Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-16


age to speak out his honest sentiments !
in regard to the acts of members of !
that party, and especially of the out
RACES which some of them are commit |
ting in the South. Thus the Provi- |
dence Or. l. journal. of which Sena- !
tor Anthony is the editor, speaks out
in regard to the late troubles in Louis
lana as follows
"This Grant parish affair has no po-
litical Significance, outside of Louisiana.
1t originated in disputable squabble
for Office. The negroes were lured by
their white leaders into taking up
arms, committed such crimes as rob-
berry, assaults and threat ming the
lives of the whites, including attacks
upon the women. When the Sheriff
had collected his posse, he and they
retaliated in a savage and wanton man
ner. The negroes were the aggressors.
Sorely did they pay for their barba-
rous treatment of those who had moth
ing to do with the quarrel. The afro
cities on both sides were great and in
excusable."
This view of the c,se is fully borne
out by the facts which are being grad
ually developed. On the 25th ultimo,
Sheriff Nash, of Grant parish, visited
Major Smith who is in command of a
detachment of United State soldiers
sent there to preserve the peace, and
submitted to him the following state
ment as to the origin and termination
of the Colfax affair:
Major j. II. Smith, commanding
18Th United States Infantry:
As the duly elected and legal Sheriff
| of this parish, I would make this state
ment that you may Judge for yourself
10 the legality of the action taken. [
received for Sheriff the largest number
of votes, and as such was duly COM
missioned both by Messrs. McEnery
and Kellogg. Previous to election,
there had been bodies of riotous per-
sons in the country, who had no fear
of the law, AM. who made frequent
threats of outlawry and incendiarism.
On the Goth of March last, these
persons, both white and colored,
marched in a body to the Courthouse
and thence elected the legally elected
and installed parish officers, myself
among the number. 1 at that time
ordered them to dispense, but they
fired upon myself and others, COM
polling us to flee for our lives. 1 ac-
cordingly, seeing no other course, pro-
cured from Judge Regain, the police
magistrate, commissioned by Kellogg,
warrant for the arrest of the ring
leaders, and with it, and deputy con-
stable, proceeded 10 Colfax, where
blage of peaceable citizens had been
broken up and fired upon by the
rioters.
Even then I desired to make COM
promise; and, before executing the
warrant, rode up and endeavored to
preserve peace, but was again fired
upon, and threats made by the rioters,
who said they would anyhow drink
my blood. Seeing no course then left,
1, at the order of the Judge, summoned
posse cOnlitdttts of citizens, both
white and colored, and with these OPS
in number) succeeded on Easter Sun
day in dispersi Ig the $50 rioters and
preserving peace. The warrant for
their arrest, and the order, / still hold
in my possession. l deemed that 1t
was necessary to preserve peace az all
hazards, and, therefore, I resor5o1 to
the measures taken.
Very respectfully,
G.. c.. NASH, Sheriff
The Postmaster of Colfax makes the
following statement:
l am a National Republican, and
always have been one. 1 was a mem
Der of the Republican Legislature from
1868 to 1872. and was, and am now, a
United States Postmaster at Colfax,
Grant parish, having supported Gen.
Grant and Gov. Kellogg in the last
campaign. Previous to this [ was a
member of the Constitutional Conven-
ton in 1868.
/ was quietly pursuing my vocation
as Postmaster at Colfax, and was told
repeatedly, from the 9TH of April, by
the rioters that should be killed, and
on the 10th of April was compelled to
leave, they stating that they would
shoot me if [ stayed, unless [ took uI
arms with them. On the morning OF
the 10th went up to receive the mail
and was met by an armed moo OF
negroes, who told me to get GA my
horse and leave, else [ would be killed
They also threatened the life of my
brother and colored man named
Buck Mckinney; also Ralph Marons
then left, and came to Alexandria
t. receive instructions. l expected &c
see a deputy marshal topreserve peace
but finding none, [ was told by Mr.
touI INC liloll toiltIt sItoI, " III III
the mail here, which l did. I made q
requisition ON Daniel Shaw, supposed
to be acting sheriff, as follows:
To d. w. Shaw, Sheriff, Grant par.
ish Louisiana-Sir: / demand of YOU
in the name of the State, protection
for the postmaster at Colfax, Louisi
ana, and also to protect Government
property. Very respectfully,
t S. E. CUNY,
United States Postmaster
} Mr.. Shaw sent two men, but col
ored man named Leo Allen came down
and said Shaw had no authority to dc
so, and that he was commanding Off
Ger.
then made similar requisition Oh
: him as commanding officer, in writing
the same as the above. He replied
the Government property must take
care of itself, that he wanted the men
himself, and took them away. This
: was about the 9Th of April, and the
{ threats were made after this. NV oh.
, iect was to protect the United States
! Government property, and I remained
until my life was threatened.
, S. E. CUNY,
Z. S. Postmaster, Colfax, Grant parish
Executed at Alexandria, Louisiana,
Monday, April 81, 1873.
: Witnesses: HARRIE WILDE,
A. C0CKERILLE,
G. T. HOOPER,
To these statements nothing need be
added. They are conclusive as to
where the blame rightfully rests. DE
pend upon it," says a correspondent
of the New Orleans Picayune, 1.-THE
white population here had to meet the
issue made by the riotous negroes and
give them severe check, or leave the
country. Nothing else was left to do.
Regulating the Railroads an Eli.
nOiS.
The Governor of Illinois has signed
the railway bill, and it's provisions will
go into effect on the LIST of July next.
By this act, ''more than a fair and rea-
sonable rate of toll or compensation
is declared to be ::extortion,'' punisha-
bla for the first 0ffaDSa Inv q fine Of