The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-06-27
CAN r. Be so !!

We were very much surprised los
week to learn that eighty stand of U
8. arms, had been brought up on tn
Maria Louise. and landed in Gran
parish for the use of the negroes
We now hear il stated that the negro
witnesses for the prosecution in thu
trial of the Colfax prisoners were or
ganized, by the Governor, into a NAL
tia company; officers appointed, and
arms furnished, etc. This is precise
ly what was done three years ago
and which was the beginning of the
difficulties, which eliminated in the
fight at Colfax. In 1871 under the
pretext Of organizing the militia
eighty or ninety stand Of U. s. arms
and uniforms, were sent up; the ne
gro Ward commissioned as Captain
and a regular military rejeme inaug-
urated and maintained for three
months. The negroes or most oil
them. were induced by fraud and
flattery to join the company and af-
ter having joined, were treated as
deserters if they attempted to leave
A regular military camp was estab-
lished, sentinels posted; pickets
thrown out; stock and corn taken
from the negroes, under impressment
for military purposes, and all the
panopoly and pomp of war establish
ed in the midst of peace. The writs
of the Court were treated with con-
tempt and in one instance six mules,
five hundred barrels of corn and two
yoke of oxen which had been seques-
tered for rent due by w. B. Phillips,
were taken by this military from the
Sheriff and delivered up to that pro-
tege Of the government. All this prop
erty was carried offby Phillips under
this military protection, and sold in
New Orleans. Phillips and few
more kindred spirits were the boon
companions and advisers of Ward
and spent their united strength in
instilling into the minds of the me-
groes, hatred and jealousy, to the
white people and teaching them
to construe every look, word and ac-
ton OF white man that could eos
sibly bear such q construction; into
Ill insult, and to be on the alert to
resent IL.
In one instance, one of these, ne.
groes called upon prominent mem
Der Of the bar, to know what he
meant, by calling his race, negroes
in an argument which he had that
morning made before the Court. In
this dangerous state Of affairs, per
sonal difficulties were almost unnvoid-
able, and whenever one occurred, an
armed mob. of negroes Immediately
Jolned their representative, and in
more than alne instance, the white
man had to fee to save lis life. This
military rejeme began in August.
During the Christmas holidays, al
squad Of this company undertook toI
oarrest, and carry before the negro So
trap, Ward, two white men. One af-
ter being carried about mile and
half refused to 90 any farther, and he
was killed, and his body was found
m the road next day pierced by half
dozen balls, and bayonet thrusts.
The other man was carried to Cant
Ward and confined under military
guard and all access to him prohibi-
ted, No citizen was ever able to see
him, or to hear his testimony. Nor
has it been known what became Of
him. 1t is more than probable, that
Ward had him murdered by q Court
Martial. rs dead men tell no tales.
NO effort was made by this negro
government at Colfax, either to ar
rest the murderers of the first man
or to investigate the facts, or to re-
lease the poor man, who was bound
and kept in letters by Captain Ward.
VI course it would have been d!sloy- {
al to the United States government
to inquire into the conduct of Capt.
Ward in the matter. In the mean.
time remonstrance after remon- |
STRANGE had been made, by the citi- !
zens OF Grant, and by the members
Of the bar in Rapides, who were at |
lending Court at Colfax, to the Gov I
ernor, praying that this military des- L
potism should be broken up. The a
Governor pretended to send I'D Or t
ters to Ward, to disband, but these il
orders were treated with the same u
contempt, that the writs of the Dis !;
riot Court had been treated. Final il
y IN January or February, three b
" four months after the remon- c
frances of the white citizens had II
'een made. q special officer WIS sent h
p at the expense of the State, to 81
freak up tots military establishment. a
tut in doing so the United States o
rms were accidently left in the hands a
Il the negroes, and many of them d
sed in tho battle at Colfax. Il
The government pretends in its n
16t order to grow INDIGNANT ~ C,,,t II