The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-03
A CAMPAIGN DOCUMENT.


When the numeristic imagination of Gov.
Warmoth sent Col. Dean of my staff all the
way to Washington, to inform the president
and Congress, and all the rest of the universe,
that one hundred and fifty "rebel" murders
of "loyal men were committed in Louisiana
during specified month, he made the serious
mistake of not supporting this startling gener-
elity by an adequate statement of details. 1t
was fine piece of fancy, to be sure, in out
line but without filling in, it presented to
rational mind no more of reality, or of veri-
similitude, than the famous "hole in the sky"
which opened to the inspired vision of inn
peacher Boutwell, Consequently, it collapsed,
and failed of its desired effect in the quarter
where it was intended to operate for even
the Radical population at the North is not
completely idiotic, as they are presumed to
be by Radical politicians.
Mortified by this failure joint committee
was organized by our model Legislature :" to
investigate the conduct of the late election and
the present condition of peace and order in
the State"-that is to say, to furnish filling
in of plausible details for Warmoth's imagina-
tirely of Radicals, namely: Hugh J. Camp
bell, W. L. Thompson, of the Senate, and
Peter Harper, William Murrell, E. s. Wilson,
of the House. The result of their labors is
report covering sixty-eight pamphlet pages,
and purporting to particularize, illustrate, and
classify the cases of loyal persons who, with
in the period of about twelve months, have
been killed" "shot," or otherwise mall
treated" for political effect and to crafty
a ferocious bigotry and remorseless hate.
But we will let the committee explain in its
own rhetoric the animus of the horrid deeds
which they have cooked up as pretty cam
paign dish to set before the somewhat dys-
peptic appetite of the Northern Radicals.
Humanity" say they, sickens at the con-
temptation of bigotry SO ferocious and a hate
so remorse,ess, founded solely on political diff
ferences, and having for its impelling motive,
not resistance to oppression, but an unruly de-
sire to coerce the sentiments and actions of
others, aud blind feeling of rage and ven
geance towards those whom they cannot cove
nor silence"
This language occurs in their Introductory
comments, and is clearly designed to prepare
simple and credulous minds to regard all the
real or fancied crimes which are subsequently
enumerated as the incidents of a widespread
and systematic vendetta founded solely on
political differences"
Yet no evidence is adduced that would
stand for a moment in a court of justice to
prove that the crimes occurred, much less to
prove that they were of political nature.
The fact is, the committee virtually confess
that they sat as a secret inquisition, and that
they studiously avoided anything like Judi
cial examination of facts. All their material
testimony is anonymous. The reason which
they assign for suppressing the names of
their chief witnesses is that these witnesses
fear to provoke, by openly testifying, the
vengeance of lawless and disloyal persons"
A curious illustration of the defiant courage
of "those whom they"-the said lawless
and disloyal persons" cannot cove nor
silence"
We will append some specimens of politi-
cal murders and outrages compiled by this
committee:
sin Tensas parish it is in evidence that GER
tain men are going through the country on
Bayou Macon killing colored people like
sheep from political motives of course
In Jackson parish-"and women are raw
ished;' manifestly political outrages. In the
same parish, ga freedman was murdered by
Thos. Mitchell, colored." Ofcourse the MUIR
derer was inspired by Democratic instigators.
In the parish of Bossier, sit is not be-
heved that State laws will extend to this
parish very soon, as the people have decided
that Radicals shall not hold Office there"
This is almost too good to be true. Exemp-
ton from Radical State laws and Radical |
officials to administer them, constitutes bles-
sing which is indeed enviable.
In the parish of Morehouse, Franklin
Sinclair, colored, was murdered by j. G. |
Payne. The said Payne was arrested, tried |
before a magistrate, and acquitted on the |
ground of self-defense." Payne, presump- |
lively Democrat, could only have killed Sim
clair from political hatred. Away, therefore,
with the plea of defense! Democrats have
no right to defend themselves from deadly
assaults by the truly loyal-no right to
live!
But enough. That this report was got up
for campaign purposes is a fact that crops out
from beginning to end. Nothing" say the
committee pretending to use the words of
he affidavit of a citizen" of Claiborne
parish" but the election of true and firm
Republican as President of the United States
AN restore the country to quiet and peace"
This is the key to the intent of the docu-
nent.
The CRESCENT thanks b. Geo. Boulet, Esq.
# this city, for a late speech of our next
resident, Horatio Seymour, delivered at
Ilbany, N Y.