New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-02
A Remarkable Letter.

The following letter of United States In
ternal Revenue Assessor Hardy, TO Mr
Maytield, will show the manner in whlci
the Customhouse people prepare conven
tions. 1t is, perhaps, without example IL
political chicanery and fraud:
UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE,
Assessors Office Third District, Louisiana,
| Monroe, La, June II, 1871
DEAR RMAYFIELD-There will be a State
| convention called to assemble in New Or
| leans sometime in August, probably the
! twentieth or twenty fourth. The call will
| be published about the twenty-nlnth. Zach
| parish will be entitled to one delegate, and
| when the convention assemblies there will
| be warm work. The object of calling the
| convention is to organize the State Central
titled to one delegate. and want you to be
the delegate from that parish. At the same
time | want you to organize Franklin and
Richland parishes. | want to go from
either Franklin or Richland; but first, as to
Winn parish. Find the State and parish
tax collector, and don't say word to him
about convention, but get the names of
five or six good, trustworthy and leading
Republicans (colored men), feel around
them, and make it your business to get ae-
quainted with them. Before you leave the
parish, have yourself elected the delegate
to the convention from that parish Send
the names of the five good, trustworthy
colored men to me. They will be appointed
on the parish executive committee, and
they must furnish your credentials, etc.
The same thing must be repeated in Frank
lin and Richland parishes. want to go as
alternate from Richland. Caldwell and
CatahOula are taken care of. l think you
had better have Z. o. Parker appointed
alternate from Franklin. johnson, Parker
and Jones, collector and deputy collectors,
will, in all probability, be in the convention
from this district. l want you in without
fail. There is no chance for John Hogan,
of this division, Scott, of the fourth di-
vision, or kinny. of the third division, to
get in, and can tell you one thing right
here. No assistant assessor who has not
sufficient influence in some parish IN his
division to go to conventions, State and dis
trict, has not sufficient strength to retain
his position.
You can Judge how long the above named
gentlemen viii retain their present posi-
tions. Now. want you to give this mat
ter your first attention. Don't say any
thing about the convention to any one. II
there is any probability of any one getting
in ahead Of us have the whole thing put up
before there is any chance for slip.
When you take in Franklin and Richland,
put me in as alternate from either and Par
ker in from the other. Don't say word to
Mr. Alexander; and, if there is a man in
Winn by the name of GeOrge-Protessor
George he is called-keep shy of him. do
not know how you stand as to Governor
Warmoth, but l may as well say frankly
that John Ray is our man, and if you go to
the convention you will have an opportuni-
ty to do something for him. Keep all this
to yourself, but go to work and put
this thing through. Marvin will go
from Catahoula yourself from W inn
Faulkner from Caldwell, Hardy from
Franklin alternate), Parker from Rich
land, Morey, John Ray and a colored man.
from Ouachita, Blanchard, johnson and a
colored man from Morehouse, Bennett from
Union. Green from jackson, Jones from
Bienville, and Vaughan and Blackburn
from Claiborne. l can 90 from Union. but
would rather 60 from Franklin or Rich
land. All l have to say to you is to stick
to John Ray, who is your friend. know
don't let anything leak ont, or allow YOUR
self to be bled by the trick of confidence.
Take certain course. Go to that c0nven-
ton, and l will meet you there, and we
will talk this thing up. Conklin will be
here in few days. and WILL | think, advise
reorganization of the district. 1t may be
thought expedient to discontinue the first
division. In that case Ouachita will be
added to your division.
/ am in communication, together with
johnson, with the chairman OF the state
Central Committee tPackard), and this IS
the plan. We want everything fixed up,
so that when the call is issued there will
be no delay. l do not suppose anything Is
known about the proposed convention IN
Winn or even CatahOula.
Keep this letter and contents strictly
confidential. and let me know at once how
things stand, and the prospect for the FIJI
ture. Yours, etc,
WILLIAM r IIARDY.