New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-12
Colonel Robert A. Hunter and Free Negro
Suffrage.

From the Marksvie tAvoyeles Organ, 26h ut,l
few words Of reasoning on this subject are worth
all the commentaries however ingeniousy written.
To bring the question plainly up in tangible form
let us suppose that by the laws of this State is
sttuted crime, to be instrumental in free negroes
voting Twelve good Democrats are sworn as jurors
to pass upon the case of the State ofLousiana vs..
Robert A. Hunter tie Democratic candidate for State
Treasurer. He is charged with having aided and
abetted free negroes in the parish Of Rapdes in the
exercise Of the right of voting towit: the Johnsons,
Vests, Dyals, Bases, Willis, &C., contrary to the
statute in such made and provided and against
the peace and dignity of the State of louisiana The
State introduces six good citizens, respectable wit
nesses by all of whom it proves to the jury that the
Johnsons, Dyals, Basses Sweats and Wises are free
colored persons residing in the parish of Rapides,
that at the general election in 1866, they all
voted at precinct in that parish called Ten Mile.
That they were at the last election all armed and for
tilted, headed and commanded by Col Robert A. Hun
ter aforesaid, and that the witnesses, white men,
were not allowed to approach the polls without capt.
ulatng with these free negroes through said Hunter
ct al.
The State here Closes Or rather rests its The
defendant Col. Robert A. Hunter, introduces wit
to rebut the testimony of the States Witnesses
he offers nothing to Offset their testimony but he
gets up in pompous and braggadocio manner before
the Jury and tells them that the witnesses are all
liars and towards. Here the case is submitted to
Democratic jury without argument, because it is evil
dent none is required. We ask every sensible man
what should be the verdict? It would be recorded
as 1Oll0WS: we, tne jury, uuu lue prlsoHeT, Ool'
Robert A. Hunter, guilty charged upon him in the
bill of Indictment" They could not and would not
even recommend him to the mercy of the court, be.
every honest knows that he is without the
paes of mercy This is exactly the case as it is made
out before the people of Louisiana. Witnesses have
been sworn to the number of six or eight their tes-
tmony all concurs in showing the Dyals, Sweats,
Johnsons Wilises and others to be free negroes that
they vote, and that Robert A.. Hunter defends them,
not only peaceaby but with arms, in the exercise of
this right peculiar to white Mr.. Hunter offers
no witnesses to disprore what these witnesses estab-
fish, but he contents himself with publishing card in
the Louisiana Courier, in which he charges these
| men (good and honorable men, too,) with tyng."
Does Mr. Hunter think because he is the Democratic
candidate for State Treasurer, that the people of
Louisiana will believe his bOmbastic denials of charges
like these, when they are so concusvey established
| by unquestionable and competent testimony.
It is true the Louisiana Democrat endeavors to in
validate the testimony of two three of the witnesses
because the want of an education compelled them to
afix their mark instead of their signatures to their
aflidayits but this miserable subterfuge have
any other effect upon the minds OF honest men, than
to convince them OF the veracty OF these witnesses
and the utity of the efforts Of Mr. Hunters friends
to disproye the charges preferred against him! The
people are the jurors in this case, we think it fully
made out, and without further comment we are will
ing to submit it to their decision In voting for Hun
ter, the Democracy are recognizing the right OF
free negro to vote in Louisiana and if by his election
we establish this principle, or even by supporting
him to any extent we endorse the doctrine let us
never utter syllable of complaint against the North
for allowing free negroes to vote there. 1t will not
be becoming in us to say one word more on the sub,
ject after we have set the example. We think that
white male citizens of Louisiana should control its
legislation and administer its Offices and that free
negroes, if they permitted to remain here at all
should be the subjects of the laws, and have no par
tieipation in their administration.