New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-25
THE DEMOCRATIC M4SSACRES IN LOUIS



The Joint Committee of the Louisiana Legis-
lature appointed to investigate the massacres
and outrages committed upon cOlored voters
for Grant and Cofax by white voters OF the
Seymour persuasion have published report of
facts and figures and of the evidence by which
they are proven, with recommendations, and
have forwarded it to Congress. The document
fills 296 pages, includes reports of $50 murders.
in addition TO 2O4 previously reported, and
states that the total number committed in the
State during the past twelve months exceeds
1000, while the entire number killed, wounded,
robbed, and outraged during the past year, OF
which reports have been received is 1887.
The result aimed at by these massacres was
attained In st. Landry Parish, where a riot
began with the sacking of Republican news
paper office and eliminated in the shooting
of Republicans and negroes Unfortunately,
over 200 were killed and 255 outraged in vari-
Gus WAYS. Not a single vote was polled in the
parish for Grant and Colfax, though 2,1O2 Re
publican voters were registered while 4,7S7
votes were cast for Seymour and Blair out of
a total registry of both parties of only 5,l13.
The Democrats polled within 500 of the whole
number registered, though they lacked 2,102 of
that number of voters In BosSier Parish
where, in 1867, ,998 Republicans registered and
voted 162 of these Republicans were killed,
being one in twelve. In consequence, at the
Presidential election only 1893 persons of both
parties registered and Of these 1886 voted for
Seymour and Blair and for Grant and Colfax!
In Caddo Parish, in 1867, 1857 Republican
votes were registered and cast. But in pursu-
-. H. nfhn Of lr
Moore of Shreveport, that wherever they
"met Radical niger that would not give in
" TO shoot him down." az of these voters were
killed. As the result, 3S5 votes were cast for
Seymour and Blair, aud for Grant and Col
fax. A nice sense of honor induced the Sey-
mour men, in this as in five others of the par
ishes of Louisiana, to cast one vote for Grant
and Colfax, not as an empty compliment but
by way of showing to the whole world how
easily the entire 1887 "niggersn excepting,
perhaps, the 80 that had been shot might
have voted for Grant had they felt inclined
Eight parishes-Benville, BOssier, Claiborne,
Caddo, Moorhouse, Union, st. Bernard, and
Sabine-had given $500 votes in April last for
the new Constitution; but they gave only 10
votes for Grant and Colfax, all of which, doubt
Republican ticket could be voted in those locali-
ties But in As parishes of the State, 7 of
which alone had given 4,1O4 votes for the Con-
stitution, the Seymour Knights were not so
cunning, and not single voter in them all
dared vote for Grant. Twenty-one parishes
which had cast for the Constitution 26,Si4 votes,
gave only 5Oi votes for Gen. Grant. The
whole State, which had given the Constitution,
in April, a Republican vote of 6l,15S votes, ana
majority of 17,4l3, gave Gen. Grant, IN
November, total vote of 34,s59. 1t was under
this state of facts that Gen. Rousseau reported
to Gen. Grant that "the Democratic Clubs
"pledged themselves to aid in securing to
"every registered voter the right to cast his
"vote and then / had no fear that any man
"could be molesled IN rotiag on the day Of
Selection" The Report addresses to Congress
and the country the following pertinent fact
and inquiry;
It any one the recorded In this report had
been committed upon the person OK an American citizen
abroad the whole country would have been In flame,
and All poweslof the Government even 20 the last
and expensive resort OK would have been brought
10 bear redress his and secure In the
fnture No Of blood or treasure IN suoh cases Ia
deemed dsproportonate TO the object 20 be attained.
proud title OF American citizen q perfect shiod and
protection about him against all wrong, wherever the
shines Is the Government Of tho United States loss