Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-04-25

ana Legislature, and Ward was admit
, ted into the Bayonet Legislature
The Lynch returning board, social,
ed, had no returns, and in this case die
not assume to declare the election OF
the parish officers. Kellogg, however
undertook to appoint men to what he
called vacancies, but they didnot quail.
ify according to law, and allowed the
time stipulated bylaw to pass. Kellogg
then commissioned officers who had
really been elected, both Republican
and Fusion, white and colored, except
the Parish Judge, Republican who
had already qualified.
1t seems that Ward and other Radi-
calls, being dissatisfied at not having
all the offices, came down to New Or
leans and demonstrated with Kellogg.
Getting no satisfaction, they returned
breathing threatenings, organized an
armed company OF negroes and took
violent and forcible possession of the
courthouse at Colfax, small village
on the river aud the county seat of
Grant parish, and drove out the Sher-
itf, Nash. The Sheriff then attempted
| to collect a posse co1nitot,es to recover
possession of the public building thus
lawlessly seized. A mass meeting
OF the white people was pro-
posed to express i'll quiet
way their condemnation of this
high-handed outrage, but in conse-
quence of violent demonstrations of
the armed negroes under Capt. Ward,
Register, Flowers, Brantly, Snowden,
Railey, Show, Green, etc, the assembly
was given up. The posse failed to take
the building or to disperse the mob.
Threats were made by the ringleaders
of organized negroes against those
who were obnOxious-who had urged
Kellogg to commission men, not Re
publicans, orwho had become conspicr-
Gus in the effort to stop their lawless
proceedings.
The negroes of Grant, having had
their minds poisoned against the white
people by the industrious inculcations
of a few scalawags and carpet -baggers,
malignant and bad men, were headed
by turbulent and daring fellows
Ward and his gang had a short time
before killed two of their own color !
with small provocation. Having oc-
cupied the village as military post,
they began to threaten the lives of po-
htlcal opponents, gave some of them a |
short time to leave the place on
pain of death, shot at others. broke
oPeH anu Sotttu u"etAiIS houses, |
driving women out and robbing
female school teacher Of her
jewelry and effects, and even
lands dead babe and fiinging its body |
in the middle OF the highway. They |
picketed the country for miles, seizing
horses and firearms, and breathing
threatening ard slaughter, sought to
lnaUglrate q reign of terror, to drive
out their political opponents, and white
people, and 20 become masters Of all
they surveyed.
For a period these semi-barbarians
had matters all their own way. But |
the white people, whom they had thus
attacked and outraged in
organized lawiessness, fortunately es-
capped to Il safe distance.
Sheriff Nash got together posse of
armed men, to the number of a hun
lred and fifty, and returned to Col
fax. The negroes meantime had
fortified their ground with breast
works aud prepared the Court House
for defense. When called on, last
Sunday, TO surrender the Court House
and dispcr>e, they refused, and a fight
followed. The result was, the entrench-
mcnts were taken and the Court House
burned, and Il number OF negroes kill
cd. Colfax is DO longer prey to the
political desperadoes and marauders.
Unfortunately the authors and con
ductOr5 OF this nefarious business have
so far escaped the condign punishment
they deserve. The people of Louisi-
ana are worn out with lisurpation. Pa
ticnce may cease to be virtue. When
it becomes established that there is
sure danger to the plotters and mana
gers of high handed oppression, then
affairs may be freed from pestilent and
fraudulent interference. For the ne
gro victims we feel sorry, and the oc-
casion of this trouble is greatly TO be
1ap1Ora1