New Orleans Republican., 1868-05-15
alelr 0tLeatts &epabIiean.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
MAnsrrErp, April Il. 1858.


EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
My attention has been called to an edi-
torial headed Rebellion il De Soto |
Parish, . in which an named that appear
ed in your paper of the llth instant. l
hope you will allow me in Justice to the
people of the parish of De Soto, certain
persoas named and myself to correct the
misstatements that appear in it. The
! bearer of this will inform you who am.
seek no notoriety to carry on newspaper
discussion.
1t is not true, as 5t;,.ed x Inc REPUBLICAN,,
that the citizens, called 'uAwhipped rebels
in that article, of De SOTO parish held
meeting on the 28th Of March, and adopted
resolutions prohibiting future meetings of
Republican organizations, and appointed
committee to wait upon Mr.. stephen
Humphreys, colored, president OF one of
the Republican clubs, and inform him
that the club would not be permitted
to hold any more meetings,
| and if it did the members must take the
consequences. (See afidavits anneIed.)
The citizens of De Soto parish in their col
lective capacity held no such meeting. A
meeting of the Democratic Parish Cen.
tral Club" was held in MGrsdeld on the
twentyeighth ultimo, and passed certain
resolutions, and committee Of two was
appointed by that club to wait on
Humphreys, to ascertain among other facts
whether OF not the freedmen of Dc Soto
had organized secret Radical clubs. Mr.
Longmier aud Mr.. Williams, the commit.
tee, did not read the resolutions of the
Democratic club to Mr.. McCalla, had no
authority from the club to communicate
with him in any way and what transpired
between Longmier and McCalla only re.
lated to themselves. The club the citizens
had no hand in the quarrel and
we're not parties to it. If Mr.. Longmier
committed any of the acts charged, he
acted wholly on his own responsibility, and
ls Acne amenable to Mr. McCalla and the
law Of the land.
Thomas 2. McCalla, have been cgedita,
| bly, Informed uollu5teeed in the Confederate
army and afterward joined the Federal
army. The conversation between Mr. J. T.
McCalla / referred to was in substance as
follows; On the evening referred to Mr.. Nc
Gala called at my sidenCe and stated that
lie had been assaulted by Longmier, and
asked me to detail q conversation had the
day previous between his son Thomas and
, myself. l related the facts rs accurately as
could from memory, aud remarked that
was surprised that he and his son (Thomas)
took SO decided a stand in favor Of the
Radical party, and it had been charged that
they had aided in organizing secret political
ClE5S who met armed With guns composed
mostly offreedmen. That the freedmen we're
becoming very much demoraliZed neglect
ing their regular empl0ymeIts and assum-
ing a hostile attitude toward the whites,
= the result of these secret organizations.
That my impression was that there existed
no hostility against him and his son, or his
family, simply on account Cf their Union
sentiments; had heard nothing of the kind
throughout the perish since the close Of the
war. Perhaps few restless spirits tried to
create that impression on the public mind
for the sake of political capital. Bat dur.
I ing the war (frst and second years) when
he openly and violently opposed the cause
that was favored by the almost unani-
nous voice of the people of this
part of the State he then drew
down upon himself theindignati0n and re-
. sentiment of q large maiority OF this people,
| and . certain committee were about 10 in.
fict summary punishment on him when
Mr.. Elan, Mr.. S. D. Parker, and myself
dissuaded them from that purpose by ap.
pealing to their sense of Justice aud eX.
hOrting them not to fesort to harsh meas,
ure, but to the strong arm of the law. That
if he had infringed any law, civil or mill
tary, to appeal to II | added further:
Although you may at the present time inter-
fere in political matteis as long as you do
' not array the blacks iR armed opposition
against the whites the people of De Soto
will not interfere Withypu. That Mr.. Long
,. mier acted on his own HOOK, and the
people Of De Soto ought not to be held
| responsible for his acts, vi the private quar-
rels between you and him. That the people
!. of De SJto had o lght aud it was but
natural that they Should be excited
to the highest pitch Of Indignation against
It you or any other man who secretly organ
iZed armed clubs COMPOSED Of freedmen,
with view of arraying them against the
less numerous populatitn of this country.
and keeping IN constant alarm in the rural
districts and small towns the women and
| children, exciting appfehensi0ns of mid,
,, night raids and assassinttion from class
:, lashed into fury by Misrepresentation pro
a mulgated by designing and uGprincipleo
- demagOgues.
- This is the substance kf the conversation
" had with McCalia. Tins TAR and no far.
ther have been his sfecial guardian to
keep the rebels of De Sdo from devouring
him. 1t is 10 be hoped that his refuge IN
= bleeding Kansas viii disarm him OF all
nervousness, and that III. Longmier, aged
about sixty years, and ame il one arm,
will terrify him no morL
= In relation to Mr.. Lou5er and the disinter
ment of the federal dealist Mansfield, sew
eral conflicting stateusnts have become
current; and the partie1charged not having
been named, will thersOro not attempt tC
investigate the facts dnnected with it.
have lived in the parisl Of De Soto loHger
- than Mr.. McCalla, and noW the sentiments
OF the people perhaps As well as he does
that he has never beal persecuted on ac
count of his Union dmtiments since the
close of the war. Win he freely curses
the damned rebels, OK in amisanthropiC
ct talks imprudently ma ineHrs the dis
: pleasure of good and tue men, all have
to say is that he Is the lttifcer of his OWE
misfortunes.
have sought hes1ag IN your column!
simply to do justice u lie dr. GER and
standing of individual ihclu, e myself
o. named. and the people Der 10 rish, il
the REPUBLICAN edltot of 4 eleventh
- April. desire no nott etq IN aducting
a newspaper discussiN TIL s0GOineC
atbdavits are respectfi1Y snfiasted 10
candid public, and the plaef q soto an
willing to stand by thA zero md il j
to be hoped the rebelliof fs s0a0 Is ended
Very respectfully, yd ohHeislis servant
fss e = b. WEMPLE
= The sfidavits to viii VI. snIle refer
are signed by himself al Mt Bohnl
Williams i
DEATH OF WALTER Cd II Is agad gentle
4 man, who was recently l Aylhs on thp
Pontchartrain Railroad asls wound
= ed, died Wednesday last ia ths is Of hi
iniuries. He WIS quit n s fs5bta from til