New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-03

This evidence is clear and unqnestiopable. It es-
tablishes beyond all doubt, that " these people, who
live in the prolific hills of Ten Mile, have african
blood in hr ueins, and that they do vote the Demo
cratic ticket. .
and ineontestable, that Col Hunter did, on the 5th
day of November last at the Presidential election of
Free Kansas Buchanan, assemble and arm the free
negroes Of Ten Mile, and fortified them 80 at the
polls. the night before the election, that it would
have required large force Of well armed men to
have gained access to the balot-box:
The State of Louisinno-P Parish Of RHpides.
Before the undersigned authority, personally ap-
peared Edmond johnson, citizen Of the State and
parish above mentioned, who, being duly sworn ac-
cording to law, affirmed that on the 4th day Of NO
vember, A. D. 1856 in company with other citizens of
the aforesaid State and parish, accompanied the
challenging committee of the american party to
Rapides and State of Louisiana for the purpose of
protecting the said Committee In ther rights having
heard that the free negroes Of the said precinct were
determined that their votes should not Be challenged
and that they determined to vo4e regardless OF
all law.
/ did, then and there, at the said precinct, and on
armed with double barreled shot gun and revolver,
! (he might have had more arms) raTying the free
negroes around him, all armed with double tarreIed
shot guns and rifles, for the purpose as believe to
force in their ballots regardless Of all consequences.
do Furthermore affirm that heard Robert A. Hunter
say to the free negroes, that, let them come on and
|
Committee, and those who were in company with
said gammittee. / do furthermore affirm that be-
lieve chat all the on the list called Boyce's
List are mixed with African blood In fact some
of them are 20 black that if offered for sale the pur-
chaser would not ask if they were free. fursher-
more believe that the said Robert A. Hunter has at
tended the said precinct at every election hed at II
for the last three years. and do know that the said
Robert A. Hunter gave ball at of their houses,
near the said Stanleys or TenMe precinct, for the
r benefit or pleasure of the said free negroes, and
dxuift fhcro nd ynott tbopn tu
Sworn to and befor. me- his 2s day q August.
It WM RANDOLPH. Up.
The State of Louisiana-Parish of Rapides.
g Personally appeared before me the undersigned,
Justice of the Peace in and for the parish of Rapdes
% and State OF Louisiana, Levi Boyd and William Boyd,
citizens of the State and parish Aforesaid who, being
duly sworn according to law. say that they accom-
r panied the American Challenging Committee to the
Of precinct called Ten Mile, in the aforesaid State and
parish, for the purpose of assisting the said COM
mittee in their rights in November. 1856 having
heard that the muatoes of said precinct were deter
mined that their votes should not be challenged and
"a were going to vote regardless of all law. When we
"a arrived within short distance of the said precinct,
g we that they armed and harrIcaded and led
g, on by Col. Robert A. Hunter /, Levi Boyd, swear
that saw the said Hunter at the said precinct at
= the election for President of the United States, in
~ November last, armed and believe, leading on the
mulatoes of said preonct all armed for the purpose
7 of voting them, regardless of all law.
it, We further believe that there is upwards of forty
:
IN by persons of mixed African blood, who vote the
,rs Democratic ticket
'ss i LEVI 1,;1 7; BOYD.
ess ess vn1rAz :; I BOYD
ph to aud subscribed before me- thu. 18th DAY Of August
ais The parties not being msds shs5 H
on Clerks Office, District Court, Parish Of Rapides
OIL on, hereby certify that R. Legras, VIM. G. James
en- en- and VIM. Randolph, Esquires, Justices of the
'he Peace in and for the parish Of Rapdes, duly com
-. missioned and qualified.
ews In witness whereof have hereunto set my hant
VI and affixed the seal of said Court, at Alexandria, tn
y -0'1 Wy MR. ARIAI, Clerk.
ust. ALEXANDRIA, La, August 49, 1867.
P. Db. Editor As requested, give you an accoun
of what transpired at the Ten-Mle precinct at th
last Presidential election. l was on a visit to NJ
'Ce James Hicks and the day previous to the eecto
iei informed that committee Of the American part
IN ~ would the next day, go to the Ten-Sile precnt
l for the purpose of challenging the votes of the FIRE
us negroes who had previously been in the habit
my voting there.
sad Having seen n good many of these persons, an
7ls being convinced. by their color and general appea
the ance that they were of negro origin, | felt som
ing curiosity to know how the matter would terminate
I ne and therefore went with this committee. Havn
pus been raised in slave State, and looking upon tn
aer negro an inferior race to the white and KNOWN
tne them be possessed of political rights whateve
= l' you may imagine my surprise when on arriving
ived s,itJ s nd bea aed and encnnrag5 bv white me
tao % holding high official and social positions in tt
~ ~chel country.
OF Before this committee arrived at the place of votn
per they halted and held consultation as to the mode
rag proceeding They determined to go peaceably al
c quietly to the polls to challenge each and every neg
and vn s & aux the 70
r arrived at the place, we halted at the distance
gust about one hundred yards of the stand for then
P the negroes getting into the stables and beh
the houses and fences and making every demonst
A., ton indicating that the party would be fired on
, te they rode any nearer the house At this, Mr. j.
las' Wise the Sheriff, who was at the house. was Sc
teen for and out. Mr. Hunter also sent for,
NY did not make his appearance. Mr.. Wise told
hcH party that it the determination of the negroes
ne ol the house to fire them if they attempted to
up proach the polls but, said he if yon will lay aside
Mh9 your arms Ill guarantee you may go safely to t
ana house and not be molested. very pretty propc
Is G ton, to be sure! The very idea OF white man
nse ing down his to sable of Africa. is reyt
l the ing to the of every man carrying within
VI breast the spirit of freeman. The party of cou
1 . declined to accept the hospitality of the negroes
's' any such disgraceful terms. Upon finding that
would not be allowed to go to the house without r
s ming the risk of being most nglorously shot by tn
thor negroes, deemed advisable, taking the mum
due of the negroes into consideration to depart in pes
rived make TINS communication 10 you not as m'
who Der of the American party, but as Democrat h
,rded esty opposed to all illegal voting and to all per
never upholding and encouraging the free negro in
Isaac exercise OF Tue eiectlVe 1rancnse. ~ ,--,e
kins, very respectfully, &C. 'osN a. e' m ,ss,
o are comments upon the cnaracter Vi ILLS tes'lii'
!, Jr, would be idle. The witnesses are citizens of
, ana parish-they all well known and are engaged
rr nf the various pursuits of eal able and ready at
Oval, times to defend their integrity and honor.
nder 1t is well to say in this connection, that is
ate IN tom with Col Hunter to deal in brave denis,
i tad meet such charges here made, with the 81
Adam AS this matter is placed in specific and tang
urre fom he can, if he chooses, adopt mode of Wind
Obe- cation which would appear more consistent with
sond unassumed dignity and an unaffected courage
him, The certificates here presented show conclusN
Knows that Col. Hunter has banded his fate to free ne
with suffrage. He is linked with them that with tt
T he must sink swim. Like Macbeth he is so Stee
as in crime it is easier for hm to go on than to
oy the back. In all State elections every white mans
orted is affected by the free negro vote of TenMile, an
is for the constitutional voters of the State to de
,senh in this election whether not they will sanction
,h had damning outrage upon their rights and privieg
des whether they are willing that free negroes shall
sweat come the arbters of the elections in Louisiana.
1e~an Col Hunter, in vndicating the rights of these
William negroes to vote says that their voting began in
mother and that the Wing party first voted them. TIL