension to Christian Winkel; Company; _ An act (S. 3236) granting an increase of pension to George A. Wash- A bill (H. R. 10934) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to sell burn, late major, Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteers; township maps or plats remaining on hand in his office; An act (S. 2750) to increase the pension of Samuel A. Tate; A bill (H. H. 11101) to include Sapelo Sound, Sapelo River, and Sapelo An a-ct (S. 212) for the relief of Patrick H. Winston, jr.; Island in the Brunswick collection district in the State of Georgia; An act (S. 576) for the relief of Semon Bache & Co.; A bill (H. R. 1923) providing for the establishment of a life-saving An act (S. 1506) for the relief of Addie Bell; and station at the harbor of Kewaunee, Wis., and at other places herein Joint resolution (S. R. 102) appropriating $200,000 to suppress in· named; and fection in the interstate commerce of the United States. A bill (H. R. 1006!3) granting a pension to Lieut. Starkey R. P owell. THE LOUISIANA ELECTION. SU~""DRY CIVIL .APPROPRIATION BILL. Mr. CHANDLER. I ask unanimous consent to call up the resolu­ Mr. ALLISON. I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate the action tion in relation t o the Louisiana election. of the House of Representatives on the sundry civil appropriation Mr. GIBSON. I inquire of the Senator from New Hampshire bill. whether he proposes to take a vote on the resolution this morning. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the resolution Mr. CHANDLER. My purpose in calling up the resolution is to of the House; which was read, as follows: ascertain whether any Senator desires to make remarks thereon. It !N THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, September 27,1888. so, I propose ·that debate shall proceed. Reso!vcd That the House concur in the report of the committee of conference Mr. GIBSON. I propose to make a few remarks on the resolution on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses' on the one hundred and tenth amendment of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 10540) making appropriations for whenever the Senator desires to have a vote on it. sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, Ur. CHANDLER. After the Senator has concluded his remarks I 1889, and for other purposes. desire that the Senate shall proceed with the consideration of the reso­ Mr. ALLISON submitted the following report: lution until a vote is reached. The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be read. f:.he amendment of the Sena.te numbered 110 to the bill (H. R.10540) "making The Secretary read the resolution submitted by Mr. CHANDLER J'tlly appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the fu>ca.l year ending June 30,1889,and for other purposes," having met, after full and free 19, 1888, as follows: conference have agreed to recommend and do recommend to their respective Resowed, That the Committee on Privileges and Elections be instructed to in­ Houses as follows: quire- That the House recede from its disagreement to the amendmentoftheSenate 1. Into the facts of the recent election in the "State of Louisiana held on numbered 110, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: In lieu of the 17th day of April, 1888, at which there were chosen State officers and also a. the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the following: Legislature, which has since elected tw<> UnitedStatesSenatorsh· and especially "For the building for the Library of Congress as herein provided for, and for to ascertain and report whether the 136,746 votes returned for t e candidate of each and every purpose connected therewith, including the co!!t of all profes­ the dominant party for governor were actually cast, in view of the fact tha.t at sional and other personal services that the Chief of Engineers of the Army may no previons election had the votes for such candidate of such party exceeded deem necessary for the work and shall specially order, 8500,000. This appro­ 88,794; and also why in the parish of Madison there were returned 3,530 votes priation and all appropriations hereafter made, and all sums available from for one party and none for the other; in East Feliciano. Parish, 2,276 for one appropriations heretofore made for this purpose, shall be expended under the 1 dixection and supervision of the Ohief of Engineers of the Army, who ·shall r:£~ ~:: gt~ %r~ fi: b~~~t~~: i>~r;h,r~~Mr~t::!s:~;t;s:t!"dro~1; Er!~{~~~t~~~~ ba.ve the control and management of all of said work and the employment of in S::tbine Parish, 1,441 for one party and only 2forthe other; in Tensas Parish, all persons connected therewith. And all contracts for the construction of snid 4,627 for one party and only 113 for the other; and why there were similar re­ building, or nny p~trt thereof, shall be made by the Chief of Engineers of the turns from other parishes; and also to ascertain and report whether or no~ .Army, and so much of the net entitled 'An act authorizing the construction of at said State election there was any violence, intimidation, or fraud which pr&c ,.

1888. CONG-RESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8981 vented a fair election, and particularly whether or not there were any false can­ the conduct of the Government; and it e.an not be disguised that the vasses or false returns made by the local election officers or included in the final can vuss of the votes. And in case said committee shall find that such illegalities ra:Ce problem, sometimes on account of politics, but more frequently as violence, intimidation, or fraud, false canvasses or false returns prevailed in without reference to politics, creates fric~on and difficulties greater connection with such election,, then said committee-shall further inquire- t .1an·in the States where no such revolution has been wrought, and 2. Whether any of th~ acts or omissions of the officials or other persons re­ sponsible for or connected with such illegalities were contrary to the Constitu­ where the same race problem does not exist under such embarras;;ing tion of the United States or theamendments thereof, or were violations of any conditions, or in such an intense form. .A state of society like this of the statutes of the United States, especially the provisions of chapter 7, Title must appeal to every thoughtful man's patience and sense of justice, I~XX, of the Revised Statutes, punishing crimes against the elective franchise n.nd civil rights of citizens, andJ}f so, whether any prosecutions have been or if not to his generous sympathy. ought to be commenced in the united States courts for such offenses. I do not propose at this time to argue the constitutional questions 3. Whether such illegalities are likely to be repeated in connection with the raised n~sarily by these resolutions. election to be held in said State on the 6th of November next. for Representa­ tives in Congress; and if so, whether there is occasion for the alteration by They involve the proposition that under the Constitution of the Congress of anv of the regulations prescribed by said State for holding elec- United States a single Senator may, on his own motion, in the absence tions for such Representatives in Congress. . 9f a petition or memorial from a single citizen of the State, when it is 4. And said committee shaU also inquire whether there were in connection with the aforesaid State election illegalities, frauds, false canvac;;ses, and false known to the Senate that there is but one government in the Htate, returns so extensive and systematic in their character as to show tha_t there ex­ and no insurrection, or tumult, or disorder, challenge the legality of isted on the part of the various State election officers a deliberate plan to ap­ the-government of the people of the State and put them on trial to p:uently carry said election without regard to the votes actually cast, and to choo»e a governor and other State officers and a State Legislature by such ille­ show whether their government'is republican in .form, a government gal, false, and fraudulent means, and if so, whether said Legislature was actually whose constitution and lp.ws show it to be such, and which is satistac­ and duly elected by the people of Louisiana, or was in fact substantially the tory to the whole people of the State and is in constitutional and harmo­ creation solely of the returning and canvassing officers, and whether said State or Louisia?ta. has a republican form of government, including a. Legislature en­ nious and satisfactory relations·to the Government of the United States. titled to choose United Statt-s Senators, and to provide methods for the appoint­ They involve the proposition that the Senators are not to be chosen by ment of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States. the Legislature of the States as constituted by the people of the States The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the in accordance with their constitution and laws, but that the Senate, resolution. in the absence of any protest or complaint from any member of the Mr. GIBSON. Mr. President, I am under the impression that the Legislature, or from any citizen, or of any contest or contestant against people of this country in all part-s of it, whether Republican or Demo­ the election of the Senators, may put on trial the Legisla,ture itself cratic in politics, and especially that the business men of the country, of the State and usurp its functions "to determine the election, returns, are \'leary of these unconstitutional ~nd revolutionary methods of in­ and qualifications of its own members." vestigation that tend only to disturb the relations of the States to the They involve the proposition that in advance of a Presidential elec­ Union, and to excite ill-will and distrust between the sections, and tion this Senate, on the motion of a single Senator, without even a ref­ the white people and their former negro slaves in the Southern country. erence to the appropriate committee, shall convert itself into a court They may serve tern porary partisan purposes; they can bear no good fruit. or political caucus and institute an inquiry to determine whether one of When I see the thin attendancein the Senate on thisoecasion, when the States in this Union, without its consent, shall be deprived of its it was proposed by the Senator trom New Hampshire to ask for a vote equal suffrage in the Senate and of its right to choose electors to par­ upon his resolution, I am persuaded that the thoughtful members of ticipate in the election of the Chie:(_Magistrate of the country. the Senate in the Hepublican party can not, and do not., sympathize with These and other proposi t.ions not I ess revolting the Senate is reqnested, the purposes of the resolutions. I can not but remark upon the lack by the Senator from New Hampshire, to indorse as resting upon sound of interest in these proceedings which twenty years ago engaged· the constitutional grounds. public attention, and constituted the instrumentality by which turmoil, I admit that the StatGS can not place a limit upon the powers of the and confusion, and tumult and disorders, and race collisions, were pro­ Federal Government; that they can not either nullify a law or secede moted in the South, and governments of misrule and confiscation were from the Union. and that there is no way by wlftdr-a- boundary may u pheld, and even justified, by many uninformed people of the North. be fixed to the Federal power except by appealing to the people against We have, I hope, passed beyond that epoch. the party that shall attempt usurpation; and by the action of the But what are these resolutions that arraign, if not the sovereign Government itself, its Congre-ss, its Executive, and its courts. State of Louisiana (for that term appears to have become offensive to And I submit to Senators that where this bas become the settled some persons in these m~dem times), certainly the "indestructible construction, that State interposition can not set limits to the central State,' ' for the States have been characterized as such by the Supreme authority, but that the Federal Government must, by its Congress, Court of the United States. They instruct a standing committee of President, and Supreme Court, aud the Constitution, determine the the Senate, the Committee on Privileges and Ele~tions, to ascertain measure to iU! own junsdiction, the safety of our institutional and mu­ whether there be a. republican form of go·vernment in -the State of nicipal liberties demands that the functions and powers of the Senate Louisiana; whether the members of the General Assembly were dnly should be employed rather to uphold the checks and balances of our elected under the constitution and laws of the State, and whether or complex system, and to cru·b usurpations, than to respond to the be­ not they were competent to elect Senators and to make laws; whether hests of party exigencies to overturn and tread upon ail precedents and the governor was doly elected; and whether, finally, the people of the every principle of constitutional law in the midst of a heated Presi- State should exercise their constitutional rights to choose Presiden1Jal dential campaign. . electors. and to have their votes counted in the electoral college. If these resolutions provided that this investigation should be con­ Resolutions so formidable in their scope, so comprehensive, and so ducted in the parishes where the Senator from New Hampshire al­ sweeping, and fatal to one of the commonwealths of this Union, should leges irreg!llarities and outrages b::tve been committed, finding his neither be introduced, nor considered, by the Senate, unless supported by foundation for such charges in anOnymous letters and newspaper clip­ a state of facts, certified to·the Senate by the most solemn and weighty pings, and if the character and standing of the persons making these evidence. Bnt under what circumstances have they been brought to charges could be known to the Senators, and if the persons accused our attention? There has not been from the State of Louisiana a single could have a fair hearing, I do not know that I should object seriously petition presented to this body from any citizen in thatState·informing to the adoption of the resolution. It is a fundamental principle that the Senate that he had a grievance of al).y kind in the wide world that every person accused should have the opportunity to know precisely . the Senate might redress. Tliere bas not been a complaint from any what the charges against. him may be, and to be confronted by the body of the people of that State to the Senate asking for any legislation witnesses, and that the cause should be submitted to a jury of the to protect them in their rights, political or civil. vicinage; and in no case, in any country enjoying constitutional lib­ We know, becanse the Senate of the United States must take cog­ erty, will an indictment be sustained on mere hearsay or anonymous nizance of public facts, that there is but one government in the Stat~ communications; it must be supported by-affidavits or ,sufficient evi­ of Louisiana, but one person claiming to be governor, but one body dence. But here is a proposition that indicts a whole State 1,200 miles claiming tO be the Legislature of the State, but one supreme court in away, puts the liberties and institutions of a million and a quarter of the State. We have before us the constitution and laws of the State, people on trial, in violation of every principle of right and justice. observing and maintaining the Constitution and laws of the United If a committee of the Senate were to visit my State they would not States, and all the rights and privileges of the citizens of the United find the people there living in a Utopian condition; they would not find States and of the State, and radically republican iu form. We know t hem, possibly, realizing the dreams of Jean Jacques Housseau, or living that State to-day is in satisfactory relations with the other States and in such a. commonwealth as the honest old counsellor Gonzalo, in the with the Government of the United States in all its branches, the Con­ Tempest, would establish; but they would find an industrious, sober­ gr~ss, the executive, and the judiciary. minded, kind-hearted, generous, and brave people, who in the midst of It is represented in the House of Representatives; it is represented great disasters and misfortunes have re-established their industries, here in the Senate. We know that law and order prevail in the State their schools, their churches, and the supremacy of law, giving pro~ · of Louisiana. We have no knowledge of any tumult, of any insur­ tection tQ life and property. They would find a people not on]y build­ rection, of any disorders in that State but in the individual instances ing up their material fortunes, but also building up institutions of that occur, more or less, in every community, of misdemeanors and learning, universities and colleges of a high order; they would find the crimes aggravated, perhaps, by the fact that the negroes, who were re­ relations between the races peaceable and kind; they might also ascer­ cently, and from time immemorial the slaves ofthewhitepeople, have tain that occasional outbreaks occur, owing to diversity of race and con­ been suddenly made free, and elevated without any education or train­ dition; but they would find a people like the people of other States of ing, except such as the institution of slavery afforded, to participate in this Union in the NQfth and in the South, ~xcept that the difficulties .

8982 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEJ\IBER .27,

and responsibilities of adapting our imtltntions to self-government are This. fundamental erro:r must be :futal to the whole argument of the greater than in States where sudden and violent changes in the social Senator. It is very natural that he should have made such a mistake, order have not taken place. • because being 1,500 miles away and having probably never put his Now, these resolutions propose no such inquiry, }}ut they propose foot within the State of Louisiana, and his acquaintance being limited that a committee of this Senate shall be constituted a political <.-ourt in in that State, possibly, to the class of pettifogging politicians, it is this city, and that summons shall be sent out to every person in the easily comprehended that he should have been led into just such mis­ State of Louisiana who may have a complaint or grievance against his takes by them. Here, then, we have the fact that there were over neighbor, or who, feeling that if he can convince this committee that 65,000 persons qualified by registration to vote who did not vote in the he has made sacrifices or suffered any wrong on account of his political recent election in Louis:ana; and the vote cast in the State at the re­ opinions, in the event of the election of Mr. Harrison he may be re­ cent election bears the like proportion to the total male popnlation of warded in proportion to the gravity of the offense that he should allege over twenty-one years of age as exists between that population and has been committed against him. This prosecution will be conducted the vote in the majority of the States. On the average only about ~0 by pettifogging politicians, some of whom are already in this city cut­ per cent. ofpersons entitled onder the laws to -v-ote nsually cast their ting and drying the programme in advance fer the working of the com­ votes, as will be seen from these :figures which I haTe taken at rando::n mittee. The offer of a visit to the Federal capital, with all expenses from Spoff~?rd~s Almanac: paid, the expectation of forming the personal acquafutance of leading PERCENTAG-E OF VOTE Dr 188! TO NLMBlm OF VOTERS IN 1880. Republican Senators, the hope that their services to the Republican party Per cent.. amid the dreadful condition of society in which they live, according to Connecticut... _ ...... ~············-···~·- - ······················ ·~·· ···· ·······-···· ····· .. ······~···· 71 lllinois...... ~--·········--·····--········-·······-·····-·······-···········-······-· ······ ·-···-···· 81 their own accounts, will be recognized, will induce many a man to sac­ Kentucl..-y ...... _ ...... _._, ...... _ ...... ~ ...... _ ...... 73 rifice truth and the friendship of his neighbors in order to merit reward 1\Ia.ryland...... ~ ...... m•·• ••··--·· ·· ···· · ·~··· .. ········ 80 at the hands of political leaders. Every neighborhood scandal, every Michigan ...... ·············-·· ...... 85 Missouri ...... •.. - ...... , ...... 81 old feud, every grievance, will be retailed to this committe~ and these New Hampshire ...... 80 stories in daily bulletins will be disseminated throughout the North NewYork ...... 83 to poison the minds of our fellow-countrymen against their countrymen New Jersey...... - ... 87 in the Southern States. Thus the seeds of sectional ill-will and ani­ In 1884 in Louisiana there were 86,610 persons registered who did not mosity will be sown and a harvest in due time may be gathered. Yon vote; in 1876 there were 46,658 registered voters who did not exercise will not hear by this mode of investigation the substantial people of the franchise. So that I submit there is nothing phenomenal or extra­ the State, for they are busy in their homes; they have their farms and ordinary iu the vote of the recent election in Louisiana. But the Senator private business to look after and their daily round of occupations. says it is not the total number of votes cast that is surprising, but i-t is At this season the farmers are gathering in their crops; they are the very large majority that Nicholls received over Warmoth. I freely taxed tomake both ends meet at the close of the year; but the unscru­ admit that the majority was large, and that perhaps it would excite pulous politicians in every neighborhood, who fatten on local disor­ suspicion in the minds of persons unacquainted with the state of popu­ ders that they breed, and are looked upon with contempt as Ishmael­ lar feeling in Louisiana, or with the conditions of the Democratic as ites, and who are without any stake in the community, will hasten well as the Republican party in that State. But these fluctuations of to regale this committee with their :fictions. It will be simply im­ majorities are not confined to the State of Louisiana, and I think that possihle to induce the best element of citizeus, who are,. as I said, the large majority obtained by Governor Nicholls could be more easily occupied at this time, to leave their homes and come before a commit­ and satisfactorily explained than the phenomenal majorities which tee in Washington which they believe is organized simply for politi­ have marked the elections in other States of Lhe Union. cal purposes. Hence an inquiry like this should have and can have Here, for instance, is the State of New York. In 1879 Cornell (Re­ no weight with the country; in fact, it will have no more weight than publican) received 418,567 votes. Robinson (Dem.{)crat) received 375,799 the anonymous and•slanderons letters which the Senator from New votes; Cornell's plurality was 42,777 votes; and in 1882, only three Hampshire lias read to the Senate, or the clippings from newspa.pern years afterward, Cleveland (DemGCrat) reversed this plurality of 42,777 whichassertonethingto-daytoattractatt-entionanddenyitto-morrow. for the Republican party and was elected by a plurality of192,854. But the Senator from New Hampshire did not rest, I am frank to Take, again, the State of Massachusetts. In 1879 Long (Republican) say, his demand for this investigation solely upon anonymous letters was elected by a plurnlity of 13,602 votes; the very next year his

and newspaper clippings. He refers to tables showing the vote at the plurality was 531 245, and the year after, General Dutler reversed this election on the 17th of April, 1888, in Louisiana, and he exhibits to plmality fol' the Republican eandidate and was himself elected gov­ the country the fact that in many of the parishes, a long list of which... ernor by a plurality of 13,949 votes. he publishes, the vote actually cast exceeds the number of persons Not only are thes:e oscillations of majorities in these two States greatet duly qualified by registration to vote. He cries out ''here is evidence. than in the State of Louisiana, but the fluctuations in the total vote, of fraud." He next shows that there was a total vote in the State of when yon consider the political conditiolli!, the steadfast opi.illons of Louisiana of 188,739, while at the election of 1884 there was a total the people, the thorough organization of the parties, and the facilities vote of only 132,296, and at the election of 1876 a vote of 160,964. Upon fur intercommunicati{)n, are indeed extraordinary, and more difficult to these statements the Senator insists that his claim for an investigation be accounted for than in a State like Louisian3, where there has been in chiefly rests, because he himself can not expect that the Senate should times past so much race antagonism, so much political commotion, and take any action upon mere anonymous communications and extracts where for years the working people of the State ere subjected to a which he has read to the Senate. He himself will admit that this government composed chiefly of their-former slaves, which every year would be trifling with the Senate, as well as with the people of one of consumed the entire surplus of their earnings and mortgaged, by a pub­ the Commonwealths of the Ameriean Union, and therefore it is that lie debt, one-fourth of the assessed valuation of their property, while lie bases his demand for investigation chiefly upon an official statement nearly every guaranty for life as well as property was destroyed. · 'of the vote and registration in the State of Louisiana. Now, let us look I am sorry to say, bQt tru-th compels me to do so, that at that time, at those statements. · while the white people in that State were subjected to such ignorant I will demonstrate that the Senator has been entirely mistaken in and degraded tyranny, despoiled of theirpropPrty and their rights, the his figures; that his premises rest tipon an error of his own; and that demagogues in the Republi~party of the North did not extend to therefore the very ground-work upon which he is,.asking for this in­ them any generous sympathy, nor was any committee sent to inquire quest falls from under his feet, and this resolution should fall with it. into their sufferings and wrongs, which had been proclaimed throughout The Senator furnishes us with the official vote on April17, 1888, but the whole land. I knowthat atthattimethooghtfuland conservative he does not exhibit the official statement of the registration taken in members of.the Republican party condemned those spoliating govern­ accordance with law ten days before the election. He refers us to the reg­ ments just as they condemn these resolutions, the effect of which and istration of 1884, and other speeches have been made here referring us the intention of which are to restore sach governments to power over to the registration of 1880. I append to these remarks an official state­ the. white people and property-owners in a Southern Sta.te. ment of the registration in 1888 and the official vote at the election in I was speaking of the oscillations of the popular vote in some of the 1888, and it will be seen that the statement of the Senator that the Northern States, and I observe tbatJn the State of Massachusetts there vote exceeded the r~gistration is a mistake. was a change of 68,715 votes- from 1879 to 1883, and of 56, 079 votes It does often happen in elections, where persons are careless about from 1882 to 1883, and of 94:445 votes from 1884 to 1885, whereas in qualifying to vote, that they are permitted to vote on affidavits· upon the State of Louisiana thel'e< was an increase in the total vote from 1879 being identified, and it is possible that this may have occurredinsome to 1888 of only 27,000, and a fluctlli'l.tion from 1884 to 1888 of 56,000. places, and: in fact, did occur in Concordia Parish. . Now, these tables It appears that there is nothi.Dg on the face of the papers more extraor­ show that there were registered previous to the election of 1888, 253,- dinary in the official statement of the recent election in Louishma than 557 peTSOns, of whom there were whites 125,407, and colored 128,150. in the official statements of election in other States. Doubtless Sen­ The total vote cast at that election on the 17th of April was 188",.739, ators from New York and Massachusetts and other States where these showing that there were 65,821 persons duly qualified to vote who did oseillations have. taken place could very readily explain the causes of not vote. There was no complaint against the registration. I use them; and I can in a · few words relate to the entire satisfaction of statements taken from the same sources as the Senator himself draws the Senate the reasons why su.nh a large. vote-was cast and such a large from, except that my statements, both of the registration and of the maJa_-.:i.ty obtained by Governor Nicholls. vote cast, relate to the election of April17, 1888, while his statement It is always an unpleasant task to discuss persons living in yom own of registration relates to the previous elections.• State, as was observed by the Senator from Massachussetts [Mr~ HoAB] ...

• 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RE.CORD-SENATE. 8983

the other day, when he said he did not think it exactly right for any and sympathy. He had been one of their heroes in the great civil one to ask him about the standing of paa:ticu1ar individuals and par- war, and had lost an arm at Winchester, and a leg, when side by side ticular news-papers in his own State~ 'that he-did. not think it:pr.oper with Stonewall Jackson, at Chancellorsville. He had always exbib­ to discuss- the. personaL character and the standing of its citizens. ited in his official relations great fairness in the execution of the law Tl1ere had been a wide breach in the Democratic as well as in the and the punishment of, crime, and much kindness towards the colored ,~ Republicarr party in Louisiana. The two wings of the Demot!ratic people. ·These considerations are sufficient to accolWJtforthe large v.ote pa:r.ty were led by Governor Wiltz, and afterwards by Governor.McBn- indicative of the confidence that the whole people of Louisiana bad in ery on the one hand, and by General Ogden and Governor Nicholls on this gentleman. . • · · the other; the two wings of the Republican party were led by Governor Now, in certain parishes enumerated by the Senator from New Hamp- Warmoth on the one side and Governor Kellogg. on the other. shire, parishes on the :Mississippi River, where the negroes outnum- In consequence of the differences between the leaders of the Repub- bered the whites, say as ten to one, it apptars that the election went lican party, and owing to the disrepute which the Republican admin- all one way. The conditions of society in those parishes present the istrations in the State had fastened upon the party, its organization race problem in a more intense and difficult form than in other parishes fell to pieces and it despa.ir.ed of carrying. any State election. Every of the State where the whites constitute a majol"ity, or where the two one felt that the contest to be decided at the recent election in the races are more. equally divided, and where the white people have always State was an issue between the two wings of the Democratic_ party. made their permanent homes. In the delta, or riparian parishes, many Thiswns-the opinion generally of Republicans as well as Democrats. of the white people formerly, as they do. now to some extent, resided - Tile canvass between the Democratic wings was ina~urated almost a in the highlands or in Mississippi with their families. The negroes yc 1r in advance of the election. There never was in the State of were concentrated.in great numbers on vast cotton plantations where Louisiana such a warm, protracted campaign, and, if I may be par- there were but few white. people. Consequently they did not come iu doned for saying it, such a forcible appeal to the people of the State. contact. with the white mce in any large degree. It was rural and not From the middle of August until the middle of January, when the domestic slavery; hence, the negroes in those parishes we're extremely State nominating convention was assembled, the leading men of the ignorant and wholly unfit fru: self-government or the government of State were engaged daily in making speeches, going from parish to parish, others, and even under the reconstruction regime they were brought to and the newspapers of the State wel'e all enlisted on the one side or the rely upon theirwhite leaders in.. the Republican party and voted mainly other. Indeed, having participated myself in the canvass and being in accordance with the wishes of those leadel's. When that party was well acquainted with thfupeople of the State, I think I am safe in say- overt.hrown, some of its leaders became Democrats. Nearly all the ing that all there was of political vitality, of political interest in my land-holding Republicans,-and specially the settlers in those parishes State was divided between those two wings of the Democratic party. who had been officers in the Federal Army, became Democrats, or voted The wing represented by Governor Nicholls gaine­ gentlemen associated with. that wing, and when that great convention licans from those parishes. that they could not a.fthrd to see their. prop­ dispersed the Democrats who had espoused the ca-use of McEnery be.- erty pass under a government controlled. by negroes; in other words, came for the most part the eager champions-of Governor Nicholls'selec- they united with the Democr.ats in using every :resource and every in­ tion.. Tha Nicholls division of the party has been assailed by the :fluence against the establishment of local government under the control Senator from New Hampshire because it acted with generosity towards of the non-proiJe iiy holding and ignorant classes. the defeated McEnery wing of the party. This is· unjust, and I sub- Such of the negroes as have become educated have also, I. under­ mi~ to Senators from. the North, if it has not happened to them that stand, joined the Republican and Dema.cratic. leaders. in. this policy, when one-wing of their party was defeated they. have sought and geil- who feel that they can not live· under a negro government; and I ex­ erally succeeded, when the, conv6ntion assembled, in composing all pect this would be the feeling of the- Senator :from New Hampshire, differences by recognizing the factions or divided elements-in their own himsel~ if he lived in. one of those parishes where the- negroes, owing pa:r.ty; they not only do·this in their. State-conventions, but in. national to the circumstances I ha:.v-e related, a.re so entirely ignm:ant and unfit conventions. Thi& was notably the- case. wheiL Garfield and Arthur to le..vy taxes,. to enforce Iaw and order, or perform otlier govern· wru::e nominated. mental functions; and yet in· those pru;ishes there are some intelligent Returning to the State election-no one supposed that the. Repub- negroes- elected justices of the peace and to other parochial offices. lican party-would put a candidate in the:fi.eld, astherewasnoorganiza- In some cases they have been elected to the State_ Legislature. I tion, and no· expectation that they would do, otherwise than erganize found in the par-ish of Madison the very general office.x: who was ap­ for the national contest in.1888. But to the surtJrise of nearly every pointed by General CanlJy to· receive the surrende:t of the Confederate one a convention was called and thenomination-offered to Governor War- army to which I had been a-ttached. He was present at thfl De.mo­ mo_tli. He hesitated to accept it; but did S(}at the last moment, believ- cratic meeting_which I had the honor to ndtiress in that parish, :mrl I ing, I presume, that the:differences ~ between theMcEneryandNicholls understood that he and all the ex-Union. officers there weresuiJporting elements. of. the Democratic party might he made- aYailable. He con- the State. ticket and the ticket for the Legislature w liich was elected, and sented reluctantly to become a candidate; and in a few short weeks be- such, I believe,. was the case in the parishes. above and bel.o.w Uarlison foxe the election made:-a.raJ!id canvass of the State. I belie-ve he was on the Mississippi River. from the Arkansas line. to the mouth of Red

r.ecei ved everywhere with consideration, because there were many people Ri:ver. I. myself. have old friends in those p.arishes1. who when the· Re­ in the State who had come to believe that some of the most outrageous pu-blican party, was in power found itmec.essary to beaome Rep~biicaus in acts committed d~g the-Warmoth. administration were carried over order. to protect theix propercy. Some o:f them had. inhe:rited large es­ hisvetoesandagainsthisin:fluence~ Duringhiscanvasshedeclaredthat tates, and they. were gentlemen who would atforn.any-commnnity: by ifelected he would.endeavor t.oseeto-itthat the intelligent and property- their. intelligence and their chamcter_ They: became, I repeat, Repub­ holding classes shoul~control the State, that he would not raise the race licans-in ordea: to save their propertyt but they did not succeed in pre­ issue, and would continue in office the officials. whom Governor McEnery venting ruinous and confiscating taxation_ I. heard a leading Repub­ had appointed. He also did not hesitate to declare that hewasandhad lican say once that wliensome one asked what the debt of' the. parish been opposed to Federal intervention in affairs of the State, that he dis- in which he resided was, he replied tliat it depend'ed entirely upon the approved of and discountenanced Governor Kellogg's methods-and pol- necessities of two or three white Republicans in tfut parish, who, when­ icy, that Kellogg never was elected Senator of the United States; that he ever they were luu:d pressed,. issued enough scrip to satll}fy thei£ wants. was a ':poll tical phenomenon,'' a man wJwhadheld hisseatin theBenate These parishes are now out of debt; they have expendea thousands and without having been elected by· any sort of Legislature. Governor thousands- of dollars in building leYees on.. the Mississi!Jpi ·River; some Wa.rmoth declared that·he had had a breach with.P1'e8ident Grant dur- o£ them have a surplns in their tTeasurles.; the white people and colored ing his administration and that he had thrown up hi& hat. with. joy, people are working together satisfactorily:; property is improving in like all the citizens of the State, when Kellogg's administration was value, and. schools are rapidly ·increasing in number. I undei"Stand overthrown on the 14th. of September, 1874, and that he himself had and. I believe, for I desire to speak wilih. perfect frankness to the Sen­ canvassed the State fo:rthe election of Governor JohnMcEn~ry. ate, that-there are certain political tricksters in those parishes who Now, these sentiments were addressed to the white people, who were have sought, not so much to promote. the: interesta o..t: the Republican all thoroughly aroused by the long canYass of which I have spoken. party, as to proiDDte their own. selfish interest at the expense. oi the ' Every one will admit that they did not tend to awaken the hopes of community, and that they have, many of them, rendered themselves the old Republican leadeJ:s, but to alienate. Governor Kellogg and his Iodious both to the Republicans and Democrats, and that in some in friends, wlio constitu.ted, perhaps, the majority of the active element stances these evil-doers. have been wai:ned to. desist from their bad in the Repuhli~

