New-York tribune., 1875-02-04
LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE.


COMMITTEE.
THE CONDITION OF SHREVEPORT As SEEN BY RESI-
DENT MKRCHANTs-rHE CITY AS ORDERLY AS
NEw-ENGLAND TOwN-NO oSTRACIsM OF RE-
sPKCTARLB REPUBLICANS OR NoRTHERNERs-
CORRUPTION IN THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
TON AT MAJOR MERRIILs REPoRT-EVHs OF
CARPET-BAG INFLUENCE AMONG THE NEGROES
COLoRED MANS TESTIMONY TO THE HARMONY
BETWEEN THE RACAs-STATEMENr OF r. H.
MARI.
New ORLEANS, La, Feb 8.-Before the Con-
Cressional Investigating COMMITTEES to-day Charles '"
testified follows Resides in Shreveport has re-
sided there two years and a half; Is merchant Dy
occupation: is from New-York; very cordially re-
ceived by the people; witness social intercourse
with the people Of that city and section
has been most most pleasant representative
residents express desire that representative men from
the North should settle that country the feeling OF
residents is loyal 20 the General Government; troops
have been in Csddo Parish nearly ever slnce wit
ness has lived in the parish If Goops were
absent from the parish, law officer OF
the Federal Governments calling upon inc
people, would receive assistance in making sres1s;
does not know OF White Lacquer in Shreveport; the
election last Fall quiet witness ever saw heli
In any state there disposition on the part OF the
people that It should be the general desire OF the
people without regard TO races, was for order and
good There ia great depression in bust
and shrnkage III valves there, which has IN part
resulted frOm high taxation and maladminstraton gen.
orally. The City OF Shreveport although patroied oy
volunteer police force, was at the time OF Major Mer
ribs appearance there, orderly as any town
in New-England. The III feeling to most
OF the Republican officials is owing their corruptions
There are SOME who are respected Mr.. Wise, although
a Republican and oflceh0lder. is widely esteemed
To Mr.. Frye-5aw negroes vote the Conservative
ticket for two months and half previous 10 the eiec
ton under the volunteer police the city was quiet; be-
longs to white mans club. but did not join the White
League knows of no White League in the city; does
not know Of any residents being engaged in the Cou
shatta massacre; everybody with whom witness con-
versed OF this affair condemned IT,
To Mr. wheeler-Ifit bad not been for the partzan
action Of Mayor Merrill there doubt that the Labor
resolutions would have been rescinded
TESTIMONY OF 5. b. STEERS.
g. B. Steers, sworn testified: Reside in Shreveport
"a a native OF NewYork; was well received by
Tho white people OF Shreveport; the people
are an xOus that respectable men should come from
North and settle there; Republican ohcehoder' II ne
he upright and honest, will be respectedi thOught
during the few years OF his residence IN the South
that the two races could live amcably together
but there better feeling existing and were IL
not for the DerpositiOn OF certain white Republicans
he blacks and whites would get on pedcedot t tho
white people regard Kellogg as usurper, ana 10 'ndt
may be attributed me Iae IIou"lsS ,,i.ora, bnr
opinion that affairs have not Dern administered non
/ at y.
natienf. there Is no hostility existing against the
General Government; there Is no desire ioF the ro
| establishment OF Slavery; any man VINO would attenp.
o defrIud the negroes settlement would lose caste
among the better class OF people, k1oW. OI no " le
League 0rgabiza,lOn there are political cuOS III Tue
0wn; the election passed OF very quietly, ana many
negroes voted the Conservative uchet ~
Crosse s-examined.-ro Mr Frye-As TO the dllerence renee
h-tween the WarmOth aud Kellogg Government thcre
i, little. number Of cOiOred men voted the COhSeIFa-
i've ticket The Republican officials OF the parish are 10
some q xteut corrupt. There pubic carl, signed
nv the Northern residents of Shreveport denunoaory OF
! nltsate col
mad been made the radicals IN the government OF
shreveport particularly in the management Oh Tue
NJ YarSna here reminded Mr. Frye that tho
| examination should not be conducted as ID ponce
TESTIMONY or j. G. MONCURE.
j c. Moncu-e sworn and testified as follows; has
lived at shreveport since 1851 came originally from
virginia aud has resided in Louisiana for fourteen
wears: was candida for State Treasurer IN the past
election soon after the reconstruction OF the state IL
was found that the negroes we're induced to
array themselves in solid mass IN tho inter
ests of class OF VINO were strangers
IN the State and who organized tho not for
the public good. but to secure their own election TO
Official position witness was nominated for the Legis
arure In 1O the blacks told that their Interests
wcre dependent upon those Of the whites :;
/ that they COahorers; anu tnaJ there
| .%arld ne no antagOnism between them. Tho
nIored men we're IMPRESSED with these sentiments :;
mn the Radicals Oradcated THIS ldea from nelf minus
IN rrret meetings wth them, telling them that the Con
ar~afivns we're not sincere. and only desired TO obtain
Dower IN order 10 tnem back into Slavery IN the
! fertsIature Of 1912 there were many pllnder
-, 80 ecbcmes One of these was the State House BILL
which was defeated by parliamentary tactics Jhe enre
Democratie vote against t. Tnis war IN Louis
ma wa. not against the publican party but agaiusl
oshonest government In 1872 the Conseryalyes fused
in1O one party there were many c0ored men on the
fickpt and the election carried in CaddO but the
clnddates were counted Oui; II mas always Oeen the
| divis6n not one OF color; the organization OF the
whites not intended 20 deprive the negroes O any
| Of their rights; IN 1874 h9ylnR trieu al @ olne1
| means the campaign conducted under the ay0|ed
auspices of the white race 1t was not intended 10 de
priv- the OF single rghti was Oeueyed mat
more effect would be produced upon the negro hnd 10y
having straightout white ticket han O nav hg mixed
black and white, ana the result so"c4 .ie
of this suppOsitIOn. the white ticket havlnS larger
black vote than 1t ever c9Inmahded oeiore tne ca,D
paign fairV conducted at tne llme as larry oy
the white peop,a as any that mas ever Deen LeIl
| ara realty very friendly except WAeh tney ar, arc
| acted uDOn election or ny the machind-
rIons OF men who trying TO organize the negroes
and obtain control OF the machinery Oh te
believe there general and complete dIsposClon on
Hon t"E p1 to recognize every legal right OF the
negro; believe the negro would enjoy
T zen care OF in every way with the State under
Conservative control believe that ordinary every
| much more friendly at the South among employ
ers and employed than they are at the
gether the election In Shreveport was fairly conducted
| 5OO negroes voting without any unfair means being
| cOlored vote unfairly influenced by tho whites IN
the parish. No one has ever seen what disposition
has beeu made OF the cOlOred school fund IN CaddO
s1O 600 we're missing II matter ot notorlety that
ma Legislature in New-Oredns Is Influenced by I'm
proper motives Fslkner most notorious l0Doylst
| York Devices, and Matthews, VINO were engaged III
hose schemes and others again returned; Witness
upon proceeding Cousnatta aIter the arrival OF the
United troops found the prlnclpal ctzens uhuer
srrest or taking To the woods; not only was TINS the
condition OF Things COushata, but IN me surrounding
marshes the ds ositon among the whites 10 ln1lct
| Justice IA black aud Wnlte.
| A COLORRD MANS TESTIMONY.
| A. Hail. colored. sworn: Resides IN shreveport; be-
leves the late election that city TO have been fair
o,e. the wav I'm which the Savings Bank managed