New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-03
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR TREASURER
Free Negro Suffrage.
From the Alexandria American, a9,h Aug ]

Democratic party aids and abets these people in the
exercise of the elective franchise that he has de-
,cended still further in degradation; he has gone s
to the polls and armed these free negroes
and with them erected defenses to repe any resist
ance that might present itself against the lawless
outrage.
Col Hunter admitted in his speech at Richmond,
Madison parish, that these people, who live in the
prolific hills of Ten-Mile hare african blood their
reins and had never voted until 1885," But we pro-
pose, notwithstanding, to produce from an ample
stock such evidences Of the fact will place the
matter beyond all cavl Or the possibility Of doubt |
for all time to come
To show the status of these Ten-Mile people, we |
offer in evidence the aidavits of some of the Oldest
and most respectable inhabitants Of Rapides. No
men are better known in the section of country where
they live and there in whose veracty greater
reliance would be placed. They are all persons of
truth and honesty:
The State of Louisiana-Parish Of Rapides.
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned,
Justice of the Peace in and for the State and parish
aforesaid, James johnson, aged nnety.four years,
citizen OF the State and parish aforesaid who, being
duly sworn according to law, says that he has been
resident OF the State OF Louisiana for something near
| fifty-nine years.
| i have known the Perkins, ,Sweats Johnsons, Rays,
| Dyas or Doyals, Gbsons and Willises, the most of
WHOM now live on Ten Mile creek, OF near the Ten
Mile precinct in the parish Of Rapides, ever since
first came to the State. OldJoseph Willis, the Baptist
preacher was the first OF that tribe Of people that
| knew he was mulatto, and was born slave in
North Carolina, and it was reported that lew years
previous to the first of my acquaintance with him that
he sold his mother He was considered free man Of
color, and, in fact called him negro He was not
allowed to vote. All the Willisses now living near
Ten Mile precinct descendants of the said Joseph
Willis. The Perkins, sweats, Johnsons, Rays, Dyals
or Doyals, and Gibsons all more or less con-
nected with the said Joseph Willis and were all con-
sidered free of color or mulattoes none OF them
were allowed to vote or send their children to the
public Schools nor to muster.
was very much astonished to hear that some few
of them were allowed first to vote in the parish OF
Rapides l think in the year ISL.
| JAMES < < JOHNSON.
rs subscribed before W. ;
Parish of Rapides-Stote of Louisiana.
Before me, VIM. Randolph, Justice of the Peace
being duly commissioned appeared this day Michae
Paul who made oath that he was born and raised in
the parish and State aforesaid. That he is over fifty
six years old: that he has been voter ever since his
majority, and that from his birth to the present time
has lived in the parish and State aforesaid The said
Paul further states that for the last thrtyve year
be has resided within six miles of what is called the
Calcaseu precinct, which is his usual place OF voting
and that during the period of thirty-fve years ht
has frequently acted as a commissioner OF elections
for said precinct, and that he always with the othe
commissioners acting with him, refused to take th
votes of the free negroes, most OF whom now vote
, the Ten Mile precinct And said Paul further states
that the votes of these free negroes were not receVe
, generally until the precinct of Ten Mile was estat
-, lished, where they now vote the Democratic tcke
without let Or hindrance, to the number OF forty
upwards and that he has always considered the pc
ttng of these free negroes to vote, great outrag
upon the rights and privileges of the free white CIT
S Zens, and that by thus equalizing them with IL
|. white population they would become turbulent an
i' lns0lent - .
e snd subscribed before W. VI '* RASbofa rs 5nY j.
g State of Louisiana-Pa,ish of RapiGes.
<, The undersigned has been an inhabitant of th
e parish of Rapides fifteen years, and during the la
II seven years has lived Calcasieu, within tiftee
n miles OF "Ten Mie,'' alias "Stanley's Precinct" NJ
% occupation has been that of merchant, whlc
'e brought me in frequent contact with the people
e Ten Mile creek and l can state that there are ~
wards OF forty votes given at the said precinct VIII
are considered mulattoes or free men of color, an
s. that they vote the Democratic ticket have fir
e. uuently heard John Dyal Tor DoyD call himse
a. mixed booded He is the father of live voters at tt
III said precinct. ~ ~ - rr,,,,
sToH DO 49, "H' 'n0''''s" Os'0'' VIM RASboPH j. r
d, d, The State of louisiana Parish of Rapides.
