Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-05-29
GOV. Kellogg and the Assassins.

OOts A0 A ~1SSaoSAuSs
The moderation and good feeling,
prudence and forbearance, with which
Gov. Kellogg and his supporters have
controlled the affairs of disordered
Louisiana have been repaid by the law
less portion of the population with un-
precedented crimes. That Gov. KEEL
logg represents the majority of the peo-
pie, that If q free election could be held
In the State to-day he would receive a
still larger support than before, few can
doubt. But the worst elements OF the
rebel faction, the vicious and indolent
remnant of the party of slavery, have re-
solved to make Louisiana the seat of a
new insurrection. In every Southern
State exists this class of depraved and
worthless characters, too indolent or
too proud for labor, yet ready for any
act of violence, maddened with whisky
and accustomed to bloodshed, who are
feared, hated, or despised by every hon
whom the South can only rid itself by
patient severity. To this class is due
the enormities that have been recently
committed in Louisiana, as well as in
several other Southern States. 1t has
filed he country with riot and blood
shed. It has attempted an insurrec-
ton. It melted its allies at Colfax to
their horrible deeds. 1t would bring
upon New Orleans the guilt, and per-
haps the fate, of Charleston. It has
plundered the gun shops, beaten re-
spectacle people on the public streets,
and completed its crimes by attempting
the life of the Governor. It is plainly
no better than a band of assassins claim
ing to be a political party.
Less and less tolerable are the ac-
counts that come to us of the Colfax
massacre, and the horrors of the dread
full scene make it worthy to stand beside
the most shameful acts of human bar
barity. From Col. Wright's report, a
member Of Gen. Longstreet's staff, we
have some accurate details. The ne
groes had retreated to the courthouse
from the rude barriers which they had
formed to defend themselves from the
murderous rebels. It was Easter-Sun-
day, and they resisted successfully
every assault until evening. Then
Nash, the rebel chief, forced a colored
pnan to hold a pine torch to the side of
the building where there was no win
dow. The fire spread, and the brave
garrison, conscious that they must fly
from the flames, waved white handker-
chiefs and made every symbol of sub
mission. But as they poured out of the
burning building, no longer thinking Of
resistance, and begging for life, they
were shot down by the merciless Louis
ianaians as if they had been dogs. No
honorable enemy is willing to accept
the submission of a suppliant foe, but
these barbarians were intent only upon
determination. Many of the colored
people fed back into the courthouse
and persisted In its ashes. Many fell by
the knives or bullets of the assailants.
No quarter was given. Beneath the
floor of the building, neal the river,
were found the bodies of six persons
who had been shot in their hiding
place. One man lay not far off, dead,
his hands clasped in supplication. Some
were hacked and hewn to pieces.
And yet we have among us apologists
for McEnery and his followers, who
would even intrust Louisiana to their
care, and expose every white or colored
Republican to a fate like that of the
garrison at Grant parish. It is difficult,
indeed, to understand so strange a de-
fusion, or to read with any calmness the
studied arguments that are offered to
maintain it. No one can be unfamiliar
with the long series of similar, though
perhaps less terrible, deeds perpetrated
by the brutal associations at the South.
There is no n who does not know that
in 1868 the colored and white voters
were driven from the polls by the same
m~iscreants that on every succeeding
election they have resorted to the same
method of terrorism, OF that, on the
last, they had nearly succeeded in es-
tablishing their brutal tyranny over
Louisiana. Whatever be the venial er-
rors of the Kellogg government, it is
stained by no acts OF frightful massacre,
and has striven to rule with humanity
and moderation.
The insurgents on their way to their
victims seized upon a Mr.. Colhoun, a
wealthy planter, who has always been
an active Republican, and carried him
away with them, intending, no doubt,
to kill him. But reflection alarmed
them they released him after a pain
full Imprisonment, and he escaped to
New Orleans. No white Republican is
safe from their murderous aim. No
Union man can hope to live secure in
the rural parishes so long as these law
less bands are permitted to wander over
the State. The sooner they are sup
pressed by the most rigid and severe
punishment, the better for the peace of
the community, the honor of the ma
ton. And we suspect the feeling that
is being aroused in all parts of the
country will never be satisfied until full
justice has been awarded to every one
of the authors of the Louisiana massa-
ere. We think it likely, however, that
the majority of the people of that State
will join cordially in aiding the Kellogg
government to search out and punish
them ; it is the plain duty of the wiser
citizens to hasten to relieve themselves
from the stain Of completely in the hor-
rible deed. 1t win be dangerous, in
deed, for Louisiana, fatal to its welfare,
destructive to all its hopes of future
progress, to pause for a moment in the
course of punishment for all the guilty !;
and if it can be proved hat McEnery