Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1857-09-12


ti.i election. WAS 4u visit ID i:f
James Hicss, ana On The day previous
to lie election was iniorrnet that coga
mites OF 1he American party. would on
the usst Day, 20 on 70 lie fen Nile pre-
c3"ct for the purpose Of challenging shs
7otes o. the !rse neRroes who had pre-
/ viousiv been IN sha habit # vctIue there.
! i}aeiog seer 4 good mary Of Theses
persons, aud beng consIaee1. By she,g'
color snd general appearsuce .has they
were Of negro origin, [ felt sons cvtiosi.
/ " TO know how The matter would ter
innate, and | therefore went with tlas
ccm:niitse. Having been sai.ea in
elase state. s1d locking upon sta negro
as an Inferior race to til. white, and
| knowing them TO be possessed Of nc 20,
3'sical rights whatever, Yos. mag mag
Inc my surprise shen 90 arriving a. the
p|sco OF rot'ag | foand these negroes
armed aad fortified, and headed and 60
eoursge4 by Wits men holding high
Official and social positions in she coun-
.ES.
Before .his coguy:s!.seo arrived at ti..,
place oi voting, they halted and held =.
consultation as to the mode os proceed
Ing. They determined 10 20 pesceabiy
and quita!g to the polls, 10 caal!anea
eaca and eseTv negro who should offer
bis vote, and to take every precaution to
avoid 3 collision with tho negroes
When ss arrived a, The place, ne haIts,l
at lbs distance Of shout cne hundred
yards Of Iie stand for hen 1zs saw The
negroes eating intc the stai,l.s and be-
hind the houses and fspces, and making
every demonstration indicating that the
party would be fred on i taey rode any
nearer sbe hoiise Il, this, Mr.. j. G.
Mise, the Sheriff, who vas at The housa,
vas ssn. fos, and esnla out. Mi. Huntss
Vas siso sent for, bu. did n,s maks asg
sppesranes- Mr Wise told the patty
:ha. il was The determination Of the rs,
gross at sl:s house TO Gre on them It they
stteynptea 10 approach .Ae polls bus,-
said ne, il yon will lay aside your arms,
II. guarantee sou may 60 asfely 10 iha
house and aoa be rao!sstei A very pres
Ey proposition, to be sure: Thsssry idea
OF + white man laying Down bis arms TO
"a ssbsa son Of Africa, IS revolving 10 the
sense ef every man carving within his
breast Tho spirit OF a freeman. The par
~ Of course declined 10 accept the hos
pita'ity OF tho negroes on any such dis
graceful terms. Upon finding Chat we
wonld not be allowed to g to the house
without running the risk OF being shot
oy these negroes, we deemed advisable,
ssk'n. the nnmbes Of the negroes into
consideration. to depart IN peace.
make this i:oinmuaieation TO you )
MOI as member Of the American party.
but as Dem ocrat, honestly opposed to
all illegal voting aud 10 ali persons up
holding and encouraging the free negro
III the exercise OF the elective franchise.
yerr respectfully &c, JOHN i, hgsRs
Comment upon .lls character Of thls
testimony would be idle. Yhe witnesses
arg citizens Of tie pagish--they are we'll
known, and are engaged in the safions
pursuits OF ,ts-aIl able and ready at all
times 10 defend their integrity and hoa--
or.
II IS we'll 10 say IN this connection,
ina, it is q custom with Col. Hunter, to
assl in brays 1enia!s, and to meet such
claIges as are here made, with the "lle.'
As this matter IS now placed il ape
cific aad tangible form, he can, il he
choosas, adopt mode OK rindlcailoa
which would appear more consistent
With an uuassu.ned dignity and uuadec-
ted courage.
The certificate hero presented .how
eouclusiyaly that Col Hunter has band
! ed his faia to free aegrc suffrage. lie
! is 80 linked with them, tba. with ,haa
he mus. sink or swim. Like Macbeth;
ha Is 50 stepped in crime it is easier for
h;u to 20 on than to turn bach. In nil
State elections every white mans vets
is affected by the negro vote ofTen-Mils,
and it is for the constitutional 7otsrs Of
! sla State TO decide in this election
whether or not they Will sanction tho
dananing outrags upon their rights and
p.ivi,eges-whether they ara wiling
that free nsgroes aaall beooma the arbi-
ters o! tbs elections in louisiana.
Col Hunter, ia indicating the rights
Of shess fres negroes to vots, says thst
their voting began IL 1898, snd that ths
-. ~ pit.., l. ,