I'd Personally appeared before the undersigned autho
|.ity Mrs. Rebecca Richie, who being sworn in d'
form of law says that in the year 1901 there arrive
to in the parish of ST. Landry number of families WI
ed were known the Carolina muattoes never regard
in any other light than free people of color, and nev
m claimed to be white Among that number was lsa
Perkins, from whom is descended the Isaac PerkiI
re ST., Willis Perkins, Sr., and Lewis Perkins, who a
nd his sons Robert A. Perkins and Isaac Perkins, J
nd are the sons of Willis Perkins; Daniel Perkins al
ne Willis Perkins are the sons of Lewis Perkins, L
Dyas, on Mr.. BOyces list, came from an ancestry
re- the name. John Dya and his sons Solomon by
th W. Dyal and Jackson Dyal, and their cousin Hend
lid son Dyal, are marked that one can hesitate
ne declaring them negroes. Reuben Rays mother i
Se Sweat, the sister of johnson Sweat, of undoubt
er negro origin, whilst Washington Ray and Ads
Ray are Reuben Rays SONS. Gibson johnson, Burr
johnson, Carroll johnson, Calvin johnson and o!
of diah Johnson are the descendants of Gibson Jol
or son. genuine mulatto. Ezekiel Gibson, very go
our old daikie, but cannot recoect the mother of hi
as Thomas Coins, she is not able to identity; kno
there was family of that name, who came over W
lde the others, and who were mulattoes; EdgIngt
il Willis and Joseph Willis, Sr., are sons OF Old d
ing Willis, the preacher, who was always regarded a
r a mulattu. Rumor having made him notorious by
of sale OF his mother the sale she had heard report
hin and does not give tie fact OF her personal knowled
William Willis is the son of Edgington Willis,
Joseph Willis and Chas. Willis the sons of JoS
ted Willis Sr. The two miracles William and Joseph
Var a Johnson for grandmother Jacob Gunter is
ing cendant of family ofthe Sweats; old johnson Sw
de. is his great uncle and be Is a mulatto. Aa
cen brakes grandmother was genuine negro. Ale>
int. der Buxton is crossed with the Drake. viii
lst Slaughter's grandmother and Glnters grandmot
lnS, IS the same woman.
9th John and James Ware are the sons of Hannah
irst kns, who is Of African descent; Hawkins Mar
she is told, is grandson of old Joe Willis. Nom
es the old stock ever exercised the rights OF white
in in St. Landry. They were not permitted even
hed muster, and were never received as associates
,ott decent people. There was but one opinion among
ard respectable inhabitants, and that was they were
lyn, people of color
N:' REDEccA = RICHIE
in Sworn to- and subscribed before me this d day J
-, = orv 4 ID iSif nj Collie La W. c. JAMES, J.
n,S Mr. John Richey, being sworn. says that he he
tha the affidavit of Mrs. r. Rchey read, and concnrs
VIZ every word, except he does not recoect the tim
~ the arrival of the old mulatto families in St. Ian
;nn ;,n4 it being before his time.
ding Sworn to and subscribed before Cotiie, thl
day Of Jauunry, a. D., 1856. W, c, JAMES, j..
,o,o State Of Lotsjana-Parish of RGpides.
thnt Personally appeared before me, the unders
sdav Justice Of the Peace in and for the State and p
! it aforesaid Simeon G. Nickols and jarnes Hicks,
itant zens of the parish of Rapdes and State of Louis
stab. who, being duly sworn according to law, say
wing they were Commissioners of Election for Calc
es precinct in the year 1885, and at the election he
imeu said precinct, Isaac Sweat Robert Perkins and
ceed auder Buxton were there and wanted to vote,
stay we believe, would have voted the American ii
they but we were not willing to receive their votes
en- Of cause we believed them mixed with African b
was In fact Buxton and Sweat offered their votes,
would not swear they were White, tfee-oorn GU
emen We Furthermore swear that we believe that The
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