New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-06
CADDO AND TIE BOLTERs.
A Report from the People.

ED1TOR REPUBLICAN:
Please allow space for the tollowin
statement:
On Sunday, the twenty fourth. the Ho1
J. Sella Martin, who succeeds General NJ
Cleery as superintendent OF education {
the fourth district of Louisiana, was invite
by the Rev. Samuel Armstead to deliver
lecture in lions Church, the same courtes
having been extended to General McCleer
while he occupied the same position.
MIR. Martin gladly accepted the invitation
and at the appointed hour proceeded to de
liver the lecture, which seemed to give en-
tire satisfaction to the large audience whicl
had assembled to hear him. Shortly afte
the congregation was dismissed rumOr
reached Mr.. Armstead's residence tha
Messrs. Antoine and Harper had publicl,
stated that It the people Of the church die
not prevent Mr.. Martin from occupying th,
pulpit Messrs. Antoine and Harper would
| Upon inquiry these rumOrs were ascertaineC
to be well founded, and Mr. Armstead. il
vindication Of his right Of control over tht
pulpit during all religious services, and
knowing Mr.. Martin to be an acceptable
| lecturer in New Orleans IN the various
colored churches, invited him to address
| the congregation again at night.
Before entering on his subject at night
Mr.. Martin made mention of certain threate
| that were made against him, among which
was one made by Mr.. Harper that should
he, Mr.. Martin. attempt to speak. he Mr.
Harper, would "take the top of his head
off, As it was we'll known that the threat
eprung from partisan animosity. Mr.. Martin
gave q manly defiance to the threat and
proceeded with his discourse.
Mr.. Martin had not proceeded far when
Mr.. Harper was seen to draw his pistol-as
is asserted by creditable witnesses-and
leave the church. at the door of which he
surrounded himself with his followers and
undertook to make his way back into the
church, all the while making threats of per
sonal violence against Mr.. Martin. This
conduct, Of course, created great excite
ment among helpless women and defense
less children, who, in their attempts to get
ont OF the church. so blocked the way that
Mr.. Harper was not able to carry out his
murderOus intention.
Mr.. Antoine also took his part in the
melee, and q noble part it was. that Of
Gaming highly respectable lady and men,
Der OF the church, who was vindicating the
right OF Mr.. Martin. as q man, to address
his people. Hereafter he NAV be known as
the honorable woman beater from CaddO.
Dastardly conduct like this would at any
time be denounced, but for it to take place
at the church door in the midst of revival
Of religion, which had added twenty men,
bers to the church, and while fifty seekers
were occupying the mourners bench, is be-
yond all expression disgusting and repre-
hensible.
Not satisfied with this outrage on the
Sabbath and wOrshiping congregation,
upon a minister's right to control his pull
and the cause Of education, Mr.. Harper
carried his violence to such an extent as to
endanger Mr.. Martins lite by personal
assault upon him the next day in the public
streets, and pursued his Observation-Disclosures
so far as to arraign Mr.. Martin in the courts,
through hired witnesses and worthless char
Acters.
Attacks from such sources can not iniure
Mr.. Martin who is widely known. not only
in the United States. but throughout Great
Britain as being gentleman and scholar,
and who has, in this country, given his
time and talents toward the elevation of his
race, and who has borne an influential share
along with William Lloyd Garrison, Fred
erick Douglass, Wendell Phillips and others
in making it possible for such men as Caesar
Antoine and William Harper to occupy the
place to which they have been accidentally
elected.
Your readers may understand that the
true Republicans Of Shreveport and CaddO
fully appreciate Governor Warmoth's wis
dom in appointing Mr.. Martin to the posi-
ton which he fills. and thoroughly compre-
hend the animus of the handful Of malcon-
tents who think that in striking at Mr.
Martin they will be able to reach Governor.
But they are determined to
stand by the administration as the elected
Of the Republican party
and to support Mr.. Martin in his admins
fratiOn of the school interests of the fourth
district
As for the Rev. Samuel Armstead. who
seems to have given offense to those who
would take his pulpit out of his hands. |
while they do nothing to support the |
church, and are known to be allied to the |
worst characters in the community. we !
iave only to state that Mr.. Armstead |
occupies too high a place in the esteem of |
aw-abldlng. order-lOving. and Christian |
,eople in this and adjoining parishes, not |
Q be applauded for his love Of free speech,
lis known republicanism, and his devotion
o his race. Through him the people lave
.een allowed to show their love Of educa-
ion, their appreciation Of public servant |
ppOinted by the Governor, and their de-
{ ermination to honor and protect any dis
lngulshed stranger who may come in their
lidst.
MRS. CATHERINE ARMSTEAD.
MRS. COMFORT JACKSON.
MRS. MARY MARSHALL.
MR.. AUGUSTUS MARSHALL,
MIR. w. A. HOLLOWAY,
MR.. SAMUEL FEELS,
MRS. CHLOE DAVIS.
MISS RACHEL THOMAS,
MRS. CHARLOTTE NORMAN,
Mr.. SQUIRE NORMAN,
ELBERT COLE,
CLARA HUBBARD.
CHARLES DAVIS,
MARY SMITH