of the good order and the security of the lives and propertyof the sub­ the city of New Orleans, where there was not the slightest dispute about stantial citizens, Hepublicans and Democrats alike, and to destroy the fairness of the election in April last, there were polled 38,966 votes, every ednc..'ttional and religious interest and institution, as well as the and out of that number Governor Nicholls received 27,824 and Governor peace of society, in order that they may appear -in some quarters as Warmoth 11,142-Nicholls's majority being 16,G82. A.t the previous zealous Republicans, or as martyrs for,principle. In a few instances election, in 1884, there were over 2•l,OOOvotes polled, and in 187H, 19,000. I understand that such men have been requested to leave the com- If •any one will take the white parishes of the ~tate, that is, the munity. , parishes in which the white voters exceed the colored voters, including Mr. CHANDLER. 11-Iay I ask the Senator to what case he refers? tbe city of New Orleans, and then the parishes which are represented Mr. GIBSON. I am not referring to any particular case. I am in the General Assembly by Republicans, they will find they consti­ speaking generally, and not of a particular case. tute a majority of the whole Legislature. In many of the parishes Mr. CHANDLER. I understood the Senator to refer to some par­ the Republicans indorsed the Democr~tic ticket fo1' the Legislature, ticular man. What is his name? and the senators and representatives from those parishes may be added Mr. GIBSON. I do not know whattheman'sname is. I am speak­ to those I have referred to, and it will be 1ound that they in the ag­ ing now of the general condition in regard to these parishes on the nver. gregate constitute a large majority of the members of the General As-. l\1r. CHANDLER. There were numerous cases of this kind where sembly who participated in the election of the United States Senators. men were notified to le..'l.Ve? Moreover, in several instances, Republican contt>stants were admitted Mr. GIBSON. I do not know that there were numerous cases. to their seats in the house of repre.-- entatives, over which a gentle­ ' :Mr. CHANDLER. Has the Senator any in mind? man presides who has become a resident of that State since the close Mr. GIBSON. I have in mind Mr. Holmes, an old Confederate sol­ of the war, and is a Northern man by birth. · (lier and a gentleman for whom I have always entertained high regard, Now~ under these circumstances, the Senator from New Hampshire and whose hospitality I have enjoyed; but I do not think he went to comes forward with his series of resolutions that no constitutional law­ any excess. 1 had the parishes ot Tensas and East Carroll in my mind; yer in this Senate can approve, but which he hopes may be adopt-ed as I had the parishes enumerated in the Senator's resolutions in my mind. part of the political programme. He would have one of tbe commit­ Bu~ this condition of things is confined to a 1ew parishes of the State tees of this ~enate constituted a sort of political mint in which shall be of Louisiana. l believe that wherever and whenever such conditions assayed and coined every calumny, every scandal, and, as I said bel ore, prevail men of property and intelligence will combine together to ex­ every neighborhood feud, every grievance that any man . imagines he ert all their influence, without respect of party, to prevent the inter­ bas suftered, any grievance that any man may be persuaded hP. has suf­ ests of the community from falling under the control of the ignorant fered by pettifogging politicians who will be brought here at the ex­ and those wholly unfit for exercising the powers of government, and pense of the Government. It is proposed that this currency shall find who become the willing dupes of political adventurers or designing circulation among the good and philanthropic people of theNorth, who, communists. We have an example of this state of things on the Pa­ when the excitementofthe campaign shall have passed away and they cific coast, where the Chinese, claiming the oldest civilization in the have made inquiries into the true facts for themselves, shall :find it to world and representing a race endowed with extraordinary skill and be base and fraudulent coinage. . power, ha!e bee·n excluded from our P!l?ifi~ States, becaus~ they vere Sir, I would rather resign my seat in this Senate tuan to become the not only d1ffetent from those commumt1es m race, but therr standard medium by which such vile accusations are to be conveyed to the of momls was also different, and because they were utterly ignorant of Senate, the scavenger by whom all the ill-will of the community is to our institutions, and were content, in order to accumulate a compe­ be gathered up and presented to the Senate, or one of its committees. tency, to work for wages much lower than our own people could live "I bad ruther be a dog and bay the moon, than such a Roman." ,I and prosper on. They were in fact as much alien to the prevailing sen­ have here newspaper slips from leading newspapers in Rhode Island, timents and moral qualities of the population of the Pacific coast as and I saw a few days ago a letter from a distinguished citizen of that if their only training 9ad been found in the institution of slavery it· State, Mr. GeorgeS. Waring, declaring that the recent election in Rhode self~ The ruthless massacres of the Chinese in Wyoming Territory and Island was carried by corrupt use of money, and that votes were sold Colorado exhibit a phase of race-conflicts and indicate the limitations as if in the public market. I have these papers and others at the serv­ upon the Federal power to afford adequate remedy, as held by 1\Ir. ice of the gentleman from New Hampshire if he desireR to extend his EvARTS himself when Secretary of State. No sooner bad these condi­ inquiry into the legali~ or fairness of the recent election in the State tions presented themselves, this menace to free institutions been offered, of Hhodeisland. They makeoutquiteastrongcase-stronger, Ithink, this array of ignorance appeared, than Senators from that coast raised than the Senator has made out with his newRpaper extracts and anony­ a cry which_has resounded throughout the Union," and which has been mous letters against the people and government of Louisiana. Will responded to with alacrity by Senators from all parts of our common he accept them 'f country. They have, in effect1 invoked the Senate to re-enact t.he Dred I am glad to know that there are. Senatorg in this body who have Scott decision, and to take the ground with respect to the Chinese race adopted a different policy from that marked out by the Senator from upon which that famous decision.rested in respect to the colored people New Hampshire; there are Senators here oo the Republican side who in this country. They who hold with the Declaration of Independence, by a broad, liberal, I will say magnanimous policy, have won a place that all men are created free and equal, ~nd themselves under an im­ in the hearts of the people I represent here to-day, and who e commis­ perious necessity, political and social, of their people to adapt their si.on I hold by a unanimous vote, both black and white, of the general doctrine to tbe exclusion oftheChinese race. Now, when these wants assembly of that State; there are Sen~tors here who, instead of offer­ and conditions are brought home to Senators from States on tbe Pacific ing pains and chains and penalties and insults, holding up the people coast, they ou~ht to appreciate and I believe they do ~ppreciate the of a Southern commonwealth to the scorn of the public, have come embarrassing and almost insurmountable difficulties that the Southern forward with balm forth~ wounds of the great civil struggle and who people have to contend against when dealing with the race problem have devised beneficent measu~es of legislation. I netd not go beyond in their midst, when dealing with the negro born in slavery, and who the limits of the State of New Hampshire to find such a man, and in by reason of his historical condition remains for the most part in sub­ years to come, though the Blair bill may be defeated, there will he ordination, a result which nearly always follows when an inferior is found in many a hamlet in my Sta.te a warm welcome fo:r the name of placed in juxtaposition with a superior race ~n the same territory. the statesman who had the sagacity and courage to bring forward that These conditions which exist in the South, as they prevailed through­ wise legislation intended to educate and enlighten the people of our out a portion of the Union in earlier times, were aggravated in the south­ country. ern section by the fact that they came upon the white people there, not But the junior Senator from New Hampshire prefers to follow a dif­ as they did upon the white people in the Northern States by a gradual ferent course. Without referring his resolutions to the consideration process of e~ancipation and a steady readjustment of relations, but of the committee, but picking up· here and there a scandal of the com­ they came upon the Southern people at the end of the most destructive munity from anonymous letters and newspaper clippings, often erro­ war in respect of men and property that any civilized people ever en­ neous, he hopes to constitute a political machine to operate during the countered. The settlement of the .question in the Southern States ha.S Presidential campaign, to catch, like the ear of Dionysius the Tyrant, unfortunately been complicated with the contests of the two great po­ the slightest whispers of political parasites or schemers, and proceed litical parties of the country, but I tliink every one who surveys with on such testimony to convict his countrymen, living in a distant State, a calm eye society in the South will admit that, under the circum­ of crimes and misdemeanors. Thus he would attempt to brand with. stances, the pr~ervation of peace, the recognition of ~ivil and polit1cal the "Scarlet Letter" one of the fairest and noblest Commonwealths in liberty, the guaranties for life and property, the advancement inednca­ this Union. tionand material resources have been wonderful, if not miraculous. I Sir, if this method of procedure can find justification in the minds of append some data showing the progress in the South generally, and the constitutional lawyers in this Senate, or can bring ~ratification to in Louisiana in particular. . the heart of any Senator on this floor, or if t-he author of these resolu­ I repeat that the state of things which I have described was con­ tions feels that they will gratify his constituents, or that they may be fined mainly to certain riparian parishes that were enumerated by the necessary to the success of his political party, he is welcome to such Senator from New Hampshire, but in other parishes, where the Repub­ honor as they may bring bim. If such charges, l)ased on such flimsy lican party was organized and where the same conditions did not pre· grounds, were made, and if the indictment were laid against tbedeceucy vail as in the riparian parishes alluded to, the vote ruay not appear any and civilizat.ion and good character of my fellow-countrymen in New less remarkable to the Senator from New Hampshire. For instance, in Hampshire, and had no other found~:ttion than the Senator from New f . 1888.- CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- SENA'rE. 8985

• Hampshire himself offers to the Senate, I should feel impell_ed hy every quoted from a single paper outside of the State of Louisiana to main­ sen e ot public duty and public honor, as a Senator and a gentleman, tain his allegations. to iuterpose my arm and my voice in their det(m e; I should feel that Mr. CHANDLER. I expressly excepted, if the Senator will allow I ought to lift my voice, as I do now, a~ainst such revolutionary, vio- me, the metropolitan journals. He will find the statement in my lent, heartless, reckless, and unscrupulous charges as have been laid speech which he says he did me the honor to read. against the generous, indn trious. and enlightened people from whom Mr. GIBSON. The first proposition upon which the Senator pro- I hold a commission on tbis floor. · ceeds to arraign the State of Louisiana was based upon the registration Mr. President, I do not desire to prolong this debate, but I was struck, and the vote in that State. He finds by his own admission that that as the Senator from New Hampshire proceeded, with the inconsistency falls from under his feet. The third proposition rests entirely upon in which he indulged. In the first place, he appealt·d to the record, to the newspaper clippings. the official table promulgated by the secretary of state of Louisiana to The Senator says also that the negroes are being disarmed in the sh-ow that the vote of that State exceeded the registration of the State. State of Louisiana. His information on the subject is as unreliable as Mr. CHANDLER. If the Senator will allow me, I wish to say that it was with respect to the registration and the vote cast in the State. I have never done that. When I go to my old home in the parish of Terre Bonne, where the Mr. GIB~ON. I found in looking over the former speech of the colored people still live, occupying their homes and cultiv:1ting their Senator from New Hampshire on yesterday that he furni bed a table farms. without even paying rent to me or any taxes, I send over to the'll which has gone before the country showing that the vote in certain and borrow guns when I desire to go bunting. I have no gun in my own parishes of the State of Louisiana exceeded the qualified voters in the bouse. I know something of the people of Louisiana. I have traveled pa1·ish. through nearly every parish in it. I believe I know as many of my Mr. CHANDLER. Now the Senator makes the statement n.cco- tellow-citizens personally as any living man, and I can venture to state rately. from my personal knowledge that the idea that the white people are Mr. GIBSON. In order to do that-he takes the election of 1888 and disarming the colored people is simply absurd. The Senator would be the registration of1884. laughed a;t if he would go in :my neighborhood in the State and make Ur. CHANDLER. May I ask the Senatorrighttherewhetherthere -such a declaration. has been any registration since 1884? The Senator alludes to some occurrence in which he said my brother Mr. GIBSON. Certainly. was engaged in TerreBonne Parish. Whatdoesthatreston? Itrests Mr. CHANDLER. I should be obliged to the Senator if he would upon the irresponsible declaration of some private letters written to the put it in the RECORD. Senator by a single man in the parish, of whom I never heard, and I Mr. GIBSON. I will furnish the table. doubt if the man ever lived there. The parish in which I reside went · Mr. CHANDLER. I should be obliged to the Senator if he would, for the Republican party in the last election and Republican members because I have been unable to find any registration since 1884. were elected to the Legislature, and my impression is they voted lor me; Mr. GIBSON. What a commentary is that upon the position the certainly they did not vote against me for the Senate. Senator from New Hampshire assumes! He would arraign the people So the Senator's arraignment stands upon inadequate premises. He of Louisiana when he himself declares that he is in pertect ignorance has been carried away by his heal tor his party. He bas been carried of the fact that there is required by law, ten days in advance of every away by his desire that certain political workers who claim citizenship general election in that State, a registration of the citizens in the State in Louisiana :shall visit Washington and retail to him and to the politi.­ in order that they may be qualified to vote. That is a public fact cal managers of the Republican party stirring tales of their grievances which no one would overlook who desired to investigate and to ascer- and their wrongs-grieYances and wrongs that exist in every large and tain how elections are conducted in the State of Loui~Siana . When, in 1 populous community; grievances and wrongs that ought to be pun­ ignorance ot this fact, he displays to the people of the country the reg- ished in my State, and many of which are nC't punished in my State; istration of 1884 coupled with the vote of 1888, showing thereby that grievances and wrongs that exist perhaps in the Senator's own State the vote exceeded the registration, that Commonwealth stands here ac- and in the State of every Senator who has a seat on this floor. We can cused and convicted of the very fraud whicll he alleges against her. not remedy all wrongs' by legislation. We can not hope to stretch out Yet the frail and unce1tain ·groundwork of the prirna facie case upon our arms from the Senate Chamber to give quiet and peace and protec­ which this allegation rests is dissipated and disappears the very moment tion to every individ aal in this country. We must hope that the de­ the official facts are presented to the Senate. sire of self-government, of amfndment on the part of the people them- Not only that, but I show that in a period of twelve years there was selves where these wrongs occur, will lead them to seek redress of them, a fluctuation in the total vote of only 27,000 in the State uf Louisiana because the wrong a~ainst one man to-day may become a wrong against during the last election, whereas in the State of Massachusetts there another man to-morrow. · was within one year a fluctuation in the total vote of95,ooo: I submit Mr. EDMUNDS. Would it disturb the Senator or interrupt him if the circumstances which led to the election of General Butler in :Mas- I should a k a question? sachusetts to the governorship of that State, the influences that were The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MANDERSON in the chair). Does behind him, the pecuHar conditions of society in the State of Massa- tile Senator from Louisiana yield to the Senator from Vermont? chusetts, a State as much honored by myself and by the people ofthis Mr. GIBSON. Certainly. country as any one in it, perhaps, except the State of Virginia, as the :Mr. EDMUNDS. I should like to ask my friend from Lou,isian~ leading State of the Revolution, and in all the great occurrences which (for I have tried to understand the point of the debate on both sides, have taken p1ace upon lihe arena of American politics in this country- although I have not been in the Senate Chamber all the time) what is a State with fixed institutions, with fixed opinions, whose society bas the objection to an inquiry by the Senate of the United States to as­ never been subverted or revolutionized by force and war. certain what the truth is? If there be any considerable number of But when th~ Senator is confronted by these fluctuations of the votes people in the State of Louisiana or Vermont who are deprived of rights in New York and in Massachusetts, anti when the offer is made to him which enter into the composition of the Government of the United to take up these newspaper clippings concerning the election in the States and they appeal for redress, what is the ground and reason why State of Hbode Island, he declines the offer. However, he occupies him- the uenate should not inquire? self as a Senator on this floor by clipping from day to day the newspa- I remember, if my friend will permit me for a moment, that in 1879 per accounts of one occurrence after another in the State of Louisiana. or 1880, when a political party of which I am not usually a member Yet at the outset he declares that the press was muzzled in the State was in the majority here and had sway, an inquiry was instituted by of Louisiana, and that therefore it was impossible from t he newspapers tllat majority, and without any opposition on this side, into wrongs · of that State to ascertain what the condition of society was in it. So concerning the suffrage, etc., I think in Rhode Island and Massachu­ the propositions upon which his prima jr~ ci e case rests-first, the official setts, and there was one allegation touching some wrongs in one county returns oftbe registration and the election; and secondly, the flnctua- in the State of Vermont. As I remember, all the Senators on thisside tiou of the vote in the State of Louisiana; and thirdly, the newspaper said, "By all means; make every inquiry; let us develop the truth clippings, which he declares himself are untrustworthy, as we all know and see how far the right of rights," as platforms have justly calJed it, they are-have no foundation in fact. '' has been evaded; and then we can considerwhetherwithin ourcom- Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President-- petence and scope there is any redress." I should like to understand The PRESIDING OFFICER fMr. BERRY in the chair). Does the the precise reason why it is not thought fit that we should find out Senator from Louisiana yield to the Senator from New Hampshire? what the trnth really is. Mr. GIBSON. Certainly. Mr. GIBSON. If the Senator from Vermont had done me the honor . Mr. CHANDLER. If the Senator will allow me, I will state that to listen to my previous remarks be would ha>e ascertained my objec- 1 have made no such declaration. I said that accounts of these_tr ans- tions to this particular resolution and this particular mode of redress actions rarely 1ound their way into the local papers, and that in order and inquiry. There has been no memorial here fFom any man in the to a.C~certain them we must glean them either from the Northern press State of Louisiana stating that he had suffered any grievance. There or the metropolitan press. I did not make the statement-- bas been no complaint addressed to the Senate of the United States. Mr. GIBSON. The Senator declared in his speech which I had the There is no tumult, no '·buck-shot war," no insurrection. It is one honor of reading yesterday or the day before that the faJse countings government, and all is quiet and peaceable. There are no complaints and killing of voters are seldom found recorded in Democratic news- from disappointed candidates, no memoclals from the citizens; but a papers, and never in local newspapers of Louisiana; and yet he has not Senator f1·om a distant State, 1,500 miles away, rises in the Senate and 8986 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTE]IBER 27'

offer the registration and the vote of the State, which he now confesses quiry, to be conducted, perhaps, against their own sense of propriety he did in error, and reads anonymous letters-- and judgment? Ur. CHANDLER. 1 dislike to interrupt the Senator, but I have Mr. EDMUNDS. May I ask my honorable friend from Louisiana. made no such confession of an error, 1\Ir. President. what the Presidential election has to do with it? I confess I do not 1\Ir. GIBSON. The record will show and does show his own con­ understand. . fession of his iWJorance of the registration. He reads anonjmous let­ :Mr. GIBSON. I fear that the Senator is so fertile in questions that ters to the President of the Senate, he re..'1ds newspaper slips. On these I shall exhaust the patience of the Senate if I attempt to answer them absurd evidences he alleges that there is a conspiracy in the State one after the other. If the Senator himself can not perceive some re­ against self-govemment, and he asks that one of the standing commit­ lation between this investigation and the Presidential election, when tees of the Senate, on this inadequate showing,. shall be instructed to the resolution itself declares that the inquiry is to be made in order to make an inquiry to ascertain whether there be a republican form of ascertain in advance whether the people of Louisiana ought to be per­ government in the State of Loui iana; whether there be a Legislature; mitted to vote for Presidential electors, I think I may conclude that whether there be a governor; whether there be a supreme court, and the Senator is asking his questions without having deigned even to read whether there be a people in the enjoyment of self-government in that the resolution itself. One less experienced in public affairs than the State. He is not willing to refer the resolutions and chru:ges and tes­ Senator from Vermont would find, if he looked into the history of this timony to the Committee on Privileges and Elections for their consid­ body, that these investi~ations, these inquiries, these inquisitions, al­ eration and report, but wishes to instruct the committee, whether they ways accompany a Presidential election. No such resolutions are approve of the investigation or not, to proceed with it. offered, no such inquiries are instituted by enterprising political Sena­ I submit to the veteran Senator from Vermont whether, on such a tors except in view of elections for the Presidency in which the fortunes showing and in the midst of a Presidential election, this committee of their party are concerned; and this shall be my brief answer to the should be instructed now to proceed with such an examination and in- Senator from Vermont.

APPEXI>IX. Blalemen t of registe1·ed ·voters of the State of Louisiana fo1· the year 1888.

While White Colored Colored Total Voters of Voters of voters votm-s voters voters Parishes. regis- native foreign White Colored who who who who teredvot- birth. birth. V?ters. voters. wri.te make write make ers. their their their their names. murks. D:a.Ines. marks. -----~------1------Acadia...... ~······· ...... 2,308 1., 926 382 2,006 302 851 1,155 f!T 215 Ascension ...... -·-·················· ...... 5,312 5,023 289 1,864 3,448 1,436 428. 643 2,805 .A..ssumption ...... 5,643 5,517 12o 2,500 3,143 1 668 832 1,086 2,057 Avoyelles ...... 4,946 4,836 no 2,300 2,646 1:579 721 501: 2,14.5 Bienville ...... ~ .... . 2,713 2,699 14 1, 731 !182 1,671 60 58 92~ 76 189 233 Fourteenth ward...... 774 619 155 524 250 480 « 98 152 Fifteenth ward~ ...... ···-·····...... 2 625 2,182 443 I, 463 1, 162 1, 344 119 321 &t t Sixteenth ward...... 's'l/7 70 119 3Z1 500 308 19 180 820 Seventeenth ward...... 779 633 146 486 293 436 50 86 201 Ouachita ...... ·-········...... 3, 914 3, 8-!2. 72 I 041 2, 870 938 106 78l 2, Q8V ~~~¥!()~~~~~::.::::::.:.:::::::::::::::::::::::.~:::::::::::::~.:·::::.:·.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~:~ ;:~i ~ t~~ ~:i~ r,i~ ~ ~g ~~~ Rapides...... 7, 309 5, 196 2,113 4, 893 2, 4.16 4, 24.0 653 236 2,180 RedRiver...... 1,938 1,920 18 690 1,248 080 llO 186 1, 062 Richland...... ~ .. ···~··· ...... :...... 1,793 1,769 24 644 1,149 5ll 73 189 960 Sabine ...... - .. -...... 1, 972 1, 952 20 1, 538 434 1,173- 365 40 394 St. Bernard...... 1,829 1 656 173 b'71. 958 462 409 398 560 St. Charles...... 2, 096 2; 078 18 242 1, 854 199- 43 408 1, 446 St. Helena ...... ~ ...... - ...... -...... 1,509 1,491 18 761 748 684 77 157 59t St. James...... 5 235 4, 450 785 1 835 3~ 400 1, 541 294 37·1 3., 026 St. John the Baptist...... 2:962 2, 9-!7 15 1:011 1, 9\>J. 8S! 127 145 1, 806 St. Landry ...... -...... 10,947 10,835~ 112 5,354 5,593 3,745 1,609 1,677 3, 916 Sl.l\lartin*...... 3, 674 3, 63 44 },476 2,198 ...... ~ ...... -~··· ..--·· ..•...... St. Mary ...... _...... ,...... 7,676 7, 413 263 2, 22.7 5, 449 1, 938 2 9 605 4, 754 St. Tammany ...... _...... 1, 859 1, 741 liS 1.158 701 !:58 200 254 447 Tangipahoa...... 2, 842 2, 737 105 1; 727 1,115 1.465 262 243 872 Tensns ••..•...... •- ...... 5,163 5,091 72 728 4,435 721 7 723 3,712 1 2 ~~i~~ ~.~.~~~:::::::.~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~::::::~::::~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::·.:::: ~: g~~ g: ~~ ~ i' ~ i; ~ 1, = ' ~ ~~ ' ~~ Ve1·million...... 2,490 2, 4.17 73 1:931 559 820 1,111 107 452 Vernon ...... 952 8.76 76 829 123 640 189 53 70 *The original registration book having been destroyed by fire, the number of whftes and colored who write their names and make their mark can not be given. .

• 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8987

Statement oft·egiste~·ed. voters of the State of Louisianafo1· the yem·1888-Continued.

Total j I I regis- IVote~-sof Vote~sof White Colored ~~~~:who !~~~ who ~~f~:Sd who ~~~::Sdwho Parishes. tered vot- ~~;~~e fb~e;f_n voters. 1 voters. write make wri~e ~e ers. · Jr I their their thetr the1r names. marks. names. marks.

------~------Washington ... - ...... - ...... , ...... _..... _ _. __...... 1, :!15 1, 213 2 892 023 619 273 60 2G3 \ Vebster...... 2,463 2,4.23 40 1, 146 1,317 1,096 50 68 1,249 \Vest Baton Rouge...... 2,377 I 2,270 107 , 547 1,830 386 161 341 1,589 1 1 2 ~~f~t~.~~:~~~~~~::·::::::::::::::::::::·:::·:·:·::':':': ':':':':':':'::':':':':~·:··~::·:·:·:::·:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: f:E 1 rJ~ ~ 1, ~ I z,m ill Jg : 'H~ 'l'otal ...... : ...... - ...... 233,557 1 ~1~ ~ ~ 128,1GO w~W5 1 ~ 1 -23.ffio ~

STATE OF LOUISIANA, Office of Becrelary ofBtale . I, the undersigned, do hereby certify the abo>e to be an accurate report of the whole number or registered voters in the State of Louisiann., the number of native and foreign born, and the number of white and colored vqters, respectively, who write thcit· names and the numl>ct· who make their marks who have registered up to April 7, .A.. D. 1888, made in compliance with section 43 of net No. 123 of the General Assembly of the State of Lou.isiann., approved .April10, 1880. \Vitness my signature n.nd the seal of the State of Louisiana, at the city of Baton Rouge, this lOth day of 1\Iay, A. D. 1888. [sEALl OSCAR ARROYO, Secretary of Slate.

Oqicilrl vote for gcvemo1' and: lieuten.ant-go1:ernm· of Ute State of Louisiana, cast .on Official 1:0te for gorernm· mu! !ieu.tenant-yovernm· of the Stale (>j Louisiana, cast on the 17th day of April, 1888. the 17th day of Ap1·i£, 1888-Continued. .. For lieutenant- l•'or gcr;crnor. For lienteno.n.t­ For governor. go>ernor. governor.

.!ri ~ 0 0 ~ 0~ I ~0 .~ ~ s· .,j ~ ... 0 c! Parishes. -~ '"'Q) Parishes. z ~ ~ . I g 6 · ~ ~ !Q) E-i 0 E-i ""': ~ rn 0 ~ ~ ·a >. · r:ll Q) ·s . ~ 1 ~ ~ Q) ... a:~ 1=:'"' r.j .... C!1 sa: s:t ~ ~ ~ -<. ~ I 5 I ~ ~

Acadia...... 1,688 149 1, 704 142. Terre Bonne...... :687 :033 :690 -- 2, 03<1 Ascension ...... -~ ...... 2,715 !,334 2,715 1,334 Union...... 2,369 1 91 3,1)77 89 Assumption ...... 1.,902 2,159 1.,834 2,228 Vermillion ...... ~...... 1,687 619 1,678 619 Avoyelles ...... 2425 1,310 2,429 1.,309 Vernon...... 947 ...... 942 ...... Bienville ...... 1:923 37 1,954 35 Washington.-.. -...... 763 271. 761 2'11 Bo sier ...... 4,213 95 4,20& 91 \Vebsrer.... - ...... -...... ~506 325 1,437 314 Caddo...... 4,802 3:M. 4,816 310 West Baton Rouge ...... ~...... 1, 712 · 454 1, 712 4.54 Caleasieu ...... 2, 294. 708 2,333 wr \Vest Carroll...... - ...... ~ 420- 81 j 426 74 Oa.ldwen ...... 671 276 6.7& 276 West Feliciana...... 2,03S 377 2,058 ' 377 Cameron ...... 402 02· 393 02 WiDn ...... '"'...... 1,196 ___sa_~,-~ Catahoula...... _ ...... 992 885 991 871 Claiborne...... _ ...... _ ...... 2,397 768 2,394 767 Totol...... _, ___ ..- ..-· .. · ··---·- 137,257 51,471 1! 137,468 51,2-!4 Concordia ...... 4,219 145 4,224 145 DeSoto ...... 1,865 74. 1,875 72 East Baton Rouge ...... 1,984 2,606 1, 984- 2,607 RECA"PITULATI01!L East Carroll...... 2,680 285 2,679 285 East Felicia.na ...... 2,276 · 5" 2,291 5 Francis T. Nicholls ...... ~...... 137, 25';' Franklin ...... 987 4 988 4 Henry C. Warmoth...... ,_...... _ ..... 51,471 Grant ...... _...... 582 402 586 402 Iberia ...... 1.,923 590 1,915 569 1\fajority for Francis T. Nicholls ...... -...... 85,786 Iberville...... 1,802 2,610 1,809 2,603 963 965 James Jeffries ...... ~...... 137, 468 Jackson ...... 7 7 .Andrew He-roFjr...... -...... 51,244 Jefferson. ..• w~ -· ••••...... • 853 1,271 855 1,281 Lafayette...... 1,708 1,234 1, 710 1,236 Lafourche ...... 2, 702 1,548 2725 1,553 1\fajorityfor Ja;mes Jefl'ries...... _ ...... 86,22-1 LiDcoln ...... - ...... A ...... ~. 1,27~ 1:280 ...... 199 J.. hringston...... 76& 191 768 J. H. DUGGAN, J\Iad L<;:on ...... 3,530 ...... 14" 3,530 AUG. LEVERT, l'lforehouse ...... 1,584 1,586 14 01t the pa1-t of the Benar..e. Natchitoches ...... 3,373 285 3,372 1,285 EMILE DUPRE, Orleans- J. R'. LAND, First ward...... :...... 2,190 508 2,193 494 JOHN l\f. ~T.ALLINGS, Second wal'd ...... 2,490 663 2,491 658 On the part of the Ho11Se of Representatives. Third ward ...... 2,921 1,514 2,936 1,502 Fourth ward ...... , ...... 1,526 738 1,572 696 Fifth ward ...... 1,790 84.6 1,804 825 . Il:lJUCATION IN L01JISLo\.-A.. Sixth ward ...... 1.,566 413 1,553 414 2,030 1,155 Seventh ward...... 2,033 1,138 18i3. - 1887. Eighth ward...... 1,487' 293 1,491 289 I 1874. I Ninth ward ...... -. 2 20~ 594 2,218 586 ------!------1--- Tenth ward ...... ~828 800 2,~8 785 Eleventh ward ...... 2,500 949 2,518 933 Nu.mbe.rofscJ;tools ...... , 864 1,039 , 1,985 •.rwelftl1 ward...... 1.,404 487 1,408 484 Number of children enrolled ...... 57, 4.~ 174,309 111,828 Thirteenth ward ...... 721 351 717 ~ Fourteent-h ward .•- ...... - ...... 393 24.6 400 243 Fifteenth ward ...... 1,096 926 1,097 924 Detailed statement for 1887. Sixteenth ward...... 276: 430 278 430 Number of sch-ooli: Seventeenth ward_...... - ...... 4fJ7 229 408 22!) White...... - ...... - ...... 1,318 Ouachita...... , ...... 2,994 5 "'995 5 Colored ..... - ...... ~. 007 Plaquemine ...... 97! 1,678 -.978 1, 673" Pointe Coupee...... 1,945 1465 1,947 1,465 1,985 Rapides ...... 4,678 '449 4,679 453: Nmnbel.' of pupils enroiTed: Red Rive1· - .... _ ...., ..~ ...... 1.,679 78 1,679 78 Richland...... 1,287 63" 1,291 63 ~~~~·d:::::::::~=-~~:::.~·::::::::::.~:::::::::::::::::::::::~::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::~::::::::: ~: ~~ Sabine...... 1,441! 2: 1,443 St. Bernard...... 904 396 900 394. 111,8"...8 St. Charles...... - .. . 172 1,377 172 1,377 .Average attendance:. St. Helena ...... · 846 375 84.6 375 St. James, ...... 898 2,18! 899- 2,182 ~~~d::::::.-:::::::::::::::::::::: : :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~::·:::::::::::::::: ~: ~~ St. John the Baptist...... 593 1,216 591 1,214 St. Landry...... -···--·-···---·-·.. ·······--· 3,909 3.278 3,907 3,238 80,107 St. l'.Iartin ...... _ .. 1,624 1,107 1,641 1,093: Nwnber of tencbers: St.lVIa.ry ...... 2",885 I 649 2, 882. 1, 65'7 Wblt-e ...... - ...... _ ...... ~ ...... _ _...... - ...... 1,724 , 61-5- St. Ta.Dllllllny ...... _...... 912 917 609 Colored.. _ ..._ ...... _._··-·-·-···~-- ...... u ....~ ...... _ ...... 685 Tangipahoa..-...-.- .. ·--·---...... 1.,241) 629 1,243 630 Tensas ...... - ...... 4,627 113 4,6Z7 113 2,409

. ·8988 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEl\ffiER 2 7'

Number of private schools: The wealth to each inhabitant is: White...... 349 O>lored...... 31 !:::::~ :::n~ ~:~ ~~~1::: ~~~::::::::::::::::::::: ~ :: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::: .:::· :::::: $f~t ft Total number of pupils in public and private schools ...... 134,677 Actual wealth per capita, 1888 ...... 452.43 Receipts of school fund ...... $611, 255. 60 ·rhis iinprovem~nt bas kept on steadily from year to year, as the following Louisiana bas now 11 coUeges, wilh 3,040 students. figures from the Trmes-Democrat's reports will show: The Soutbe1·n Univer:sity fur colored persons, created by constitution of 1879 ~~~~iiio2;_1 ) ami supported by annual appropriations of $LO,OOO, is in a thrh·ing 1888. Total registration: • !§ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: l~m:i 1 1m::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: st~m:m - White ...... 125.407 1&!3 ...... 2, 782,115,803 1888 ...... 3, 240,774,722 Colored ...... _ ...... 128, 150 It will be noted that last year's improvement was considerably above the av­ erage. Total...... ~ ...... 253. 557 We have elsewhere given so full a review and such ample statistics on this \Vhite voters who can writ~ their names...... 99,945 subj e ct that we will but present the following figm·es, making a comparison Colored voters wllo can write their n ames ...... 23,210 between the South to-day and what it was in 1880. Nothing better illustrates 1880. the progress made during that period. Population, ten years and over...... t>4 9, 070 Can read ...... 297.31.2 1888. 1880. Increse. ' \~:~n~ ~h~ ~~r:.~i~~~~.~.~.~-·~-~-~.~~~~~~::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 3~~:~ AGRICULTURE IN LOUISIANA-cOTTON PRODUCTION. Percent. Population ...... 18, 942,R58 14.639,714 29.4 Assessment...... ,_ ...... $3, 2-10, n4, 122 $2, 164,792. 7lJ5 49.8 Year. Acres. Bales. Railroads, miles ...... 679 17,808 100.0 Hands employed in factories...... 4fo· ,253 215,245 14l.O Capital...... $426,597, ()()() Sl79, 366,230 143.5 1879...... 864,787 50R,569 Product.ion ...... $5!)5, Oi)8,103 $:H5, 924, 7~4 85.4 1&!6...... 971, 843 40~,373 Pig-iron produced, tons ...... 845,920 212,022 397.8 1886-'87 (estimated) ...... 550,000 Mineral output...... $25, 482, 600 $3,347,445 760.6 Fana products ...... 5793, 093, 293 $611, 679, 048 29.7 Fa.rm animals ...... 44,830,972 20,754,243 55.8 SUGAR. Fruit, value ...... 19,421,3~ 9,103,ll3 ll3.4 Total production of all kinds, agricult­ 5 ure, mining, manufacturing, tisher- l&:i9 ...... ~~~s~21~~to 11870 ...... ~~~ f4~~g;i ies, etc...... $1, 353, 342, 620 $949, 814, 720 42.5 11:>60 ...... 228,753 1880 ...... 218,314 Schools ...... 62,038 45,031 37.8' 1!lti6...... • ...... 41. ()()() 11l87 ...... 350, ()()() Children attending ...... 2,402,117 1,832,620 36.7 School expenditures...... 811,742,702 $6,415,706 83.2 CROP REPORTS OF COMMISSIO~ER OF AGRICULTURE FOR YEAR 1887.

