The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-04-24

The war or Rsess In Lsuisiass-A
Plain Statement Of the Dlmculiy.
From the New York Herald.
The war of factions under which
Louisiana has been suffering all the
perils, if not all the evils. Of anarchy,
has at last taken that most dangerous
shape to the blacks Of . war OF races.
The bloody affair at the little hamlet Of
Colfa1, in the parish Of Grant, on the
Red river, was clearly conflict not
between the Kellogg and Wsrmoth
factions, bat between the whites and
blscks-the conflict OF the two races.
all other lines OF distinction being
merged iu the distinction Of color: The
Quarrel grew out OF the political com.
nlicstions OF the State, but in this
bloody affair at Colfax it was, by the
stupidity of the negroes, reduced to .
Question OF local ascendency OF the
whites or the blacks. ...,.
II appears that Grant parish or coun.
ty WAS Gently formed out Of part OF
the large parish OF Rspi1es on the Red
River. and that, while the new parish
or county was named in honor OF Pres
ident Grant, its county seat, q small
hamlet, was named after the then Vice
President. Colfsx-Grsnt and Colfax
being tnus associated with the creation
of the new parish. Next, 1t appears
that, by accident, ignorance, neglect or
design somewhere, the returns OF the
lsst State election for this new parish
were not officially reported, and that 10
the absence OF any official returns, both
acts OF the local Candidates concerned
claimed to be elected; that they both
at length appealed TO Governor Kellogg
at New Orleans Tor decision, and that
he advised the contesting parties to set.
tie the controversy among themselves
Both factions, disappointed, returned to
New Orleans in anything but condi-
ton to compromise; and, to make short
work OF the matter, some two weeks
ago a negro named Ward, with bano
OF ignorant and credulous negro follow
ers, took armed possession OF the cour'
house formerly sugar house,, procee,
d.d to throw up entertainments, and
drove or frightened the whites from the
settlement and from sll the neighbor
hood within circle Of twenty or thirty
miles from the military headquarters o
Ward and his army OF occupation and
invasion at Colfax.
The resort to arms and war thus en-
forced upon the whites WAS prompt,
adopted, and their siege, stormiug snt
capture OF the Court House at Coltax
according to the details 80 far received
was short, sharp and decisive. III
hostile blacks, numbering in the outse
from four to five hundred, were fire
driven into their citadel, and then, il
their efforts 10 escape, were exposed Il
discharge Of musketry from which
eighty or a hundred oil them were s'lle'
and many wounded. Their ring leader
it appears, escaped, and all the serviv
ing blacks of the locality, after this ter
riple de eat, quickly disappeared.
Now, the question arises, Where lie
the responsibility tor this bloody ap'
disgraceful AFFAIR." The respoDsibilit.
attaches first TO the national admins
tration; next it tails upon Congress
and next upon Governor Kellogg. Tn
mistaken policy of General Grant II
behalf Of peace in Louisiana has beef
productive only OF mischief, confusion
and disorder. 1t is but justice to him
however. to say that he appealed L
Congress at the late session for a set
element Of this embroglio, and tha
Congress, lacking the moral courag
to settle it, left the whole subject to tn
discretion OF the President, ss the tw'
Houses lett the Mormon difficulty, anC
the President, adhering to the kellogg
government, as he notified Congress
| he sho uld do, if left to his own discre
ton. has made it dc tacto the Stat
government. We come, then, to Gov
eruor Kellogg. He advised a compro
| mise OI the SOlldA NihiSuhIi Des
was his duty to inform himself OF tn
exact situation of affairs there, and u
arrest Ward and his negro follower
before or Immediately after their ad
vance upon the town. For failing in thi
duty he should be called to accoun,
He is evidently unequal to his posi-
ton. As for the slsug hter Of the ne
groes, il is a punishment which the
stupidity brought upon themselves. w
hope that the lesson, throughout tn
South will do them good, in teachin
them the folly OF appealing to arms TO
the redress OF fancred wrongs or tn
vindcarion Of imaginary politics
rights They ought to know that a va
.fraces means the determination OF tn
black race, and that in every appes
TO arms thew are sure to be severed
punished. President Grant, meantime
should bring Governor Kellogg to
ctr CT account Tor his apparently Grim
, nal negligence in this business.
DIED.
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