The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-07

In the Parish of Caddo wrise ma fbas
their homes are beset by desperadoes
aHi. tssstt their lives and, property,
have thus far been saved from de-
sStu9si0n only by By e. armed II ia men, who
yoiuntesrr, to, guard them. AS you
will ds see by the letter Of Mr..
Hudspeth, the District ATTORNEY for
the Eighth District, men, women
and children have recently been muir
dered in the Parish of st. Landry.
b. bands of armed men, who remain
thus far r!unpunishe and unmolested.
The. enclosed newspaper, Demo-
cratic Journal, published in Madison
Parish. shows clearly the condition
OF affairs there. In corroboration of
the statements contained in the peti-
tlon OF Judge Crawford, Judge Noyly
and other gentlemen, of North Loui-
siana. from the very best informa-
tion, Mr.. President, I have no
doubt that $50 men have been MUIR
dered in Louisiana in the last month: /:
and ha!f startling as this statement
is, letters Of the most reliable charac-
ter fully confirm it. There seems to
be O settled determination on the
part of those men who adhered to
the rebellion, to either kill or drive
away the Union white men and lead
ing colored men, SO as to be able to
terrify the masses OF the people into
voting as they shall dictate. There
is q secret organization throughout
the State, known as the "K. w. c., :"
the. full details of which, questions.
oaths, &C., Colonel Deane will ex.
plain to you. It is founded for the
purpose OF placing and keeping the
colored people in condition of infe-
riority, and with view to this end,
contemplates and designs the preci-
pitation to conflict between the two
races.
Many prominent citizens of the
State are leaders in it. Its members
are sworn under oaths of the most
binding character, to carry out the
purposes of the organization, how
ever desperate, that their leaders may
adopt. 1t has now transpired that
the men which threatened the Legis-
lature some weeks since, were only
prevented from enacting the scenes
OF the 3Oth of July, 1866, by the
presence Of the United States troops.
1t was the deliberate determination
to assassinate the Lieutenant-Gov
nor and Speaker of the House of
Representatives, for having decided
questions preliminary to the organ
ization of the General Assembly, in
o manner obnoxious to them. There
are military organizations on foot in
this city, under the auspices of this
secret organization, and they drill
openly III our streets, Mt night, or in
halls easily to be seen. In short. I
fully believe that there is meditated a
bloody revolution, the certain fruit
of which would be long continued, if
not hopeless confusion, disaster and
ruin to the State. The presence of
United States troops, in nv judg-
ment, is necessary to prevent this.
The organization of the militia is of
very questionable expediency; mas
much as it will be, under the present
excited state of mind, a political
party armed to support the Govern
ment against another. I wish to ar
rest this. if possible; and respect
fnlly request your Excellency to put
two regiments of cavalry. regiment
OF infantry, together with battery
OF artillery, under the command of
some competent officer, with orders
to cooperate with me in repressing
disorder and violence, arresting
criminals and protecting the officers
OF the law IN trying them. The
breaking up of all secret political
organizations, and few examples of
condign punishment of offenders,
will secure peace in the State, as
soon as the great excitement attend
ing the present political campaign is
over.
[ have the honor to be very re-
spectfully, your obedient servant,
H. @. YARMOUTH,
Governor of Louisiana.
s-Nn