New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-03

the public schools was started by boys Of
the High School: an armed body about tina,
time fired into St. Johns Church, on First
near Freret street, when worshipers were
at service; White Leaguers marched colored
men to the polls on election day; registr
ton papers were taken from colored men
at Julia street poll and torn up: colored
men were ordered from a poll on Spain
street; at poll nine, third ward colored
men were driven off and not permitted
to vote; Officer Cartwright was threatened
| if he interfered in behalf Of colored men;
| have been told that many c0lored men have
| been discharged from their places because
| they did not vote the Democratic ticket;
! fully 500 were SO discharged; can't say how
many of their registration papers were torn
up; l commanded the militia which went
| up to St. Martin parish; the condition there
was lawless; Offceholders were net per
mitted to take their places; it was in May,
1873: the colored people were badly fright
ened; we put the officers in their places;
after the Presidents proclama O, for the
White League to disperse they continued to
as general thing they did not keep their
arms at their meeting places; the White
League, up to January 4, were still organ
lied; my reports informed me that after it
became known that troops would be at the
State House on the fourth of January, the
Leaguers agreed not to appear armed; was
told that Hope Hook and Ladder Company's
truck had been prepared to be sent up to
the State House for men to use in entering
the building; one of my officers was 80
informed by a member of the company;
the riotous assembly of the fourteenth Of
September has been kept up to
very recent date; have not heard much of
the White League during the past week;
the White League surrendered but few
arms after the Presidents proclamation
was issued; it was stated that but for the
presence of United States troops they
would have overturned the Kellogg govern
ment; they would do it to-day; had not
troops been here the White League would
have seized the government long before this
time; believe that they were behind the
coup Tetat of January 4: it would not
have been possible for the police to make
arrests in the absence of troops up to the
fourth of January; some of the boys who
drove cOlored children from the public
attempted l think the result whuld have
been riot and bl0odshed; on the fourteenth Of
September an armed force took possession
of the police telegraph office, put out the
superintendent and cut off communication.
CrOss-examination-W Leaguers did
have it q part of its programme on the
fourteenth of September to get arms off of
a steamship; do not think that was the
primary cause of the movements: l was
wounds I received on the fourteenth of
September; while was sick General Baldey
and Judge Leclere acted as superintendent
of police; l resumed charge of my office on
the fourth of January; during my sickness
considered had some power to give direc-
tiOns to the force; have learned that it was
true that the hook and ladder truck was
prepared to be sent to the State House
on the fourth of January; General
State House on the fourth of the January;
General Emory commanded the troops;
most members of the White League are of
good standing; | take very little part in
politics; policemen have been kept from their
regular duties in consequence OF expected
troubles or outbreaks; do not think if the
police were strictly confined to police work
that they would be liked better than they
are now; many policemen vote the Demo
police this city; think the State House was
by direction of General Camp
bell about the first of January; do not
know that policemen and others were sent |
into the State House at that date, armed; |
believe it was prudent measure to barri- |
cade the State House, as there was ikeli- |
hood of an attack |
u H. DcChWIlu-1 dm OulLCU StdtcS us
trict Attorney for Louisiana; l prosecuted |
the Grant parish prisoners before the United |
States Circuit Court in this city. Witness |
gave scme details of that interesting trial. |
do not think white man " no should freely |
testify about the Colfax massacre would be |
safe on his return to Grant parish; the first |
trial of the accused resulted in mistrial; |
the second trial resulted in a conviction of !
some of the accused; it was asserted that |
k1av hnl er ~ foxr f>vf 20,
purposes, but the evidence did not bear that |
put; think the habit of colOred people of
giving way to the whites still exists; it is
one OF the fruits of slavery; only two white |
men were killed and two wounded; there
we're about seventy colored men killed and
many wounded: Howell, one of the
Coushatta victims, was indicted for the
Colfax affair; the Colfax massacre
will have an effect on colored people for some
heir minds for some years; mean when
considered with the other massacres of
,olored people; as to the White League,
,nly know OF it by general knowledge;
here has been no efficient system enforced
20 punish men who kill negroes; l have re-
'eived many threatening letters.
Adjourned until half-past seven o'clock,
when the Conservative side will be heard.
Evening Session.
Mr.. Hoar announced that the Republican
ounsel had exhausted the allowed number
f witnesses, and that the Democrats had
hirty-cne more to hear.
The first witness called by the Democrats
7as-
C. w. Burt-I resided in New York, but
t present live in Shreveport; do not know
f any hostility to the general government;
Iorthern people are welcome in Shreveport
United States officer can serve process of
Ourt without aid of troops; no resistance |
,ould have been made to arrest; know of
o White League organization in the parish;
he labor movement was got up by the
lerchants who proposed to employ only
hose who voted the Democratic ticket;
republicans were not deprived of their
roperty or rights; there is depres-
ion in the value of property owing to
ne unsettled condition Of the country,
aused by high taxes and bad govern.
lent; know Major Merrill; he did not !
to the federal government; the
.ilure of the Freedmans Bank made some c
olored people join the Democrats; some Of
1859 who voted for the labor movement =
,pented of their action; Major Merrill had
rits for the arrest of about seventy per-
ms for discharging employees; good labor l
8, without regard to politics, can obtain I '
,gular employment; there is no disposition
defraud the laborers out of their wages; :
,tt0n buyers on the streets cheat negroes I
lere is no ill feeling against the negroes by c
ajor Merrill arrived in Shreveport the j..
wn was as peaceful as possible; there was a
volunteer police; the feeling against 1
epublican officials has grown out of ineffi- | g