Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-05
.aion aud 9ispat eh.
SATURDAY. oCrOBER s. IsszII
Largest Calculation in CIty and state..
A NEGRO RIOT IN LOUISIANA.

Ehe Negroes Against the hnAteA-Ehe
Outbreaks QueIIed ny the Military.
The telegraph this morning informs as
that there was riot at the polls in Jeffer-
son, suburb of New Orleans, on Saturday
Last. From the New Orleans papers of
Tuesday, the lst inst, We gather the folN
lowing details. Referring to the accounts
of the affair by the Radical organs, the
Times says:
The principal reason assigned by the
Mendiccnt L0yalist for the negro riot in
Jefferson city, by which two white men
were fatally wounded, was that Harry
ROLAND, a fireman and former soldier in
the Confederate army" after presenting
himself at the polls and showing that he
was registered, I1lsutdHety scratched ticket
bearing Republican names, re-Wrote and
deposited it" Now we respectfully submit
that registered voter has an undoUbted
right to scratch off whatever names he
pleases from a ticket and substitute
those of persons in whom he has confidence.
But in the case at issue the voter was grieY
odsly insulted because he scratched the
Republican ticket, and when his right to
vote was questioned he became excited,
and in the presence of a thousand negroes
contended for his rights. A quarrel en-
sued the negroes rushed to arms forty
shots were fired ROLAND was shot through
the brain; his companion, Harry c. Reese,
was shot through the abdomen, and since
then both have died. Several other white
men and three OF four negroes were wound
ed, but none Of them fatally.
This outrage by gang of insolent ne
grOes and their political supporters is in
sultingly paraded in the columns of the
Mendiodnt as an Opposition to the Recon
structiOnists to the newly enfranchised citi-
Zens."
The Radical chairman of the Commits
sioners of Election. Major F. Frye, after
giving statement of the origin of the af-
fair, proceeds:
Hereupon the negroes gathered from all
quarters, and so did the whites. Some one
unauthorized rung the general FIRE alarm
and the negroes rung their church riot
alarm. Firemen and whites, many of them
armed with revolvers, and negroes, many
and most Of them armed with muskets came
running from all quarters. More shooting
was heard short distance of, and more
men were reported wounded.
Meanwhile and as soon as the alarms were
sounded having called for assistance upon
the Mayor, who was present during the
whole time, and was seconding me in my
efforts to quell the disturbance. and who
told me he was unable to get civil force, l
sent messenger to Greenville barracks
with hasty call for military aid. 1t was
nobly and promptly responded to; but
during the three.quarters of an hour before
the messenger could go and return, affairs
we're very serious. Squads of negroes, with
muskets and bayonets fixed, marched in
from every direction; but in almost every
case being met by the Mayor or myself at
either end, before they could form juno
ton with the crowd, who we're armed with
clubs, we're induced to go back and most of
them did go back upon the assurance that
the troops were coming. The whites gath
cred a short distance below-one or two
with shot guns, one or two with large
knives, and a number of them with revol-
vers All the police had disappeared
neither the Chief nor the Iieutenants were
there, and but very few citizens ventured
to aid ms in orr pacific efforts. Soon, how
ever, the detachment Of United States
forces were on hand, when both blacks and
whites suddenly melted away, like snow be
meath a mondays sun, and quiet was re-
stored patrol squads Of the military were
thrown out, and families again rested con
tentedly.
All good citizens and men of Judgment
feel satisfied that but for the timely appear
ance of the troops a most fearful and indis-
criminate massacre and burning would
have taken place, and they wish to express
to the commanding General their heartfelt
thanks TO him and his officers for their
prompt response TO the call of duty
As TO its bearing upon the final result of
the election, the Commissioners do not
know of but one besides the negro Henry
who was deprived of his vote, or who Of
fered, or intended, or wished to vote and
it was about four P. NJ when we secured the
box and closed the polls. Nor do we think
that there was any premeditated plan or
intention Of any number Of citizens to in
terrupt the election, but that it originated
and was carried out by ROLAND and few
of his hackers, who put him forward as the
bully, and while we can not but regret the
untimely death of human being, all, be-
lieve, without exception, concur in saying
il was the result of his own rash acts. =
Respectfully submitted. ..#t ....'
FREDERICK FRYE,
Chairman Commissioners of Election.