The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-06
EVENING SESSION.
Lieut.. Edward A. Bel9ef,

| Is LIST lieutenant in the Sd Infantry Was
stationed in Alexandria. Arrived there on
the tenth day of October. The troops under
witnesses command were stationed in the
Courthouse yard, aud are still stationed in
the town of Alexandra. Was present on the
day of election and noted that in Alexandria
the election was in every way a quiet one.
| Has observed no evidence of hostility in the
community to the General Government The
election was held in the Court House, and the
| troops were stationed in the Courthouse
yard The troops were first stationed in
Pineville, opposite Alexandria, but few Gays
| before thu election were moved toAlexandria.
DIR. Alfred Duperier.
Resides in the parish OF iberia. Has prac-
| ticed medicine in that locality for number
| of years; has also been engaged in planting.
Voted for Gen. Grant, and in the election of
1872 canvassed the parish for Gov. Kellogg.
Shortly after the war Grant had many sup
porters in the parish. Believes that three
hundred white votes were cast for him. Some
of the local officers were elected for their in
teilec ual and personal merits. Since the
war the Republican party has steadily de-
creased. It is due to the organization of The
party; the ignorance that charactexizes the
majority of its adherents is the cause of it; in
some instances to the knavery of officials.
J
lature; bad laws have been the result; mo-
nopolies burdening the people have been
created; judges Of inferior courts sometimes
not being able to interpret the law, or being
prejudiced, fail to apply it; many criminals
90 UNPUBLISHED Considerable ignorance exists
among the white people Of the parish; more
among the blacks. Deputy tax-collectors are
sometimes law makers They receive fifteen
per cent for collecting and levying taxes.
Before the war this cost was three per cent.
Tax-collectors are the irresponsible agents of
the parish. The taxes are unequal. The
law provides poll tax of one dollar per head
for school purposes; this is not collected from
the negroes.
Their property in horses and other live
stock is not generally a sessed. Real estate
owners do not escape these taxes The
heaviest local taxes are for road purposes;
the taxes could be avoided by compelling
voters to work the public roads, but for po-
litical effect this is not done. The Return
ing Board is vested with arbitrary power; be-
lieves the will of the people will always be
defeated by the exercise of such power.
Would not trust the exercise of such power in
the hands of any party. Believes that no i'm
partial mind could or can decide as to who
was elected between McEnery and Kellogg.
Coalition between McEnery and Warmoth
ing as prima facie evidence of an intent to
defraud the people of free election, through
the arbitrary action of the Returning Board.
l. was generally conceded that Penn was
elected. Property has steadily declined since
the war in business is utterly prostrAted ;
wages have steadily declined This is attr-
buted to bad government Kellogg is gener.
ally held responsible for it on that account
he is viewed as a usurper. All can be traced
to the ignorance characterizipg our Legisla
ture, conducted by,knavery. The elective ju-
dietary has proven a curse and is the sources
of many of our woes These abuses have
large class of whites, amounting in some
instances to intolerance.
Although having taken a decided stand
against secession and having co-operated with
the Republican party, has never been ostra-
cised. Has always been kindly and consider
ately treated by the intelligent portion of the
com munity.
great many of the negroes voted with the
Conservatives because they were disguised
with the Republican party. They had never
received any of the promises made them.
Mr.. Wheeler desired to know what would
be the most acceptable to the majority of the
people-a recognition of the Kellogg govern
ment or provisional government.
Reply was made that the recognition of the
Kellogg Government, with the Legislature
elected last fall would be the most acceptable
to the majority of the people in witnesses
section of country. To unqualified suffrage
is to be attributed all of our troubles. The
negro was made voter too soon after his
emaucipat on. The administration of the
laws under the present Safe Government is
lax and inefficient. and to that is owing much
of the demoralized condition of society.
DIR. q. j. Colgin.
Resides in New Iberia. Dr.. Colgin read a