Jt will be seen tha.t in every rE:spect the South has moved forward more rap­ Acres un­ idly in wealth than in population; that it produces more and is richer and more Crop. Q.uantity. der cul­ prosperous in every way. These statistics draw a better picture than any words tivation. can of the advance Qfthe South since 1&!0. [The New Orleans Times-Democrat.] Cotton ...... bales .. . 406,420 1,002, 76i NEW ORLEANS. Corn ...... bushels .. . 19,927,323 973,142 69,9311,831 These a-dvantages, cheap raw materials, cheap trim!'lportation, and the best Rice (cl ean) ...... pounds .. . 72,6lS6 markets were in tb mselves enough to build up manufactures here. Another Sugar cane ...... hogsheads .. . 264,856 } l'tfolasses ...... gallons .. . 16,243,490 197,044 advantage that might be mentioned is the variety of industries concentrated Sweet potatoes ...... ; ...... bushels .. . 1,805,012 19.460 here which must. help each other. . The presence of the great foundries of New l•·ish potatoes ...... do ...... 256,168 6,719 Orleans, of the saw-mills, will of necessity aid other establishments which may 416,101 need luruber or machinery of a peculiar kind. In New Orleans they can get Oats ...... do ...... 41,549 everything they want and will not be required to send elsewhere for it. And, finally, it was discovered that New Orleans possP.ssed an abundance of [The New Orleans Times-Democrat. . } labor, excellent in character, intelligent, capable, endowed with mu~b of that taste to be found in France, tractable, and free from that unfriendly feeling THE GREAT SOUTH. toward capital which creates a friction in New England and other industrial The Times-Democrat pre ents elsewhere this morning, as it has for fi\'e yeari'l, sections, and which bas so injured manufacturing there. a review of the condition of the Southern States to-day and the progress they The result of these discoveries has been to bring about a rapid advance in man­ have made in the past twelve months. When we first told this story but lit tie ufactures here, the details of which are given elsewhere. The manufactures of was known of the wealth and advantages of the South. To-day the whole New Orleans have more than doubled in the past eight years, as follows: world recognizes them, and there is scarcely a paper in the North but publishes columns en.ch year about Southern progress and development, while scores of Establish- industrial papers have sprung into existence here to chronicle the advance Year. ments. Capital. Hands. Wages. Products. 'made in each line of mining or manufactures. Moreover, the Southern States no longer" hide their lights under a bushel." They recognize the benefits to nccn1e to them from making known their wealth, their resources, and their 1888 ...... 2,185 ~1,677,670 23,865 i8,242,599 $41., 508, ()()() progress. Nearly all of them have statistical bureaus and publish from time to 1880 ...... 915 8,565,303 8,4.04 3, 717,557 18,808,000 time interesting reports of their condition. From these and other reports it is an easier matter to-day to give, as we do Increase...... 1,270 13,102,367 15,461 4,525,042 22,700,000 elsewhere, the progress of the South during the year, and to find how far it has moved forward since 188(). 'l'be doubter who may regard what the papers have had to say about the Capital no longer hesitates over these investments and"more has found its South as due to a disposition to "boom" things must be convinced by the of­ way into manufacturing industries during the past year than during the entire ficial figures of the assessments. No one can imagine for a second that these decade between 1870 and 1880. exag-gerate the value of property. On the contrary. there is a strong disposition to undervalue it. When, therefore, the assessments show that the wealth of Mr. TELLER. I do not rise to discuss the resolution before the the South is increasing at a rate nearly twice as great as the population, it is Senate nor the conduct of the people of Louisiana, either in this elec­ evidence of prosperity which none 'can deny or dispute. The following is the assessment of the several Southern States during the census year and for tion or any other. I have had some experience of these matters in the 1887-'88. The assessments now being made will show a still larger increase. way of investigation, and I sympathize very much with wJ:lat was stated by theSenatorfromNew Hampshire [Mr. .BLAIR] the other day States. 1887-'88. 1879--'80. when he said it was useless,, perhaps, to discuss this question because we were powerless to redress the wrongs that by general admission are ... perpetrated. What I desire now is to correct a statement made by the Alabama...... $214, 925,869 $117,486, 181 Senator from Louisiana [Mr. GIBSON] a.'i to the opinion of Republican Arkansas...... 148, S68, 206 - 86, 409,364 Florida...... &!, 860, 534 29, 471, 618 Senators in regard to the -rights of the Chinese under the Declaration Georgia...... 341,504,921 235, 6ii0, 530 of Independence. I suppose be meant to say that they hold on their side that the Declaration of Independence was not intended to cover t~~~~~~-;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~:~:~ ~~:ru:r: any but white men, and did not intend to cover and did not cover North Carolina...... 210,035,453 156.100, 202 Chinese. · South Carolina...... 141,495,056 132,037,986 Mr. President, for one, I desire to enter my dissent from that doctrine. Tennf"ssee...... 239,750, 000 2ll, 768,538 Texas...... 650, 412, 401 304, 493, 163 The Declaration of Independence, in my judgment, covers all mankind, Virginia...... 374, 043, 338 308, 455, 135 white and black and red, and I do not find anything inconsistent with ------· 1 --~------that declaration in my attitude toward the Chinese. Total...... 3, 240,774,722 2, 164, 792, 795 I do not understand that the Declaration of Independence declares that every man is the social equal of every other man. I do not under­ In the census report on ' 'n.Tuations, the Census Bureau in 1880 estimated that stand that the Declaration of Independence declares that every man the true value of property of all kinds in the South was much greater than the assessments-57 percent. greater in Texas and Virginia,43 percent. in Georgia-­ has the same rights that every other man has ..all over the world. I the total being 85,725,000,000 as against an assessment of $2, 64,792,795. On this understand it to mean simply that when the people are grouped in one basis the true valuation of the South ;.o-day is$8,570,829,140. showing an increase community under one government every man is equal before the law. during the past eight years of ~,845,829,140, wilhan improvement in the assess­ ment of $1,075,981,927. That is all it asserted. It did not assert that the Englishman who comes 1888. OONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8989

to America is the equal before the law of the American citizen, nor did it to another party, which can only obtain that cohtrol by such frauds it assert tnat the ChinamaJ:! coming here is equal to the American citi­ and by such violence as are now exhibited to the whole nation. zen before the law. If that was so, by what right do we say that the I stated when this resolution was before the Senate on a former oc­ foreigner who comes here shall not participate in the a.:tfairs of govern­ casion that these methods of politics which were resorted to in order ment until he has passed a certain probationary period and his qualifi­ to secure a return of 136,746 votes and a majority of 84, 71l3 for Nich­ cations have been determined by a proper court? The right, entirely olls in Louisiana on the 7th of April were a continuing system; that consistent with the Declaration of Independence, to say that any man. the same species of intimidation, violence, and murder wa..'! being con­ who comes here from another country, not being a citizen of this, comes tinued in the State of Louisiana as a preparation for the election which here subject to just such laws as we make for him, has never been de­ is to give the electoral votes of the State of Louisiana to Grover Cleve­ nied that I know of in the history of the Government; an·d when I vote land. to say that a Chinaman shall not come here and vote, or that he shall Recent facts justify the assertion which I then made, and disagree­ not come here even when he does not vote, I do not rmi counter to any­ able as I know it is, painful as I know it is, harshly as I know it grates thing in the Declaration of Independence. upon the sensitive and patriotic nerves of the Senator from Louisiana We have the same right to say that the white man of Great Britain to contemplate the fact that in his State to-day black men, Republicans, or France or any other portion of the world shall not come here that are being butcqered in order that the Presidential electoral vote of that we have to say that the Chinaman shall not come here. We say the Stats may be cast for Grover Cleveland, yeti conceive it to be my privi­ Chinaman shall not come here because his presence is injurious to the lege and my duty to bring these facts to the attention of the American interests of the American people. Whenever the American people be­ Senate, to the attention of the peopleofNew Hampshire, if the Senator lieve that the presence of the white man from Great Britain or any will have it so, and to the attention of the American people, in order other country in the world will be injurious to our people, it will not that possibly they may be aroused to the enormity of the wrongs that only be our right but it will be our duty to say that that man shall are being perpetrated upon the humble colored voters in this State of not come, or if he comes shall not remain. Louisiana upon which the Senator has passed such a eulogy. I have never put my opposition to the admission of the Chinaman I find in the New Orleans Daily Picayune of Monday morning, upon any other ground than I would put my opposition to the admis­ September 17, 1888, the following account:

sion of an Englishman or a Frenchman or a German; not upon the color LOUISIANA-BREAUX BRIDGE-CRIME COMMITTED 0::-l' 1\~GRO WOMEN-THE WHITE ()f his skin; not upon the inferiority of his intelligence, which I claim PEOPLE IN MASS MEETING DECLARE SUCH PROCEEDINGS SHALL STOP. exists; not because he is incapable of taking on the highest civiliza­ BREAUX BRIDGE, LA., ST. MARTIN'S PARISH, September 16. tion that belongs to the Caucasian race; but because his presence here An awful crime was perpetrated in this vicinity Friday night. A gang sup­ is injurious to the people who are here and who compose this Govern­ posed to be composed of five thus far unknown parties as.~ aulted a negro cabin, and shooting through the walls mortally wounded a black woman, who died a ment and have a right to legislate for themselves in their interests, few hours afterwards. From this place they went to another cabin, outraged however injurious that legislation may be to those who are not a part a black woman, and then whipped a black man. and parcel of this Government; and I adhere to every word that was The negroes have made no affidavits yet. The white population is very much excited over this matter, and held last night an indignation meeting. About uttered in the Declaration of Independence in its highest and noblest three hundred white men were present. Hon. CbarlesDelhommer made astir­ sense. It means that if a Chinaman is made a iellow-citizen by your ring speech, in which be denounced such parties nnd such actions in the most consent, you must treat him as you treat your white brother. It means virulent language. He was warmly applauded, and resolutions were immedi­ ately and unanimously passed that these negroes will be fully protected, so as that though the African is dark, thick-lipped, curly haired, and igno­ to enable them to make the proper affidavits declaring all those whom they rant, if he is your fellow-citizen you must mete out to him the same may have recognized, so that they may be duly arrested, delivered t.o the political rights as you mete out to the most intelligent and the wealth­ courts, and dealt with to the utmost rigor of the law. . The white people are decided that order and peace shall prevail, and that any • iest white man in your community. That is what the Declaration of disturber of them shall be summarily dealt with, whether white or black. Independence means, and that is what, so far as I can, I intend in my legislative career to insist shall be its construdion, and that the Gov­ Also the following from the Picayune of the 18th: ernment shall be administered upon that theory so far as it is possible. CALLING A HALT ON NEGRO OUTRAGES-SAM. POLK CHARGED WITH MURDER­ Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, the Senator from Louisiana [Mr. ING A COLORED WOMAN. GrnsoN] says that the conservative people of this country are weary of ST. MARTINSVILLE, LA., Septernber 17. An affidavit was to·day made against Sam. Polk, a young man of Breaux these inquiries into the affairs of the Southern States. I do not so Bridge, for the murder of the negro woman who was so brutally killed near understand the temper of the American people. I believe that what Hreaux Bridge Friday night. It appears that Polk, who was accompanied by they are weary of are the frauds, false countings, and murders of legal four other meo, was well recognized, and he lost his hat, which was brought to the district attomey's to-day. The hat was recognized as belonging to Polk. voters which are going on in the South in order to make .that section Polk is said to be the one who outraged the other colored woman, and an affi­ solid and enable it to govern the North and the country. davit was made against him for that crime also. The Senator says that if an inquiry of this kind was suggested in Polk has fled, and at this writing has not been arrested, although the officers and citizens of Breaux Bridge went in his pursuit. reference to New Hampshire, he would lift his arm and his voice in There are strong doubts against the other assassins and they will soon be in this Senate to prevent such an investigation. Mr. President, when the hands of justice. such evidence is presented to the Senate of the United States of whole­ The whipping and bulldozing of negroes is getting to be too frequent, espe­ cially by irresponsible parties, who, when banded,are criminally inclined. These sale fraud and of widespread murder resorted to in the State of New outrages will be stopped and at once. Hampshire to prevent the Democrats of that State from voting at any Another account, in the Washington Post, September 17, 1888, is election, the Senator from Louisiana may interpose to prevent an inves­ headed: · tigation, but there will be no such interposition on the part of either LOUISIA...~A OUTnAGES. Senator from New Hampshire or any Republican Senatoru pon this floor. NEw 9RLEANs, Beptenwer 16. The Senator likens the Committee on Privileges and Elections, when A Picayune special from Breaux Bridge, IJa., says that on Friday night five charged with an investigation of ~his kind, to the ear of the tyrant unknown men attacked a negro cabin, and shooting through the walls, killed a Dionysius. The comparison is inapt. Committees of this body are colored woman. At another cabin they outraged a colored woman and whipped a colored man. the ears of no tyrant. They are the ears, the ~yes, and the 1imbs of A mass meeting of three hundred white men was held Saturday night to ex­ the legislature of a republic, and I trust that the time will never press indignation at the outrages. Resolutions were adopted pledging protec­ come when the ears of the American Senate will not be open to frauds, tion to the colored people and punishment to the perpetrators of the crime. outrages, and murderscommittedanywherein this country for political I make the prediction, as I did on a previous occasion, that the in­ reasons: I trust that when the humblest citizen, wronged in prop­ dignation will end in resolutions. There will be no indictment and no erty or in persoiJalliberty, comes to the American Senate and asks an punishment of the perpetrators of these outrages upon these negroes, investigation a hearing will be accorded to him, the facts ascertained the object of which is to affect the approaching Presidential election, and proclaimed to the American people. when the parish of St. Martin is to be converted from a Republican Mr. President, the Senator has carefully refrained from alluding, as parish into a. Democratic parish. In the parish in 1874 there were have all the Senators who have discussed this general question at this 1,631 white votes and 1, 771 colored votes. The vote returned in 1888 session, to the facts of which complaint is made. They refuse to enter was for Nicholls, 1,107; for Warmoth, 1,624. This is one of the 'few into them. They say there is no constitutional authority to investi­ parishes in which at the last election the Republicans managed to gate them. They deal in generaijties entirely, and they dislike to face obtain a majority. The decree, howev~r, has gone forth from the and they do not face the specific facts which make this outcry before Democrats of Louisiana that St. Martin shall not be in the Presiden­ the American people. tial election a Republican parish, but shall cast a majority for Grover The charge is that these outrages, that these murders of colored peo­ Cleveland. ple in Louisiana and in other Southem States, are committed for polit­ The Louisiana Standard of September 22 gives the following account ical reasons. They are·not murders of mere brutality; thev are not of this Breaux Bridge atrocity: isolated in their character, perpetrated in pursuance of no deliberate DEMOCRATIC MURDER-AN EPIDEIDC 0:>;' ASSASSINATION-ORGANIZED GAYGS OF purpose; they are not, as Democrats are fond of calling them, sporadic DEMOCRATIC MURDERERS MAKING T HE KILLING OF NEGROES A PASTIME­ in their nature; but they are part of a widespread, deliberate system HOW LOUISIANA NEGROES ARE BEING REDUCED TO MEXICAN PEONAGE-AS­ SASSINATION ITEMS AS TOLD IN DEMOCRATIC SPECIALS-NO POLITICS L'i IT, of P?litics .and political action on the part of the Democr_atic party, es­ BUT THE liiURDERE:RS ALL GOOD DE liiOCB.ATS. tablished m order that the control of the Congress and tbe Presidency ST. MART INSVILLE, LA., 8epternbe1· 17,1888. of the United States may be wrongfully and criminally transferred "News reached_here this morning of one of the most cowardly crimes that from the party to which a free and fair and honest election would giv~ ever was committed in this parish." Friday night, at about 11 o'clock, in the .

8990 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD--- SENATE. SEPTE~iBER 27 I

vicinity of Breaux Bridge, a gang of four or five parties, some of them so far The weapons taken from the negroes were mostly old shotguns. A few rifles "unknown, whipped a black man, criminally assaulted one black woman, and ~e[h/~':d~fb.Afb~~H:rl~~othing showing an aggressive armament, except killed another." The pal'ticulnrs gathered from the mother of the dead woman are about as follows: One of these two negroes- On Friday night the gang called at the door of the woman's house and w~o had a new Winchester rifle and a good supply of ammunition. ' All is now knocked, saying it was the sheriff. She opened the door and recognized one qmet. of the parties, Sam Polk:. She shut the door on them. They then fired through the door several shots, one of them taking effect in the woman's abdomen and Undoubtedly all is now quiet, and that kind of quiet will continue she died next morning. until after the 6th of November, when the votes for Grover Cleveland The coroner's inquest revealed "the fact that she bore seven months' twins, in that parish have been counted and the votes for Benjamin Harrison one of them having the ball through the bead. The man Polk was reco~ized as having engaged in the three crimes. His hat was also found at the door of have not been counted, and then the negroes may have some measure the cabin. lie was not found when search was made for him. of real rest and peace until the approach of another election. "The white people are indignant and very much excited. Warrants have .Here is a "" telegram from Shreveport, La.. This is from the Daily been issued against Polk and three other parties suspected to have participated in the crimes. The white people will see that the colored people a1·e protected Picayune of September 18; no old bones, or time-worn stories, or rotten and justice done." timber in any of these extracts from the current Sonthern newspapers. This is well enough in its way, in its recounting the damnable crime. All The Picayune says: • that about the white people being so terribly indignant is so much bosh. The parish has been a hell for the negroes for months. Democratic outlaws, called SH.REVEPORT-YEGRO MURDERERS SUE FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE-SHREVEPORT'S Regulators, have been and are in control of the parish. The killing and out-­ DELEGATES li'OR BLANCHAil.D, raging of neg-roes has been their pastime. 'l'he planters have been and are SIIREVEPORT, LA., September 17. helpless to afford their laborers any protection. The laborers are justly getting generally alarmed. The arguments in the case of Henry Brown et at. for a cbanae of venue were Tho e who can are showing the disposition to get a. way. The grinding sea­ heard this morning in the district court. A. number of witnes ~s all summoned son is coming on. The cane has to be gathered, and the sugar td' be made. A by the defendants, testified that a. fair trial could not be secured in Shreveport large increase of laborers is wanted. The parish is getting to be known for the for the accused. The case was continued until to-morrow for further e"l-'idence Democratic hell that it is. There is the growing fear that the needed laborers The accused are held for conspiracy and murder. · can not be had, that those now on hand will get out. All this means ruin. They are charged with killing Bd. Scott, a negro, on Saturday night Sept~m­ These Democratic murders, again, this epidemic of assassination of helpless ber 1, while be was at his home . 11 bed. The crime is one of the dar'k:est and negroes are reaching the North, may affect the coming election. There is the most deliberate ever perpetrated in this commnntty. seeming desire to call a halt, to hold up until the grinding season and the elec­ The primary election for delegates to the Congt·es ional convention fixed to tion shall be well over. Thntisabont the measure of the excitemenliamong the convene on September 28, was very quiet. Less than 100 votes .;,ere cast whites. It is all fear and gammon. Nobody will be hurt for murdering throughout the'city. All the delegates elected favor BLANCHARD'S retw·n to negroes. Congress from this district. He will have no opposition. AND YET A...."' AND ANOTHER MAN SLIGHTLY WOU.YDED­ colored voters arm themselves and assail and assault, kill and murder TWENTY-FIVE NEGROES KILLED. these poor, innocent, quiet, well-behaved, and peaceful Democrats of The news came here yesterday morning of a riot which took place in the parish of Iberia. during the evening of Th ursd::J.y. Tile particulars we got at the time of that parish; so for protection and safety they decide as follows: going to press are about as follows: It. was reported that. the nc•!Toes \vere arm­ As a measure of preservation, the whites decided to disarm some of the ne­ ing and drilling in the section where the riot took place, nd C~ptain Cades in groes. The whites left yesterday for the Fifth ward, and completed the work command of a detachment of his company, went there to quiet and disarm tho of disa.rming without any resistance, except in one instance. where t-he whites negroes. The negroes, it appears, were congregated in a cabin, and when Cap­ were fire upon by two negroes, Albert Harris and his son, who were intrenched tain Cades informed them of his mi sion the ne~roes fmm within the cabin in a cabin. opened fire on him a.nd his men, kilJing 1\Ir. B. Payson ~mith and slightlv The whites of Louisiana, if they hear tha.b two poor negroes have wounding another man. Captain Cades then ordered his men to return tl1e firn, and twenty-five negroes fell dead~ possession of guns in an humble cabin in which they live, forthwith The body of .Mr. Smit.h was immediately taken to New Ibel'la. declare that these two negroes are intrenched in theil' cabin and th:1t At the time we go to press everything is reported quiet. the whites are in danger, and thereupon they organize a. posse-if there NEW IBERIA-VEr..DICT OF TilE CORONER'S JURY 0~ TilE NEGROI:.s SLAI.S IN TD.E are two negroes, generally of about one hundred and fifty whites-and FREETO"U':Y RIOT. they go to the cabin and· disarm these terrible negroes ! [From the Louisiana. Standard, New Orleans, August~. 1888.-Correspondence.J The negroes fired fifteen or twenty shots, which were returned by the whites. NEw IBBRIA, LA., August 23. After firing for ten minutes the negroes surrendered. One of them was The coroner's jury reached n. verdict ye~terday eveuing in the case of the kill· wounded in the arm. They were escorted out of the parish and warned never ing of the ten negroes in the Freetown riot on the 16th insmnt. Two days were to return. The work of disarming was continued in a section of the Fifth ward spent in collecting evidence, which resulted in the following verdict: where trouble was anticipated, but the rumor proved to be unfounded. Two "\Ve, tho jury impaneled to hold an inquest on the body of Tom Simon, de­ bad characters were ordered to leave the parish within a specified time. ceased, come to the conclusion that he met his death by a gunshot wound in­ flicted.by parties unknown to the jury. From t.he evidence collected the jury I have not the slight~t doubt that they were going to vote the Re• is further led to the conclusion that. the following also met their deaths by gun­ publican ticket if they had staid there, and according to the modern shot wonnds inflicted at t.he same tiroo and place by parties likewise unknown Louisiana doctrine which the Senator has avowed and attempted to tons: Sam Cahill, Louis Simon, Edw. Simon, Eugene Green, Alex. Valere, Edw. Valere, a.nd others. This at Freetown, parish of Iberia., on the 15th day of An­ justify upon the floor of this Senate to-day, if a man wants to vote the gust, 1888.'' Bepnblican ticket he is a bad character, is to be notified to leave. Here is the damning outcome. The verdict of the coroner's jury but smoothed 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- SENATE. 899] over a wholesale massacre. Itis a palpable, aamni~ lie. Do the members of FREETOWN-WHERE THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT-THE FIGHT Al.""D ITS VICTIMS. this jury realize the position in which this verdict places them? Do they realize LAFAYETTE, LA., ..4ugu.sf·l7. that tbey must stand self-convicted as perjurers before God and man? ''-"here is the honor of a community? 'Vbere the honesty of a juryman's oath? Where The riot briefly reported from this point at a late hour last night as occurring is the honor of Governor Nicholls? "Vengeance is mine,saith the Lord." at Cade's Station really occurred about 6 miles southwest of that point at Free­ town, which is located in the corner of Iberia Parish and only a short' distance I also have in the Picavune an account of this "Iberia riot," as it is from St. Martin's, Lafayette, and Vermillion Parishes. This section is more called, which I desire to insert in the RECORD. The account of the ~~~~~r{5 ;;i~::.Cto~~~ ib:~~~est of Burk station on the Morgan Road, and beginning of the affray here given is that the white people of the sec­ Freetown is a little town of negroes, but more of a neighborhood, as it covers tion began to feel alarmed about the negroeS at Freetown, and this is about 4 square miles, with fifteen families living in small hut-like houses from what they did: 100 to 400 y~~s apart, with small fields attached, from which they are supposed ~h=ke a livmg, and the houses and fields usually belong to the family using The citizens rode into Freetown and found, as rumored, a large number of armed negroes quartered there. They asked its meaning and the negroes were About the center of the settlement is a. store kept by a negro, a Baptist church silent. They then demanded a surrender of their arms, with the proi.Q.ise Umt and a school-house. But a few white families live in the range of this neigh: when they learned to behave themselves- borhood. There are but few houses there which could be called comfortable ! judge that means only that when they learned to submit to the negro houses. lt is understood that for some years back considerable foraging and depreda­ policy that M.s been outlined here to-day by the Senator from Lou­ tions in stealing of cattle, corn, and cotton on the outlying white neighborhood isiana of having no ticket in the field except the Democratic ticket­ has been carried on, and suppos~d to have been done by some of those at Free­ they would be returned, and that the negroes should at once disperse. The town. This is said to have been known to be true ot Andy Smith and one or great majority of them accepted the terms of the party and surrendered their two of Tom Simon's sons. Several of these negroes are reported to have been arms, which were found without exception to be loaded with ball or buckshot. whipped for it, but it was not possible to detect the ringleader, Andy Smith. It is said that a few days since the regulators of that neighborh.ood sent him The negroes took possession, it appears, of Rev. Mr. Nora's house. word that they were going to whip him. He immediately drew around him Then follows the brutal massacre which was described in the Times­ sixteen to eighteen negroes of the neighborhood, all of whom were armed with Winchester rifles, old muskets, and double-barreled shotrguns, numbers of the Democrat, published with my remarks the other day: latter of recent purchase in New Iberia. This was but a few days since. He THE ffiERIA RIOT-TWE..."'ITY NEGROES AND OXE WHITE 1\IAN SL~-GLOWING then sent word to the white people to come on, that he and his friends were DETAILS OF THE BATTLE-THE NEGROES BARRICADED IN THE PREACHER'S ready for them, and, it is said, threatened the lives of four or five white men HOUSE-NONE LEFT ALIVE TO TELL THE STORY-50ME INNOCENT MEN WHO nearby. SUFFERED "W.ITH THE GUILTY-THE NAJI!ES OF THE SLAIN-THE FUNEEAL OF Andy Smith, the leader of the blacks in this trouble, has shot two or three MR. SliiTH IN NEW ffiERIA-POLITICS NOT A FACTOR IN THE FIGHT. white men in the past fonr years, and is known to be of desperate courage and meanness. NEW IBERIA, LA., August17, The four or five whites receiving this defiant message believed their lives To-day all is quiet again. This morning a large number of menfr~m Yarious were in danger, and sent a few messengers to New Iberia and Abbeville, across sections of the country and neighboringtownswerehere, butnearlyallofthem the line and into La Fayette, to the effect that they would be killed and appealed returned to their homes during the forenoon. for help. This morning the remains of 1\Ir. E. P. Smith were removed to the Episcopal In response to this call about 150 to 200 men from thesethree!!ectionsreached church. He was forty-two years of age and a. native of Ohio, and a. ba.chelor. Freetown after the dinner hour of yesterday. They found tbeso armed ne­ The funeral services were conducted at the church by Rev. C. C. Kramer. The groes. about eighteen in number; barricaded in a new four-room frame house, edifice was crowded to a jam, and the yard and walks in front of the church built by their paster, Rev. Celeste Noop, wl10 was at the time in New Iberia, were also crowded. .After the regular services at the church the funeral cor­ holding a protracted meeting among- his people. These negroes had sent N oop's tege was formed, as follows: The Iberia. Guards, the Attakapas Rangers (of wife away and were its sole occupants at the time. which the deceased was a member), the hearse, the Phcenix Bucket Fire Com­ Tbe house was surrounded by the whites, a.nd a. half hour's delay occurred in pany (of which the deceased was also a member), Iberia Steam Fire Company. a parley on the part of the whites, who assured Smith and his crowd that it No.1; American Steam Fire Company, No.2; followed by many friends and was peace, if it was desired, and not violence, and if the negroes would surren­ acquaintances on foot and in carriages. der their arms the whites would take them away for the present, but at a sub­ A large number of ladies were in attendance, and their floral offerings were sequent time, when peace was fully established, they should be returned to their profuse and tasty. Palm leaves figured conspicuously among the evergreens. owners, and guarantied no violence to any one of the party. At the grave Rev. Kramer finished the services, after which followed a sa­ In the interest of this purpose, the whiws secured tb e services of old man Torn. lute of three volleys by a detachment of the Iberia Guards. Thus were the Simmons, father-in-law of Smith, and father of Louis and Edward Simmons last tributes of respect paid to the departed-a noble spirit, a fast friend, a two of the occupants of the house, and also old man Sam Cobit, each of who~ congenial companion. besought the barricaded negroes to comply with the request to surrender their The trouble of yesterday grew out of a spirit of revenge on the part of the arms and prevent any one from being hurt. Surly silence was the only response. negroes. The better elementofthis and neighboring parishes had found it im­ The pacifying efforts were ineffectual. The whites were about 20 feet from the po sible to longer tolerate a certain element of idle and immoral charaders. house. Payson Smith and Alfred Lasalle, of the whites, approached the bouse, This latter class were ordered away from the various sections, and many of and as Lasalle opened one of the doors, poor young Smith stuck his head in them found refuge at Freetown, a small village composed entirely of negro and was immediately shot down dead by Andy Smith. families. There they told their stories to their friends and nursed their grow­ This was the first signal for a general firing from inside by the blacks and out­ ing anger. side by the whites. ,The house is new and unceiled and therefore has very thin On Monday last the report reached this place that the negroes were arming walls. The doors and windows being closed, the firin~ was at and tbrouo-h and congregating at Freetown. Their number was estimated at from 500 to 600 this thin wall. The blacks standing close up the wall fired outside, and bef;re strong, mounted. Tuesday they bad received re-enforcements sufficient to it reached the whites the force of the ball was spent in passing through the wall. fully double their numbers, and feeling their strength they assumed a threat­ The whites at a long range penetrated the walls easier and only had a few feet ening attitude, boldly declaring the refugees should not leave the parish and to reach those on the inside, and hence proved more effectual in killing those for should not be molested. · whom they shot. There were, it is estimated, four hundred to five hundred On Wednesday their numbers were further increased, and the people of the shots fired, and when the battle was over the walls from 4 inches to 5 feet above surrounding country began to feel some alarm lest these negroes, overestimat­ the floor were riddled with bullet-holes. Several of the negroes during the ing their strength, should attempt some act-s of violence. fight escaped and were shot while running, but most of them fell when they· On Thursday matters had not improved up to noon. By this time the resi­ opened battle in the house. dents and property-owners of this section began to collect at a point a short dis­ fo~~t i~~:h~o~.when t-he battle was ended there were over twenty guns tance from Freetown, their object being to disperse these negroes without vio­ lence and to !!end those who did not belong there to their homes and business. In addition to the killing of Payson Smith, the white forces suffered a slight Rev. H . Nora, a colored minister, left Freetown in the morning to attend a. wound in the wrist of Mr. Manard, a young creole from New Iberia l:itation. conference of ministers at this place, and during his absence his residence was In reference to the results on the side of the negroes, it is not absolutely cer­ taken possession of by a number of the armed negroes.. This house refused to tain, but from two sources it is made up as follows: A prominent gentleman surrender. returning word that they were not to be taken. The whites then who went to the grounds this morning says that he went into the negro church sent a second messenger to the house, saying they would give them twenty when he found there were eight dead negroes who were left there to await tb~ minutes in which to lay·down their weapons. The negroes again refused. coroner's inquest. These were Sam Cohil, Earnest Grient, Andy Smith, Paul In this house, situated but a short distance from the main road or street, were Charles, Louis Simmons, and three others whom the gentleman did not know. quartered some twelve or fifteen negroes, among the number their leaders. He was informed that old man Tom Simon had been killed and can-ied to his A squad of mounted white citizens were some 150 yards from the house, wait­ own house. He was also informed that an unknown negro was wounded and ing the expiration of the twenty minutes, and before the given time had ex­ died last night, which would make ten killed. He was informed that four pired a door of the house was thrown open and a volley fired at them. One others were missing and unaccounted for-whether absent or dead was not horse was wounded. known. This was a surprise to all, and immediately the firing became general. The There was one wounded, Alex. Lee, a colored school teacher, who called Dr. door of the house was again closed, but a constant fire was kept up from win­ B. T. 1\Io!!aly f.? attend him. ~is w~uld mal;:e a total of fifteen. Dr. Mosely dows and doors partly open for quite an interval. Later the fire was carried says Lee IS senously wounded m the Jaw and throat, and has a flesh wound in on by 15Purts by both sides, lasting in all for nearly an hour and a half. the breast. The other information is denied. At this time Mr. Smith broke from his lines and made for the house. His com­ From a negro from Freetown, who was to-day at Cade's station: He says that rades implored him to return, but,dea.f to their entreaties, be went on. The there were originally thirteen dead negroes in the church, but that five were house was reached, the door was ftlrced, and he fell. At his side was a comrade carried away, and that Tom Simmons, the unknown negrowhodiedlastnight ·who had followed him on his fatal errand; but when Mr. Smith fell his comrade and the school teacher would make sixteen, nnd the four missing would ma.k~ retreated backwards, keeping up a constant fire from a repeating rifle, and es­ a. total of twenty. caped unhurt. In addition to the names of the dead first given the negro informant gives .At this stage of the fi~ht the negroes became panic-stricken and attempted to those of Edward Simon, son of old man Tom Simon and brother-in-law of Andy flee from the house, ana the deadly work was soon brought to a. close. Smith; Edward Vallier, jr., Alex. Vallier, and T . Pochelle. • Aft-er the fight closed the bodies of eight negroes were found in the bouse and Violence is always an important fact in reaching intelligent conclusions, but five others outside. this case is somewhat independent. Beyond the fact that Andy Smith for his Others say three or four more were killed. It is thought by some that a few general bad character was threatened with a whipping, in retaliation &rnH~d made their escape, while others who were at the scene deny this. himself and friends and defied the" w bite people, and then fired the first shot, in One of the negroes who shot 1\-Ir. Smith was named Smith and was recognized the face of the fact that there were ten whites to one, thus manifesting his dare­ among the dead by Mr. ~mith's comrade to-day. devil rascality in the last moment oflife, as death musthaveseemedinevit&blc Coroner J. Wolf called a jury as follows : 1\Ir. William Lamb, Dr. James A. to him after his killing young Smith. Lee, Messrs. Zenon, Decuir, Doud, Laughlin, and William R. Burke, and pro­ This information is obtained by a buggy ride of nearly 40 miles to-day through ceeded with them to Freetown to view the remains of the negroes. mud and hot sun and a scarcity of intelligence to furnish it. They returned this evening and have deferred taking testimony until a later date. LAFAYETTE- THE EXCITEMENT IN A NEIGHBORING PARISH. From the above statement of facts it will be clearly seen that politics have LAFAYETTE, LA., August17. played no part : that the negroes brought lhe trouble. on themselves; that they Some. excitement prevails here to-day consequent of the agitation in Abbe­ Ured the first shot; that they shed the first blood, and that they bore the con- ville and the unfortunate affair at Cnde Station, in the lower portion of this sequences of th eir a cts. · parish. There is great uneasiness among the negroes, who fear a repetition of The negroes w ho surrendered were not harmed in any way, violent acts in this q uarter. Many of the whites are supplying themselvel" with 8992 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8EPTEl\IBER· 27,

