The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1873-04-20
The Troubles in Grant Parish.

The unsettled state of our political affairs
eliminated last Sunday in bloodysight in
Grant Parish: The Alexandria Democrat gives
the following history of the origin of the diff
Guilty and its result: -
The Lynch returning board ignored the cleo
tion of the parish officers, and Mr.. Kellogg ap-
pointed set of men to fill the vacancies bnt
who did not qualify according to law, and al
lowed the time to elapse in which they are
required by law to do it in. Mr.. kellogg conf
missioned all officers who were elected, includ-
ing both Republicans and Fuscnists, white
and colored except parish judge, who had
already qualified and was Republican.
Ward. member of the DryaFies street Leo-
islature, learning that Mr. Kellogg was going
to issue these commissions, hastened to Col
fax and took violent and forcible possession of
the courthouse and offices with mob. There
was proposition to hold mass meeting of
the people for the purpose of expressing their
contemplation in quiet way at the course
rived for the meeting to have been called to-
gether, there were such violent demonstrations
made by Ward, Register and Flowers, and the
armed arm baud that was backing them, that the
did not pretend to do anything,k but quietly
returned to their homes without going near
the courthouse, or assembling anywhere.
And at once, and without law or shadow of
authority, they (the negroes) inatalle ed and
proclaimed themselves full masters and pos
SCISSORS of everything in CoIfax. All being
armed and prepared for the occasion, pro,
necessaey var rpIeSRutions were at once ini-
provised By these zoters and opponents of law
and order. They sentout miles in the country
foraglng and scouting parties, and made good
use of their temporary and usurped powers
Nothing was left undone to deprive peaceable
people Of all their horses, mules and proSi-
slons, and thus matters went on till last Snn-
day, when fearful retribution bronght them to
grief. What then occurred we have gathered
from many sources and many rumors, all of
which we have 6ifted and set down nanght
but what reliance can be placed in. The whole
affair, as we stated last week, ia the teach
iugs and legitimate frnit- of nrSr" Rrdicalisun
In Louisiana, as taught aud pte;,uh-d here for
the last four years. IG is Ss"ply, vso, ,t.nr and
regret. war of races, wholly tnangur,tetl and
forced on by the negroes, who from the start
have been arrogant, dictatorial aud willingly
disposed to hunt down the white man Ut all risks
and nnder all circumstances Politics is only
the excuses but not the cause Of the whole affair
and we know and feel that none but the hi e,
people of poor crushed 'Louisana conld have
been so long endurant, and we may say meet,
under the many aud continued tauhtss INSULTS
and prosecutions they have been forced to
bear from an inferior and deluded race. But
SO II is and 80 it will be forever and all time
that the best .inCentiOns and conduct will
cange to be virtues. Here is the finale and sad
results2
The whites of the surrounding country. on
whom these wrongs had been heaped With
venReauce time and time again, were ut last
aroused, and gNehered and banded together "a
self-defence and in the protection of then.
BONES and families; and in that just and 1a-
cree cause, instilled into every man IN 2 u
country, at last struck the long delayed blow.
The fght was short, quick and decisive, and
sncceBs Perched upon the banner Of the JUST
and the wrong-dOers and barbRrous rioters
and outlaws were made to par the penalty
with the forfeit of their lives. Ia,Ahe bloody
conflict over eighty of the rioters we're killed
and the balance fed in all directions, leaving
Colfax denudsd of all her male negFo populao
tion, with her coutt-h house and warehouse in
ashes. The casualties among the whites were
ono killed and seventeen wounded.
We forbear minute details and descriptions
of all the incidents coming to us this of forced
and lamentRble affair, for consider it
bad enough EBcorded We write it for the
gnilty and bad men who have the terrible sin
on their souls to answer for. The whites of
Grant were driven in pure selEdefence to act
the part they did, and in the eyes Of God and
man were jnstiGable in all aud every particu-
lar. Let the awful and terrible responsibility
fall on the guilty alone.
From other published accounts we learn that
the negro rioters numbered between 800 and