New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-10
oUTRAgBs IN THE COUNTRY.

1t is time the rebels in our country par
ishes understood that they will be fully
punished for the outrages they are commit
ting on defenseless persons because Of their
political opinions. These prosecutions and
outrages are so inexcusable, SO contempti-
BILE, so cowardly. that no punishment can
well be too severe for the guilty parties.
In De Soto, st. Martin, Sabine, and other
parishes, many freedmen who voted for the
Constitution have been discharged from
their employment, driven from their homes,
and frequently under pain Of death, ordered
to leave the parish.
The conduct Of the lately dominant but
now defeated party in many parts OF Loui-
siana is a disgrace to our COMMUNITY and
discredit to the military authorities of this
District, and to the civilization of this age.
4 correspondent in Shreveport says:
Ihave seen many freedmen from De Solo
parish since the election, and all Corroborate
the statement that the reign of terror has
indeed come upon the black people Of
Northwestern Louisiana. They have been
treated in Ahe most barbarods and outra
ceous manner 0y the Democracy Many Of
Them live 10 continual fear Of being muir.
dered, and others have left their places and
crops, end come into this city for pr0teC.
ton. On election day men were beaten at
the polls with clubs, and some were shot
down like dogs on their way home, and now
there is feeling of great anxiety and inse.
curity among all the Republicans of this
section. The yindictiveness ofthat class call
,.r1,r IN
west Louisiana toward our cOlored voters,
and the cruelty and barbarism which they
practice toward those who sought to do
their duty to themselves and their posterity
as American citizens, were not surpassed
during the darkest days of the rebellion.
Ifyou publish this do not give
the name of the author. What have
written is true, and not half the truth is
told yet if man dgres to speak OF write
the truth here hia life is hot safe moment.
have been repeatedly warned to leave, and
feel that / am in hourly DANGER
Thus writes a gallant gentleman who has
worn tie United States uniloTm, and won
honor for himself and glory for his
country
Another correspondent writing from
Mansfield, says:
Previous 10 the election all kinds Of
threats were made against the freedmen by
the whites in order TO prevent them from
voting for the Constitution. They were
told that if they did not vote the rebel
ticket they and their families should BE-
turned from the plantations and driven
from the country, and since the election
many Of these threats have been executed
because the freedmen did not vote as
required. At this place the voting
was through q broken pane Of glass
in the shertI7s Office, around which was
gathered a crowd of white men to intimi-
date the freedmen, On the ground near
the window line was drawn called the
dead Line, and no one was peaCeably al
lowed to cross that line until he promised
to vote against the Constitution. Freed
men were insulted and assaulted. and many
who would not consent to vote as required
returned home disappointed and discoUr-
aged. The white Republicans burst not in
terfete, the danger TO themselves was so
great. Indeed the whole election through.
out this parish was carried by the Democ.
racy by mob law and thuggory.
The hu-hluX Khan has been organized
throughout this section, and is almost daily
threatening the lives and property of loyal
men.
A State Senator elect who has Just ar
rived ia this city reports that the cleo
ton rour oolored men have been murdered
in Franklin parish, and that no action has
been taken in the matter by the authori-
ties. A man Bno has been elected Justice
Of the peace in one OF our northern
parishes dare not return to his home, and
is now an applicant for some position
which will enable him to earn his living
here. sr
There are many Republicans in this city,
both white and colored, against whom pc
litioal animosity is 50 bitter that they dare
not return to the parishes in which they re-
side. From many sections Of the state
come the same accounts oflawlessness, vic !.
lence, and outrages, and with no redress
for those who voted for the new Constlt1-
ton. Do the cowardly desperadoes who
threaten loyal and assault defenseless men
never think that endurance may cease to
be a virtue? Do they not know that for
the wrongs which they now commit with
such apparent immunity they will
soon be held to strict account
before the bar Of JUSTICE A new era has
dawned upon Louisipna. and very soon the
strong arm of the civil law viii reach to
the fartherest parts Of the State: and, it
maybe it viii be enforced by the stronger
arm of a loyal militia, under the command
efloyal men. We refer to the future, not
in passion or enmity, but with hope that
what we state may be regarded by lawless
men, and may tend to restrain theEl from
acts Of violence and outrage.
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