The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-19
Communication to the President
from the Governor Of Louisiana.

from the Governor Of Louisiana.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPT, I
New Orleans, Aug. /, 1858.
To His Excellcney Andrew johnson, Presl-
dent of the United States:
Sir--I have the honor to forward to You
by Lieut.. Col. John F. Deane of my staff,
the joint resolution adopted by the General
Assembly of the State, on the first day of
August, 1858.
also enclose with it q petition from a
number of the prominent and influential
citizens of North Louisiana, setting forth
the horrible out1ages that are being daily
perpetrated in that portion of the State,
together with letter from the Hon. G.
w. Hudspeth, Attorney for the Eighth Ju-
dicial District, showing the state of affairs
that exists there also.
send other letters and papers showing
clearly that in many of the parishes there
exists no protection for the citizens in the
courts, and that men are shot down in the
roads and in their homes and elsewhere
without question being asked OF any
steps taken to bring the offenders to JUS
tice.
The Judge of the Twelfth Judicial Dis
triet refuses to go to the parish of Frank
lin unless force is sent with him to pro-
tect him from violence; and he is not OBJ
noxious on personal and political grounds,
for in politics he was opposed to the new
constitution He is life long citizen of
the State
The Sheriff of the parish Of Franklin, a
Democrat, has resigned, confessing his in
ability to make any arrests, or discharge
the duties of his office, on account of the
condition of affairs there.
Prominent Union men in tile parish of
Caddo write that their homes arc beset by
desperadoes and that their lives and pro-
perty have thus far been saved from de
struction only by armed men who volun-
teered to guard them, as You will see by
the letter of Mr.. Hndspeth, District Attor-
ney for the Eighth District
Men, women and children have recently
been murdered in the parish of st. Landry
by bands of armed men, who remain thus
far unpublished and unmolested.
The enclosed newspaper, q Democratic
Journal published in Madison parish, shows
clearly the condition of affairs there, in
corroboration of the statements contained
in the petition of Judge Crawford, Judge
Wyle and othet gentlemen of North Lou
iSiana.
From the very best information; Mr..
President, / have no doubt that one hun
dred and fifty men have been murdered i'll
Louisiana in the last month and % half.
Startling as this statement is, letters of
the most reliable character fully confirm it.
There seems to be q settled determine
ton on the part of these men who adhered
to the rebellion to either kill or drive
away the Unien white men and leading
eolored men, so as to be able to terrify the
masses of the colored people into voting rs
they shall dictate.
There is an organization throughout the
State known as the "K. W. c." the full
details of which questions, oaths, etc, Col.
Deane viii explain to you.
1t is founded for the purpose of placing
and keeping the colored people in q condi-
ten Of inferiority, and with a view to this
end contempiates and designs the precipi-
fation of q conflict between the two races
Many prominent citizens of the State are
leaders in it, its members are sworn under
eaths of the most binding character, to ear
~ out the purposes of the organization at
all costs. hazards and sacrifices, and by
measures, however desperate, that their
leaders may adopt. a
1t has now transpired that the mob
which threatened the Legislature, some
weeks since, were only prevented from en-.
acting the scenes Of the S0tlf of July, 1856. |
By the presence of the United States troops,
1t was the deliberate intention of this Sc
cond organization to assassinate the Lieu
tenant Governor and Speaker of the House
OF Representatives for having decided
questions preliminary to the organization
OF the General Assembly, in a manner OBJ
noxious to them. ea#
Ahere are military organizations on foot
IN this city, under the auspices Of this Sc
cFet organization.
They drill openly on our streets at night. |
VI IN the halls easy to be seem
In short, fully believe that there is |
meaitated bloody revolution, the certain
iralt OF which will be, under the present
excited state Of mind. one political party,
armed to support the Government against
the other
| wish to avoid this, if possible, and re-
speeliaiiy request your Excellency to put |
S"o regiments of cavalry and one Of IN
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