New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-16
Communicated
W. Ii. Phillips and His Claim.

| reference Is MADE 10 a Dill 1Or my r6llef, IN
troduced by Hon. William Ward, of Grant
parish.
desire through the columns of your val
liable paper, to briefly review the circum.
stances. In the spring of 1859, | was APP
| pointed by H. C. Warmoth, parish judge of
Grant parish; the following spring removed
by him. In the fall election of 1870, was
elected parish judge, which position have
held ever since.
| OF my official acts have never heard Of
| but one man who expressed himself dissat-
istied with any proceeding, order or judg-
ment of court. and all that came my way,
Democrats and Republicans, shared my hos
pitality alike.
And while was we'll aware that many
| differed with me politically, never once
! apprehended or imagined that the differ
ence would lead to a destruction OF my
property, an assault upon my life, or the
murder of my friend and guest, Delos W.
| White, the recorder of the parish. Bur on
| the night of the twenty-frst of September
| 1871, at one o'clock at night, some seventy
| FIVE lawiess characters, armed with shot
| guns and pine torches, surrounded the
| house in which we slept, and, after station
! ing some half-dOZen men at eaca door ana
| windo ". proceeded TO fire the same having
| instructed their guards to lie low until The
| fire forced us up, and that when we at
Such was the programme to accomplish
their nefarious and bloody work. Naturally
enough, when we woke up and saw the
roof above us in blaze, we rushed for the
door when the first volley felled my friend
White lifeless body. | then ran to the
back door and began to open If. had
hardly done SO, when another yolley was
directed at me- | fell back in the house
when they who were so sure they had COM
pleted their bloody work, blew a long, keen
whistle and ran away.
A portion of the roof by this time had
fallen in on the side where my FREUD
White lay corpse. 1t was impossible to
rescue him frem the flames, and his legs
and arms were burnt Off He was brave
and generous; was a New forker; was the
first secretary of the Third Ward Repub-
ican Mother Club of this city when it was
organized: served faithfully in the federal
army; was recorder of Grant parish when
killed. and will say what l know and
feel
That meet 20 the mountains. where the virtues
Came a worthier soul. or nobler guest.
OF far less value the cotton, corn, furni-
ture,. books, money and property OF mate
rial value, besides family souvenirs, relics,
etc, of no intrinsic worth, was the friend
shin of White-now all lost to me. Now it
NAV be right that I should lose it;
but do not know what L have done to
forfeit the right 10 acquire and possess
property. | am not aware of having done
any one either public or private injury;
| am guilty of no crime against the law,
either of omission or commission; II so,
now. as then, | announce myself ready to
answer any infractiOn Of the law. And all
this within the jurisdiction OF the State
and federal government, whose constltu-
tions equally declare that every subject
shall be protected in person and property.
A Judgment against the parish would not
affect those outlaws, many OF wnom nave
fled To- Texas and the Indian Nation. Be-
sides under the existing state of the morals
of the people, justice would not be meted
out to the sufferers.
A an instance Of the elasticity of
conscience, when the rights of a Republican
are involved. | would cite the case OF the
four deputy marshals who were sent up to
apprehend the offenders.
Having arrested some of them, che grand
iury. then and there in session, found true
hills against each Of them for kidnapping
and false imprisonment" not recognizing
the right of the federal government to az"
rest citizen of Grant. Captain William
Ward. of the militia, whose services were
demanded to guard the prisoners, was also
indicted. The indictments were signed by
the parish attorney W. L.. Richardson, who
2SteA as NISIIICU dJtOIhcy plO S1bb
subsequent 60 his signing them, and at the
preliminary trial before Commissioner
Weller. swore. yea, invoked the gods ~
bear witness shat he was telling the truth.
and stated that no such indictments were
found, when they were then on tile in the
clerk Office. And but recently one OF the
deputy 9narshals was required 10 give aoNds
to answer said indictment.
In 1868, when party OF civilians claimed
q L.. q la and the law
las they did in many places, armed with
deadly weapons. visited my house ami no.
tilted ,ne 10 leave within a stated times and
Z attempted to come to- this city, was in.
carccsateS ia Al lion cell at Alexandra
fourteen days, and was only rescued by
three United States Marshals, who safely
conducted me to this city,
Here in the United States Court, lnsf!-
tuted criminal and civil suits against them.
and in the civil suit, before Judge DurelI,
for $1,000 damages, the jury awarded me
Judgment. But of what value the judg-
ment. None. For the class who are gene
rally selected to do this kind Of work are
penniless, and but instruments in the hands
of those who own property but vii! not
thus jeOpardize 1t.
we'll know there are good men il all
churches, partie. and communities, and
am of the opinion that a man, even OF or
binary culture. protesting no politics. vi5lt'
ing any part OF the State, would meet a
kindly welcome. a friendly grasp. snare
their hospitality, and would not be LETT out
at any evening party or social coterie. Yet.
in my opinion. in which l am equally as
sanguine. if il was found out that he was
Republican and purpOsed to live among
them. it would, by some popularity, wipe
out all his virtues. flay him of all his attrac.
tions and turn the community against him.
Now. it is barely possible that an organ
iZatiOn OF any character can exist Ill any
locality o. this State. and the purpose anu
object not be known to some OF the prop
erty holders and responsible members OF
the community.
And until every man il made 10 fee! .t
mOney.d interest in preserving the peace.
and in detecting and Furnishing the cI!m
iual. property and life will be insecure.
Lot the people of this State know that
they will have to pay for all property de-
str0yed by nobs, and instead OF having
passive. you will hare active. good citizens.
IL other words. you will make Of every man
a peace officer. who will not plan, conceal.
conDive az no. tolerate the deprivinG any
man of his goods. "without due process OF
law Indeed, opine that should the Leg
;slature of this State, in lieu OF passing con
stahularv bills .nac: and prOmulgate law
that the State should support the families
and educate the children Of al! these who
are deprived of life by iawlcss organiza-
TONS yoU would soon require no militia or
federal troops ~ preserve the peace. ana
al! being pecUnIa.ily interested II ferreting
out the maietactor. you would no longer
hear of the assassin going rHwhi9ped OF JUS
tice: and a.i i. not SO much ID. 9uD'sls
men. Il. the ..crtaigtvrt is that ..cteTs men
trol. Cue commission q! crime. You w0uld
soon rio the community OF Al! dlsreputahl"
and law less .h..cactevs,