arms and ammunition in case of need, while it is rumored that there is a mov'e to 136,746, by asserting that it is not strange that there are fluctuations to or~mnize a guard for the protection of the town. This trouble seemingly originated in St . .l\1ary and Vermillion Parishes, and of votes at different elections, and he has cited fluctuations which have to some extent has spread over this parish, but your correspondent. has been occnrred in Northern States. unable so far to gather definite information in regard to it. Several parties Mr. President, I grant that mere fluctuations of votes up and down here, so says Dame Rumor, who ha"\'e been guilty of miscegenation have been waited upon and ordered to leave. It is safe to say, however, that no blood­ in various elections are not of themselves necessarily proofs of fraud, shed need be feared at this place, so the sober judgment of our citizens may be but I say that if you will find a case like this in Louisiana where for a. relied on to tide over. the present uneasy sLate of affairs. series of years the largest vote which a political party has ever been The far·mers must necessarily suffer under this deplorable state of excitement., as the negroes will not leave their homes for fear of being waylaid. Every­ able to ca."t has been 80,000, and where suddenly the vote has leaped thing is quiet to-night, and the outlook betokens an early subsidence of thE: reg- from 80,000 up to 136,000, there is afforded a presumption of fraud nant perturbation. . which would of itself justify an investigation. Mr. President, I wish to call the special attention of the Senate and · If the Senator will point out any parallel cac;e to this monumental of the country to this feature of Democratic Southern policy in the fraud in the State of Louisiana which was perpetrated by Governor Southern States, which is called the disarming of the negroes. I take McEnery and his satellites on the 17th day of April and subsequent it that the right of every citizen to have a gun or a pistol and to ket>p to that time during the counting of the vote, I will insist that there that gun or pistol in his own possession, innis own house, is the indis­ should be an investigation of such an election, particularly if it resulted putable right of every citizen of the United States. Without a law to in the creation of a Legislature which has elected .two United States the contrary-and I doubt whether any law to the contrary can con­ Senators to claim seats in this body. stitutiClnally he enacted-every citizen, black or white, North or South, But I did not rest upon the extraordinary character of the vote on has the right to own a gun and t{) keep it. It is his property. It is the face of the returns. I went on with pl'ima fa cie proofs containing his property for self-dehms.e. It is his property for the delense of his astonishing and remarkable revelations concerning the tran actions home, his wife, and his children, and it can not be taken from him that occurred in Louisiana on the 17th of .April and prior thereto. I without the violation of a natural right, and as I believe without the called attention to the murder of William Adams, a man who had been violation of a constitutional right. a Democrat, a friend oi' Governor McEnery, but who had seen fit to Article II of the amendments to the Constitution declares: change his politics and to undertake to distribute in Monroe, La., the A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the home of Governor McEnery, ballots for Warmoth, and who was killed right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. by the infamous Captain ~rheobalds and his gang of cut-throat~ who That article grew out of the original theory of the founders of this to-day control the pari<;h in which they live. His throat was cut and Government that a well regulated militia was the sure deftmse of a he was thrown into Bayou De Siard. State. It was the militiamen organized underthatprinciple who fought The Senator from Louisiana. says he scorns in the American Senate to the battles of the revolution and won our independence of the mother enter upon the consideration of an iucident like this. I also called the / country, and from that day to this it has been unilerstood to be a nat­ attention of the Senator to a transaction in which his ownorotherwas ural and a constitutional right on the part of every citizen to keep and engaged. and which was exhibited to the f:ienate of the United States to bear arms. by the Senator from Kansas (Mr. lNGALr.s] in a speech which he made The policy which the Southern white Democrats have adopted is that here some three months ago, and which was repeated again in full in in order to prevent the negro from exercibing his right of suffrage under the newspapers of Louisiana. Not a ward does the Senator utter in de­ the fifteenth amendment of the Constitution he shall be deprived of the nial or in defense of that outrage upon the rights of the citizen. privilege of keeping arms in his possession. It must be apparent t o The Senator from Louisiana has stated quite accur;:ttely, I think, the every thoughtful citizen that this plan, if carried out, will prove to be political policy of the Democratic pa1'ty in the State of Louisiana. He utterly destructive of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments of the says that in certain parishes, which I understand to be the colored Constitution, and will bring the black people of the South into abso­ parishes, where the colored people being Republicans and desiring to lute subjection: to the white people of the South. vote the Republican ticket are in an overwhelming majority, the policy Take the State of Louisiana. The proposition of the white Demo­ of the Democratic party is to induce the Hepublicans to agree that crats of Louisiana is that every white citizen of that State may have a there shall be only one ticket in the field and that shall be the Deml)cratic gun and a revolver, and may keep the same wherever he may be, and ticket. He says that the Republicans of those parishes are becoming especially may keep them within hi~ own home, and that he may use willing to assent to such a c~ndition of politicaJ action or of political those arms according tp his discretion if he does no~ create a breach of servitude, and that when such an arrangement is made, if anybody the peace. undertakes to dissent from it and to organize the Republican party, or The further proposition is that the colored pepple of Louisiana shall to organ1ze an independent party, or to run against the candidates none of them be allowed to keep or bear arms and that the gun or the nominated by the combination, it is customary to notify him to leave pistol of every colored man shall be taken from him. Manifestly the 'the parish. millennium of Southern Democrats will have come when this resoln tion Mr. President, I will take the proposition of the Senator and go be­ of the Democrats of Louisiana is carried into effect, because we shall fore the American people upon the question whether or not there is then have the whole white population armed each man with a gun, and under such circumstances a republican government. I understand a we shall have the co1ored people, no one of them with any instrument republican government to be a government elected by the free voters, either of offense or of defense, and all this in defiance of the natural with an honest count of the votes. l understand a republican govern­ nnd the constitutional right of the citizen. ment to be one which involves two parties; that republican govern­ Let me tell the Senator from Louisiana that this plan which has been ments are t{) be conducted ordinarily with a majority party and a mi­ inaugurated by the white Democrats of Louisiana, will not be a suc­ nority party; that both parties are to be free; and that through the cess. They may disarm here and there a few of the negroes of Louisi­ workings of parties, with vacillations from one side to the other ot n.na, they may surround in their little homes or in the cabins of their political power, the States and the nation go on successfully practicing colored clergymen a few little hands of negroes and take their arms the republican experiment. from them, or shoot them down to bloody death because they are Re­ But a government is not a republic unless two parties can safely be publicans; but they will not succeed in disarming the whole body of organized among the people, unless the members of ea-ch of those par­ the colored woulation of Louisiana. ties have equal rights in law and in fact. If there is to be but one The negroes- of this country are growing in intelligence; they are party, with but one ticket in the field, the Republic is destroyed. That · gaining in courage on this question, and the colored men of Louisiana such is to be the rule I understand to be the position of the Democrats ot will maintain their right to keep and bear arms, in my judgment, in Louisiana, as stated and justified by the Senator from Louisiana upon time and in the long run against the whole body of white leaguers, this floor. Kuklux ruffians, and all the other vagabonds, gamblers, thieves, On that issue I believe that the Republicans of this country can safely thugs, and villains who1 according to .the Democratic papers of the city go to the American people. It is an issue which ought to be proclaimed of New Orleans, have been organized in the interest of the Democratic in all its breadth. and in all iw fullness to the people of this Republic, party, an.d especially in th~ interest of the Senator from Louisiana the issue whether there shall be a free ballot, whether there shall be who has addressed the Senate. The colored men will keep their arms candidates on both sides, whether there shall be two parties in this • and they will use their arms when they see fit to do so in defense of Republic and in every portion of this Repuhlic where citiz·ens choose those rights of American citizens which belong to-day, at the South as to organize parties, or whether, as the Senator says, there shall be but well as.,the North, to every American citizen whatever may be the one party, and any citizen who undertakes to organize another party color of his skin, or whatever may be his politics, whether Democratic and to induce it to put candidates into the field shall be notified that or Republican. ·he is a disturber of the public peace and be ordered to quit his home, Mr. President, I do not intend to go over the ground which I covered as the Senator says, and as the fa-cts show, Capt. H. B. Holmes wan the other day nor to follow the Senator from Louisiana at length in the ordered to do in the case to which allusion has been made. remarks which hP. has made. He has ' omi~..ed to refer in detail to any Mr. President, I do not desire to detain the Senate any longer. I of the particular outrages which were recited by me as affording at least have heard criticism of the fact that there has been statement and dis­ sufficient ground for an investigation. The Senator has undertaken to cussion of the facts before the investigation has been made. I submit prove that there is nothing extraordinary or remarkable in the increase that unless the Senator from Louisiana had been willing that the res­ of the vote of the Democratic party in Louisiana from 62,540, the vote· olution should pass it would not have been becoming for me to h_ave for Cleveland, from some 80,000, the largest vote that was ever cast, up urged its passage without presenting the p1·imajacie evidence which \ 1888. ·coNGRESSIONJ\L RECORD- SENATE. 8993 seemed to me to justify an investigation. I have presented that evi­ condemns them in his heart-yet it seems to me that his silence will create on the outside world the false impression that t-his lawless condition of affairs is dence. I have shown the fa-cts of record, the facts which have been re­ not so extensive, widespread, and critical as it really is, which would be wrong; ported to me; the conspiracy on the part of Governor McEnery and his or, worse, it may be taken by the "regulators" as warrant to go on in their ne­ associates to haTe a majority returned for Nicholls, whatever the vote farious course. It must be remembered, too, that the Picayune, which may be regarded a.s might be that was actually east, and I submit now, in closing, that the the organ of the administration, bas unqualifiedly pronounced itself upon t e Senator from Louisiana has himself practically admitted in his speech question of miscegenation, encouraging the inhuman crusade against it which that there exists in the State of Louisiana no republic, and if no re­ is spreadmg all over the State, and from which spring so many acts of violence. The Progress has no circulation outside of the State. It is not a factor in the public, then no Legislature of a republic which could elect him and Presidential contest-and there is something more sacred than politics in this Mr. White to take seats in this body. matter. A question of humanity is involved. The party that would use tbe perpetration of such outrages merely for campaign purposes, as a. stepping­ APPENDIX. stone to power, ought not to succeed; and the party that is too weak and pusil­ lanimous to denounce them ought not to be intrusted with power. Also, our ARTICLES FROM: THE LOUISIANA STANDARD, T. B. STAMPS, PROPRIETOR, NEW OR­ efforts to establish and maintain veace and harmony between the races have, it LEANS, AUGUST 25, 1888. seems to me, not only proved futile, but may be, under the circumstances, con· If the colored man in this State has a spark of spirit in his body, and desires sidered officious. Therefore, unless the policy of the paper can be so directed to be practically free, ns is guarantied by the national Constitution, he must as to deal with this lawlessness as it should be dealt with, I beg you to accept leave here and go at once. Go North, East, or West, where you will be treated my resignation as editor. at least like o. human being born according to God's laws. Very respectfully, ' 'Ve hope to publish next. week the fact that the negro has started the immi­ L.A. MARTINET. gration from this cut-throat slice of the solid South ; that he will demonstrate AN EARNEST PROTEST AGAINST THE WHOLESALE SLAUGIITER OF lliNOCENT AND that he means to be free by leaving a State where he is held now as much a INOFFENSIVE COLORED M:EN-lllEMORIAL MASS 1\IEETING IN GEDDEJ HALL­ slave as ever hefore the emancipation proclamation of God's great Christian ABLE ADDRESS OF REV. E. LYON-MATTERS IN DETAIL. servant, Abraham Lincoln. On our front page will be found a letter f1·om 1\fr. L.A. Martinet, the leading Wednesday night Geddes Hall was filled by a large assemblage of prominent colored Democrat of the South and editor of the Progress, in which he scath­ divines and citizens who assembled to enter their protest against the indis­ ingly and manfully denounces the Democratic methods and the cold-blooded criminate slaughter of innocent negroes in adjoining parishes. A large num­ butchery of negroes and diabolical outrages on Republicans by the Democrats. ber of ladies were present. '.rhe meeting was called to order by Ron. T. B. Stamps, who announced the lllABTINET ON HAND IN 001"DElllNATION OF NEGRO BUTCHERY-HE CAN NOT subject of the meeting and read the following list of officers: CONDONE DEMOCRATIC METHODS AND DKCLll\'ES FUBTHER FEALTY WITH THE Rev. J. W. Hudson, president; Ron. George D. Geddems to be a successful is shown by the readiness with which our articles have been quoted deep laid scheme to reduce the negroes of the State to a. condition of abject serf­ in the United States Senate and the extensiveness with which they have been dom and peonage . reproduced by tbe Democratic press. .. It is being executed by armed bodies of men, styling themselves regulators, Thoroughly acquainted with the incapacity of the negro voters in their pres­ all of whom are white, except when a negro is occasionally forced to join them ent untutored state to govern, and knowing how easy a prey they are to design­ to give color to the pretense that they represent the virtue of their communi­ ing and unprincipled politicians and demugogues, we have labored hard to con­ ties in tbe suppression impartially of vicious and immoral persons. With that vince them that it was best for their interests that the people who own the pretense as a cloak these lawless bands make night hideous with their unblush­ • property and possessed the intelligence, as I thought, should rule. Through it ing outrages and murders of inoffensive colored citizens. They go out on all we have been honest and conscientious. We have borne uncomplainingly nightly raids, order peaceable citizens away never to return, :whip some, fire tbe ostracism of our people and 'the odium that, among them, attaches to tbe into houses of others-endangering the defenseless lives of women and chil­ colored man who professes himself a. Democrat, and we have never asked nor dren-and no attempt is even made to indict them. No virtuous element in the expected personal reward in any shape or manner. State is found among the whites to rise up in their might and sternly repress Our sole aim and endeavor has been to promote, in our feeble way, the good these outrageous crimes. and welfare of the whole people. Oonscious of having striven to perform what "These acts are done in deliberate defiance of the Constitution and laws of we considered a public duty, of having, in the interest of what we believed to the United States, which are so thoroughly nullified that the negroes who bore be the ()}\USe of good government, labored to enable these people to control the arms in defense of the Union have no protection or shelter from them wit.hin mass of illiterate voters in their midst without a resort to violence or unlawful the borders of Louisiana. During tbe past twelve months our people have suf­ meane, we could rest perfectly satisfied with the little appreciation our efforts ferred from the lawless regulators as never before since tbe carnival of blood­ have received from those who were to be first benefited by them. But I will shed conducted by the Democratic party in 1868, and which prompted the late not, I can not, condone the shedding of innocent blood. and lamented General Philip Sheridan, in an official report, to style the whites Knowing the worthlessness of professional negro politicians, and how hurt­ as banditti. Fully aware of their utter helplessness, unarmed and unable to ful they are to their own race, I have been, with your approval, unsparing in offer resistance to an overpowering force which varies from a. 'band of whites' denouncing them, going t-o the length of palliating, if not always justifying, the to • a sheriff's posse' or the • militia.,' but which in reality is simply the Demo­ illegal measures taken to rid the community of them, when no bodily harm or cratic party assembled with military precision and armed with rifles of the injury was done. But I can not, I will not silently countenance the ruthless latest impro'¢-ed patents, toilers forbidden to follow occupations of their choice, butchery and cruel whipping of defenseless and innocent people, the despoil­ compelled to desist from the discussing of labor questions, and been whipped ing them of their property, and the running away of others from tlieir homes and butchered when in a defenseless condition. because they chose to marry or unite according to their individual tastes. "In the instances where negroes have o.ttempted to defend themselves, as at The right of people to marry to suit themselves is the most sacred that I know. Pattersonville and Thibodaux. they have been traduced in a spirit of savage It is a. divine right, and no one has rightfully the authority to interfere with the malignity, the governor of t.he State, with scarce an observance of the forms of contracting parties. I could not say less on this point without, as it were, sub· law has hastened his mercenaries or militia to the scene with cannon and rifles mitting to the desecration of the cherished memory of my dead parents, and con­ ostensibly to preserve the peace, but actually to re-enforce the already t-oo well demning their holy union and marriage, of which I am the product. fortified negro murderers falsely assuming to be lawful posses. No matter what the governor's pe1-sonal feelings may be concerning these A single volume would scarcely afford sufficient space to enumerate the out­ outrages-be has a strong sense of right and justice, and I know he deplores and rages our people haye suffered, and are daily suffering at the hand of their op- XIX- 563 8994 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEMBER 27,

_ pressors. They a.re flagrantly deprived of every right guarantied them by the to their disappointment that period has not yet come. Again. we are startled Constitution; in many parts of the State they are free only in name; they can not by the sadL ntelligence of weeping and mourning, of murder and bloodshed at assemble in peace to indicate and discuss an equitable rate of wages for their Freetown, a village within the very shade of the capitol of the State. Eleven labor; they do not feel safe .as property-holders and tax-payers: and are Der­ families in mourning. Eleven wives made widows by a band of white hood­ mitt-ed to enjoy but very few public conveniences. lums claiming to be regulatoi:B. This village is largely inhabited by colored "The latest wholes::~.lc murder, rivaling the most horrifying brutalities of the people who are industrious aud law-abiding. The murder marks one of the Comanches, took place only a few nights ago near Cade Station,in the parish bloodiest and most thrilling chapters in the history of crimes. of Iberia, in the negro village of Freetown. This place is owned exclusively The ofl"ense for which these innocent and helpless people were butchered was by colored people, who were conceded to be industrious and respectable. the protection they offered to some of the members of the race who were flying They were chArged with hiding and protecting in their midst some negroes from the murderous chase of midnight regulators. Confined within their own from other parts of the parish whom the I"egnlators wanted to whip. \Vnen premises they determined to give prot-ection to their fellows in distress.. There this news was spread abroad a sherift, fraudUlently installea, with hiS men, wasnothingwronginthis. Itwould bejustwhat the white people would be too without any warrant or shadow of law, at the hour of midnight invaded that glad to do under like circumstances. But of course such manhood on the part of quiet village, attacked a bouse wherein a number of negroes expecting the as­ the negroes is exceedingly offensive to the whites, and they must die. These ne­ sault bad gathered for self-defense, and deliberately slaughte1·ed the inmates. groes must be understood were not lawless brawlers or clamorous insurrection­ No arrests will follow. The civil authorities are in sympathy with and applaud ists. They were industrious, peaceful, and law-abiding citizens armed to defend the crime. . their rights and property at the sacrifice of their own Uves. They were murdered. "The governor h:ujshown no disposition to afford our people any protection, Nothing less could be expected. The odds were against them. But before they because of this and Q'ther kindred wrongs, and our sad experience leads us to welcomed death and shook bands with immortality they evinced to the cow­ expect no redress from that source. ardly whites courage and heroism worthy the race whose image they so nobly "The papers daily record lynchings, whippings, and murders of people on bore. various pretenses, such as are not considered sufticient cause for lynch law for All honor to the brave men, therefore, who so nobly defended themselves at whites under the like circumstances, and tidings pour in upon us like a flood, Freetown. May the hands that were swift in shedding their blood receive speedy of brutalities the record of which is suppressed from the public print because of retribution. and may the soil which drank their blol>d, as a fitting evidence of nat­ the supposed political effe.ot they would have upon the Presidential and Con­ ure's displeasure, be barren forever. We ask, are not the la.ws enacted by th" gressional campaigns in the Northern States. Legislature, composed of competent men, elected by the people, able to protect "'Ve have exhausted all means in our power to have our wrongs redressed the State without the interference of regulators? Wh.o are these regulators, by those whose sworn. duty it is to impartially execute the laws, but all in vain, and what are they? Are they acting under the official sanction of the governor until now, because of our murdered fellow-citizens, and n.pprehensiYe for our of the State? own safety, we appeal to the awakened conscience, the sense of justice and If they are not, why does he allow without his official protest this uncivilized sympathy of the civilized world, and of the American people in particular, to system of11.ffairs which places the whole people in juxtnpo ition to the Hotten­ assist us with such moral and material support, as to secure the removal of our tots of the African reservation. The facts as given to the public by the daily people, penniless as many of them are under the feudal system under which journals and telegraph operator who are white men must be taken for what they live, to the public lands and other places of the Northwest where they can they are worth. 'Vhat right has the sheriff posse to compel negroes to give up enjoy some security for their persons and property. their arms in the defense of their person and property? 'Vould the whit-e peo­ "To this end we have organized a bu1·eau of immigration. We have so done ple of the State in like position submit to such a glaring piece of injustice per­ under t-he following resolution : Detrated on themselves? "Be it resolved, That a bureau of immigration be composed of J. H. Coker,l\:I. If the negroes o.re to be disarmed, should not the regulators be disarmed also? D., president; Rev. Ernest Lyon, A. D., secretary; W. P. Green, esq., M. J. And if their actions are inharmonious to the constitution of the State, they Simms, assistant secretaries; Rev. 0. B. Mason, A. B., treasurer; Rev. A. E. P. should be apprehended and punishment inflicted. It is time that the better Albert, D. D., George D. Geddes, esq., Rev. A. S. Jackson, Hon. T. D. Stamps, class of our white friends speak out and clear in the defense of right and jus­ D. D. 'Vethert, esq., Rev. J. L. Burrell, C. B. Wilson, esq. To our people we tice. There is no protection for the negro. If be att-empts to protect himself advise calmness and a strict regard for law and order. If your homes are in­ theriotactisread. Hisarmsaredemanded. Themilitiaiscalledout. Asherift vaded expect no mercy, for none will be shown, and if doomed to die, then die posse is organized and assisted by regulator , who murder the poor and unfor­ defending your life and home to the best of your ability. If convinced that you tunate negroes with impunity. .An investigation into the cause of tbe Free­ will not be permitt-ed to live where you areinpeaceand perfeetsecurityquietly town tragedy should be made; a committee should be appointed by the gov­ go awav. If you are withouJ; other means to travel take to the public roads or ernor, composed of members of both races, charged with this solemn duty. We th1·ougb the swamps and walk away. , would advise the most calm, cool, and prudent of our representative men, both "Steam-boats and railroads are inventions of recent years; your forefathers in church and in state, to meet and adopt measures whereby to relieve our peo- dared the bloodhounds. the patrollers, and innumerable obstacles, lived in the vle in these suffering districts. . woods on roots and berries in making their_wayto Canadian borders. They should wait Unmediat-ely on his excellency the governor and ask him .. Invoking the guiding favor of Almighty God and the sympathy of man- t~ appoint a committe-e of investigation, and if this righteous and godly demand kind, we are your brethren in affliction and the common bond of humanity, is refused the people who are thus abused should be advised to leave those "Rev. ERNEST LYON, miserable hells upon earth. • "Rev. A. E. P. ALBERT, In the days of slavery, when they were surrounded by enemies on every "Rev. J. H. COKER, 1\L D., hand, with blood-hounds to hunt their tracks, they ventured to flee for refuge, "Rev. T. B. STAMPS, amid perils indescribable. Guided by the ll!1orthernstarofliberty, they reached "Rev. M. C. B. MASON, the Canadian shores and Northern asylums. "Rev. W. PAUL GREEN, .And now, since freedom has come and every man is suppose.! to be a man, "Rev. J.D. KENNEDY, why not seek homes among those people who wiJlaccord to them the common "Rev. C. B. WILSON, rights of humanity? ' ''CommiUee. '' If they have to leave with no patrimony but a single potato in their pockets, On motion of Rev. A. S. Jackson, which was duly seconded by Rev. M. C. B. let them take their wives and children by the hand and lead them out of these 1\Iason, R. W. B. Gould, and others in appropriate remarks, the address was Sodoms and Gomorrahs. Better die a. free man than live a slave. unanimously adopted by a rising vote. li:IEMORIA.L MEETING. The following resolutions, offered by 1\Ir. Marshall J. Simms, we1"e adopted : Geddes Hall was filled on Wednesday night with representatives of our people, "Resolved That the immigration bureau be, and they are hereby, requested including wives and daughters. The meeting was called for the purpose ot to open ~edia.t-e communication with the immigration and kindred organi­ taking suitable action on the late murders committed on the unfortunate col· zations in California, Kansas, and the Northwestern States and Territories, and ored people in Lafourche and other parishes. . to adopt such other plans as will afford the information and relief for our op­ The meeting was governed by that calm feeling and deliberation which was pressed people. warranted by the circumstances and which is so nece ary to occasions of like "Resolved That every possible method be utilized to inform our people and serious import. The memorial addres!', which we print in another column, neighboring States of the terrorism which reigns in the disturbed sections of shows in unn..istakable terms the pasL and present situation of affairs in Loui­ this State, especially in Iberia, St. Martin, Lafourche, St. Mary, .Assumption, siana with reference to the colored people. Terrebonne, and Vermillion, so that they may be duly warned against .endan­ This was no political me.eting, no body of people gotten together for the pur­ gering their lives and liberty by going to these places." pose of bashing out buncombe for political aspirants, no conclave of" bloody­ Stirring addre ses were made by Revs. Ernest Lyon, A .. S. Jackson. A. E. P. shirt" shakers gotten up to fire the Northern heart in the interest of campaign Albert, E. S. Swan, J. D. Kennedy, l\!iss S . .A. E. Locket, Rev. M. C. B. Mason, capital, but a. meeting composed of the ministry and representative men and and others. Meeting then adjourned. women, who had no other cause at heart than to seek a remedy and its appli­ REV. E. LYON'S ADDRESS-THE YOUNG DIVINE HAJ\"DLES THE OUTRAGE QUES­ cation in the shape of escape from further murders. The address of Rev. E. TION WITH GREAT SKILL. Lyon, and the orations of Rev. A. B. Jackson, Rev. A. E. P. Albert, D. D.'-Rev. M. The following is the able address of Rev. E. Lyon delivered at Geddes Hall: C. B. Mason, Hon. T. B. Stamps, R. W. B. Gould, James D. Kennedy, ana others 'Vhen will deliverance come? is the question which is being asked by the were splendid efforts, and gave very pointedly the horrible details connected most concerned of our people. with the la.te butcheries. The calm reasoning with which they held the ear of The diabolical system of wholesale and unprovoked murder of our people in the audience will certainly be fruitful. • ) the country parishes continues on the increase. The peaceful and law-abiding We are glad to record the fact that in obedience to resolution offered a bureau colored citizens of the State thought that after "the danger was over" that af­ of immigration was organized, which will take immediate steps in the matter of fairs would assume their usual tranquillity; that after the murde.r and giving providing information, etc., regarding homes elsewhere. tlp of negroes, whose only crime seems to be, from facts obtained, the attempts A great deal can be said of the possible good effect of this commencement in on their part to exercise their liberty within the borders of a free Republic, that behalf of the colored ])eople, but lack of space forbids a further dissertation on innocent. and defenseless negroes would be allowed to pursue their daily avo­ the Geddes Hall meeting; suffice it to say the ball has been started on a rolland cation in peace, in order that they may provide for the necessities of their fami­ it must be kept rolling until we can vlace the colored people out of further lies. But alas! scarcely a wind blows but what it brings the intelligence of harm'swa:v. Emigrate at once. Don't; wait !or another butchery. murder and bloodshed-murder and bloodshed confined invariably within the The colored man is doing himself ancl hisf runi.ty a. great wrongb y remaining ranks of a certain clas of the people, namely, the poor and unsuspecting mem­ in this murder-ridden State any longer. We say to you, emigrate to some other bers of the colored race. In all of these engagements the whites haT"e always State and risk no longer being slaughtered for being a negro. Yon are worse succeeded in escaping scot-free. This does not look reasonable. There is foul enslaved in Louisiana than you ever wer~ before. Leave, and leave at once. play somewhere, and the whole world begins to believe it. ''KEEP ON WITH IT.'' For a. decade of years the innocent and unsuspecting negroes have been made the victims of a cruel fate. The present year dawned upon us, and found the We copy a head-line from the Times-Democrat. Certain Northern journals State rent from center to circumference by perplexing political issues. Issues are pleased with the convi~tion of Dennis Kirby for running away with the which by a strange admixture of political circumstance, assumed the sem­ keys of a New Orleans ballot-box. The Times-Democrat is happy ove1· the o- ood blance of labor troubles. Whatever might have been the real 0{1-nses of these work. It advises that we "keep on with it." troubles a bloody massacre was the result. A sham attack was shrewdly insti­ \Ve echo the sentiment. The Times-Democrat, however, is content w ith SIDAll tuted by the whites on paper only, with the negroes as aggressors. This was cases. Wewouldadviseattention to the far more important. There is the mur­ only the pretens_e for the indiscriminate slaughter,of men, women, and children der of William Adams, in Monroe, his throat cut from ear to ear, for peddling which followed. A mothe1" in Israel, bowed down with many summers, who Republican tickets. No arrests, no investigation. Would the Times-Democrat remained faithfully at home during the war to watch her master's children till confine itself to the more trivial matters of st-ealing ballots? the battle was over, was mercilessly shot down with impunity wi.thin the very Well, so be it. Take the case of Madison Parish. A return of 3,500 votes for heart of a Christian country. Nicholls-Warmoth without the single vote. Vote, as actuo.lly c~H~t: .Nicholls, The intelligent members of the race watched with silence and waited with 5 · \Varmoth, 2.817-Warmoth with a. majority of 2,229; a dead steal. in effe<:t, patience to hear the secular press and pulpits of the Stat-e, either in mild or in of 5 734 vot.es in the single parish. Will the Times-Democrat take the case m measured tenns, denounce the inhuman ravages upon life and property. But hand? Dare it challenge the proofs? 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- SENATE. 8995

