The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-02-10
Report of the Board of Registration.

Board of Registration to the General Assembly of the
dicve partisan report never before publshed-at
least we have never All the parishes but
few which gave Radical majorities abused and Will
fed by the mnions of Baker out for the purpose.
From this report learn that the total registry OF
the State was 146, 1898, Of which $3.50 were white,
and s4 527 were black. The number of votes cast at
the late election according to this report was .24s
The reports of the Supervisors are generally very in
accurate, and far from being truthful. There were
two boards for this parish, but the chairman of only
of them has his report published The report ofthe
other was probably, not bitter enough for Mr. Baker
We annex the report of Mr.. R. Wigand, chairman of
the travelling board:
The fact that three of the appointed Supervisors,
residents of Shreveport, and prominent Republicans,
refused the Boards, account of the dan
ger attending their travelling through the country,
shows plainly what the public feeling was toward
avowed Republicans. Having been warned before
hand to be guarded in the expression OF my political
sentiments | of course abstained completely from
mixing in political discussions. Ny reception by the
influential and responsible citizens friendly and
courteous, and it is my candid opinion that they
tributed all in their power to obtain fair, impartial
registration and election the same cannot be said OF
nothing to lose and who always ready to start and
promote any excitement.
In the country where travelled for two weeks,
had several occasions to speak to the freedmen,
who desired explanation about this registration,
only few understanding why they should have new
papers when they still held the old The major
ity of the freedmen undoubtedly influenced by
their employers; but many especially those living near
Bossier parish would have nothing to do with the reg
issration the late riot in that parish making them dis:
cused with politics. Others afraid that their old
registration papers would be taken from them, which
some of them looked on kind Of free paper.
Though not actively engaged at the election, it is
my opinion that, though great deal OF private III
uence brought to bear on the freedmen, still no
open threats were made Of near the polls Any
body could have voted the Republican ticket, for 1
heard several of the most prominent citizens Otter 10
escort parties the polls pedging themselve tor their
safety but the Republicans abstaned from voting,
because they did wish to expose themselves to tu-
ture insults and danger.
George Graham, Supervisor of Bossier parish, in his
report says:
In compliance with your request as to the condition
of afrs in Bosser parish, have the honor to sub
nit the following statement: Ihatit would have been
unsafe for person of known Republican views to
travel in the parish. There are seine who may have
been willing let persons vote as they saw lit, but
there is class of who would not hesitate to shoot
any one who should attempt to vote tie Republican
ticket even entertain radical views.
The election passed off quietly ut Canes precinct, for
the very that tried 10 vote the Radical
ticket the only that pole put in by negro
who thought he voting the Democratic ticket and
was put iii that it should not be sid Radical did
not dare to vote rye numbers OF the colored peo-
pie did register and those who did voted as their
masters did knowing that they could not vote any
other way Since the trouble in Bosser parish the
negros in fear than when they were slaves.
Now they have protectors. On the morni OF the
election three dead negroes in Red River myself
how they came there do not know.
One of the Supervisors was cowhided with a pistol
held to his head the day of the election, account
of his politics, by who killed a negro buta short
time before you judge for yourselves by this how
the election would go. He had registered himself,
but did not vote he did not think it safe could
state great deal more but will only say, in concu
son if you want proof, ask any OF the freedmen
who live there and they will tell You more than can
However, will mention thit G which happened
during the trouble. patty of whites captured three
negroes and took them over on the Island, opposite
Chalk Level few days before got to Shreveport,
and they never seen since this information re-
eeived from the negroes on the place
G. W. Currie, Supervisor for Bossier parish, furn-
isbes the following trade
In compliance with your request that the Supervisors
of Registration for the parish of Bossier, report to
you upon the conduct Of the late election held in said
parish, as one of the members OF said board, have
the honor to make the following impartial statement
of things as l saw aud understood them.
| am not aware of any intimidation having been
pracccd at the polls OF any of the precincts in the
parish aside f. om that of Bellevuethe only precinct
of which l can speak knowingl y-and even there, l
feel assured that the Radical ticket could have been
voted during certain hours of the day without moles
tation yet did the roous characters become of
the ct, trouble would have very likely ensucd if not
on election day, some day after. The majority
of the people, especially the commissioners of election
seemed disposed to conduct the election fairly and
peaceaby, but there few not 50 disposed, who
uuarreed fought principally among themselves for
half tie day more, and through the free of their
revolrcrs knives canes and the threatening language
used by some, it would have had the effect to ntini-
date, for the time being any that might have ielt dis
posed to the Radical ticket, had there been any
such present, and did cause number of negroes to
leave that had not voted they were said however, to
be Democrats and very probable as bat very lew IN
the parish intended voting the Radical ticket.
During the fighting and quarrelng spoken OF above,
all the well disposed people that had any influence
with the troublesome characters, did what they could
under the circumstances towards quclling the dstur-
bance and keeping order-sherif Hill in particular.
But Notwithstanding their efforts the quarrelsone did
pretty much they pleased aud during the day pre-
vented two Of the supervisors from performing their
duties and attacked Others III their boarding house,
sprnging at with knife aud whipping another
with raw hide, with Derringer presented at his head.
duet was, that suspected of being Radical,
and the other known to be- The reasons ASST ned
for the attack were, that he had been swearing
the negroes the Radical ticket, and had beel
holding secret political meetings with them at night all
of which entirely un!ounded-a mere pretext for
the acts committed
In my opinion no known Radical could have travel
ed through the parish with safety supervisor of reg
straton for the late elections. One of the members
having been suspected of being Radical would have
been killed had it not been proven that he not.
known Radical of the board stationed at Bellevue
several times sought AFTER previous to the election, Tin
doubedly with the intention Of doing him injury, and
perhaps taking his life.
Although, as have said, do not know of any in
timidaton having been pracced at the polls further
than mentioned yet the political condition of affairs
in the parish, and the riot that shortly preceded regis
| traton, undoubtedly had iutimdating effect. At
Benton the first precinct the travelling board visited,
and the precinct nearest to where the late riot occurred
there neary two hundred and City (25o) less
groes registered than last year. On several occaso
while registering heard planters say their negroes,
"If you don't vote the Democratic ticket YOU get
your bread somewhere else Yet there others,
have reasons for believing, that did not try to in
huence their negroes in voting. While at precinct
two negroes made Democratic speeches, and one OF
those that made Speech afterwards said others in
nv hearing as was passing them in the woods that