To say that lawlessness, turbulence, and bloodshed have characterized
the political affairs of that State since its reorganization under the
reconstruction acts is only to repeat what has become well known as a
part of its unhappy history; but it may be proper here to refer to the
election of 1868, by which the Republican vote of the State, through
fraud and violence, was reduced to a few thousands, and the bloody riots
of 1866 and 1868, to show that the disorders there are not due to any
recent causes or to any late action of the Federal authorities.
Preparatory to the election of 1872 a shameful and undisguised
conspiracy was formed to carry that election against the Republicans,
without regard to law or right, and to that end the most glaring frauds
and forgeries were committed in the returns, after many colored citizens
had been denied registration and others deterred by fear from casting
their ballots.
When the time came for a final canvass of the votes, in view of the
foregoing facts William P. Kellogg, the Republican candidate for
governor, brought suit upon the equity side of the United States circuit
court for Louisiana, and against Warmoth and others, who had obtained
possession of the returns of the election, representing that several
thousand voters of the State had been deprived of the elective franchise
on account of their color, and praying that steps might be taken to
have said votes counted and for general relief.
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