What of the present Democratic hell, again, in the Third district? A white [Extracts from the Louisiana. Standard, New Orleans, September 1, 1888.] man killed bv whom? Certainly not l:iy the negroes. A dozen negroes shot THE GOOD WORK GOES BRAVELY ON. dow~ like dogs. No politics in it. Where's the fool that dou't know better ? Rilling and outraging negroes is the order oftheday. We ask of the North· "\Vhy should the prosecution of... these criminals be interrupted or delayed?" e rn journals that they scan well the certain dispatches as seen in our New or~ We quote the Times-Democrat again. E cho answers, why? leans dailies. We mean those purporting to recount the troubles with danger­ J PACK t;p AND MOVE, ous and unruly negroes. We mean particularly those as just now appearing from certain sections in the parishes of Terrebonne, Iberia, and St. Martin. Let That is our o.tlvice to the negroes in the Louisiana bulldozed parishes. We them l'ead and ponder. The very dispatches of tlli'!mselvesare enough to damn mean it exactly as we say it. Pack up and move. the communities from whence they come. There·is no other remedy. New Orleans is filling up with refugees. They Here are the armed organizations of whites going about as assumed regu­ are flocking in from the several different parishes and: loca..J_ities. They are not lators. Their mission is seen as wholly confined to the negroes. They are of t h e ignorant, or helpless class. They are generally mtelhgent, a.1·etheowners themselves outside the pa.le of all law. They represent no authority whatever of t heir own little homes. They have been driven from home and family at save that of organized brute force. They constitute, in fact, nothing more nor peril of their lives. , less than outlaws; are in honesty to be viewed in no other light. , T hey have been so driven because of their intelligence; because of their in­ Here are the armed gangs of outlaws, then, riding roughshod over the coun­ dependence. They are not of the old-time class, to be held as servile dogs. That try at large hunting negroes to the den.th. 'l'he negroes are largely on their is why they are driven out. Every negro leader, every negro property-holder, own ground; they appear as living in their own little hard-earned homes. every negro who can read and write, is branded as dangerous, must be got rid This was particularly the case in Freetown. The little town was invaded by of. That is...the edict, openly promulgated, and well understood. Take .the sit· these armed outlaws. There was the pretense of the sheltering of certain ref­ uation as it is. You may not return as free men. Free men you must hve and ugees in hiding from the outlaws' threats. A dozen, at least, of negroes were die. You have no protection under the laws. You have no earthly chance in · brutally murdered. They were shot down as so many dogs in their kennels. seeking to protect yourself. There is the one resource. Take it, and at once. It was the cowardiy work of a gang of cowardly murderers. A coroner's jury, Pack up and move. as cowardly as the murderers, but serves a.s the murderers' shield. It signs a \Ve want to be heard and heeded in every bulldozed parish and locality. verdict to the effect that the ne~rroes were killed by parties unknown. \ Ve say to the negroes, You have the one and only remedy in your hands. This late hellish work is mainly confined to parishes in the Third Oongrcs­ You are the only producers. You raise the cotton and the sugar. You are the sional district. supporters in ftl.ct, of the men who persecute you. \Vithout your labor they It appears as in effect the beginning of the Democratic Congressional cam­ must tbe~el\'es g·o to work or starve. Give them the chance. Let them ~ry paign. The three particular parishes are strongly Republican. The latest of­ the working or the starving. Let them have the field. P~ck up ~nd m?ve.. ficial registration with returns of the late election may be in ordc::r. We don't advise any general exodus. That; would entail posstble pnvahon and suffering. Let the remedy be gradually applied. Let the young men and women set the ball iu motion. The movement bt!gun makes the certain better Registration. Election returns. chances for those who stay. There is no single, able-bodied negro too ignorant to know that his two hands will certainly make him an honest living. He knows they will earn it unywhere on the civilized earth. ::lo, too, with 1 ,- Negro. Nicholls. Warmoth •. the single, able-bodied woman. She is sore of an honest living anywhere. She has but to work for H. Let the young man and woman get out. We say it, and -~------P--a-ris__ h_·---- ~----·l--~--· ~-·-- l, ------! ·------~' ------we mean it. Pack up and move. Terre Bonne...... 2, 276 3, 035 1,687 2, 033 Stand not up.on the order of going, but go. Don't wait upon any growing Iberia...... 2, 3441 3, 210 I, 262 II.' 923, crops, or promises ot pay. Steal out through the cane-breaks if you must. Any St.i.Ia.rtin...... I, 476 2, I98 I, 107 62.,. way to· get out. Don't flock to New Orleans, or to any town. Set your faces I------1------1------·I------toward a free la nd, a land where an hone t life will insure the honest dues of Total...... 6, 096 8, 443 4, 056 5, 580 free men and free women. Go to California., to Arizona., or to any like- place where there is room. You can work your way the1·e if you will. The will alone is wanted. Pack up and move. · The blacks are seen as having the majority vote. of 2,347. There is the return In any other S tate, Nortb., E ast, or \Vest, its governor would seek and demand of 1,524 majority for the Republican ticket. The voters absent and failing to in person a reason for the ab·ocious butcheries which have occurred in this State vote are, for the three parishes, respectively, I,591, 2,369, and 943, a. total of 4,903. in the last two or three weeks.• But we suppose the governor of Louisian a There is here with the free and fair election the large white Republican vote. knew how the ''law was suspended" in his interest and has forgotten that the The 4,903 absentees were unquestionably two-thirds Republican. The three "danger bas pa.Ssed," or has forgotten his cue and don'~ know when to say, parishes are honestly Republican by fully 3,000 majority. "Let up now." 'I'he bulldozing began previous to election. It was both rampant and fierce There was a time when some :Qeop1e were led to believe that the Republican on election day. It was by no means confined to the blacks. There were the party got up the e negro-killing 'matches for political effect. What say these white Republican lea-ders coming in for their share. Hon. W. B.l\Ierchant, ex· people now? Look at the butchery being cont-inued in this wretchedly-gov­ Republican postmaster in New Orleans, is mentioned for instance by Hon. Sen­ erned State and say whether or not the fact is true that the negro is being ator CHANDLER. 11-lr. Merchant, as notorious, was outrageously bulldozed; was slaughtered for no other reason than that be is a negro by the Southern banditti, held a _Prisoner by an armed body of bulldozers; has since left the State in dis­ the never-licked and unwhipped Confederate spirit. gust; Is now resident in El Paso, Tex. The election as such was an outrage anda.fraud. . LOUISIANA BAl!t"'"DITI'I. The bulldozing broke out afresh immediately following the election in the The history of the colored people in Louisiana., as in other States of the solid parish of Terrebonne. Senator INGALLS recounted some of the cases in his South, has many pages in mourning commemorating the v iolent deaths they tamous speech ill reply to Senator EusTIS. An armed band of "regulators " have suffered at the hands of murderous whelps under one pretext or another. sought to reap their vengeance for being defeated. . It appeared, as in evidence, For years the colored citizen of the State of Louisiana has contended with bar­ in lead of a. brother of Senator GmsoN. The negroes were shot and outraged barous inflictions, the like of which we read in history of ancient eras, when in every conceivable w ay. Dozens were driven from their little hard-earned cruel slaughter was rewarded by crown and scepter. . · homes in fear of their lives. There are the dozens, so made refugees, in New The negro hu.q suffered death or banishment for exercising his rights of citi­ Orleans to-day. zen hip given him by a nation on whose soil poured the blood of millions of Terre Bonne, Iberia, and St. l'tiartin are virtually in the hands of the .outlaws. loyal soldiers and statesmen that this American Union might be saved, and that "They have converted these p arishes into a veritable helL all its citizens might be free, as they were created by the Almighty God. These They are riding rough-shod over the country at large. Their path is marked murders of colored p eople are the outcome of a. lurking feeling of resentment with blood; is strewn with the bodies of a. full score of murdered negroes. of and refusal to accept of the issues of the late rebellion. A spirit akin to the These organizations of murderous outlaws are organizations of Louisiana. animus engendered in behalf of the Confederacy, which, though subdued on the Democrats. '!'hey are in effect shielded by the Democratic authorities. T h eir field of battle, is cowardly resorting to a. warfare of extermination under the murders are glossed over a.nd. palliated by the Louisiana. Democratio press. cover of civil government. They are practically a. part of the Democratic political methods, murder and The pen is a.,aain taken up to record another chapter of slaughter and butch­ outrage for opinion's sake. And still the good work goes bravely on. ery on the unfortunate col~red people of Lo~ana, the ~a.~st deeds occur­ lllARTINET1S LETTER. ring at Lockport, New Iberia, Freetown. and adjacent localities where the das­ We r ecommend to the colored voters of- the country to peruse the letter o ta.l'dly idea is rampant that the negro is obnoxious, and they must leave, failing !Hr. L . A. Martinet, editor of the Progress, published last week in this paper. to do which he is to die by the assassin's bullet, the midnight marauder's blud· \Ve address ourselves more particularly to the colored voters of the North, be· geon. What a horrible state oi affairs to·record against a government which cause it matters not how the negroes vote in the South, the result is the same brags and boasts of that chivalry under which crime is suppressed. the South is always solid, through fraud and murder, for Democracy--whereas On Saturday, AugiLSt ll, at night time, a. band of white banditti, all mounted, in the North, in several States, they hold the balance of power. The letter pre went out the Bayou road from Raceland to Robert Williams's bouse, surrounded sents a mild picture of the fiendish outrages and the condition worse than actua it, and concealing themselves in the cane, called for Williams ~ come out. slavery to which our people are subjected in this State, and the colored man Upon coming out, and seeing the state of affairs, attempted to escape, when he who, after reading it, will vote the Democrat ic ticket is an enemy to his race. was shot from ambuscade, and died the next morning. After this piece of We recommend especially to the colored press. Republican and Democratic, buwhery, and the same night, they drove up to another colored man's home, to reproduce this truthful statement from a. Democratic so urea, not with a. v iew Augustave Antoine, took him off some dista~ce, hung him up to a. t~ee, an.d of helping one party and injuring the other, but for the sake of humanity and riddled his body with bullets, and before domg this they shot and killed his for the purpose of placing the helpless and sorrowful" condition of our people brother Eugene. in the South before the American p eople in its true light. It is the .more neces­ Another case in view is that of a mulatto, who became obnoxious for some sary that the colored press should do this as we can not rely upon the Demo­ reason or another only known to the murderers, who was flogged in regu· cratic press to publish the truth about the diabolical outrages perpetrated upon lar slave style and given notice to leave the hallowed precincts of New Iberia. our people. All their accounts are colored so as not to incur the regulators' He, terror-stricken, left for Freetown, to where some of his friends resided, for displeasure, and they will publish no impartial statement from any one, col protection. On learning that he was in Freetown, a. leader of the ba.nditti, ored or white. named Cade, organized an a.lleged military company for the purpose of slaughter­ There is not a. colored man in the State that stood higher in Democratic esti ing the colored ma.n 's friends, who had collected together in their own defense, mation than Mr. Martinet, yet the Democratic press would not publish his let­ and in short order butchered up at least a score of colored people. ter, though couched in moderate la?guage; nor would they pu!>lish the able We could mention many other instances of like character, but enough is here and considerate address to the AmeriCan people on the same subJecta.d.opteda said, backed by authority, to warrant attention to this deplorable state of affairs. the mass-meeting of our people held here last week, a nd which al'lo appeared We say to the colored people that they must leave this State. in our last Saturday's paper. They even made no mention in their local col• The negroes of St. J.\..tartin,lberia,St. l'rla.ry, Terre Bonne, Vermillion, Lafourche, umns that such a. meeting was held, notwithstandin~ that there we~e rel?or~ers Assumption Parishes, can never expect ahything else than a. continuance of present· and yet it was one of the most notable meetmgs ever held m this mty. this inhuman warfare, and if they have to walk they owe it to themselves aud All our' prominent men and ministers were there and the attendance was ex­ families to leave these parts, for the planter is powerless to protect you as a. ceedingly llnge. Hence for the dissemination of the trnth about those out- workman and the governor of the State is apparently indifferent to this con­ rages on our people we must rely especially on the negro press. . . dition. We say to you colored people to emigrate to Ca.lifornia. Arizona, any· Now regarding the political bearing the circulation of such facts will havem where else where God's law is respected and man's inhumanity to man in t-he the No~th, it is a. matter of secondary considerat!on with us. As,a Rep~lican , light of Louisiana methods is unknown and never expected. we are sincerely and staunrhly in favor of Hamson and Morton s elect10n, but Do not wait longer; you have suffer ed sufficiently long and if you remain you we will not use the perpetration of such infernal crimes solely to adva.n~~ the will certainly imperil your o wn life. E migrate and leave t his infer nal hell­ interests of the party. Our primary object is ro make ?ur helpless and p1t1ab~e h ole on ear th. condition known with the view that the humane sen timent of the nat10n will 0 , 0

8996 CO~GRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEMBER 27,

devise means to alleviate the wrongs to which we are subjected by the Bour­ . In accordan~, therefore, with those resolutions, we issue this circular, call­ bonism of the South. mg upon you 1n the name of God and the name of common humanity to come But we will be frank in saying that the re-election of Grover bleveland will to tl;le.~elp of the Lord against the mighty.. We need not say to you that the be taken)>y the mm·derers n.nd destroyers of our people as sanctioning their unc1v1hzed methods of regulators are creepmg all over the State, like a cancer deeds, and will encourage them to go on in their career of blood and extermi­ creeps all over the human body, and that this now peaceful region may soon be nation, and they will go on with renewed vigor; whereas the success of the distm·bed _by ~e hideous yells and the murderous fires of lawless regulators, Republican party will show t-hat the healthy public sentiment of the country and you likewlSe may be found on your way to some safe region where you condemns those outrages, and will throw a. damper and act as a check on the and your family can dwell together in peace. perpetrators. Send contributions to .J. H. Coker, l\1. D., president, or Rev. Ernest Lyon, sec- This is no surmising. It is clearly shown by the contrast which the admin­ retary. Office Geddes Hall, No. 220 Erato street. · istration of Grover Cleveland and that of President Arthur affords. Compare All contributions will be acknowledged in the S. W. C. A., the Sland:n·d and the two administrations and see for yourselves. Under the quiet and peaceable Pelican. · administration of President Arthur, the rough edges of the war having been We are your brethren in distress. smoothed and its wounds almost healed by the long and beneficent Republican .J. H. COKER, President. rule, angry passions were gradually cooling down and a better condition of af­ ERNEST LYON, SecretanJ. fairs was quietly taking place in the South. 'Vhile here and there at the time 1\[. .J. SIMl\IS, of an election some trouble might atise, it was always local and its effect tem­ porary. Republicanism was undoubtedly fast gaining ground; prominent white PAUL !~~n:r: 'semta,lieJJ. men were continually proclaiming a change of faith and declaring their ad­ herence to the Republican party, and we confidently looked to a day not far Remember Iberia. Let negro laborers give the parish of Iberia a wide berth distant when it wouJd be safe for a colored man to be a Democrat and when bot.h Let the Democratic bulldozers go to work. Leave them to gather the cane a.nd parties would be composed of whites and blacks alike. make the sugar. You can have no protectioa for your lives. Avoid Iberia as But the election of Cleveland put a stop to all this. It threw us back into the you would a void a pestilence. Go somewhere else for work. Let those already seventies. It did not cause a reaction in sentiment, but it effectually put a check the.1·e get out.. Let every one who can, pack up and move. on its manifestation, and Bourbonism once more became rampant and over­ bearing. His re-election will give it unlimited sway and will throw us back in the sixties; while the election of Harrison will restore the hopefLll condit.ion At Opelousas last week another negro was riddled with buJlets by whit-e as­ of things that existed under President Arthur and prepare the country for an sasins for .the rea,son that it was thought he had purchased buckshot. The era of peace, harmony, and prosperity. mayor of the city gave them the right of way and a carte blanche. And so the Therefore, we say again, colored men, read Mr. Martinet's letter. IDs state­ cruel workgoeson. Ooloredpeople,youmustemigrate. The respectable white ments can not be contradicted. The Democrats have everywhere p::-oclaimed people of t-his State deplore the condition of affairs, but they are powerless to his integriLyand vers.city,and they can not to-day impeach his testimony. Read stop this mm·dering. It is in order for 1\!r. Nicholls to petition Congress for his letter and vote the Republican ticket. more power to carry out the laws of this State. OUR MURDERED DEAD-A REQUIEM FOR OUR MURDERED DEAD. Let all join in commemorating the victims of the Freetown massacre. ,Let Boycott Terre Bonne. Let t.he colored laborers boycott the parish of Tene the roll of the murdered dead be held a lasting roll of honor. Let their names Bonne. That's the word that with the Irish means the next thing to anathema. not be forgotten: John Simon, Thomas Simon, Peter Simon, Lewis Simon, It fiUs the bill. Terre Bonne is overrun with Democratic bulldozers. They are Eugene Green, Edward Vs.lere, Alexander Valere, Antoine Michel, Samuel hunt.ing and killing Republican negroes. Don't give them a. chance at you. Kokee, Ransom Livingston, jr. They died, as died the veritable martyrs of old. Keep away. Get your work elsewhere. Let the bulldozers make their own They died for daring to assert their r ights as free men. · sugar. Let those who are there get out. Everyman who can, take to the cane­ They were murdered for givi£!g shelter and protection to the outraged and breaks, if need be, and get away. huntedoftheirrace. They gave up their lives in proof of their manhood. They arc so many martyrs to Democratic hate. Let them be so held and revered. Shun St. Martin. Don't go there for work. ·Leave the cane and the sugn.r to "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord; I will repay." the bulldozers. Let them go to work, or starve. They propose to reduce you 'Vc assert unhesitatingly that the last Louisiana election was simply an out­ to the status of the Mexican peons. Let them have the field tothemselves. Go rageous wholesale steal; that men were murdered for distributing Republican to California, to Arizona, anywhere outside of bulldozed Louisiana. tickets; that Republican voters were generally eilher bulldozed or defrauded [Extracts from the Louisiana Standard, ~W Orleans, September 22, 1888.] of their ballots; that the officials generally were installed through fraud; that the State is run practicnlly by bulldozers and ballot-box stuffers. WHAT ABE THEY GOING TO DO? 'Ve further assert that there exists to-day in certain sections of the State a What are they going to do about it? That is the question for our Louisiana. r eign of terror; that the country is overrun by gangs of outlaws known as reg­ negroes to decide. They are citizens and men in the eyes of the law. There ulatorR; that negroes are being hunted as so many animals; that they are being is even the special clause in both national and-State constitutions pledging them shot down by dozens, murdered in cold blood for daring to presume upon their their rights. The law, in so far as they are concerned, is but a cheat and a lie. rights as men; that scores again are being driven from their hard-earned The national and State constitutions, as applicable to them, amount to naught. homes, for all of which we challenge the proofs. There is for the negro absolutely no protection for life or property in Louisiana. 'Ve favor emigration in lieu ofimmigratibn. We favor, as far as maybe, the He is shot 6'own with a.s little compunction as is the veriest mangy cur. No general emigration of the negroes. ( one ever hears of his murderer being punished for the crime. He is even 'Ve don't object to the Northern immigrants. They are of those willing to hunted down as is the wild beast and shot at sight for no earthly oft"ense but concede the negro his rights. We won't do any lying to induce them to come. daring to presume upon his lawful rights. He is open to every outrage and W c want the negroes to get out. They have no protection under the laws. The contumely; his wife, sisters, and children to every insult and abuse. lie has late outrageous verdict of a coroner's jury over a dozen murdered negroes at in point of fact not even the protection accorded him in the days when held a. l~reetown is abtmdant proof. We tell them they have no rights the Louisiana Rlave. He had then his lawful masters at least interested in seeing him free bulldozer is bound to respect. They may be murdered and outraged at will. from the abuse of others. They are certain to be murdered and outraged until reduced to a state of peon­ The situation withal is growing worde and worse. The negroes are being age. The only alternative is to pack up and move. gradually cowed into abjec.t submission. Let the move begin with the young men and women. Let t.hem get out. Let A goodly proportion of Louisiana to-day is for the Louisia.na. negroes a veri­ t hem stand not upon the order, but go. table hell. In the parishes of Terre Bonne, St. Martin, Iberia, and portions of La­ fayette, in particular, there exists a. reign of terror. All of law is here practi­ THE ASSASSINS Lill. C.'\lly suspended. Gangs of outlaws, known as regulators, are the la.w unto them­ No politics in it; that's the story in connection with the Freetown massacre. selves. Negroes have been wantonly massacred by the whole>ale in broad Where's the fool who don't know it to be a. lie out of whole cloth. The assas­ light of day, as evidenced in the shooting down in cold l:;loodofno le sthan ten sins Me Democrats. The victims are Republicans. That tells the story. It is in the massacre at Freetown. · · ihe '·Old Third." The district is honestly Republican by 8,000 majority. H Negroes are being hunted as so many wild beasts, are being as mercilessly wns carried two years ago by Democratic boodle, and amounted to say $60,000 murdered. Negroes everywhere are being driven from their little, h111d-earned in cash. The boodle candidate is now out of the race. Thereareno$60,000this homes, are everywhere being wantonly outraged and abused. The infection time in lhe Democratic bag. The want of it must be made good somehow. of lawlessness is spreading, is heard of daily in some new locality. '!'here's no other way for it but in killing Republican negroes. That is the one Governor Nicholls has so far done nothing. He can not plead ignorance of the s11re way of keeping Republican voters from the polls. The Democratic game fllcts. They are being daily reported in the press. They are matters of common 11:1. bE>gu n. A round dozen or so of negroes have been murdered. It is the be­ notoriety. His attention, again, has been specially invited, and that, too, by ginnin~of the Third disb:ict campaign. That's the meaning of the Freetown prominent citizens and friends. He was talked to and plead with by Hon. L. mas acre. · A. Martinet. A CIRCULAR FRO:\! THE BCREAU OF DDIIGRATION. 'Ve have it on good authority, too, that no less a man than Ron. Mt·. Breaux, elected with Governor Nicholls as State superintendent of educat-ion, bas spe­ r ct:ou:-c:t:z!1ts and brethren: cially interested himself in the matter. We have it that he talked with Gov­ A f1 e-r receiving intelligence through the columns of the daily journals of the ernor Nicholls, and plainly enough told him of the terrible mas acres, of the out­ tenilJ!e outrages and cold-blooded murders of our fellow-citizens at Freetown rageous and general lawlessness, ot the serious injury it was doing, of the dis­ and other portions of the State, from tim~ to time. without any attempt on the grace it was certain to entail, and besought the governor to interfere in behalf part of the executive authorities to bring the murderers to justice, we felt that of law and order. :t-·uLience on our part. has ceased to become a virtue, and that the present dan­ Governor Nicholls sits with folded hands while the murders, the whippings, gerous crisis to which matters have been allowed to reach in the country de­ and the outrages against Louisiana negro citizens arc being daily carried on. manded immediate action on the part of those located in more favoring dis­ He overlooks both the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of t ricts to adopt measures whereby to relieve those of our fellow-citizens suffer­ Louisiana. ing under a reign of tei·ror and brutalism in the disturbed portions of the State. He appears as giving no heed to enforcement of the laws, as ignoring all ob­ B ing bound by the ties ofduty,as wellasofthoseof race affinities, memorial ligation as a man, as forgetting his registered oath. meeting was held to contribute honor to those who died in defense of their lives These massacres, these d aily mut·ders and outrages, are crying aloud to and property, thus winning for themselves an hon01·able place among the num­ Heaven. They are being registered beside the oath pledging the law's protec­ l!er of martyrs who poured out. their life-blood as a. precious libation upon the tion to life and property. Governor Nicholls the while joins in the devotions of shrine of liberty. the faithful, chanting the anthems ascending before the same.High Throne. Is In accordance with this meeting au immigration bureau was organized, with that registered oath to count as nothing? Is there no responsibility for these authority to communicate with kindred organizations in California and New continued murders? Are these church professions and communions to be Mexico, in order to remove our suffering brethren to regions equally favored in measured as sa{)rilege? Is Francis T. Nicholls to command respect. as gov­ fertile resources, and among a people who are willing to accord to us the com­ ernor of Louisiana? Is he g-overn<_?r only in name? mon rights of humanity. It was therefore agreed at a meeting of the board that before such a step is PROFO-rufD DIPRESSION. . taken a pioneer be sent to the above-mentioned :places, w4ose duty it shall be By reference to the columns of the Nox·thern and 'Ves!,ern press it has been to survey the country and make arrangements w1th the planters of thatregiou seen that the Geddes Hall address made a profound impression wherever read. so that our people, instead of moving on a wild goose chase, will have some­ Editors who heretofore have received intelligence of Southern crimes with a thing definite and sure before them. feeling of incredulity accept the vigorous protest of a large and respectable mass ( It was also agreed by a sex·ies of resolutions. both at this board meeting and at moetiug as conclusive evidence of their perpetration. the memorial meeting, that an appeal be made to every church organization, From the country parishes it is learned that in at least two places the whites, secret society, and benevolent association, and every friend of the race to con­ after reading the address, came together and resolved to assure colored labor­ tribute. little. or much towards defraying tl.Je expcuses of such an individual ers that bulldozing should be s~opped and they would guaranty protection of upon so important a mission. The board promises to use care and discretion life and property. But so g Feat is the mistrust of the people that little relianc~ w the choice of such a man. is placed upon those pledges. 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8997 - It has been felt for many months that the colored people of the State should which I am not informed, and about which I do not propose to speak, organize in some manner for common defense, precisely as the Irish do, who suffer in many respects under similar conditions of oppression. it proceeds: The organization of a bureau of emigration is approved in the country par­ And why there were similar returns from other parishes; and also to ascer­ ishes as a practical measure of redress; and many inquiries have been made as tain and report whether or not at said State election there was any violence, to means at hand to convey out of the State the hundreds of laborers who are inl imidation, or fraud which prevented a fair election, and particularly whether willing to go. A question has arisen in the minds of some whether to go at or not there were any false canvasses or false returns made by the local elee­ once or wait until after the crops are gathered; but the good sense of the peo­ ple tells them that to await the gathering of the crops is largely to defeat the tion officers or included in the final canvass of the votes, primary object of an exodus of labor, namely, the embarrassment of those . Here is a State election for State officers, involving no election of a. planters who aid and direct the marauders against their lives and homes. It h:::tving been demonstrated that the whites are without tender consciences member of Congress, no election of Presidential electors, and it is pro~ on the Thibodaux and Freetown m88Sacres and other numerous outrages, the :posed for the Senate to investigate .that question as to whether it was idea now is to touch them sorely in their pocket-books and bank accounts by a fair and honest election. It is true the resolution recites that a Legis­ depriving them of sufficient labor to gather their crops. Let this purpose be openly A. vowed and energetically carried out. lature was elected which has since elected two Senators. Timid counselors have said that the plan will fail, because other labore1·s will The election of that Legislature was the election of State officers, rush to take the places of'those who go. Our ad vices show that such is not the and I submit to the honorable Senator from Vermont, and he will un­ experience of several planters who are already in distress. They offer high wages, but liberty of citizenship is not being sold by the negroes in the labor derstand what I mean by the submission of the point, that we will or any other market. Besides, if a new lot of negroes desire to undergo experi­ hardly go behind the election of members of the Legislature to deter­ ences of the kind visited upon the departed laborers, a very little will probably mine whether United States Senators were lawfully electe4 by them. satisfy them, while those who enjoy their freedom in Northern States will ex­ tend them their sympat.hy. If Senators by their acts have done anything .that would disqualify A letter has been received from a United States Senator, in which inquiry is them for seats in the Senate, they are amenable for it. If the Legis­ made in regard to the operations of the bureau of emigration. When it opens lature acted unlawfully, then it may affect the legality of an election up communication witjlleading Republicans and capitalists, the way for effect­ ive work will be made clear. Let the bureau be sustained by wprds of cheer by them; but there is no charge of anything like that. There is no and liberal contributions. chru:ge that any Senator ha-s in any respect violated the law. There [Extract from the Telegraph, Monroe, La., August 18, 1888.] is no charge that the Legisl3jture has in any respect violated any law. It would be a mistake to confound the principle of white primaries with that Whence, then, the jurisdiction for this resolution? of representation in Democratic conventions. Mr. EDMUNDS. Will the Senator from Texas allow me to ask him We do not hesitate to concede that under normal social and political condi- tions, the Deq1ocratic vote is the fairest basis. · a question? But have we normal social and political conditions in the Fifth Congressional Mr. REAGAN. Certainly. district? Mr. EDMUNDS. My friend from Texas refers, and correctly, to the On the contrary, are these conditions not emphatically and p1·e-eminently abnormal? election of members of Congress as illustrating, as it well does, his - We have white parishes and we have black parishes, each class widely and argument. I should like to ask him whether it is not within the com­ notoriously different with respect to these conditions. petence of the House of Representatives to go bebjnd the returns of the The purposes of this discussion do not require that we analyze, reiterate, and enumerate these differences. '£hey are well known and well understood State officers who manage the elections of members of Congress and throughout the district. find out what the real troth is in respect of the election and the people These two classes of parishes are not dissimilar in one important feature­ who voted for a part.icular member of Congress? they all return safe Democratic majorities. For political purposes they all are Democratic parishes. Mr. REAGAN. My answer to that question is the a-ction of t-he [Extract from the Post, Washington, September 20, 1888.] distinguished Senator himself in the greatquestion which involved the It is an undoubted fact that in an umber of the Southern States the negroes have election of a President of the United States in 1876, when he said to been practically disfranchised. The honest men of ~he South .W.mit this. * * " the United States and the world, "Yon can not go behind the count." It is an undeni

