Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-04-19


THE LYNCH RETURNING BOARD,
so-called, had no returns, and In this
case did not assume to declare the elec-
ton of the parish officers. Kellogg,
however, undertook 10 appoint men to
what he called vacancies, but they did
not qualify according to law, and al
lowed the time stipulated by law to
pass. Kellogg then commissioned Off
GERS who had really been elected, both
Republican and Fusion, white and col
ored, except the parish judge, Repub-
ican, who had already qualified. It
seems that Ward and other Radicals,
being dissatisfied at not having all the
offices, came down to New Orleans and
demonstrated with Kellogg. Getting no
satisfaction, they returned, breathing
threatenings, organized an armed COM
pany of negroes and took violent and
forcible possession of
THE COURTHOUSE At CoLFAx,
county seat of Grant parish, and drove
out the sheriff, Nash. The sheriff then
attempted to collect posse cOnlitdtlIs to
recover possession of the public building
thus lawlessly seized. A mass meeting
of the white people was proposed to ex-
press In quiet way their condemnation
of this high-handed outrage, but in con-
sequence of violent demonstrations OF
the armed negroes under Captain Ward,
Register, Flowers, Brantley, Snowden,
Rally, Shaw, 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 Kel-
logg to commission men not Republi-
cans, or who became conspicuous in the
effort to stop their lawless proceedings.
THE NEGROES OF GRANT,
having had their minds poisoned against
the white people by the industrious in
culcations of few scalawags and carpet
baggers, malignant and bad men, were
headed by turbulent and daring fellows.
Ward and his gang had a short time be-
fore killed two Of their own color with
small provocation. Having occupied the
village as military post, they began to
threaten the lives of political opponents,
gave some of them short time to leave
the place on pain of death, shot at
others, broke open and gutted dwelling
houses, driving women out and robbing
a female schoOI-teacher of her jewelry
and effects, and even rifing the coffin
Of Judge Rutland's dead babe and fling
ing its body in the middle Of the high
way. They picketed the country for
miles, seizing horses and firearms, and
breathing threatening and slaughter,
sought to inaugurate reign of terror,
to drive out their political opponents and
hi to ~
all they surveyed. For period
THESE sEMI-BARBARIANs
had matters all their own way. But
the white people, whom they had thus
menaced, attacked and outraged in or
ganized lawlessness, fortunately escaped
to q safe distance. Sheriff Nash got to-
gether a posse of armed men, to the
number of hundred and fifty, and re-
turned to Colfax. The negroes mean
time had fortified their grounds with
breastwOrks and prepared the court
house for defense. When called on
last Sunday to surrender the courthouse
and disperse, they refused, and fight
followed. The result was, the entrench-
ments were taken, the courthouse was
burned, and number of negroes killed.
ColfaX is no longer prey to the politi-
cal desperadoes and marauders. Unfor-
tuDately the authors and conductors oi
this nefariOus business have an far 90
capped the condign punishment they de-
serve. The people of Louisiana are
worn out with usurpatiOn. Patience
may cease to be virtue. When it be.
comes established that there is sure dan.
ger to the plotters and managers OF
high-handed oppression, then affairs
may be freed from pestilent and fraudu,
lent interference. For the negro vic
TINS We feel sorry, and the occasion o.
this trouble is greatly to be deplOred.
Another View.
From the New Orleans Times.
The trouble in Grant parish has cul.
minated, as it is likely to culminate in
other parishes, if the negroes, led on by
white cOnspiritOrs, band themselves to.
gether in support of usurpation. In such
a contest the colored politicians cannot
maintain themselves, and if they un.
dertake to decide questions of right by
physical force, ana to violate the law:
of warfare by firing on flags Of truce
they will certainly be dealt with as Gen.
eral Sherman and President Grant sug.
gest, when like treachery en- the part
of the Modoc Indians is up for consider.
alton and puishment. There has already
been
BLOODSHED
and there is likely to be more, and fol-
that bloOdshed the responsibility must
rest upon those who by fraud and force
have falsified the popular verdict rem.
dered in the November election, and
placed the negroes in an attitude of 20.
litical hostility to their white neighbors
1t is clear that unless measures are
adopted to satisfy the reasonable de-
mands of the Taxpayers of the State,
the existing de .fGcto government can
not long sustain itself. With such re.
suits in
GRANT AND CoLFAX-OMINoUS NAMES
with likelihood of similar outbreaks
all along Red river, in st. Helena, Qua
chita, in Claiborne, and in st. Mary,
and with so respectable demonstration
as that at Odd Fellows hall the other
evening in this city, it must be appar.
ent to the most needless observer that
the hearts of the people are set against
the existing rule, and that nothing but
compromise OF overwhelming force can
give it even a passing tolerance
The people believe that they have been
cheated out of liberal reform triumph,
and are in no condition to look with
favor on the aggressive details of Radi-
cal strategy. Should the federal gov
ernment directly intervene and assume
control of the affairs of the State, no OBJ.
lection would be raised by the people on
the score of
CENTRALISM.
To be saved from plunder all local op-
preston would he so great a blessing thai
the taxpayers of Louisiana would hail
with hearty welcome the hand thai
delivered them, even if it held a sword
and were covered with a mailed gaunt.
let. Their present rule is doubly intol
cradle, for it means at once confiscatiOI
and degradation. They cannot bear it
and unless by some adjustment it is rem
dered more tOlerable, the
THE MoDoC PARALLEL
will be repeated in many of our interior
parishes. Such conflicts may be pre-
vented by the federal soldiery, but moi
by the metropolitan brigade or any State
militia that can be raised. ExasperateC
beyond measure, the people will moi
submit to what they consider as a basC
imposition, if the men whom they pay
for better service are made the agents o
their oppression. By the difficulties
now taking shape the industrial as wei
as the political condition of the STATE
will be seriously deranged, and if they
are not speedily settled confusion wOrs'
confounded must ensue.
-
Grants soap-works at TWenty-thirC
and Hamilton streets, Philadelphia, wal