The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-30

officials of the parish were driven away
These officials were nearly all native
Of the parish. McEnery made speeches il
the northern part Of the State, urging til
people to drive out usurpers.
Relative to the seizure of arms, it has beel
asserted that they were taken without du
process of law.
This witness denied. All the seizures wer
made by due process. Three seizures wer
made. A large consignment of arms arrived
on Saturday from Baltimore on the STEAMSHIP,
Mississippi. In the Sunday BULLETIN, there
appeared call on the people to meet on Mon
day, to deliberate concerning the seizure O
these arms. In this call it was asserted tina
their rights had been subverted in contrayen
ton of the guarantees of the Constitution
He mentioned the resolutions passed at this
meeting, but did not touch upon the event.
the 14th, saying he would file Gen. Ogden'
report to Gov. Penn to show the various com
panies that were out and their action.
Witness here read an extract from the Plea
yune of September 16, which advised that sucl
white men as were found melting the negroes
to riot, should be shot The effect the affail
of the 18th September had upon Republicans
throughout the State was most injurious to
the Republican party Made it point in
the late election to give the Democratic parry
fair representation in the offices controlling
the election. Witness related that on OF
about the 18th of December, there was made
a movement to exclude colored pupils from
the schools. A great deal of excitement en-
sued, and the schools were closed.
The BULLETIN in an article shortly after
this advocated a return to the system of stal
cars. There was apparent a disposition on
the part of the white people to force return
to the old order of things.
Three days before the election Mr.. Mari and
others published an address relative to frau
dulent registration on the part of the Repub-
licans. Witness mentioned the proposition
made to the Subcommittee, relative to the
matter of arbitration, and said he would re-
peat it to this committee, and did intend to
suggest that the difficulty between the Con-
servatives and Republicans of the present
legislature, with the consent of all parties,
be adjusted by the committee. Thinks that
| if the matter was investigated and passed
upon by the committee, all parties would
acquiesce in such decision.
Major Gee. Z. Head.
Major Sd Infantry; came to Louisiana
about the 10Th OF September. Went to Mon
roe about the 25th Of October. Was called
upon by Marshal Seelye to furnish troops to
assist in making arrests. When the requis-
ton was made for troops witness was shown a
warrant by Seelye and list of about one
hundred and fry names Of persons who were
to be arrested.
To Mr.. Whether his troops were
used to influence the election, witness said
was a matter of opinion. However, on cleo
ton day detachment of cavalry was sent
by Seelye to Cuba to make an arrest.
There was no Marshal at Cuba. Seelye
had blank warrants in his possession while
at Vienna The troops were used by the
hal fo h1f VIII of ar
that covered any political purpose, is more
than witness can say. Marshal Seelye never,
in making acquisitions for troops, alleged
that he had attempted to execute processes
and failed to make arrests. Witness don't
think Seelye could have made arrests without
troops, but that any other Marshal could.
Witness orders were, on the requisition for
troops, always to investigate the necessity for
such troops. Witness did not comprehend
this at first, Seelye was apparently an active
political worker in the Republican party, and
he appeared to have quite number OF war
rants.
To Mr.. Frye-In the parish of Ouachita
the Republican majority was large. The
troops were not used for intimidation pur-
poses, unless the expedition on election day
was for such. The troops on election day
were kept in their barracks. There were no
disturbances in the parishes under witnesses
command on election day, nor has there been
any since he assumed command. Seelye and
Hodgson were arrested for contempt OF court
Seelye, when in the Vienna Jail, proposed
to witness to fill out one of the blank war
rants in his possession with his (Seelye's)
name that witness might arrest him In order
to take him from the State authorities. This
witness refused to do. Seelye was subse-
quently arrested and taken from the State au-
A. ont yyh
wherein he charged himself with embezzle-
ment. Seelye was subsequently pardoned by
the Governor, having been sentenced by
Judge Trimble for contempt of court.
Hugh J. Campbell here introduced threee
negroes, William Reilly, Thomas Dixon and
one Rice, by whom he desired to prove some
thing, but what was not exactly clear. Rely,
on being asked if he had voted the Conserva-
tive ticket and why, replied in the affirmative,
but said he desired first to have assurances
that he would not be molested hereafter on
account of what he might reveal. He said
that his testimony might involve him in
trouble, therefore he felt a reluctancy IN de-
posing.
He did not say from whom he feared moles-
tation, but it was evident he desired to create
the impression that it was the White League,
or white people.
Campbell suggested that the committee
should hear what Reilly had to say in private;
but the chairman ruled that he should retire
and that the matter would be considered.
Edward Ezenac.
Resides in Natchitoches parish, and asserted
that there was considerable intimidation of
colored voters before the election. Had to
leave the parish shortly after the election,
because he feared being killed. Thinks about
800 Republicans did not register. The
witness related that he was shot at one night,
and thereafter thought it best to leave.
Believes the White League to be an armed
but never saw them drill.
Judge ii. G. Myers.
Resides in the parish of Natchitoches; has
resided in the parish about twenty years; is a
lawyer bv profession, and was Parish Judge
from 1870 to 1874. Became identified with
the Republican party in 1869. Up to 1872
parish was considered one of the
most peaceable in the State.
In 1873 witness headed a move to divide