Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-10-01

with Governor Kellogg and hand him
these voluntary designations. Neither of
these committee men own any real estate
here, or any where else; neither have any
other kind of property, SO far as known
and their contributions to the support of
the Government are confined TO a poll tax
Of 81 each, which they should have paid
but have not. The three gentlemen upon
whom they waited. August IL, probably
possessed more actual property in the
State of Louisiana than the whole mob OF
$50 concerned in White Leaguerism. At
the same time, mob waited upon the
officers OF Red River Parish and demanded
their designations. which were refused.
Frank ). Edgerton, Esq. sheriff, summon
ed posse Of fifty colored and fifteen white
men to protect the parish officers in the
discharge of their duties. This was styled
by the League "A riot, an attack by the ne
groes on the whites The edict went forth
and several hundred bowling, drunken
desperadoes were collected Mt Coushatta
from Natehitoches, DeSoto. Caddo, Bos-
sier, Webster. Claiborne, Lincoln, Jack
son, Blenvile aud Grant; the posse was
overpowered. Amer the slaughter of Gil
bert Carne, Esq, deputy sheriff. and sew
eral colored men the officers, 10 wit H. J g..
Twitchell, tax collectors F. ). Edgerton
sheriff; X. A. Devices, tax collector. of
DE Soto. Clark Holland, supervisor OF
registration; w. J. Howell, parish attor-
ney. and McWillis. justice OF the peace,
were arrested and lodged in Jail. All
these officers voluntarily rendered their
resignations, and offered to leave the
State. The 'citizens, not wishing to
proceed to harsh measures accepted
these terms and released the captured pos
50. a trustworthy guard was assigned
the prisoners and they were permitted
to depart for Shreveport, on their way to
Texas. few hours after, however, the
guard halted in the woods upon the Nc
Yarland plantation In Bossier Parish, were
Joined by hfty men conveniently called
'Texans, and of course unknown The
prisoners were comfortably shot, and the
neighbors on the following day buried
without any Formally, whatever remains
OF them the beasts and buzzards had not
destroyed. Order -eigns In Warsaw We
are gravely assured. from day TO day, that
Red River Parish Is quiet which is more
than likely, under the circumstances.
IN CONSTANT DREAD.
l cannot write as | ought of this heliish
crime. These men, with one exception
wore with Us the loyal blue; four were Of
dear old Massachusetts, they were nv
personal friends, done to death traltorous-
ly by the rebel hel-hounds who. in savage.
treacherous, cowardly ferocity have no
parallel on earth. Their murder shall be
fearfully avenged. but by the laws God
give them rest, they died, my friends, for
liberty and the flag, as truly a did any of
our dear comrades Of the old Nineteenth
For month past the white Republicans
OF Lincoln Parish have been counted at
this place, our least number has been
three, our greatest six, armed to the teeth.
and on the alert, night and day. Ii Is well
understood that any attack upon rs would
be met by a desperate defence which won ia
cease only with our lives, that the attack
would cost twenty or thirty White Lea
guers the "number of their mess" aud
consequently we have not been attacked,
but we live in constant preparation, and
know not what hour an extra allowance
of whiskey might bring the crowd upon H..
have neither space or time to instance
each case Of crime or to enumerate the
parishes yictimizcd. The number Of them
Is seventeen. From what | have stated
and when add that Lincoln and Red Riv-
er furnish fair samples OF the whole that
in caddo during the past two months
there have been not less than thirty $50
lated political murders you can form
some idea Of The state Of affairs ID Louis
ana | have stated nothing that Il not
susceptible OF proof. which has not been,
In fact. proved over and over again by un-
Improbable and rwhelming testemonv
| state nothing a. having occurred since
1870 which has not fallen within my per
sonal or official knowledge. have not
given YOU Il hundredth part OF the blood
and crime, but prominent incidents in the
fearful history. Can you doubt when
tell you that no one here has any sympa-
thy with the great loyal honest Democrat
&c party OF the North? | was of that great
party. l know Its principles, | knew them
to be honest; | know its members, aud
know them to be- true men. They are
mislnformed In Southern affairs; they are
mislSd by 'h'' -..-- h-.''",tLt, "nlcn
these men abuse and disgrace. | tell YOU
.'-,.s democracy ia the South III the
mouths Of Southern men, means treason
and rebellion; its members here are, with
Few exceptions, rebels and traitors at
heart, their campaign OF 1874 Is a near
reoeiiion as they think they can make /,
without danger OF Federal hemp and Fed
eral steel. Their boasted chiyalry il n de-
fusion and sham; the goal they aim at ,
as in 1851, Is the unrewardcd labor of the
black crimes that disgrace human nature.
treachery. cowardice and falsehood, are
their weapons; ignorance and passionate
prejudices, their bulwarks. Can YOU disa-
heavy hand of the nation is felt here, past
and present crimes punished, and treason
and rebellion against State and nation
made "odious' and perilous, the state of
affairs in Louisiana" will remain what il
isI Excuse imperfections. | write in
haste. have my official duties to per-
form. am. as may say, the witness OF
crimes, which. in the absence of troonS I
am unable 10 punish or prevent In No.
vember, 1872. | was compelled to report
to Attorney-Gcnera Williams that were |
TO attempt the performance of my sworn
duty II would be the signal for my death
and that OF every white Republican in
North Louisiana. I have felt compelled
10 make the same report within twenty
days. My heart is oppressed with care
and sorrow. | am unable to write as |
otherwise would: forgive DEFICIENCIES, and
believe me your friend.
(Signed) d. j. VI. A. Jewett.
Z. 5. Commissioner, in, and for the Dis
trict Of Louisiana.