New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-14

The Monroe Telegraph, Democratic
journal, thus explains what it means by
Intimidation at the polls in that parish
The election On the fourth instant passed
off quietly. There was no actual disturb
ance Of any kind, although ample preteXts
for one were furnished by the conduct of
The Radicals throughout the day. Probably
at no precinct in any part OF the State was
there greater intimidation OF voters than
at she precincts in this parish.
From reliable information furnished by
Numbers Of persons-nOt being present
uurself-we are enabled to make the fol
lowing showing Of the manner in which
~ a fair, free and peaceaDle election was
held i'll Monroe:
The whites were considerably intimidated
bv the presence Of United States troops,
and were prevented from using the ordinary
means usually Iesorted to IN order to solicit
votes. There was no actual participation
in the election by the soldiers, but their
presence here unQuestionabIy kept many
from the polls, and those who did attend,
6rom using energetic means to carry the
fusion ticket. 1t was the moral power pro-
ducad by the simple presence Of the sol
diars, and the fact that the cOlOTed voters
we're informed that it was their duty to
vote the Radical ticket, that prevented
free choice among the negroes. Every
species OF moral intimidation was resorted
10. For days previous to the election, and
an the day Of the election, the coIored voters
we're told and impressed with the belief that
Ii was penitentiary 0fense TO scratch a
Ticket, or to vote the fusion ticket.
The cOlOred voters We're kept in q we'll
regulated alignment, and men wOulu go up
ANA down the line every few minutes ana
inspect their ballots, Judge Baker was
Ecrv prominent III this sort OF work, and he
IJ,
Gals not quite 80 prominent but equally as
a3icient. At the box on DeSiar6 street. the
4z0l0red voters became very FESTIVE under
The severe discipline 70 which they were
subjected, and at one time were about 30
a break ranks" This would have permitted
She k'usiOnists TO appeal TO thefn and solicit
SAeir votes, and would have given them an
opportunity to Totc the Sicket OF their
sh0ice. The Radicals were energetic and
Sanks and one, q prominent Radical-Te-
ported to be one Of the Ray Hamily--urged
the file closeps to knock them down with IL
stick il they did not keep il ranks
1t is stated in an affidavit, &nd the same
Fact was witnessed BY fnany voters. that
Deputy Sheriff Oinksrave stood at tho
COILS and demanded an inspection of the
ballots Of cOIOred voters. On being Temon-
strated with 5OT such conduct, he changed
roters tbat tbey were moi romne1Ie,l 70 show
Sheir baIints. hi they conii let him insnec,
chem If thev 50 desired Tbis wa. witLi'
less than ten feet Of the polls. Such con.
s%onId have bren en- only I,It r. nreserTe ,sSce
M ~ nr"vent IInd1Ta intinanoa fran, boing
,,saa " ,3J,on sotor@ i 5asarvi,,r Of 4be
. .1, u stio aondemnotian lie i . Sanntv
sbori4 ana the NEGROES YonIr mon hin a.
HqViDcs plruOa$ 81 bp1lriAI alrNpTTey and a
som ANNA = '''I-' -A-'-' - -
There woro ,nanv nagroav syno Yoof +Ie
fusion ticket with >Le sfnrnre and honest
;rtention If VOTING Il In. II Vas taken from
Ehem before f6ev it'll an onnoTtunitv of de.
Of coloFed voters being laughed and jeered |
at by the radical negroes because they had |
fusion tickets and desired TO vote $hem.
This was carried to such an exten: that at
one time the commissioners had to Interfere |