Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1879 — The Teller Committee. [ARTICLE]

The Teller Committee.

MAJORITY REPORT. Washington. Feb. 27. The report of the Teller Committees made to the Senate to-day, reviews the testimony of ninety-one witnesses in Louisiana and 107 in South Carolina. It states that the frauds in South Carolina, by the use of tissue ballots, extended to every county in the State but one, and that between thjrtv and forty murders were committed in Louisiana. The committee, in drawing their conclusions, say there appears to be a widespread determination in these States to restrict freedom of speech as to political questions, upon the claim that the discussion of the relations of labor to capital, employers to employes and other kindred subjects, is calculated to array tfce colored people against the whites, and thns endanger the safety of the people. This determination is not authorized by Stare enactment, but the Democrats, who attend political meetings not only of their own party, but also of the opposition, are in the habit of refusing to allow speakers to discuss tbe questions in their various forms. ' Any reference to the condition of the colored people before the war, and the causes that led to the war, are condemned as being of an incendiary character. It will be readily seen that if it is allowed to the attendance at » public meetingto determine what is and what is not incendiary or inflammatory material, and therefore objectionable and not to be permitted, there will be an end of all political discussion, unless the speaker shall consent to discuss the questions in accordance with the views of the majority that may be in attendance. Great liberty must be allowed in discussion of all political questions, and it will never do to permit a crowd of heated partisans at apdblic meeting to determine what is and what is not Ail incendiary speech, and what is not proper to be said on such Al 1 attacks which have been made on'colored people have been attempted to be justified or excused on thdground that the colored people have made threats against the whites. However false and destitute of foundation these repbrta may have been, they have been made the excuse for the most unheard-of atrocity against these people. As this pretended fear of negro insurrection is made the excuse for outrages on the colored people, it may not be amiss to say that the Democratic whites, when interrogated on that point, all agreed that the negro was peaceful and unrevengefnl. and that with all the reports of the uprising of this class of people to murder and outrage whites, there was no instance in American history within their knowledge when this’Hail lVeeh dbtie. Mid nil admitted that it would require great provoaition to induce the colored people to resort to violence agmust the whites. Respect for authority to law and attachment to persons and things are notable characteristics of the colored race. No prosecutions.have been instituted by the State of South Carolina against the violators of her laws, and no effort made to punish the men who have thus wantonly outraged her citizens, and when the

United Htatm Cahul* hare Ixwu renortel to for thepurpoae of punching outi«*<-a on the ballot. oofflpliJnnnt ba* iB very many iiutenee« Own Mr«ale<L otaarly in violation of law, by the State Auttoottttee. on cturjMfc of perjury, and oom nutted io Sail union M gave bail. Citizen* anthreatened that if they attempt to pcniab offenatn tn United Htatea Court*. witneeeee will be punirhod in the State Ccurta. and thua tbe Htate not only declines to puoiah these criminals. but refuses to allow it to be done in the United Hiales Courts; -'. "7-~~- — ■■■yi— - -553 The State Oovemment is a white Government No colored men are represented in it, and so far no man connected with it has had the honesty, courage or humanity Io attempt to redress the outrages on these unfortunate men of color. The laws of South Carol inn and Ijouisiana are undoubtedly sufficient for the'protection of all Uuur citixeua, but there has been a lamentable failure to enforce them. This course must in the end bo the destruction of government in these Htatea Thousands of persons in those Htatcs controlled by the political party profiting by these outrages condemn them, but they lack the independence and courage to make themselves heard in opposition to them. There never will he peace and good order, and consequent prosperity, in the South while any considerable number of white people deny the colored people the rights given them by law. To insure lasting peace to the people the fullest and the freest exercise ot all political rights must be conceded to all. The honor and prosperity ot 1 xiuisiana demand that these outrages against citizens, these violations of State and National law, shall be punished. That this duty devolves upon th<- State all admit, and whatever may he said of the duty of the General Government to redress the wrongs! qf ita citizens under these circum-itancea. no <me will excuse the State authorities for failure to punish these offenders. The committee say it was not possible, within the short time they had been in session, to investigate the elections held in all the Congressional Districts in Louisiana and South Carolina, but sufficient testimony was taken to show conclusively that in several districts in thdkc States not only the elections for Congressmen, but the elections for State and county officers as well, were neither fair nor free, and that by violence and fraud the honest expression of the will of those entitled to vote was prevented, and thousands of citizens of these States deprived of the elective franchise. In Ixiuisiana, both violence and trend Were extensively used. In South Carolina fraud was more largely relied upon. In both States these agencies, so disreputable in themselves and so dangerous to the stability of a republican form of government, were used, not only against candidates of the Republican party, but. against independent Democratic candidates, and candidates by whatever name known, who were in opposition to the regular Democratic candidates, thus showing clearly that the result sought for and accomplished was not the prevention of the so-called “ carpet-bag rule" and establishment of the so-called " home-rule,” but the success of the Democratic party in these States and in the Nation by whatever means and at whatever cost. South Carolina shares a like spirit with Louisiana. The Democratic leaders seem to be insensible to the fact that the stability of our Government is involved in these questions, and to be utterly unable to comprehend that their course renders the return of material prosperity to these people absolutely impossible. Without peace and good order there can be no obedience to, or enforcement of, the law. Material prosperity cannot come to these States in the .absence of this requirement, and there must be aradical change in the management of political affairs. The framers of the Constitution appear to have considered it safe to have “ the times, places and manner” of holding elections under the control of the Btates. but it is veryevident that they foresaw a condition might exist in the future under which the safety of the National Government and rights of citizens might require that the times, places and manner of elections should be under its own control, and not under that of the States. The time has come when Congress should exercise the power it clearly possesses of providing by law for the fair and free election of Members of Congress. The power to pass laws prescribing the times, places and manner of holding elections for Members of Congress necessarily implies the power to provide for the punishment of violations of the law. It will scarcely be contended, certainly it cannot be fairly claimed, that the National Government is compelled to rely for the punishment of offenses against its own laws upon the laws of the several States. -The minority of the committee have not yet prepared their views for presentation to the Senate.