The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-17
The Election in Rapidea
TO THE PUBLIC

|
publican, of 10th nit, signed by one Adam
johnson. It contains not only unjust 4.
PERSONS against the character Of q prisats
and estimable citizen Of this parish Cant.
Hooe; but also what will be construed, and
doubtless was thus intended by the author
or authors Of its production to be direct
attack on the conductors and commission.
ers Of the election held at Plaisance Ward
Rapides parish, on 18th and 18th ult.
Capt. Hooe is amply able to protect bic
own character, let; the attack come from
whence it may.
AS regards the charge against tie Come
missioners of Election as to whom adam
johnson" is made to say: Through feAs
Of personal violence, the rebels kept sons
cofored men from voting, while those Who
had arms went to the polls with spprelen.
eions Of danger" etc, ETC., desire tore
ply as follows !.
I was ON the spot where the election .xas
held continually, from before the polls Wers
opened, Z A. NJ, s. p. H., the time Of clos
ing and.to my own personal knowledge, iuI
no single instance was any threat made BY
any one or attempt to intimidate. The.
commissioners sat near the door OF The.
building where the vote was taken, leaving
an area Of not more. than ten feet standing
room.
When Colhoun's battalion OF not less
than $50 freedmen, cavalry and infantry,
and oil armed with muskets, arrived marh-
ing in solid column, with flags flying and.
apparently anxious torush in at one, | told
the civil officer in attendance to stand at
the door, allowing one to come in at onte
and the instant his vote was deposited, an
other was admitted. This was done to-
facilitate voting, not to intimidate voters
and it is thus continued until the whole
armed gang had voted including Colhoun
Phillips & Co.
As to the last clause Of the quotation
above tiven, if any went to the polls armed
through apprehension Of danger, il existed
only in their own fancy, instigated BY those
who excited it and marched their cohorts
to the polls, ali armed as if for battle, in.
stead Of the quiet; peaceable exercise off
privilege none would have opposed. Com
paratively, very few votes we're rejected
not more than Eve or six, from tally sp..
proximating 800 in ALI
/ believe but single one Of thu Col-
houn gang was amongst the rejected, and
| it was because the registration ticket was
Lin another name than his own, which IS
fact to my certain knowledge. Where tbs
registration ticket had been lost, the vote
of the applicant was received on his sworn
affidavit Of the fact. More Of such afdda.
Wits were made and their votes taken Tor
the Radical than for the Democratic ticket.
About the time of finally closing the
polls / conversed with several Radical col.
ored men OF the ground, one being 4 can.
| didate and elected; their individual end
united expression was that they were per.
fectly satisfied that justice had been prac-
ticed towards all, Partially towards none
On no previous occasion have | witnessed
more willingness BY all parties than that
towards each and every voter. fairness,
Iequity and justice should rule. The frst
and only cause Of excitement was when
Colboun, Phillips b Co., marched their
formidable array OF armed cohorts on the
ground. Even that soon subsidized and the
voting proceeded very quietly.
Now, as to the signers and co-signers Of
the article in the New Orleans Republican:
This Adam Johnson is a negro desperate,
who was bailed out Of the Alexandria jail
Iby W. B. Phillips, and kept on bis place
as his bodyguard. AFTER having unmerci.
fully beaten some Of The hands this same A.
johnson took refuge near w. 8. Golhoun.
Warrants are now out for his arrest IN two
cases OF assault and battery.
He is ignorant, being unable to read o.
write, and consequently never pennsd the
Iarsice published srhe authorship Tests
With Colhoun, Phillips & Co.
4 i am prepared to prove all The mstefis!
allegations. in this communication, and
hold myself personally responsible for il
i g. a. TnoRxrox,
Commissioner Of Election for Plaisaucs
Ward.
/, Rapides Parish, La, May 18th 1868.
We, the undersigned, County Commits
lsioners with C. AZ Thornton, at the cleo.
| ton held at Plaisance Ward, Rapides Par
ish, on the 18th and 18th nit. do hereby
certify that no threats we're made asainst
colored voters; that every one was Tree 70
go and come as he pleased.
The only excitement which took place
was caused BY the appearance Of aboat %
!, armed freedmsnif0m Golhoun's plantation
who came, as il seemed, determined to Gre
ate disturbance, but no opposition from
any source was mlde to their voting.
H. LAYssARD,
A.C. LEWIS.
Rapides. Ia, May 18th, 1868.
sos---c.~~---~--
New FouxD FRIENDS or TIE PRzsl
nrvr -.akfanks, wrifpe from WASHINGTON