' 8998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEMBER 27,

case of the United States vs. Cruikshank, decided at the April term, Mr.. REAGAN. I am not talking about that. There is no allega­ 1874, by the Supreme Court of the United States: tion to admit the proof, as will be seen by reading the resolution, and A charge that the defendants conspired to injure certain persons of African it is therefore immaterial. I am talking of the resolution which the descent being citizens of the United States, thereby to prevent them from ex­ Senate is asked to pass and not of loose proofs, not of what may come ercising their rights ns citizens, such as the right to peaceably assemble, to bear arm , etc., unles accompanied with an av~rment ~ the injurr was com­ up by a drag-net collection of newspaper slips and anonymous letters mitted by reason of the race, color, or preVIous cond1t10n oi serv1tude of the over the country. person conspii·ed against, is not sustainable in the coum of the United States. The object I had in view, 1\Ir. President, was not to enter into a dis­ I submit that in aD the papers that I have heard the Senator from cussion of this question generally, but simply to respond to what I be­ New Hampshire read, it has not been alleged, and whatever may have lieve to be the very pertinent question which was suggested by the Sen­ been the case ·as to that I submit that these resolutions do not allege ator. from Vermont, and which had caused me to look into this resolu­ that any of these offenses, inferentially alleged to have taken place, tion to see·wbether we had the powe.r topa sit. Therearesomeother were committed to affect a person on a~connt of his race, color, or pre­ points in it to which perhaps I had better call attention before taking vious condition, so that ground falls on the face of the resolution. Its my seat. This is the third clause: averments fail to bring it within the jurisdiction of the Senate. If its Whether such illegalities aTe likely to be rep ented in connection With the a'Verments, though false, brought it within the jurisdiction, possibly election to be held in said State on the 6th of November next of Representatives in Congress; and, if so, whether there is occa ion for the ·alteration by Congress the Senate might take jurisdiction; but when its own averments fail or any of the regulations prescribed by said State for h olding el.ections for such tt> bring it within the jurisdiction of the Senate, surely we are not go­ Representatives in Congress. ing to enter upon a solemn inquiry as to a matter over which we have no jurisdiction. This Senate, one of the gravest political bodies on earth, supposed to At that point, while I do not intend to deal withthe facts in this be distinguished for the maturity ·of the judgment of its members and case at all, I could not but be struck with the reading of the news-· for its conservatism and justice, is to enter upon an inquiry to enable paper clippings by the Senator from New Hampshire this morning. it to guess whether the law will be violated in rui election to be held The statemeuts in these papers in each case showed that the blacks next November. If absurdity could go further and do worse I do not were the aggressors, and although the Seriator stated that the troubles know how it would be brought about, that we are to enter upon a grew _out of politics, none of the papers he read showed that the solemn investigation for the purpose of enabling the Senate to guess parties injured were Republicans or that those alleged to have in­ whether the law is to be violated in an election to be hold in Louisiana next November. flicted the injuries were Democrats; and yet we are indebted to that And if so, whether there is oceasion for the alteration by Congress of a-ny of Senator, the country is indebted to that Senat<>r, for interpolating upon the regulations prescribed by said State for holding elections for such Repre­ these statements his evidence that the people injmed were black people sentatives in Congress. and Republicans, and that the aggressors were white people and Demo­ If we have not sufficient provision to protect the rights of the voters crats. Yetyou cannot.findonewordtothateffectina single one of the and the righta of the candidates for office, and the peace and good or­ papers that he read this morning, as far as I recollect. This is upon the der of society, I suppose we can extend that, and the Senator from New testimony of a Senator who, as the Senator from Louisiana. has said, Hampshire, in his zeal in this respect, can surely suggest any addi­ lives 1,500 miles from that State and knows nothing of the facts him­ tional remedies which may be necessa.ry without a solemn and formal self; but that testimony, to influence an election: to arouse passions, to inquiry for the purpose, not of ascertaining the fact as to whether laws stir bitter feelings, is· perhaps just as good as if it. had been sworn to are desired, but for the purpose of inflaming the public mind, promot- by some competent witness. ing sectional agitation, and inflicting injustice. - Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President- The fourth provision of the resolution is as follows: The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Texas yield to And said committee shall also inquire whether there were in connection the Senator from New Ha.m:pshire. with the aforesaid State election illegalities, frauds. false canvasses, and false re- · Mr. CHANDLER. Will the Senator allow me to read an account of turns, so extensive and systematic ill their chara cter as to show that there ex­ a murder in Texas that was political? isted on the pnrt of the various State election officers a deliberate plan to ap­ parently carry said e lection wUhout regard to the Yotes n.ctually cast, and to 1\Ir. REAGAN. If I have made a mistake, I shall be glad to be cor­ choose a governor and other State officet·s and a State Legislature by such ille­ rected. Is that one of the papers the Senator read this morning? ga1, false. and fraudulent means; a nd, if so, whether s id Legisla t ure wns actu Mr. CHANDLER. No, sir; this is a new one from Texas. ally and duly elected by the p eople of Louisiana, or was in fact substantially the creation solely of the returning and canvassing officers, and whether said Mr. REAGAN. Then I do not yield to that. I am talking about State of Louisiana has a 1·epublican form of government, including a Legislature what the Senator read. The Senator will have time after I get through. entitled to choose United States Senator and to p1:ovide methods for the ap­ :Mr. CHANDLER. I withdraw my request. pointment of electors of President and Vice-President of the United States. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas declines to This resolution r;tises a queshon that it seems to me ought to be yield. thought of and ought to be discussed more than it has been oflate years. Mr. CHANDLER. I will read a case after the Sena,tor gets through Our whole system of government is predicated upon the idea of the where it does show why the murder was committed. capacity of the people for self-government. If the people of this country Mr. REAGAN. The Senator has made his speech and lam talking have :qot the capacity for self-government, then the Republic is a failure now about what be bas presented after his second speech as the grounds and there must be a monarchy, an oligarchy, or an aristocracy to rule for this procedure. I do not know what the Senator has; I do not it. That is the proposition. I submit that for one hundred yE:ars of care what be has. I am dealing with the case on which after two peace and war the people of this country have proven themselves capa­ ' speeches and the resolution he bas rested his case before the Senate. I ble of self-government, and I submit that they are to-day capable of piropose to read further excerpta from the opinion I have just been quot­ self-government. nO'. Referring to the civil-rights act., the Supreme Court say: Then the powers of ggvernment by the constitutions, State and Fed­ Tba-t act was intended to give to the co~ored race the rights of citizenship, and eral, are distributed between the States and the Federal Government. to protect them, as a race or class, from unfriendly State legislation and from lawless combinations. An injury to a colored person, therefore, is not cogni­ All the powers neces..o:;ary are delegated to the Federal Government to zable by the United States courts under that act unless inflicted by reason of his enable it to perform all its. foreign and Federal relations, and no State race color or previous condition of servitude. An ordinary crime against a can interfere with them. To the States is reserved the vast residuum of colo~ed pe~on without having that characteristic is cognizable only in the State courts. power which relates to local controversies, to questions of marriage and divorce, descent and distribution of estates, the enforcement of local I am reading this to sustain the position I have laid down, and I read contracts, the punishment of local violations of the law-I shall not at­ further a part of the sixth clause of the syllabus: tempt to enm:nera.tethem, nor is it necessary, but all that vast residuum The fifteenth amendment does not confer upon Congress the power to regu­ late the righb to vote generally, but only to provide against discrimination on of power remains to the States and is wholly without the jurisdiction account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. of the Federal Government. * * * . * * * * Then our system contemplated that our people were capable of self­ A conspiracy to prevent a colored person from voting is no more a. United States offense thn.n a conspiracy to prevent a white person from voting, unless government to the extent of forming a Federal Government which entered into by reason of the voter' s rnce, color, or previous condition of sel·vi­ should control our foreign and our Federal relations; tbat they were capa­ tude. ble of self-government to the extent of forming State governments hav­ If the Senator has something that he proposes to read hereafter to ing the capacity to deal successfully with all those local questions that show that there is something in the paper which he bas about politics arise within the States. and races, I call his attention and that of the Senate to the fact that he This line of distinction has been steadily adhered to by the Supreme has failed to put it in the resolution, and a demurrer to the testimony Court of the United States, and if the Republic is to exist it mnst con­ would set it aside because he has no basis for its introduction. tinue to be adhered to. Instances in which it bas been broken over by Mr. BLAIR. It would not set aside the fact. the action of Congress have been arrested and set aside by the Supreme Mr. REAGAN. If the Senator will allow me, I am proceeding upon Court of the UJJited States. the supposition that Senators understand that the allegations and the The Senator from New Hampshire evidently contemplates that all proof must agree to and correspond with each other. Perhaps the Sen­ violations of right are the sn"Qjects of Federal jurisdictioiL He evi­ ator from New Hampshire-! will not conclude what I :nllght have dently makes no clear distinction between the powers of the Federal said. Government and the powers of the State governments in relation to :M.r. BLAIR. Or I would reply. such matters, and there is where this perpetual int-ermeddling comes 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8999 . from and comes in-the effort of the people of some of the States to As little as I admire the general principles of the Democratic party intermeddle in, to interfere with, the local affairs of others for political - (they have a right to them; we disagree about public affairs), speaking purpo·es and to accomplish political ends. for the Democrats of the State of Vermont as my constituents, I am If the States are capable of self-government it is fair to assume that bound to say, llijustice to them, that I know of no man in that State the people of each State will dispose properly of the local questions of the Democratic party who would not denounce me if the case were that a rise within it. It is fair to assume that there is no justice in any applied to the State of Vermont if I opposed an inquiry of this kind other State or in Congress attempting to interfere with the legal or there. constitutional duty of the State to dispose of merely local questions. But my friend from Texas says we have not any power. Well, let 1\lr. President, I only intended to state very briefly the reason why I ns see. If we have not, of course such aninqnirywould be futile; very should vote against this resolution. Whenever any resolution comes likely the witnesses could not be convicted of perjury; very likely they up caJ ling for an investigation within the jurisdiction of Congress, could not be compelled to attend, and all that; but let us see whether when any Senator thinks that the law has been violated in any respect we have any power. The Constitution says, as it r~o-ards Senators and over which Congress may have authority to act, I shall certainly in- Members of Congress, and in the same phrase: • terpo c no objection to the proper investigation, but as far as I can un- Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of derstand I mean to oppose all propositions for investigation which sim- its own members. . ply means political agitation in violation of the Constitution and of . How much does that import? How much does it contain? Are we the rights of the States and of the people. to say, as the Senator from Texas referring to the Electoral Commission 1\Ir. EDl\IUNDS. Mr. President, the observations of my friend from did, that neither Honse has any power to go behind the certificate that Texas [Mr. REAGAN] lead metoocc·upyfouror:fiveminntes instating comes to it from a State? The governor of theState-in eachcasecerti­ very briefly my views about this resolution. :fies, in the one case to the Clerk or Speaker as to a Representative in The intermeddling of the Congress of the United States with the t)le House of Representatives, and to the President of the Senate as to local affairs of a State is, of course, very improper. It was thought to a Senator, that so and so, in the case of the House, has been elected a be very improper in times, now happily gone by, when that intermed- member of that body, and that so and so, in the case of a Senator, has dling took the form of petitions of citize!lS of some States in the United been elected a member of this body. If one House possesses the power States addressed to Congress, in favor of proposing to the States amend- to make an inquiry which goes behind the seal of the governor it would ments to the Constitution which should abolish slavery. The same seem to be very clear by the Constitution that the other House would arguments that my honorable and distinguished friend from Texn.s now have it, for the language is the same: and is applied to each and to addresses to us were with much greater violence, but with not greater both in a group, with the same import and the same force. logic, addressed to the Senate and the House of Representatives of the I think I am safe in saying that in the Honse of Representatives for United States against any exertion of the right of petition to change one hundred aud one years, since it was organized, and since this body the structure of the Government in its constitutional forms so as to was organized, whenever the occasion has arisen by a suggestion, an get rid of what many people then believed and many people and, I inquiry, a protest, or whatever, the. House has thought it competent, hope•all now believe was a curse to everybody on this continent, the by the consent of all men of all parties, the fathers and the sons of the institution of slavery. . Republic, from beginning to end, to go to the bottom of that affair and So I am not so greatly agitated at this present moment in respect of ascertain the real truth of that election. So the certificate of the gov­ the fear of our intermeddling with the affairs of the State of Louisiana ernor, the repor~ of the State ca.nvassing boards, the reports of the dis­ or the State of Vermont, whose affairs in the same way, when the Demo- trict canvassing boards, the tally-sheets at the ballot-boxes in each crats were in a majority in this body were by a resolution of the Senate voting precinct are all open to the scrutiny of the truth in order to as~ instructed to be inquired into, and with the urgent appeals on the part certa!n what took place. Is there any safety for the liberty of men as of the Senators from that State (they may have been wrong) that that voters and citizens if such a body with such powers can not go to the investigation should be made to the uttermost, in order that the Con- real truth of the a:ffair? gress of the United States in respect of the elections of the constituents Mr. BUTLER. May I ask the Senator one question just there, not who embrace the other House and this (for they all come from the with regard to the resolution, but on the subject he is discussing? States and the people, only in different forms) might be found to be Mr. EDMUNDS. Certainly. pure and true, or unhappily discovered to be false aud corrupt. There Mr. BUTLER. Does the Senator hold that either House of Congress was no man who ever called himself a Republican and there w~ not . would have the right to make that investigation of its own motion, in any man then, only eight or nine years ago, who called himselfa Demo- the absence of some protest or the memorial or complaint of somebody crat in this body, who did not vote for that very thing. in the State? Times have changed. It is incon-venient for some reason, I hope a :Mr. ED1.IDNDS. I most decidedly do, Mr. President. When the good one, though I confess I am astonished at it; the light of truth, day comes that either Honse of Congress~ when the day comes that thelightthatcomesfrominvestigationandinquiry,shouldnotbetnrned either house of a State Legislature, or any other representative body upon that portion of the people of the United States of whom it is said in this world in a place that is worthy of the name of a government, that the control is in the hands of a minority who have usurped power can only move for the public security and for the development of truth· contrary to the forms gf State written constitutions; contrary to the for the public security when some man who may be in a dungeon or spirit of liberty and justice and equal rights that we all believe in, or may be dead comes to the front and demands it, then there will be a profess to believe in (and I hope. we all do believe in), and it is incon- failure of the government of men by men and for men upon the face or venient that we should know what the truth is. I can not understand the earth. it, sir. We have had a grand-jury system which is, as I think, with great re- If this resolution of the Senator from New Hampshire, about some spect to everybody, a fair illustration of the present matter in 1·egard to parts of which I express no opinion as to their propriety, but if the the particular topic that the Constitution has put in the possession ot general tenor of it turns out to be a slander, as the phrase has been, each of these Houses with regard to its own members. I believe one upon the State of Louisiana, the Senator who introduced it, if he sus- of the many good things that our English fathers' form of government pected it to be a slander, will deserve the reproach of the Senate. If gave to us-we having discarded most of the evil things-was the grand he introduced it in the honest belief that there are wrongs iiy that jury. Who ever heard in any State {unless it may be very recently State which go to the fundamental composition of the whole of this somewhere) that a grand jury could not inquire into some crime or Gos:ernment, because Louisiana is a part of it, and affecting the States wrong injurious to "the State to which it belonged because some citizen of the North and the East and the West and the Pacific coast as much or some witness or some district attorney or some judge had failed to as they do Louisiana, for we are all one-if it should turn out even call their attention to it? They might desire to indict the district at­ that he was mista.ken, I hope that nobody would be more glad and torney himself; they might find it to be their highest duty to indict happy than he to find out that the truth was that the State of Louisi- the judge himself; and are they to wait until he s4_all charge them to ana possesses a government that not·onlyin form but in substance is a inquire into his conduct? government of equal rights and fair play, and that every citizen is de- Mr. BUTLER. Then do I understand the Senator to say that the fended as every citizen of every political party in the State of Ver_mont powers of each House of Congress are inquisitorial, as are ihe powers is and always has been, ofwh:J,tever politics, and by the efforts of men of a ~and jury? of ali 'Politics in that dearest of rights, his innependence as a cit izen, Mr. EDMUNDS. In my humble judgment, with great respect to the the right to cast his vote unchallenged by anybody, and the right to many people I see who are wiser than I, in respect of the subjects that know that it is honestly counted in the sum that goes np to make the the Constitution has confided to them, their power is universal and au­ autonomy of the State government. preme in regard to inquiry, and there is no safety for liberty and private Who shuns an inve tigation of that kind? ~hat Democrat in the rights unless you admit the existence of-that authority to its fullest ex­ State of Vermont would not hide his face in shame if any represeuta- tent. tive of his stood up and objected to an inquiry whether in the State Suppose in the State of Vermont, a State, and that means ever so of Vermont the practical power of its automatic arrangement had gath- much, one-fourth of j.ts inhabitants being what are ~lied Democrats, ered into the hands of a few, by whatever name you may call them, and I only use that term to illustrate my case, because the Democrats and that the great majority of the people were denied and suppressed of Vermont are just as law-abiding as anybody else and would be just in their rights to be heard as voters, and in their rights to participate as eager to defend the right of a Republican voter as a Republican aa voters in the operations of that State. would, and so I only take it to illustrate-suppose one-fourth of the citi- 9000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 8EPTEJtll3ER 2 7,

zens of the State of Vermont being Democrats bad by one contrivance movement is on foot to investigate thoroughly this crime. The following cir­ cula r was issued this afternoon, and two hundred and twenty-five citizens re­ or another, either by fraud or violence or other forms of usurpation, sponded to the call contained therein: got possession of all the counting and canvassing officers in that State "To aU law-abiding citizens: at the ballot-boxes, all the returning boards, and the possession of the ".A. crime of the most foul natw·e has just been perpetrated in our midst. governorship and the Legislature; and suppose the Republicans came Therefore let us come together at 4 o 'clock this evening at t.be court-house and in September last and wished to vote for their candidate for governor, take proper steps, t-hat our citizens and officers may act in unity, tha t the per­ petrators of this crime runy be discovered and the law of our land vindicated. and they were either driven away, or, being allowed to deposit their bal­ "J. T. SMITH, County Judge. lots, their ballots were entirely miscounted and counted for the candi­ . "A. .A.. KILLINGSWORTH, She1·iff, date of the one-quarter of the people of the State, and the returns come "E. B. RAGLAND, Oounty.AttoJ'11e y." in fair on theh· face under the seals of the county officers, gilt-edged, Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, it is easy to get 130,000 Demo­ engrossed on parchment, with every form and semblance of the majesty of cratic majority in the State of Texas when such political murdel'8 as ri~bt-doing,and the three-quarters of the people of the State of Verm~nt, this are constantly t.aking place in that State. the possession of the government of that State and all its administrative The Senator from Texas complains that calling attention to outrages affairs having fallen into the bands of one-quarter of its people, appeal ofthissortis an intermeddling with the affairs of a sovereign State. The • to Congress ior an inquiry into the composition of the government of Senator from Vermont [Mr. EDMUNDS] has well shown bow the States that State, is it republican in form? So far as its constitution goes it· of this Union are interwoven together in all their political interests, appears to be, and always was. Does that answer the Constitution of ancl bow a crime against the suffrage in one State concerns e>ery other the United States? Was that an that our fathers meant when they State. The Legislature of New Hampshire-the people of New Hamp­ said that the United States should gnaranty to each State a republican shire have sent me here to call attention to just such outrages as this form of government? Did they only mean that initswrittenarchives and to intermeddle to just that extent with the affairs of every State deposited in its state-house there should be the parchment that con­ where men are killed solely on account of their politics. tained the fair words of liberty, ofjnstice, of equal rights? Was that I now ask the Secretary to read the account of additional similar oc­ all? No, Mr. President; far from it. The word "form" in the Con­ currences in the sovereign State of Texas. stitution of our fathers meant not only form, but structure and sub­ The PRESIDING OFFICER. The paper will be read. stance and exercise. The Secretary read as follows: Whenever, therefore, there is occasion upon just ground to believe (whether ittnrnsoutto be right or wrong, and may it always turnout to [New York Tribune, September 9, 1888.] be wrong) that in any State,· Vermont or elsewhere, the minority has got DRIVEN OUT BY THE DEMOCil.ATS-NEGRO REPUBLICANS IN FORT BEND COUNTY, possession ot the Government and excludes the majority from partici­ TEXAS, EXILED UNDER PAIN OF DEATH. pation and control, it is the business of Congress to interfere, whether RICHMOND, TEX., Se-ptember 8. The white Democrats have triumphed, and the negro Republicans ordered to silence or proliest comes from the State thus affected, because it is not leave Fort Bend County have gone. About twenty black men were forced out only the welfare of the people of that State, but it is the welfare of the of the county at the muzzle of Winchester rifles. The most prominent exiles are C.l\I. Ferguson, district clerk; H. G. Lucas and Peter 'Van·en, school teach­ people of every State, the welfare of the people of every part of the ers. The war grew out of the attempt made on Monday night to as assinate nation that is involved, and can not be separated from a right and just H. H. Frost, a white Democrat. 'Vhile he was on the way from his store to his republican government in form and substance in every State over the bouse be was waylaid and shot. His wounds were considered fatal, and a pack of bloodhounds was put on the tra.il to the negro quarter of the town and to the continent. -The Senators from Vermont make laws for the people of bouse of John Ervin. Louisiana. They are Senators of all the people once elected, :;.~.nd there­ Ervin and his son and n. school-teacher, Donavan, were arrested. No attempt fore there can be no evil spot anywhere in this Union that does not was made to lynch them, as it was not certain that they·were the guilty men. H. F. Randle, deputy county assessor, was arrested and is still in jail on the affect the welfare and the safety of every other part of it. charge of being implicated in the shooting of Frost. Randle is a white man. Eo I s:ty, Mr. President, hoping with all my heart that an inquiry The county assessm·, Henry Ferguson, is a negro. On Wednesday morning the into the state of affairs in Louisiana will vindicate that people and that following circular was distl'ibuted about the stores of Richmond: "Every white man in town is urgently requested to meet at the court-bouse whole people, not a small part of it, but all of them as a mass from the at 1 o'clock p. m." heliefsaml the suspicions, toputitin themildestphrase, that now exist In response to this notice fully 400 men assembled in the court-house. Clem so· broadly, I can not see any ground upon which any Senator should ob­ Bassett was elected president·. .After speeches, the following resolutions were a-dopted: ject to an inquiry of this kind. "Resolved, That in view of the crimes ln.tely committed in our midst, we con­ Mr. CHANDLER. Mr. President, I omitted when speaking before sider it necessary to the public good that the following persons be warned to to ask permission of the Senate to insert at the close of my remarks leave the county within ten hours from uot.ification: C. M. Ferguson, H. G. Lucas, certain accounts of the proceedings in Louisiana to which I have re­ Peter Warren, J.D. Davis, Tom Taylor, Jack Taylor, and C. M . Williams; that this convention wait as a committee of the whole on such of these persons as ferred. I ask unanimous consent that I may put in the marked ·pas­ can now be found and through our president notify them of these resolutions, sages from the Louisiana. Standard of August 25, of September 1, and and that the others be notified by a copy of these resolutions; that the above­ named parties be forever warned from returningt o this cc unty. of September 22, and also an extract from the :l\fonroe Telegraph of .. Resolved, That we believe that the leaders -of the Republican party of Fort .August 18, 1888, and an article from the Washington Post of Septem­ B end County are morally responsible for the assassination of J. M. Shamblin 'ber 20, 1888. and the attempted assassination of H. H. Fi:ost, and we demand of them to bring t-he guilty lJarties to justice, and we notify them and we solemnly wnrn them The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request of that the patience of an outraged people has been exhausted, and that if another the Senator from New Hampshire? The Chair hears none. Democrat in this county is personally harmed we will hold said leaders respon- Mr. CHANDLER. The Senator from Texas [Mr. REAGAN] com­ sible in their persons for such acts." ... plains there was no averment in the case of the killing of colored peo­ A body of four hundred armed Democrats then warned the colored men to move and escorted them out of the county. '.rbe negroes were compelled tQJ ple iu Louisiana, which I submitted to the Senate, that they were abandon homes, Cl'Ops, and family. There was nothing against them but sus­ murdered on account of their politics. If the Senator had listened to picion. my remarks he would have understood dist.inctly that I took the Mr. CHANDLER. The Senator from Texas undertook to make the ground that these murders were part of a deliberate system; that Senat-e believe that in all these outrages the negroes are the aggress­ whether admitted to be political or not they were in fact such; that ors. I do not deny but what the Democratic papers, and the Demo­ these diRarmings and as.."!RSSinations of the Louisiana colored peQple cratic reporters who furnish the reports to the metropolitan press of were for the purpose of ~reating a state of terror as a preparation tor the the South, assert that the negroes are the aggressors; but 1 undertake election in November. The same state of things exists in the Stat-e of to say myself that in no case where an investigation may be made will Texa-S, and I now submit to the Senator from Texas the a-ccount which it turn out tl).at the negroes have been the aggressors. It is not in'the I send to the deak of a recent murder, since the late debate, in the nature of things. It is not in accordance with the facts as developed State of Texas, which clearly appears to have been the killing of a in previous affairs of this kind. Republican because he was a. Republican. Mr. REAGAN. Will the Senator allow me a word? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The article referred to will be read Mr. CHANDLER. Certainly. by the Sec_retary. Mr. REAGAN. The facts about this are that Mr. Shamblin was The Secretary read as follows: supposed to be assassinated by a negro who had threatened his life be­ [New York Daily Tribune, Saturday, September 1, 1888.] cause he was a. Democrat. That was the beginningofit. He was called TEXAS-1\IURDERED FOB BEING A REPUBLICAN-A KUKLUX OUTRAGE PERPE­ to the door and shot down in his own house. TRATED IN TEXAS-RANGED, SHOT, AND MUTILATED. Mr. CHANDLER. .A. negro killed a white man in his b:mse, shot LONGVIEW, TEX., August 31. him down for being a Democrat? A.bout 2 o'clock this afternoon Deputy Sheriff Walter Reynolds returned from Mr. REAGAN. Yes, sir. his search for the body of Harrison Spencer, the colored politician who was Mr. CHANDLER. That is ridiculous. forcibly taken from his home a few nights ago by a. masked b&nd of Kuklux. Spencer had deserted the Union-Labor party and announced his intention of Mr. REA.GAN. Let me make my statement. It ma.y be Yery un­ supporting the Republican ticket. Reynolds reported that he had found Spen­ welcome to the Senator-- cer's body about 3~ miles from his place, on the west bank of Harris Creek. No Mr. CHANDLER. It is not unwelcome if it is tme, but it is a sooner had the news spread than over one hundred ~itizens, white and black, started to the scene. . ridiculous statement. The dead man was found banging from a Jim b about 15 feet from the ground with Mr. HE.A.GAN. It may be very unwelcome to the Senator to bear a rope around his neck. His hands were tied behind him, and the cords were that a Democrat was shot down by a Republican. drawn so· tightly that they cut dee~ly into his flesh. He was evidently shot be­ fore the rope was placed around h1s neck. There is a bullet-hole just behind Mr. CHANDLER. That a negro went to a. Democrat in bis bouse the left ear a~d one in his left. side, and he had been brutally mutilated. A and shot him down ! 1888. · CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. · 9U()l

Mr. REAGAN. The man who shot him left a paper on his gate noti­ Mr. REAGAN. It does not leave them uninquired into, but it fying him that he was killed for being a Democrat. Nothing was done leaves the proper authorities to inquire into them. about that. That was followed by the shooting of the other person Mr. BLAIR. That is, nothing can be done under the Constitution named there. That was then followed, not by killing negroes in re­ of the eountry to suppress them. turn for it, but by telling them that some of them must get away from Mr. REAGAN. The Senator does not understand that there are there. such things as State constitutions and State laws and State courts to Mr. BLAIR. I should like to ask the Senator a question if he will deal with local affairs of that kind? permit me. Mr. BLAIR. No, I do not. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Texas yield to Mr. SPOONER. I want to say simply to the Senator from New the Senator_from New Hampshire? Hampshire that I thtnk be does not understand the question from the Mr. REAGAN. I ·have not the floor. tenor of his last suggestion. I think that if he did he would assume Mr. BLAIR. Under the general relations between the white and that whenever a white Democrat is killed in the South by a negro the the colored people the fact that the white is the dominant race and authorities are very prompt and efficient, and also Rome not in author­ that this inquiry among others is on foot, is there any reason to sus­ ity, in providing a remedy. It is only in those cases where a negro is pect that Democrats placed that same notification upon the door-post killed by a Democrat that no rewards are offered and no attemp~ is in order to create a suspicion at the North that the colored people made to apprehend or punish the guilty party. were engaged in warfare and murder upon the dominant race of the Mr. REAGAN. That statement is gratuitous on the part of the Sen­ South? ator, and unjust and undeserved by the Southern people. So fiu as I Mr. REAGAN. I must make e Yankee's answer to my friend by know, certainly in the State of Texas, the punishment of crime, whether inquiring if he thinks it probable that a Democrat agreed to be shot committed against bla-cks or whites, is as faithfully car~ed out "liS it down in order to make capital for the Democratic party? could be in the State the Senator represents here, and such a statement Mr. BLAIR. I do not know about that. I do not know what the ought not to be made by a Senator on this floor. devotion of a Democrat to his party might lead him to do. I have a Mr. SPOONER. I have only this authority for making the state­ suspicion that perhaps he would for the sake of carrying the election ment as applied to the State of Texas, that in one case three colored atld securing to his party the plunder of the next fom years allow such men were hanged without any opportunity for trial, without any hear­ a thing as this to be done, but I do not think it would be probable of ing, hunted as if they were dogs, and no reward was offered locally or the mass of the Democratic party. I do not understand, however, as by the governor of the State for the apprehension of the men who per­ the Senator does, or as he has previously said, that anything of the petrated that outrage; no grand jury ever inquired into it in the vicin­ kind he suggests in his last remark is true. I · understand him to say age; no district attorney undertook to secme the apprehension of the that t.here was a notification pinned upon the gate-post of the house of men who did it. I have known of a case where a Democrat was shot the white man murdered that he was murdered because he was a Demo- down in the same county and a reward, and a large reward, was promptly crat. . offered by the governor of the State, and I think, also, locally, for the Mr. REAGAN. So-the statement is made. apprehension of the man who did it. I have that much wanant for :M:r. BLAIR. I do not understand that the colored man called the the assumption thil.t there is a different rule applied to those who kill white man into the colored man's cabin and killed him and notified Republican negroes from that which is applied to those who kill white him that he killed him because he was a Democrat. That I do not Democrats. understand. Mr. REAGAN. That statement ought to be accompanied by this Mr. REAGAN. It was a white man who was shot down in his own statement: That the judge of that district was a Republican, the dis­ ' house, not in a colored man's house. trict attorney was a Republican, and the county attorney was a Repub­ Mr. BLAIR. Exactly; a notification pinned upon the gate-post of lican. the murdered white man that he was killed because he was a Demo­ I have further to say, if the Senator is anxious to find a parallel, crat. that he can go all over the Nor~hern States and he will find places Mr. REAGAN, Yes, sir. where men are lynched and no punishment is meted out to the lynch­ Ur. BLAIR. The question I asked was, there being a cloud over ers, no proclamation issued, no rewal'd offered for their apprehension, the actual source of that man's death, whether it is not possible that and apparently no more effort made than there was there to punish as a means of false explanation to the North, the Democrats invented those men. We see accounts of them frequently, but it does not dis­ that notification and pinned that falsehood upon the gate of this mur- turb the Senators tbllt white men are lynched in Northern States and . dered man in order that the North might be misled? Does the Sen­ these lynchers are not punished and no rewards offered for their ap­ atQr, in other words, think that a Republican negro entered upon a prehension. crusade against the dominant race of the South and killed one of its Mr. SPOONER.· I simply want to say in response to that statement leaders because he was a Democrat and then posted a notice accord­ that I do not deny, and no man can deny, that in the Northern States ingly? there are occasionally lynchings; no man can deny that, there are mur­ Mr. REAGAN. The Senator does not understand what took place ders; but I have known no instance in my life where a lynching took there. Tpe dominant party there are the negroes. I have heard the place in a Northern State without a reward being · offered and steps suggestion that men who agree with the Senator in politics-! do not taken to ferretoutthe offenders and bringthe·m to punishment. That mean in character but in politics-in that country stimulated outrages is the difference between the two sections. for the purpose of furnishing political capital to Republicans, but I Ur. BLAIR. Mr. President- have never heard the suggestion before now that Democrats killed one The PRESIDING OFFICER. TheSenatorfrom New Hampshire to and came near killing another man in order to make political capital the left of the Ohair [Mr. CrrANDLER] is entitled to tho floor. Does for the Republicans or anybody else. he yield tQ his col1eague? The Senator's question, in view of what has appt!ared, is simply ab­ Mr. CHANDLER. I yield to my col1eague. surd. I know that the Senator and his associates in opinion have no Mr. BLAIR. I wish merely to say that if the Senator from Texas sympathy with white men. They may be shot down for their politics will put me in possession of the names and allegations of fact similar and their families deprived of protection and support. That is all to those which he bas so 1requently stated to the Senate, I will myself right. But if a _colored man ha.ppens to be shot down, that is terribly take the responsibility, as I can do under my views of the Constitution, wrong. They never propose to investigate where white men are killed. of introducing a resolution for the investigation of this case wherein, If there were to be a general investigation into fraud and crime, every as I understand him, the proof will develop the fact-and I submit day I could pick up newspapers and I could bring a peck of them here that it is the first one within the whole runge of American history­ showing murders and crimes of the deepest dye all over the North. t~at a colored Republican has murdered a Democratic leader in the Why not investigate those things? State of Texas or any other State from political motives. Mr. CHANDLER. Is there any pretense that they are political As the Senator represents the State where th1s outrage has been com­ murders? mitted, respecting his constitutional scruples, as I must, if he will give Mr. REAGAN. The gentleman chooses to call everything a polit­ me the data so that I can establish the facts, I will offer a resolution ical murder. of investigation not only conscientiously, but with great alacrity, and Mr. BLAIR. I wish merely, as I had a share-a third interest, I I assure him with a perseverance that will proba,bly result in a devel­ think-in this colloquy, to ask the Senator if it would not be well and opment of the actual facts. just on the whole to the public sentiment of these 65,000,000 of peo­ Mr. REAGAN. I want to state one more fact, if the Senator from ple, S~uth and North, for him to introduce a resolution of investiga­ New Hampshire will permit me to do so. tion to find out about this political murder of a Democrat by a negro Mr. CHANDLER. I yield. in the State of Texas? Mr. REAGAN. It has not been long since at Longview, Tex.~ a Mr. REAGAN. If I had no more respect for the Constitution of the colored man declare his intention to vote the Democratic ticket, and United States than my friend from New Hampshire bas, I should do he was waited upon about midnight by some other colored men, taken it; but as I respect the Constitution I decline. off to the Sabine Swamp, and has never been heard of since. Another Mr. BLAIR. I understand the Senator's construction of the Con­ colored man was taken off-so the newspapers say-and murdered by stitution of·the United States would leave such things as political other colored men for saying he was going to vote tho Democratic murders uninquired into. ticket. · 9002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEl\IBER 2 7'

