New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30
WHITE AGAINST BLACK.
INTIMIDATION OF NEGROES IN THE SOUTH

George A. Sheridan is registered at the
ing from Louisiana, and is reported as Con.
gresham at large from this State. We
believe Mr.. Sheridan has been at large for
some time, but to our knowledge he has
never been a member of Congress. The
label on his trunk, however, attracted the
interviewer's attention, and Herald re.
porter gave the fat ex-tax collector of Gov
ernor Warmoth's creation, chance to make
a few remarks upon the situation. We
give his talk for what it is worth, as the
Herald has given it. Err Sheridan can
hardly speak as one having authority, for
he has been in Louisiana but few years,
and represents no planting or commercial
interests here, nor was he indorsed at the
Baton Rouge convention for his services in
Kidding us of carpet-baggers, as was Gen.
eral Alcibiades DeBlanc; but he has held
several offices, and knows something about
corruption. He says:
The present conflicts which are occurring
between the negroes and whites look upon
as merely arising from certain local causes
and difficulties. They are gotten up, too,
by designing and cunning politicians in the
interest OF the Radicals, and with a view, |
think, to give the federal authorities an
excuse to send into the various States sol
diers to intimidate the people and thereby
influence the elections IN the Radical inter-
ests. Beyond this they are of no signiti-
canoe at the present moment, except that
they to some extent foreshadOw what
may inevitably occur in every Southern
State where the blacks are in the majority,
and, therefore, to very large extent, the
governing body. The time has pretty
nearly come, in my opinion, for the white
portion of the population in the South to
assert themselves, if they would not see
| their property deprecated and their best
interests sacrificed beyond remedy, and
their States depopulated of white people
and the general prosperity and weltarel of
the whole community overthown. 1t is no
longer possible for the South, and
refer more specially to the State of Louisi
ana, to tolerate the rule and government
of corrupt officials, the mere creatures of
the federal powers, and the ignorant and
Overbearing insOlence of the blacks, who,
under the patronage and with the assist
ance of the Radicals and administration
officials, now possess majority in the
Legislature and ill other positions of i'm
portance, which they turn to account, by
means of robbery and plunder, to secure
riches for themselves, irrespective of the
welfare of the people, on whom they i'm
pose heavy taxations in order that their
rapacity and greed may be satisfied. The
result of this state OF things, i longer
allowed to continue, would, in my opinion,
compel the withdrawal of capital, and, to
a certain extent, the withdrawal also of a
large part of the white population, who
would feel that they had no protection for
their property and no voice or interest In
the affairs of the State.
In Mississippi, South Carolina and Louis
lana, which are now the only three States
wherein the blacks are largely in the
majority and have unlimited control. a
system of reconstruction must be inaugu-
rated and the races separated by well
defined alllgnments. | do not anticipate
that in the attempt by the whites to carry
out their determination of securing the
government of these States to themselves
that any absolute and bloody conflict will
ensue, for l think that when the blacks see
that their former masters, and those on
whom they now depend for employment,
are determined to, at all hazards, secure
the reins Of government, they will accept
the situation and quietly give way. There
is an unmistakable resolve by all South
ern whites to have and to hold the
government of the States, and they
will effect this peaceably if possible, but
surely. There may, perhaps, be negro
killed here and there, which will have the
tendency to cow the others into submission,
but do not look for any open war. You
see, the negroes are not fighting race. and
when they see the whites have fully made
~ their mind for business they will keep
away from the polls and let matters assume
their proper shape. Why, one hundred
white men can cow five or six hundred
blacks. and they mean to let them see that
they have rights which they intend to look
after and secure. Wherever the blacks are
in the majority there will always be trouble,
unless the whites assert themselves. Where
the latter has the control of affairs quite a
different state of things exists, and pros
perity ensues to both races. This is what
We want to see in Louisiana.
1t may not be, perhaps, at the elections
this iall that we shall secure our ends, but
if the federal government will only let us
alone and keep away its troops, think the
Conservatives or Democrats, or, as we now
call them, the white mans party, will make
a clean sweep of the present corrupt govern
nient from top to bottom. We shall clean
out kellogg and the whole of the scalawags
under him, both black and white.
There is, know, a large majority of
blacks in the State who would perhaps fol-
designing leaders and vote the Radical
ticket without knowing what they were
doing or in fact caring at all about politics.
These, l think, will, when they see how
things are likely to turn out, refrain this
time from going to the polls for fear Of the
that might ensue to them |
In fact, | say frankly that they will be
notified that the whites intend to carry the !
elections successfully at all hazards. They |
will, perhaps, keep away, but if they turn
out IN anything like numbers, why, think |
sufficient force can be shown by the whites |
% COW them into subsection and thus COM |
Del them to allow US to assume our IN
doubted rights. 1t may be that we shall |
nave to wait to carry out our intentions in |
'egard to securing the supremacy to their |
ullest extent until next year, but we shall, |
think. make great strides toward that end |
turing the coming elections.
The Herald also gives in contrast to this |
he views of Colonel A. P. Field, our vet |
ran Attorney General. 1t is easy to see |
hat his views, like those of the younger
gentleman, are affected somewhat by his |
position. Full Of years and honors, occu-
lying the highest place his ambition has |
coveted, using his power to satisfy his con-
cience only, and thereby gaining plaudits
wen from his enemies, in his moments of |
est our Attorney General has thus calmly |
nd truthfully stated the question:
l must certainly say that our State is
ust now in q very unfortunate condition, |
specially as to financial affairs. We have |
'een eaddled with an immense debt by the
nisrule OF former governments, especially
hat of the Warmoth party; but l think we
re now coming to see a little light through
lready thrown out by act of the Legisla-
ure some Sc 100000 Of fraudulent claims,