Mr. CHANDLER. Will tbe Senator give the names of those peo­ know how fur a Senator lS at liberty to go on and say that a statement ple? made by another Senator is unqualifiedly false, or that it is made for Mr. REAGAN. I can not, because I do not remember them. The dishonest and unworthy purpo es. If that be the practice of the Sen­ first occurrence was at Longview and was published in the newspapers. ate, if that be the r--.:tle of parliamentary law, I do not object to it. I I do uot remember even -the locality of the other, but the newspapers am just as ready to engage in that kind of debate probably as any Sen­ stated it. - ator on the other side; but it seems to me that the Senate can not af­ Mr. COKE. I can give the Senator the names. ford to indulge in that kind of debate. The more language of that The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from New Hamp­ kind that comes from Senators on that side the better it is for Senators shire yield to the Senator from Texas [Mr. CoKE]? on this side. Mr. CHANDLER. I will yield in a momen if the Senator will 1\Ir. DAWES. I understand the rule to be that when a Senator is wait, because I LER. I now yield the floor. "Whereas this feeling of proscription exists to.a greater or less extent in al­ ~1r. COKE. Mr. President, the statement just made by the Sen­ most every county in this State; and "Whereas there has been a Republican convention called to meet at Fort ator from New Hampshire, that ·the Republicans failed to put out a State Worth on the-20th day of t)lis month to selec~a. candidate for governor and other ticket because of fear of personal consequences, I denounce here as ab­ State officers against th.e Democratic nominees for State officers; and, solutely and unqualifiedly false, without a. particle of foundation. It "Whereas we believe that there are at least 50,000 or 60,000 Republican yoters in this State that have not voted the Republican ticket on account of the fore­ is a statement made for political effect. The purpose for which it is going reason; and made is a dishonest and an unfair one. It is a statement not believed "WherE-as we believe there are thousands of intelligent Democrats or in by the Senator who makes it himself. other organized parties that stand willing or read-y to join us in a. continued ef­ fort to overthrow the old moss-backs, Bourbon, rebel, collar-bound element of l\1r. CHANDLER. I call the Senator to order, and ask that the the Democratic organization : Therefore, words which he has uttered be read, and that the Chair may rule "Be it resolved, That the delegates from this county to the Republican conven­ whether or not they are parliamentary. tion at Fort Worth be, and are hereby, instructed to co-operate with otheJII!Parties and organizations that will best subserve the purposes heretofore mentioned." The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas will proceed The resolutions were voted down by 63 to 16. The point about it is the con­ inorder. _ vention was composed of three-quarters negroes. The resolutions were intro­ Mr. COKE. If I have said anything derogatory to the dignity of duced by a white man named Platte, a city alderman. The sixteen who voted for the resolutions were white men, and th-e negroes having more honesty than the Senate, I withdraw it and apologize to the Senate. their white friends voted them down. A prominent negro got up and said the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator will proceed in order. resolutions were. lie on the people of Texas. Thus the Republican negroes of 1\Ir. CHANDLER. I desire to make a suggestion. I am not very Travis County give the lie to HoA.R, INGALLS, and other bloody-shirt wearers. 1t transpires that the bloody-shirt resolutions introduced in the Travis County familiar with the rules which govern par~iamentary debate, and I do not Republican convention to-day, but defeated by 63 to 16,were written by a promi· 1888. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 9003

nent white Republican politician of Austin now in the North, and intended for M:r. BLAIR. Will the Senator answer me the question in what way use against Cleveland and Thurman in the Northern States to fire the Northern that platfonn proves that the Republican party were not afraid to put heart. He failed. · out a_ticket? 1\Ir. COKE. Now, Mr. President, I will state that Judge Rector, Mr. COKE. The recital of the platfonn, the last clause of it: who figures in t~is Republican conventwn, is the chairman of the Re- . S · · d h ted · t th · 1 In view of the fact that the Republicans ot Texas have already placed a full pnbl IC.'l>n tate executive comnnttee-, an e vo agams IS reso u- electoral ticket in lhe field, and the further fact that there is no reasonable prob· tion and denounced it in a speech on_the floor of that convention. I ability of electing a. State Republican ticket, we hereby express our conviction ask that the proceedings of the Cooke County Republican convention that it would be unwise and inexpedient under these and other existing circum­ also be read. Cooke County is 350 mileg from Travis County, where :_d~~= ~~; ~~:t:~~~~~ns of Texas to place in the field any candidate or can­ these proceedings were held. The Secretary read as follows: :Mr. BLAIR. Now, I ask the Senator's attention to that clause in cooKE COUNTY REPUBLICANS. view of the fact that there is no rP-asonable probability of the Repub­ licans electing a State officer; i& not that a peculiar form of expres- [Special to the Gazette.] aion, aml how does the Senator a.cconnt for the fact there stated? GAiNEsviLLE, TExr, SepteTnberlB. Mr. COKE. Ifthe Senatorwill allowmetol)roceed, hewillfind-·- Tbe Republican convention of Cooke County met here this afternoon and was Mr. BLAIR. If the Senator tmderstands my question by a sort of called to 01·derby the county chairman. Delegates to the Fort Worth conven- tion were elected, and resolutions indorsing the Chicago platform and favoring mental process which does not require me ro state it, if he takes it the nomination of a straie:htRepublicanticketfornllStateofliceswere adopted. naturally, and he sees the point, I certainly shall be very glad to have W. B. Johnson, attorney, in a speech, referred to the alleged outmges reported from time to time and said for the most part they were all bosh. He had been him answer it. in Texas seve:rn.l years and he had never been mistreated on account of his Mr. COKE. The Republican party of Te-xas is in a hopeless minor- politics. ity. At this. time there are some two or three other political parties The chairman said it was reported all through theNorth that the Republicans +-bl of Texas were afraid to put out a ticket. He had been in the State fifteen years. in Texas-. .All of them together may present a respeC~U e ap})earance He believed Texas was just as good a. State for Republicans as for Democrats. and poll a respectable vote. For the purpose of joining fortunes with Some of his best friends are Democrats. He had never been abused for being a. these the Republican party of Texas simply does not put a. tieket in RiJ~b~~ echoed the sentiments of the-ehair. He labored under no em bar· the .field, alief it is understoOd that tlie Republicans are to '.rote with - rassment b-y being a. Republican. He believed there are as faitr elections in Texas these other parties I have referred to. as anywhere. He was in favor of a. straight Republican State ticket. 1\Ir. BLAIR~ Will the Senator nan:e those parties? On motion. the convl'lntion resolved itself into a Harrison and Morton club, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senatoi' from Texas· vield and about fiiLy members were enrolled. The convention then adjourned till J- next Thursday. to the Senator from New Hampshire? - 1\Ir. COKE. I hold in my hand the platform of the Republican .Mr. COKE. I will yield now. party of Texas:, just adopted two or three days ago in convention at ])fr. BLAIR. !simply wish to ask, does th.e Senator mean by "thesa Fort Worth. Unless some gentleman on the other side desires it read other parties" the Prohibitionists? in fnll I will not ask that it be done. Mr. COKE~ They are the Prohibitionists and the Union. Labor Mr. BLAIR. ! should be glad to hear it. party, the Non-partisan party, and well, se-veral others, the names of Mr. COKE. Very weU, I will read it. The portion you would like which! do not remember now. to hen.r particularly I intended to read. I send it to the desk to be Mr. BLAIR.. The Prohibitionists being the chief; and is it nXJt prob- read. able, then, this combination is made with the Prohibitionists in the The Secretary read as follows: hope of dividing the Texas: delegation in the Senate and securing the THE PLATFORM-OUTRAGES DENOUNCED. SUpport Of the Senntor's COlleague? . . . - Mr. COKE. '.L'he Senator can answer that question to suit himself. lo"!e:, your conumt.tee on platform and resoluttons, beg leave to report as fol- [Laughter.] .Al~ that I have to say about it is that ~he statement .we co~mll_yrn.tify .the nominati~n . of that eminent statesm~ and tried. sol-~ heretofore made~ the Senate, that has bee~ repeated m the Senate, d1er, l3enJamm HarriSon, for Prestdent, and that able frnanciel" and philan- that the Republkans refused to put out a ticket because they were ~~ofi~~~~~~~;,~ri P. Morton, for Vice-President, and do hereby pledge the_m afraid to do it,_ is· not true, ~nd this pla~orm prov:ea it; the proc~ingS We hereby declare that we are in thorough a.ccord with the platform promul- of the Republican convention at .Austin prove It; the proceedings of gated by the late national convention at Chicago, and with the principles of the the Republican convention at Gainesville are clear proof of it. Now nationalR~publieanpa.rtyasenunciated,explained,andinterpretedintherecent M Pr ~~ Ih · ha h b ail d . h ' letter of Benjamin Harrison accenting the n{)mination of the Republican party r. esiu.ent, ope srnce t t statement as een n e tot e conn- for President. - ter it will be allowed to remain there and will not be taken up and _We demand such nationallegisl~tion as ,:will give adequate protection to wool, used again in this canvass. It is untrue. The facts show it to be un- hides, and all Texas products and Industnes. Th R t...li ofT ~ 1 . ,__ d -~ · · • As citizens of this great State, the mutual welfa-re of which is to us paramount true. e epu~:~ . cans exas tllemse ves JJ.l..IIVe enonncvu It as un- toeverypa.rtisa..nconsider&:tion,~edeploretheexisten~oftheseou~eswhich true and certainly It ought to be taken to be untrue~ have be0? recently comm1tted m Fort Bend and Washmg;ton Co~t1es. Mr. President \vith reference to the ditliculty in Fort Bend County We believe that the growth, development, and prosperity of th1s great Stat.e bo hi ' ...... :_ · .c • ·I ha ' should not be retarded nor imperiled by the lawless acts of certain patties in a u~ w ch somew.u..ug was said a1.ew nunutes ago, ve 8 statement these counties. We denounce these outrages and demru1d that their perpetra- here 1n a paper: from that county: tors be punished according to the law of the land, without regard to party affil­ iation. REPUBLICA..."'TS::U "\"8. ASSA.:!SI~ATION~ Mr. BLAIR. I ask the Senator be does not appro'fe of that lan- On the night of August 1, 1888, Mr. .J. I. Shamblin, a peaceable and most if wo-rthy citizen of this couuty, was- cruelly murdered by an unknown assassin guage in the Republican platfonn? while sitting quietly at his home at night, surrounded by his wif:! and children. Mr. COKE. That plank, of course I do. On the front gate of 1\Ir. Shamblin's yard was tacked a notice which read as 1\lr. BLAIR. I supposed so. follows, some alierations being made in lhe punctuation a.nd spelling. Mr. COKE. That was the. one I intended reading for the Senator7s I will ask that this notice be read by the Secretary. benefit. . The PRESIDING OFFICER. It will be rea.d. l\1r. BLAIR. Then in :regard to what they say of wool and other The Secretary read as follows: things that relate to the general prosperity of Texas? [Laughter.] "I am ju t from town and full of h -ll in the neck. ~Ir. Shamblin, yon havo Mr. COKE. I have nothing to say about that just now. [Laughter.] been holding Democratic meetings with the neg1·oes, and you have said that Mr. BLAIR. I supposed so. any negro that don't vote tue Democratic ticket is sticking a. knife in yout· child's side. The Republicans have declared that no Democrat shall be allowed Mr. COKE. Let the reading continue. to hold any Democratic meeting in any private place among the ignorant ra.ce The_Secretary continued the reading, as follows: of negroes. It is said that Grandpa Harrison's pants won't fHBenny,butBenny is going to wear them bef.ore the end of time. The Republican party is ~oing In view of the fact that the Republicans of Texas have already placed a full to hold their beads up if they die..hard. We will have no Democrat to m1i;lead electoral ticket in the field, and the further fact that there is no reasonable prob­ the ignorant negro astray. You are the ma.n. to lead them astray and cut their ability of electing a State Republican ticket, we hereby express our conviction throats and suck their blood. I am a Republican, and have no use for a. d-n that it would be unwise and inexpedient under these and otherexistingcircum· Democrat. This is a. lesson to all d-n cut-throat Democrats to hold no more stances for the· Republicans of Texas to place in the field any candidat~ or can­ didates for State offices. Democratic meetings with the ignora u t negro race of people." Respectfully submitted. This notice was written on a slip of papel" torn from a railroo.d time-book, and corresponded exactly with the missing page of a tim~-book: found in the EUGENE MARSHALL, Chairma-n. possession of William Caldwell, a negro, while the writing seemed identical A motion to receive the report and dischaTge the committee was made. Tbis with the writing of Caldwell. This notice was published in nearly every daily was objected to, and an amendment that the report be received and adopted paper in the State, besides a. large number of weeklies, and the general impres­ was put to the house. The result was that the amendment was adopted by a sion conveyed was that Mr. Shamblin had' been assassinated for political rca­ vote of 256 to 130. sons, and because he was an influential Democrat A motion thanking the chair and officers and the citizens of Fo:::t Worth was adopted. MI. COKE. 1fr. President, some two or three weeks afterwards Richard Nelson introduced a resolution indorsing the Globe-Democrat as the Mr. Frost, a very prominent citjzen of Fo-rt Bend County, living in "faithful friend of the colored people of the Southwest. This was also adopted. the same town with 1\Ir. Shambrm, was going home about 9 "o'clook at On motion of Richard Allen, of Harris, a. campaign committee was provided for. De Gress was made the chairman, with power to make up the commit­ night, and as he opened hjs front gate was fired on from ambush and tee by appointing on it one Republican from eaoch Congressional district. seriously and badly wounded. Mr. Frost was, like 1\Ir. Shamblin, a The convention then adjourned sine die. prominent Democrat and white man. Steps were taken to try to ascer• Mr. COKE. I have had that read for the purpose of nailing the false­ tain who the assassin was. The people failed to find who he was, but hood that; has been repeated in the press and in the Senate that the Re­ suspicion rested ve1·y strongly upon three or four persons whO' we-re publican party were afraid to put out a ticket in Texas. negroes, and tliey were ordered to leave. Shamblin had been mur- 9004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. SEPTEMBER 27,

dered in his own house surrounded by his wife and children; Frost the State where a mendacious Republican press are willing to frame a had been shot down at his own gate as he was going home at night.. charge. Mark the conservatism of those people when not being entirely sat- Mr. President, I dislike discussions of this character. I have to be isfied, having strong proof, but not that which amounted to legal evi- driven into them. I believe there is no _statesmanship in them . I be­ deuce, that certain parties were guilty of this assassination, they offered lieve they are derogatory to the dignity and character of t.he Senate. them no violence, but as a measure of defense, as a measure of self-pro- I believe they are disgraceful to this body. And yet my State bas been tection, as a measure to preserve the lives of other citizens, simply attacked, my people have been slandered and traduced, and I speak in ordered them to leave; and they did leave. That was a Democratic their defense only when driven to the wall. If gentlemen have any· outrage; but two Democmts-one was murdered in the presence of his thing legitimate to say against Texas let them say it. But when a great wife and children, and an attempt was made to murder the other, and State like that is arraigned before the American people and the Amer­ he was grievously wounded when he was going into his own yard at ican Congress, I submit that charges of graver import than these should night. That is the Fort Bend occurrence. That is the transaction be brought against her. denounced here by the Senator from New Hampshire a:; a Democratic I think, as I remarked awhile ago in answer to a question of my outrage. That is all there is about that. No dropofRepubLicanblood friend on my left, that we have 2,500,000 at least of people iff Texas, has been shed in Fort Bend County; but one Democrat has been bru- and I will say about that 2,500,000 people that there are not 2,500,000 tally butchered and another cripled and maimed for life by the shot people in this Union who are doing more to make this a grand and a of a Republican ass~in. glorious country than they are. · Now, as to Washington County, the Senator from Wisconsin says We have there, Mr. President, the raw material of wool and of cot. that three negroes were taken out and hanged. This is true; but he ton and of hides to keep all the spindles and artisans in the United failed to state the whole truth, and it is as reprehensible in morals as States who manufacture those materials going for an indefinite time. in law to fail to state the whole truth as it is to fail to state the truth We have 8,000 miles of railroad, and it is being increased annually at at all. These three negroes were taken out of jail and hanged. They the rate of from 1, 000 to 1,500 miles. After feeding our people, we were taken out by a masked mob; and why were they taken out? sent out $175,000,000 worth of products to other States and to foreign They were taken out because they were· accessories to the murder of countries for sale. We are discharging our duty the best we know young Bolton, another white man. how, and we think we know as well how as the Senator from Wis· Notice the fact, Mr. President, that the assassin's shot has yet struck cousin and the Senator from New Hampshire. At all events we are no Republican. The blood that has been shed has been the blood of attending strictly to our own business, and we challenge any State in white men and of Democrats in Fort Bend County and in Washington the Union to present a better record for social order than the Republic· County, except the three negroes who were taken out of jail and hanged an platform of Texas by the clearest implication shows that we have. by a masked mob. These three negroes, as I stated here on a former I do not care to thrash over old straw. This question was up some occasion, for safe-keeping, in view of the violence thatwasfearedagainst ten days or two weeks ago and was discussed. It is brought up again. them, were sent to Houston and placed in jail there, and just before It seems to be kept on t.ap to be used on any and all occasions. I have court met, and when it was believed that the feeling had subsided, they nothing further to say about it than that the allegations made against were sent back for trial to Brenham . . Then it was that the jail was the people of Washington County, the people of Fort Bend County, and brokenintoandtheyweretakenoutandhung. Theywerehungforthat the people of Texas generally, are infamous sla:qders and falsehoods for which men from the earliest history of this country have been hung, such as should never have been heard in the American Senate. and in the way that men have been hung ever since these Unit~dStates Mr. SPOONER Mr. President, I am surprised that the I'emark I have been a country. Itwasnotrightto take them from thejailand hang made to the Senator from New Hampshire [Mr. BLAIR] has led the them. Itwasnotrighttodothis; Idonotjustifyit; butidosaythatthe Senator from Texas [Mr. CoKE] to repeat, with some variations not motive which prompted these men to take and hang these negroes was altogether creditable to him, I think, the speech which he submitted the same motive that has prompted similar performances in every State on another occasion. I did not intend, I assure the Senate, to bring in this Union. '.rhe Senator from Connecticut [Mr. HAWLEY] said into debate again by the remark I made the Washington County out­ that nothing of that sort has ever occurred in Connecticut. I was in- rages. The Senator from Texas gratuitously informs me that a sup· terrupted to be so informed when this question was before the Senate pression of the truth is as bad as a falsehood. When I want a teacher heretofore, and I excepted Connecticut. I do not believe there is a in ethics, Mr. President, I shall not go to Texas for one. State in this Union in which mobs have not hung men, and I believe The Senator says that this discussion, and I am warranted in sup· that there are, some Sta.tes every county in which have witnessed sim- posing that he includes the discussion of kindred topics, is a disgrace ilar violations of law. to this body. That depends, in my judgment, upon the manner of de- The effort to make this out political is unworthy of a Senator.. There bate. I kpow of no subject better befitting the dignity of the United • was nothingpoliticalaboutit. The man who fired the shot that killed States Senate than the mn,intenance of constitutional right in the citi· young Bolton is, I believe, alive now. These negroes were accessories. zen of the United States. I know of no question which dignified Sen· The feeling engendered by the murder of Bolton prompted the break- n.tors can better afford in the discharge of their duty to investigate and ing of the jail and the hanging of these negroes, and not any political todebatethanquestions.affectingthewell·beingandsafetyofrepublican motive or political purpose. / government, and to determine whether there be any place in the United Another Democratic outrage which is paraded before the country is States where the rights ofcitizenship are denied to men entitled to them. the killing of Joseph Hoffman. Hoffman was a candidate fo:r a county There is nothing in the subject which warrants the animadversion of the office on the Democratic ticket. He was a Republican, but the same Senator from Texas, and so far as my participation in this debate is con· shot that killed Hoffman also killed Holt, the most active, aggressive, cerned there has been nothing in it, I submit, which tended to degrade and pushing Democrat in Washington. County. Hoffman and Holt the Senate or which was notin hn,rmonywiththedignitywhich should were sitting together, and the assassin fired and killed both of them. prevail here. The bandying of epithets about this Chamber is disgrace­ Hoffman was running on a Democratic ticket, and Holt was one of the fu1, no matter what the subject of debate .may chance to be. leading Democrats of the county; and yet the assassin who killed both' I am not to be taunted by the Senator from Texas or any other Sen· of them with one shot is said to have perpetrated a Democratic out- ator with half telling the truth. The day when the manners of the rage. · · negro-driver could frighten men in the United States Sena~ hns_gone Hoffman is the only man in Texas, so far as the testimony before the by and gone by fore>er. [Applause in the galleries.] Senate goes, who has been struck by a bullet, because there is no proof The PRESIDING OFFICER rapped with his gavel. of any other. Whil~ ~e ~as a Republican he was runn~g on 3: m~ed Mr. SPOONER. This is a place for debate, for argument, not for ticket, on a Democratic ticket, and the man who was killed ~1th h1m abuse. The assumption that I have prejudice or hatred against the was one of the most extreme Democrats in the county. State of Texas, or the people of Texas, or the people of the South, is These are the Texas outrages; these are the outrages that have been utterly without foundation. I want to see the South prosperous. I kept for two or three years to fire the Northern mind for the purpose have withheld no vote since i became a member of this body which of gaining votes for the Republican ticket ! could by any possibility tend to build up the South, nor Rhall I do so; Mr. President, I find in the platform which has been read in the but when I am charged by the Senate of the United States with the hearing of the Sen.:'lte- performance of a duty, when I am b~dde~ to investigate char~es aga~t ·we denounce the outmges in Fort Bend and in Washington Counties. a county in the State of Texas, or m any other State, and ln the dis· Ancl the outrages in Fort Bend and in Washington Counties are those ·charge of that duty I find that the rights of citizenship are denied there, that I have recited to you. They speak of no others in this platform. that the law is trampled upon there, and that men in high station In one hundred and ninety counties in Texas tb.e transactions that I wink at it, and that the people of a county applaud it, and not only have narrated to you are the only ones they can rake and scrape to as- applaud it but reward it, I should be unworthy a place in this Se~ate sai!Texas on. I suppose two and one-half millions of people-people if I did not say so to the Senate, and say so to the people of the Uruted from every country under the sun, not homogeneous people like your States. people in the Northern and Ea,tern States, but they are people from The Senator can not meet ~h~ case, h~s.collcaguescan ~o~ meet kin· everywhere, who have not yet had time to be fused into a homogeneous dred cases, by say.ing that thiS 1~ for pohhcal effect,. th~t 1t '!8 to arouse mass a condition of society which presents the very best conditions for the public mind SliDply for electiOn purpose.q. I w1sh It m1g~t arouse .· nolchce and personal collision, uud yet only two counties are found in 1 the public mind to rightly appreci~te that there is a commumty where 1888. CONGRESSIONA~ -RECORD-SENATE. 9005

Judge Kirk, the man who helped to plan and carry ou the infamous I stated the other day to the Senator, and I state it again to the Sen· outrages upon the franchise in Washington County, 'fexas, is decorated, ate and to the people, that the testimony shows that one ballot-box and is nominated again to preside over the orphans' court, and poor Joe the tally-list were forcibly seized by armed men at night, as they were Hoftman, the German-Hepublican soldier, is shot to death like a. dog. being taken by officials to tbe county seat, from the custodians of them. If such things do not arouse the indignation of liberty-loving people, I stated, and the testimony clearly shows it, that at one of the polling· then the people of this country have undergone a change, and not a places, Flewellyn, armed men, disguised, pushed their way into the change for the better either. room when the ballots were being counted, interrupted the officers M:r. President, I spoke with absolute sincerity the other day when in the discharge of that duty, and that one of the raiders was shot; the I said that the whole debate and the entire subject was disagreeable to Senator says murdered. This was Mr. Bolton. me. I wish there were no spot or place under our flag where a citizen Mr President, every colored man in the room at that poll-::md there can not exercise all the rights of a citizen. I take no pleasure in what were three or more, I think-testified to the facts as I state them. Two I believe to be the fact, that in certain portions of this country those white Democrats"who were present, after some prevarication admit­ rights are denied and trampled upon for political purposes. It will ted some of the facts but denied others. not: do for the Senator in answer to this to turn to us and say ''We have T)le Senator-and that is his wont in dealing with this transaction­ so many thousand miles of railroad,'' ''We have so many hides,'' ''We discards as utterly unworthy of credit the testimony of colored Repub· have so many farms.'! Yon can not stop the ears of the people of the lican witnesses and accepts as God's truth, no matter by how many · United States with greenbacks. They will not be deaf to petitions for contradicted or how absurd in itself, or how inconsistent with circum· relief or insensible to outrage and wrong perpetrated upon citizens; and stances, the testimony of one or two white Democrats. the sooner that is realized in every part of this country the better it Now, sir, I have before me a letter signed by the United States dis· will be-for us all. trict attorney of that district, a Democrat appointed by this Adminis· The Senator from Texas the other day-and it showed how hard tration, Rudolph Kleberg. It is also signed by Thomas H. Franklin, pushed he was for argument in this matter-when I read a letter from appointed by the Attorney-General as special counsel to assist in the Joe Hoffman, in which he expressed his fear, and stated that he had prosecution of these men under indictment in the Federal court for been threatened, the letter of a brave, true-hearted man, which must perpetrating these outrages. touch every sensitive heart, challenged the authenticity of it because it The testimony before the committee, not at aU overthrown in my was sent to IQ.e from Topeka by Judge Hackworth, and by the way I judgment, was that the man Bolton was in disguise; that he had on am told by the President of the Senate that Judge Hackworth is re­ what was called a ''slicker," or yellow oil-proof coat; that there was spected in Topeka, Kans., where he has built up a successful business. a handkerchief over his face, and I want to call the attention of the Mr. COKE. They do not know him. Renator from Texas and of the Senate in order to show what I hope no Mr. SPOONER. Perhaps not. We shall see. Senator here deems necessary should be shown, that this is not the Mr. COKE. They wiU find him out. work of a Republican committee gotten up now on the eve of election M:r. SPOONER. We shall see. He can vote there as he pleases, and simply for partisan purposes, to the report these gentlemen made to the can live there and can do business and is in no danger of being shot Attorney-General of the United States, dated December 21. 1887, which down and in no danger of being driven out. The Senator. challenged commences thus: the authenticity of the letter of Joe Hoffman upon the ground that it CoCKE. DENMAN & FRANKLIN, ATrO:&NEYS, came from Hackworth. Mr. Pre'3ident, I have seen letters from Joe San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, DecemJJer 21, 1881. DEAR Sm: Yours of the 14th instant, requesting a report upon the Washing· Hoffman,- one of which came from Texas directed to Washington to a ton County election cases in United States district court utAnstin, together with gentleman residing here. The post-mark is the Hempstead and Aus­ copy of letter from Senator CoKEt.herein inclosed, received. tin railway post-office, the same one that was upon the envelope con­ Replying thereto, we beg leave to say: The indictment upon which a trial was had at the last term of said court at taining Joe Hoffman's letter to Mr. Hackworth, which I read in the Austin contained the following counts: hearing of the Senate some days since. The matter of post-mark was First count, charging conspiracy to interfere with the officers of election at the great point upon which the distinguished Senator from 'fe,xas Flewellyn precinct, in said Washington County, in the performance of duties required of them by law, at which said election a member of the Federal Con· wanted the Senate and the people of the country to ignore what was gress was voted for and elected. stated in that letter and to consider it as a fabrication. Second count, charging conspiracy to commit similar offenses at GrabaU pre­ I have a letter from a gentleman in Brenham, Tex., before me ad­ cint. Third count, charging th e robbing of the ballot-box at GrabaU precinct. dressed to me, and it is post-marked in the same way. I have a let.ter Fourth count, charging general conspiracy to interfere with officers of eleo- also which did not come directly to me which states how Joe Hoffman tion at GrabaU, Flewellyn & Lott's store. died. It says: The indictment is not before us and we state'its coutents from memory. Motion was made to qush the bill and overruled. He walked up the sidewalk as far as Murphy's, and there he met .Tim­ The Government proved the following facts on the trial: That is, Jim Holt- 1. That an election was held as charged in the indictment, the candidates for Congress thereat being Hon. R. Q. Mills and- Rankin. and told him that they were after us- 2. That the election precincts named in the bill were heavily Republican. Referring to another, and not to Holt. 3. That there were two local parties in the field at said election, a straight Re­ publican and" People's" or Democratic party. The letter states that they had been followed for nearly half an 4. That the Republi<'an ticket was printed on a. diamond-shaped ballot. hour, and continues: 5. That at the precincts named in the bill the officers of election had decided .Tim, with an oath, said," Joe, I will protect yon; you are in no danger here;" to count the diamond-shaped ballots, but at other precincts they were declared and they both sat down in the front door, one on each side, facing the court­ illegal by the officers of election and no:tcounted. At none of these las~men· house, and had not sat ther,.e very long before the buckshot came. Joe jumped tioned polling places were the officers of election interfered with in any way. up and said, "Oh, Lord, what will become of my poor children? " and fell dead 6· That if all the diamond-shaped ballots cast bad been counted, also the votes in the next door. Jim jumped up and tried to help Joe in the house, not know­ at F lewellyn, GrabaU, and Lott's Store, then the straight Republican ticket ing that he was shot, and while doing so he fell in a faint, and the doctor pro- would have been elected by a large majority. nounced him also dead. - 7. That on the night of the election whilst the officers of election at GrabaU w ere counting the votes, the ballots and ballot-box were forcibly taken hy armed · He did not die immediately, but since then has died. The other day men, who were masked by having white cloths or handkerchiefs tied over the the Senator from Texas repeatedly announced, and based a portion of lower part of their faces. 8. That on the night after the election the ballot-box containing the ballots his argument upon H, that Joe Hoffman was a Democrat. To-day he cast at Lott's Store was forcibly taken from one of the officers of election by corrects that blunder-! beg pardon; I will endeavor to be more court­ masked and armed men while said officer was taking the same to the county eous than the Senator-he cor~~cts that mistake and admits-- seat, as required by law. 9. That on the night of the election armed and masked men undertook to Mr. 'COKE. If the Senatof"will allow me, I stated that 1tfr. Hoff­ take the ballot-box at Flewellyn, when one of them, subsequently proved to be man was running on a Democratic ticket, not that he was a Democrat. D ewees Bolton. was shot dead by a negro named Polk Hill, who is now, we are Mr. SPOONER. The Senate will remember the colloquy between informed, in jail in Milam County, Texas. The defendants contended that when the Senator from New York [Mr. EVARTS] and the Senator from Texas shot Bolton was alone, unarmed, and unmasked; but- upon that subject, and I am very certain that my recollection of it is I am asking now the attention of the Senate, not to any statement accurate. from Republicans of the Senate o;r elsewhere, but to this statement by Mr. COKE. I will remark that the Senator may possibly be accu­ the United States district attorney and his assistant in this case upon rate. I never heard of the case at all until I saw it in the newspaper the subject of Bolton's visit to the polls and his disguise, etc.- but this theory, we believe, was thoroughly demolished by the Government, dispatches; but that he was running on the Democratic ticket was Bolton's own father testifying that when he got to his son's body, shortly after certain, and that is what I stated certainly when I spoke the other the shooting, he (his son) had on a." slicker," or rain coat, and had a handker­ day. chief knotted around his throat. The weather was dry and mild, and none­ cessity was shown for the use of such a. coat on such a night. 1tfr. SPOONER. The Senator stated repeatedly, I think, that he 10. That a number of negroes who were present when Bolton was shot were was a Democrat and that he was running on the Democratic ticket. arrested and put in jail the day after the killing, and subsequently three of the I stated that he was a Republican and that he was running on a union number were taken from jail by a mob and hanged. 11. The Government then proceeded to show by evidence thAt the defendants or mixed ticket, the formation of which was advised by Judge Hack­ were some of the conspirators who p articipated in the alleged conspira.cy and worth, and in opposition to the regular Democratic ticket headed by the acts done in pursuance thereof. The testimony on this branch of the case .Jud~e Kirk, which is the fact as I understand it. was in the main circumstantial. It was shown that they took an active part in the canvass in the interest of the People's ticket; that some of them were can• Now, Mr. President, there can be no mistake about the accuracy and didates for office on that ticket; that some of them were at different voting­ foundation of the charges made against the people of Washington places on election day, armed; that some of them bad threatened negroes be­ Countv, Texas, as to the election which took place there in 1886, and cause of their activity in the canvass; that some of them had threatened the life of some of the Government witnesses; that they were seen together leaving the Senator from Texas can not successfully combat the facts nor meet Chapell Hill on the night of the election and going in the direction ofGraball; the case in the way which it has pleased him to adopt. that later at night some of them were seen, t-ogether with othe.r persona no* ../ 9006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SEN.A.TE. SEPTEJ\IBEll 27'

identified, and were guided into a short road to Graball: that defendant Kirk him, squirming and prevaricating like a witn e~s who did not dare to ,left Brenham about 5 o'clock of the evening of election day and rode to Chapell Hill; when next heard of that night he is at Flewellyn.aboutmidnight, making tell the truth, admitted that he had sent to Bolton, the elder, a tele­ inqlliry as to how the vote stood; that he called out the presiding election offi- gram in the afternoon of election day, saying that things looked cer and held a. brief conversation with him, then rode off, and shortly after the gloomy. attempt was made to rob the box; that at 12m. of that day he sent to D. D. Bolton the following telegram from Brenh.am: "Things lle.re look gloomy; do I asked him repeatedly, "Did you say, 'Things look gloomy; get in your work." your work, or do your work?'" He could remember, he t estified, that Other circumstances tending to identify the defendants were pro\·en, but we he se .. tel · "Th' 1 k 1 " b t alth h th do not deem it necessary to here refer to them, but simply state that we believe · Du a egram saymg mgs oo g oomy; U ~ oug e the facts do show that the defendants on trial participated in the commission of telegram was followed by the death of his friend engaged in ''getting in the offenses charged. the work,'' which I believe be bade him to do, he could not remember, The defendants each relied upon an alibi as a defense. None of them testified he testified, whether he used the words, ''Get in" or "do your work," in their own behalf, but introduced a number of witnesses to establish that de- fense. In argument counsel for the defense conceded that grave offenses against or any words of the kind. On the tri.:'ll in Austin the telegram was pro­ the law had been shown by the testimony, but cont~nded that the defendants duced, and it read, ' 1 Things look gloomy; do your work." 1 was ;:~~1~1~fo~~7tE!rJ~=~~ a!~e:J :hec~~~~~f~t~:t~!~eT::~!~ ~~:i~t~~~ 1 Can any man misunderstand that? What the ''work?'' The case, however, is simply this: Are the defendants the persons or some of the ' work'' was that which followed in that county. It was the raid upon persons who committed the offenses char£red in the bill? the ballot-box at Flewellyn; it was the raid upon the ballot-box a little The Government did not undertake to show that these defendants had con- 1 t t G baJl d t ·t D t R bli d · d spired torob ballot-boxes, and had robbed ballot-boxes, wit.h the single intent a era · ra ' an no aWl ness, emocra or epu can, · enie to affect the result of the Congressional election, for the result of their con- that armed men came to the Graball poll-box arid demanded that the spiracy and the effect of their acts necessarily affected the Congressional elec- count be stopped and tha.t the ballots be delivered to them, as I rec­ :~~: 1·egardless of the motive which prompted the conspiracy and directed the ollect it; it was the Lott's Store affair also. This was the ''work,'' and We do not understand the law to be that one can rob a ballot-box in which it .was efficiently done. . citizens have cast their ballots for a member of Congress, and destroy the votes Another significant fact is that about 5 o'clock on that afternoon cast for such member, and then claim immunity from punishment under the J ud e K" k h t B nh th t t, 16 17 mil laws of the United States upon the ground that his intent in the robbery and g lr ~, w 0 was a re ~m, e conn Y sea Or es away his purpose in sHch destruction was not to affect the Congressional contest, but from these polling-places, hired a horse at the livery stable and rode to defeat some candidate for constable who had been voted for on the same to three, I think, of the polls where these men a little later ''got in ba-i}~1 :hl.nk the authorities establish the law t.o be that the Federal statutes their work." Thus it will be seen that there was not only one but were enacted to secure fairness at Congressional elections, and to protect the three or four instances, as the Senator from Colorado [Mr. TELLER] citizen in the free exercise of his right of snffrage at such an election. 'Ve re- knows, in Washington County where the polls or ballots and returns fertothefollowingadjudica.tions: · te £ d 'th d fu all 1 d R b·,. · ts lJ}x pa,rte Yarborough, 110 U. s., 651. Ex parte Siebold, 100 u. s., 371-4<». were m r ere Wl 'an ey were co ore · epu IJ.lcan preCinc , United States vs. Jackson, 25Fed. Rep., 548. United States vs. McBosdy, 29 Fed. Qf course. Rep., Sffl. Mr. TELLER. There were four. The jury trying the case found some of the defendants not guilty on the count Mr. SPOONER. Beyond any possible question there wa" not an charging them with the robbery of the Graball box and disagreed upon all other ., counts in the bill. None of the defendants have been acquitted on any of the honest election nor a fair count. conspiracy counts. How are these allegations, established as they are, sought to be met? The stenographic report of the trial is in the hands of the clerk of the Federal By telling the people the number of thousands of miles of railroad they court at Austin. lti is very voluminous and in some respects inaccurate. These cases have received our careful attention and the fads an impartial con- have in Texas, the number of hides, the number of sheep, the capacity sideration by us. W.e have not allowed the Republicans of Washington County of Texas to set the spindles going all over the United States ! Is this to give any political coloring to the prosecution, nor have we permitted our at- sufficient? tachment to the Democratic party t.o sway us from the full performance of our duty as sworn officers of the Government in the prosecution of the defendants. Mr. President, the rights of citizenship are higher than the interests We have given them a quiet, determined, and impartial prosecution, and be- of trade. Nothing can be dearer than those. We want the trade ot lieve it was demanded by the offenses committed and the fa.cts connecting them the South·, we want increased 2nd ever increasing commerce between with the commission of same. Regarding the facts in our possession calmly and impartially, we are con- the sections, but if it is only to be had upon the condition ofindiffer­ vinced that. they show the commission of grave offenses against the laws of the ence to outrage upon the rights of citizenship, and violations long con· Federal Government by the indicted parties; and if such offenses are left un- t' d d b ldl prosecuted and the perpetrators unpunished the right of suffrage in this coun- mue an O Y avowed of the Constitution, then sir, the price of try can have no protection save that which each citizen may tind in his own such trade and commerce is too high! st.rong arm. In a few days the report of the committee upon this case will have ThestabilityofthisGovernmentdependsonthevirtueofitscitize~,andthat been presented. All the testimony will h.e laid before the Senate. virtue can only be carried into the Gove1·nment through the medium of the bal- lot-box; and if in one community the right of suffrage of a number of citizens That it has not been done before is no L.1.ult of mine. I assisted in is trampled upon by others, who are permitted by organized society to go" nn- taking the testimony, but I was not chairman of the subcommittee whipped of justice," then certainly the lawless element in any community is and was charged with no duty in connection with preparing or sub­ given full license to dominate over the virtuous, and order will soon resol've itself into chaos: mitting the report. So believing, we feel that it is ourdutyto prosecute these cases to a. final hear- I ~tated on another occasion that I did not consider isolated cases ot ing, and if the defemlants are acquitted that the responsibility of such acquittal outrage upon citizens char!leable necessarily to the people of an en- should rest with a jury of their countrymen. ~ = This being our duty, we must either do it and be true to our oaths as officer;; tire State. The first day that the Senator from Texas who sits at my of the Government, or not do it. and be false to our oaths and false to ourselves. left [Mr. RE.AGAN] intervened in this Louisiana debate I so asserted.' If the Department of Justice wishes these prosecutions dismissed and shall I rt •t 'thth' _,.fi t• Th 1 S so direct, we-shall follow instructions, informing the cow·t of our directions; but reasse I now, WI IS qui:I>.I.I ca IOn. e peop e of a tate are not if we are not so directed we shall bring these cases to trial, if possible, and give responsible for it unless they approve it and adopt it. They are not the defendants a fair hearing and a vigorous prosecution. chargeable with or responsible for outrages perpetrated unless there be Very respectfully, your obedient servarnt, RUD. KLEBERG, there a public sentiment which sustains those who pexpetratethem and United States Attorney. which exempts those who perpetrate them from punishment. The THOS. H. FRANKLIN, sam~ is true, of course, as to a county or city. I regret to say that there Specia.t Assistant in Washington Ccnmty Election Oases. f Hon. A. H. GARLAND, was too much o this sentiment in the State of Texas, it appears to me, .A.Uorney-GeneraZ, Washington, D. C. which tolerated if it did 11ot approve these things done in Washing- Leb the Senator give his attention to this report when he asserts the ton Countv. · falsity and slanderous character of the allegations that wrong and out- The testimony of ex-Governor Ireland before the committee was that, rage characterized that election. although he was informed while yet governor of the State of the fact Let it be remembered upon this subject that Bolton's own father that these three colored men, who had simply ~n arrested upon sus­ testified that when he reached him after he w_as shot he "had on a picion, who had had no trial, no hearing, no chance for their lives, slicker orrain coat, and had ahandkerchiefknottedaround his throat;" had been taken out and hanged, be offered no reward for the a_ppre­ and that District Attorney Kleberg says "that the weather was dry hension of the murderers. The testimony showed that no steps were and mild and no necessity was shown for the use of such a coat on sut:h taken by the officials of the county-and the county attorney elected a night." . at that election and the county judge were Democrats-up to the time Whether this was "disguise" or not under the circumstances the the last evidence was given befme our committee to attempt to ferret Senate and the country can judge. I appeal from the Senator to the out the perpetrators of these outrages or to bring them to justice. testimony and to the United S~tes district attorney and his associate-. When these men were indicted by a grand juryin the United States What stronger corroboration could there be of the negro officers of court and brought to trial charged with these outrages upon the bal­ ihat poil than this statement made by the Democratic United States lot-box, believed by the Democratic officials who prosecuted them to attorney (and the special counsel) to his official superior, Attorney- be guilty, and after one jury had disagreed and another acquitted them, General Garland? as was probably to be expected, they being defended by eminent vol- Now, tha,t was not all. This man Kirk, the county judge of that unteer counsel, some ofthe leading Democrats of Washington County county, at the time a candidate upon that ticket which was called the- raised a fund, as I am informed, and I think there is some testimony Peo])le's ticket, was on the witness stand here. He was the ring- before the committee to that purport, to pay the expenses of the de­ leader in the conspiracy, the representative of the Democracy in that fense. Some of them purchased a gold-headed cane for one of the coun­ eontroversy. He testified that alon5 in the afternoon he he.:'lrd that sel, and they passed resolutions thanking counsel that they had de· :in the Republican precincts the vote was going strongly against them. ., fended these gentry without asking any fee. The father of this dead man, Bolton, was a candidate upon the ticket, It does not seem to ine, however it may seem to the Senator from and .Judge Kirk, after evading ove1· and over again question& nut to Texas, as if in this instance the public sentiment of Texas waa as CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. 9007 strong and vigorous as it ought to have been in securing punishment to those who so grievously trampled upon the rights of its citizens. Now, 1\lr. President, a few words generally upon thi~ subject and I shall be through with it. For introducing the resolution providing for an investigation into the circumstances attending the death of Jo­ seph Hoffman, with especial reference to ascertaining whether he was killed because of the testimony he had given or was expected to give before a Senate committee, I have been charged by numerous Demo­ cratic papers North and South with ''flaunting the bloody shirt," with being "narrow" and ''sectibnal," and with being a ':South hater." I care nothing for that. That is now to be expected. I venture to say that whenever any one from this time forth in the Senate of the United States gives heed to any man's petition alleging that he has been outraged in his rights of citizenship in any Southern State at a nationn.l election and raises his voice for investigation he will be de­ nounced as narrow-minded and sectional and as a flaunter of the bloody shirt. That will deter no nwn, however, from the discharge of duty. The Senator from Texas [Jtir. CoKE] said the other day in substance, ''Let us alone; what we want is to be let alone." That was the cry of the South once before. .All we want is what we are entitled to have, and that is that every man in the United States who is entitled under the Constitution of the United States to vote and to exercise the rights of American citizenship pertaining to the elective franchise, whether he lives in Texas or in Louisiana or in Wisconsin, shall exercise the rjght undisturbed and undismayed. Is that asking too much? Bloody shirt, forsooth! We are not talking about the war. I hear nothing said about the war here. This is currrent; this is something that is happening now, which we were charged to investigate, and which the resolution pending before the Senate provides for investigating. "It is a condition which confronts us." ShaH we be deterred from listening to such voices as Joe Hoffman's because these Senators say '' You are preventing the return of fra­ ternal feeling?" For myself I say no, Mr. President. The Republic­ an party bas accepted the results of the war. The people of the N ortb haTe accepted the results of the war. The South piled a mountain of debt upon our people and they are cheerfully paying it, and have been for over a score of years. You never hear a grumble or a whimper about its amount, nor a word about its origin~ They filled the land with the graves of our citizens and friends. We walk quietly among them and strew them with flowers, with sorrowing hearts, from which the bitterness is quite gone. That wrong was long ago forgiven, evidenced by due form of law, representing the S""entiment of the Northern people. The Executive Departments and the foreign service contain a great number of those who served against the Union. We do not like it, in large part because of the methods by which the result has been brought about, and we shall prevent an early recurrence of it if we can. :But our protest is a peaceful and a quiet one. In it there is nothing of violence. We all rejoice in a restored Union, in a people living under one Constitution. 'Ve only insist that that Constitution shall be every­ where obeyed, and the rights which it guaranties everywhere recog- nized and observed. · The only men I know of in this country who have not accepted the results of the war are our friends from theSouth. It is not the people of the North. One oftbe results ofthe war, whether a wise one or an unwise one, was that the male negro of proper age should have the right to vote. It was given him by the Constitution. The South has to all intents and purposes deprived him of it. It is useless to attempt to deny it. It is vain in reply to it to talk a bout the purchase of votes in Rhode Island. The Senators from Rhode Island can take care of that charge when they are present. The vote of the Southern Repub­ lican has disappeared. The negro has ceased in the last few years to cast his vote and have it counted. His citizenship, new born and highly prized, is barren of fruitage for him, except of bitterness. Where bas that ballot gone? Has the negro become a Democrat? Nobody can pretend it. Has he grown weary of the ballot? Who so bold as to claim that? It is not consistent with the characteristics of tbe race. The negro, just brought out from bondage into the ljgbtoffreedom, placed beside his master in respect of legal rights with the great badge of sovereignty, the ballot, in his band, told by the Constitution that he had a 1·jght to walk beside his old master and overseer up to the polls and deposit his vote as a citizen of the Unitoo States, was as proud of it as any human being could be of a kingly crown. Has be grown tired of it, as a child we..1.ries of a toy, and cast it aside? Who believes it? No man who stops to think. What bas become of that ballot? Thirteen or more large volumes printed by the Government, filled with testimony taken during a series of years by direction of Congress, of outrage piled upon outrage, mas­ sacre piled upon massacre, fraud upon fraud, explain why it is that the colored vote of t.be South is gone. ''There is little violence now" it is said. - "The cases are only-sporadic; all is quiet, and peace reiins." Peace! He makes n solitude, and calls il;-peacc. 9008 CONGRESS! ON AL RECORD-SENA -TE. SEPTEMBER 27, likely to lose respect for other rights and to bold in diminishing rever­ Mr. COKE. I did not interrupt the Senator. I will yield to him ence the majesty of the law. this time~ · but not again. . Call this partisan speech, if it be agreeable so to do. .Appeal, by Mr. SPOONER. I do not mean to-- 1 way of foil to it, to the desire of our great cities for Southern trade. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator fwm Texas yields. I prophesy that the time will come, and is not far distant, if it be not Mr. SPOONER. The Senator says he puts his statement of the tes­ already here, when this question of constitutional rights, of fair play timolly against mine. That of course he has a right to do, and that of and justice, so dear to the people of the United States will be deemed course I expected him to do and I am willing he should do. I should of greater worth and higher importance than any question or consid­ like to ask him what he has to say about the testimony of Bolton's eration of tmde between the sections or of politics. father, referred to in the distric\attorney's communication, nnd also I think the assault which we are now endeavoring to meet upon the about the statement of the district attorney and his assiStant? industries of the United States and the interests of labor, and upon Mr. COKE. I was going to refer to that. With regard to the state­ the industrial independence of this country, to be due largely to this ment of Bolton's father that young Bolton had a handkerchief tied disproportionate power exercised by the South in the affairs of this around his neck, that he had a slicker on, anybody who could manu­ Government. It is this that brings about the singular fact that the facture those facts into a circumstance of suspicion against Bolton is great State of Texas, not distinguished es,Pecially for its manufaetures certainly of an exceedingly suspicious nature. certainly, though it may be for its hides and· some other things, fur­ Mr. SPOONER. Then I submit the Senator oughb to secure the re­ nishes to the C(lnntry a chairman of the committee on Ways and Means, moval of that district attorney as incompetent. and that so many of his confreres upon that potential committee rep­ Mr. COKE. The proof is here in thisi.Tecord that the night wos cold resent States not distinguished at all for great manufacturing interests, enough for an overcoat. Two witnesses testified to that. One of them or for the dignified and prosperous labor which pervades the North. testified that he carried the supper of one of the men who was at the The singular fact that gives Arkansas a representative upon that com­ polls to him, and was• told to bring his overcoat with him. Another mittee and leaves New York without one is marked evidenceoftheun­ witness swears that when t.he shooting occurred he was lying on an due power exerted by the South in the Government to-day, because of overcoat asleep. the extinction of the negro >ote. Nothing is more common in the South than for one of these slickers, Mr. President, I did not intend or expect, as I stated at the outset,' as they are call~d-they ai:e wet-weather overcoats, that is all-to to be drawn into this debate to-day at all. I had not intended when be worn by people. There is nothing more common; and as for Bolton the resolution should be reported from the committee, providing for having a handkerchief tied around his neck, it is a very common habit an investigation into the circumstances attending the death of Joseph among laboring people to attire themselves in that way. Is it suSJ)i Hoffman, to occupy the time of the Senate in further debate upon the cious that a man should ha>e a handkerchief tied around his neck? Is Washington County election of 1886, but I have felt called upon, partly it suspicious that he should have an overcoat on when others found it by what the Senator from Texas has deemed it proper for him to say, cold enough for an overcoat that same night? Yet those two facta M"e although I think some of his utterances were discourteous and, so far adverted to by tile Senator fi·om Wisconsin as evidence that Bolton was as I am concerned, gratuitous, and partly because of the manner of his there armed and disguised. speech, to ask the attention of the Senate for a few moments. ~fy ob­ I assert the fact to be-and because it has to rest on the assertion of servations have been desultory and have taken more time than I in­ either the Senator from Wisconsin or myself is certainly not my fault, tended. I make no apology for it, however, as I know of no subject because he belongs to the committee which has charge of the testi­ more entitled to attention. mony, and he shouldhave it on everySeuator'sdesk-Iassertthefadto Mr. COKE. Mr. President, the facts alleged against Texas are the be that the testimony proves conclusively that Bolton was murdered transactions in Washin~ton and Fort Bend Counties. The Senator from by a negro, and that the negroes bung were most probably accessories Wisconsin makes no explanation of the Fort Bend County transaction. to the fact before and after. I do not j ustey the t..

\ . I· 1888. CONGRESSIONAL .RECORD-RENATE. 9009

[No. 3.-TesLimony of A. H. Rogers, duly sworn.] hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original in­ The first Iknowofitwasataboutllo'clock p.m., whileiwaslyingon mybed quest papers in case of W. 1>. Bolton, deceased, uow on file in said court. in the room where the election was held. To my best recollection I saw Poke Given under my hand and the seal of said court, at officet n Brenhum, this Hill, Ande Hays, and Felix Kenlow and Stewart .Jones in the said room, but I 5th day of February, A. D. 1887. did not see any guns in the room. I saw Poke Hill goincr out several times [sEAL.] C. F. HERBST, Clerk. prior to t.he shooting, but never after the shooting, on the 2J day of Xovember, 1888. M:r. COKE. If Bolton wns mnrdel'ed, as I honestly believe be was, A. H. ROGERS. as I believe the testimony shows he was, while it does not justify these [No. 4.-Testimony of .John Glass, duly sworn.] men in taking these negroes out of jail and hanging them, it does re­ I saw William Davis, Felix Kenlow, Poke Hill, Stewart .Jones, Ande Hays moYe the deed from the category in which the Senator from Wisconsin with shotguns on the place of R. T. Flewellen's. The report of the shotgun bas placed it, that of being a cold-blooded, premeditated murder for a woke me up, and I did not see anybody after the shooting, which happened political cause. Politics had nothing to do with it. These white men about 11 o'cloek p. m. on the 2d day of November, 1886. JOHN (bis x mark) GLASS. were incited by the brutal murder of Bolton, and they avenged him in this way. Polk Hill, the man who pulled the trigger and fired the [No. 5.-Testimony of Ande Hays, duly sworn.] gun that killed Bolton, is alive now. He was taken up to the Milam I was in the room where the election was held, my gun was sittin~ on the gallery of the house; when the door south in room opened deceased, after·be­ County jail. The three men who were hanged, unfortunately were iog invited to come in, was shot directly after Poke Hill went out of the north brought back to Brenham to be tried, and the authorities were mis­ door, his gun being out on the gallery; deceased came in quietly and said noth ~ taken in supposing that the feeling against them bad subsided. That ing about the box and was not disguised. The shooting took place on the 2d day of November,l886. There was in the room Chad Felder, Felix Kenlow, is the statement of that transaction. Poke Hill, and Stewart Jones; I believe that Poke Hill is the man who done Here is the platform of the Republican convention which met at Fort the shooting. Gunshot was fired in the north door, deceased killed in the south Worth three or four days ago, which charges the Fort Bend and the door. I am satisfied that Poke Hill was the man, as he was standing in the Washington County transactions as all the outrages they have to com­ door. ANDE (his x mark) HAYS. plain of in Texas, and I have stated the history of these, so that the Senate can see for itself whether they were Democratic outrages. [No. 6.-Testimony of Dick Robertson, duly sworn.J The fact is patent, it stands out in bold relief, that no Republican I was the presiding officer of the ballot-box on the R. T. Flewellen place on the 2d day of November,1886. We were counting the votes when the' shooting was killed until Hoffman was killed, and that with Hoffman was also took place. Some one knocked on the door, and after being asked to come in, killed the leading Democrat of Washington County. deceased was let in. The same time the door opened; Poke Hill, who was sit­ No Republican was killed in Fort Bend County, but one Democrat ting in the room, got up and went to the opposite door, and a shotgu·, was fired by o. gingercake-colored pPrson. I feel satisfied that a darkey of tue descrip­ was killed and another was attempted to 'be killed. Bolton was a tion of Poke Hill did the shooting, unless somebody was standing behind the white man and a Democrat, and he was murdered in Vvashington door; he had fully time to pick up a shotgun. The election wus going on County. Hoffman was running on a ticket that the Democrats were quietly and I deemed it not necessary to have o.ny guards whatever on the ground. At the time of the shooting there were in the room present Lewis friendly to, and be was sitting with Holt, the leading Democrat in the Pennington, Chad Felder, Tom Jones, Felix Kenlaw, and Ande Hays. county, and was killed with Holt by the same shot. That is the whole .J. R. ROBER'rSON. ofit. • [No. 7.-Testimony of William Cawse.] With reference to the testimony of the district attorney and the coun­ I was one of the clerks of election held on the place of R. T. Flewellen. There sel employed by the State, I know both of them well; they are both was in the room at the time of the shooting Felix Ken law, Ande Hays, Lewis good men, both honest men, both honorable men; they are like all other Pennington, Chad Felder. The same time that the south door opened, Poke tRill left his seat and ran to the north door and opened the same door, and di­ lawyers, though. They have identified themselves with this case, and '1·ecUy o. shot was fired and deceased fell to the floor. The election was quiet, although they had two trials, presided over by a Repn bliran judge and and it was not necessary to have any guards. tbe law charged as strongly as it was possible to charge it against the Wl\i. CAWSE. prisonera, the theory of these gentlemen was 1·eversed; it was d~!nied LNo. B.-Testimony of Felix Kenlaw, duly sworn.] in the verdict of the jury who acquitted the prisoners. They are not I was sitting in the room looking on. Poke Hill was sitting near me, and as impartial witnesses; they are witnesses whose judgment can not be re­ soon as somebody knocked on the door Poke Hill, who got up and ran to the opposite door, picked up his shotgun, which was out on the gallery, I saw him, lied upon, because they have been heated up in the prosecution of the cocked the gYn and shot the deceased, and I knew it was Poke Hill who did case. - the shooting. He told me himself that he had killed a man, and laughed when The Senator from Wisconsin makes divers and various charges a~ainst he said it. I was lying under the bed o.nd could see plainly. There was pres- .,ent in the room Ande Hays, Stewart .Jones, William Cawse, Poke Hill, and the the people of the South, and especially against the people of Texas, officers of the election. The shooting took place about ll or 12 o'clock p.m., in and the people of Washington County upon testimony which he does the room of the house of R. T. Flewellen. The election was quiet and orderly. not exhibit here, upon private letters which he doubtless is not at lib­ FELIX (his x mark) KENLAW. erty to exhibit. [No. 9.-Testimony of Lewis Pennington, duly sworn.] 1\Ir. SPOONER. If the Senn.tor will allow me-- I was one of the judges of the election held on the 2d day of November, 1886. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Texas yield t The election was going on quietly and orderly. I was busy counting "'otes Mr. COKE. Yes, sir. when somebody knocked on the door; the same time Poke Hill got up from his seat and ran to the door. I do not know who did the shooting, which took Mr. SPOONER. What I have said about this matter this afternoon place about 11 o'clock p. m. Outside the officers of the election, there were was in reply to a review by the Senator irom Texas of the testimony . present in the room Chad Felder, Ande Hays, Felix Kenlaw, and Poke Hill not before the Senate. I did not inaugumte it. I want to say in re­ went out the door. · LEWIS (his x mark) PENNINGTON. gard to the letter which the Senator says I am not at liberty to ex­ hibit, that I would exhibit it cheerfully if it were not for the fact that [No. lQ-Testimony of Tom .Jones, duly sworn.l I fear it would cost the writer his life, and the writer fears it also. I was one of the clerks of the election, sitting at the table with my back toward 1\Ir. COKE. That is a sample of the way in which the people of the south door. I saw Poke Hill go to the north door before the south door opened. As soon as the door opened I turned my face, and saw a white man my section of country are talked about. I have a letter in which the coming in the door with uplifted bauds holding a pistol, and as soon as I saw Senator's name is called in connection with the eviction in the State the person I went out of the same door. I know that Poke Hill had a gun on of Iowa of families of poor helpless women and children, evictions that the ground. There was present outside of the officers Chad Felder, Ande parallel in atrocity and circumstances of pathos any that ave ever Ni~Y~0 ~kof Iff±. :~~~~~k~~ing took place on the 2d day of November, 1885, in occurred in Ireland. T. :M: • .JONES. Mr. SPOONER. Mr. President- [Statement of Lewis Pennington, being re-examined.l Mr. COKE. I decline to be interrupted in the middle of a sentence. I did not see anybody coming in the door disguised with a pistol in ho.nd. I I say the Senator's name is mentioned in that letter, but I do not con­ was sitting close to the fire-place in plain view of the two doors. demn the Senator upon it. I do not condemn the people of Iowa upon LEWIS (his x mark) PENNINGTON. it, because men, women, and children were ~jected from sections and [No. 11.-Testimony of Ephraim .Jones, duly sworn.) quarter-sections and subdivisions of land at the suit of a great railroad I was taking supper to .Jones and along with it a shotgun to guard the polls; corporation, land that they had occupied some ofthem for forty years, so then I went out and went to s leep on John Glass's overcoat and I never woke up till I heard two reports of a shotgun. I ran off around the bouse and made this informant tells me, some of them for twenty years, and he gives an for home. There had shotguns in possession, William Davis, Felix Kenlaw Poke instance of a poor woman who saw everythiug she bad in the world Hill, Andy Hays, for the protection of the box under the advice of Chad Felder. thrown into the road and her home of many years taken from her. The election was going on quietly. The shooting was done at about 11 o'clock p.m., in the house of R. T. Flewellen, on the 2d day of November, 1886. She became insane, so this informant states, and now is in a lunatic EPHRAIM .JONES. asylum. He gives the facts. [No. 12.--Testimony of Stephen Jackson, duly sworn.] I do not use such a letter for the purpose of making allegations I was on the election ground on the 2d day of November, 1888, and Alfred against the people of Iowa or against the Senator from Wisconsin. I .Jones and Poke Hill a.~ked me for a pistol, but I declined it, but let Poke Hill would not do it. He has not hesitated to brand the people whom I have my shotgun, loaded, to keep the polls guarded. :My gun was returned to have the honor to represent in a way that in my judgment would jus­ me, both barrels empty, by Sallie Jones, wife of Oliver Jones. EPHRAIM (his x mark) JONES. tify me in using this letter for all it is worth. • .This is to certify that this is a true and correct statement of the testimony There is one thing, Mr. President, the people of the South have never g1ven. done. They have never warred on women and children. They have P. KUHNEL, Recorder. never taken at the behest of railroad corporations the homes from TBE STATE OF TEXAS, 00U1lly of lVashington: women and children and left them in the public road to starve and I, C. F. Herbst, clerk of the district court of Washington County, Texas, do freeze or take care of themselves. If the Senator desires to make an XIX--564: 9010 CONGRESSIONAL RE.OORD-HOUSE.· SEPTE:M:BER 2 7'

issue, let him make it; I will meet him. He will find that there are While I have not been at all personal to the Senator from Texas, my blows to receive as well as to give. The slanders tha.t have been hurled relations with him have been entirely pleasant. I have simply a-t­ at the people I representshall not go unanswered, for they are slanders, tempted to do my duty in discussing questions which were involved in come from what source they may. an investigation made by me in conjunction with other Senators under Mr. SPOONER. Mr. Preside_nt, we started in to debate the Texas an order of the Senate; and while I regard his attempt in defense of_ the outrages. V~ry much to my surprise, the result is a debate by the State of Texas as of a character to draw me personally into disrepute in Senl').tor from Texas upon what I suppose may be deemed the Spooner the Senate or in the country, as of a character which outside of the Sen­ outrages. I do not know to what the Senator from Texas alludes. I ate I 'fOuld denominate differently from what I would do here, I want want to say, however, in regard to his speech, or that portion of it to say to the Sen11tor that he in part, as I have been informed-I will personal to myself, two things: In the first place, it will not divert the not say it-- attention of the people of the United States from the outrages perpe­ Mr. COKE. Say it. trated in Washington County, Texas, upon the ballot. The people will :Mr. SPOONER. I have discussed this case upon its merits. be too discriminating not to see that it is a pettifogging effort to divert Mr. COKE. S..1.y it. the &ttention of the jury from the trial of the case to something which Mr. SPOONER: I shall not go into personalities of the sort in the does not relate to the case. Senate. · In the next place I want to say-and I shall endeavor to keep myself Mr. BUTLER. I move that the Senate adjourn. entirely within parliamentary bounds, and'if I shall succeed in doing The motion was agreed to; and (at 5 o'clock and 50 minutes p.m.) that I will succeed where the Senator from Texas, with his greater the Senate adjourned ttntil M~mday, October 1,·1888, at 12 o'clock m. age and his greater experience, has signally failed several times to­ day-that the man outside ofthis Chamb~rwho states that as counsel or as owner, directly or indirectly, in any way whatever, I was the in­ strument of turning any man or woman in Iowa or out of Iowa from HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. his or her land or from his or her cabin, whether a quarter-section or a THURSDAY, Septembe1· 27,1888. quarter of an acre, is a liar. . I say that of any man who makes thai; charge outside of the Senate. The House met at 12 o'clock m. Prayer by Rev. J. A. P.&ICE, of I suppose the :::;enator refers to the fact that after·I became a member Washington, D. C. . of the Senate I argued a cause in the Supreme Court by printed brief The Journal of the prO.ll the on the part of the Senate Mr. EDMUNDS, Mr. ALLISON, and Mr.. CocK­ settlers were interested, and if a :ffiember of Congress from Iowa did RELL...- not telegraph to Governor Larrabee to send the attorney-general of that The message also announ.ced that the Senate had passed, with amend­ State here to intervene and protect the rights of settlers ~oainst the menta in which the concurrence of the House was requested, bills of collusion? the following titles: Mr. SPOONER. I know nothing about that. I know that a day A bill (H. R. 4039) granting a pension to Mary A. Pfeiffer; or two after that cause was argued in the Supreme .Court of the United A bill (H. R. 10881) granting a pension to Nancy J. Cotner. States a falsehood and a slander appeared about my connection with it The message also announced that the Senate had passed bills of the in relation to my discharge of duty in the Senat~. In one of the news­ following titles; in which the concurrence of the Honse was requested: papers published in the city of New York it was charged that I offered A bill (S. 1839) for the relief of Daniel C. Rodman and others, sure­ on the floor of the Senate and advocated an amendment for a client ties on the bond of Ozias Morgan; whom a day or two afterwards I represented in the Supreme Court of A bill (S. 2182) to amend sections 4488and4489ofthe Revised Stat­ the United States. That charge was utterly false. I offered an ~end­ utes requiring life-saving appliances on steamers; m.ent in the Senate under circumstances which rendered it necessary A bill (S. 3098) concerning the settlement of the boundary lines be­ for me to do it for my opponent in that cause, for a railroad company tween Connecticut and Rhode Island; in whose service I had never been a moment in my life, and I voted A bill (S. 3124) creating three additional land offices in the State of against my client and for a bill which the then Senator from Minnesota, Colorado; Mr; McMTilan, representing that interest, fought to the utmost of-his A bill (S. 3390) tO' create the Lincoln land district in the Territory ability. Beyond thatchri.rgewhich was madein the newspaper, which of New Mexico; was false and unjust in itself, and which was answered-- · A bill (S. 3427) to amend section 4474 of the Revised Statutes of the :Mr. COKE. I know nothing about that charge. United States; Mr. SPOONER. Beyond thn.t I know nothing about the matter to A bill (S. 3438) to refund illegal internal-revenue tax collected of thEJ · which the Senator refers. If anybody bas been evicted in the State of late Alexander W. Baldwin, as United States district judge for the dis­ Iowa, I suppose it has been in proceedings in the courts. I know noth­ trict of Nevada; ing whatever about any such matter. I never had any connection what­ A bill (S. 704) granting a pension to Thomas Redmon