Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-01-22
ed all efforts to that end, and boldly

For example,: 4. S. Crafford, Judge
of the parish, and the District Attor.
ney of the Twelfth Judicial District
of the State, on their way to the court
were shot from their horses by men
in ambush, on the sth of October,
1873, and the wife of the former, in a
communication to the Department OF
Justice tells piteous tale of the per-
secutions of her husband, because he
was a Union man, and of the efforts
made to sieze those who had com
mitted crime, which, to use her
language, "Left two widows and nine
orphans desolate."
70 say that the murder Of a negro
or white Republican is not consid.
cred crime in Louisiana, would
probably be unjust to great part OF
the people, but it is true that a great
number of such murders have been
committed and no one has been pun
ished therefor, and it is manifestly
true that the spirit of hatred and vio-
lence there is stronger than law.
Representations were make to me
that
THE PRESENCE OF TROOPS IN LOUIS
was unnecessary, and that there was no
danger of public disturbance if they
were taken away. Consequently
early last summer the troops were
withdrawn from the State, with the
exception of a small garrison at New
Orleans barracks. 1t was stated that
a comparative state of quiet had
supervened; that the political excite
ment as to Louisiana affairs seemed
to be dying out; but the November
election was approaching, and it was
necessary for party purposes that the
fame should be relighted. Accord
ingly, on the l4th of September, D.
B. Penn, claiming he was elected
Lieutenant Governor in 1872, issued
an intlammatory proclamation, call
ing upon the militia Of the State to
arm, assemble, and drive out the
"usurpers," as he designated the Off
GERS of the State. The White Leaguers
armed and ready for the conflict,
promptly responded. On the same
day the Governor made formal
requisition upon me, in pursuance of
the act of 1895, and section 4, article
4, of the Constitution, to aid in sup
pressing domestic violence. On the
next day issued my proclamation,
commanding the insurgents to dis
perse within five days from the date
thereof; but before the proclamation
was published in New Orleans the
organized and armed forces recogniz-
ing a usurping government had taken
forcible possession of the State House
and temporarily subverted the gov
ernment. Twenty or more people
were killed, including a number of
the police of the city. The streets
of the city were stained with blood.
All that was desired in the way of
excitement had been accomplished.
Prior to, and with view to
THE LATE ELECTION IN LOUISIANA.
white men associated themselves to-
gether in armed bodies, called
"White Leagues" and at the same
time threats were made in the Demo
cratic journals Of the State that the
election should be carried against the
Republicans a. all hazards, which
very naturally greatly alarmed the
colored voters. BY Sec. s, of the
Act of Feb. 2s, 1871, it is made the
duty of United States Marshals and
their deputies, at polls where votes
are cast for Representatives III Con-
grcss, to keep the peace and prevent
anv violations of the so-called en-
forcement act and other offenses
against the laws of the United States,
and upon a requisition of the Marshal
of Louisiana, and in view of said
armed organizations, and other por-
tentious circumstances, caused de-
tachments of troops to be stationed
in various localities in the State to
aid him in the performance of his of:
fetal duties and the enforcement OF
the State laws. The officers and
troops of the United States may well
have supposed that it was their duty
to act when called upon by the gov
ernment for the purpose.
That
THERE WAS INTIMIDATION OF REPUB
LICAN VOTERS
at the election, Notwithstanding this
precaution, admits of no doubt. The
following are specimens of the means
used: On the l4th of October eight;
persons signed and published the i
lowing at Shreveport: "We, the un
dersigncd, merchants of the city OF
Shreveport, in obedience to request
of the Shreveport Campaign Club
agree to use every endeavor to gel
our employees to vote the peoples
ticket at the ensuing election, and in
the event of their refusal 50 to do, Oh
in case they vote the Radical ticket
to refuse to employ them at the expi
ration of their present contracts" =
On the same day another large body
of persons published, in the same
place, paper in which they used the
following language: eve, the un
dcrsigned, merchants of the city 81
Shreveport, alive to the great import
ance Of securing good and homes,
government to the State, do agre.
and pledge ourselves not to advance
any supplies or money to any planters
the coming year who will give EN-
ployment or rent lands to laborers
who vote the Radical ticket at the
coming election"
| have no information Of the pro
ceedings of the Returning Board fol
the said election which may not bt
found in its report, which has been
published, but it Is Il matter OF public
information that great part of the
time taken to canvass the votes wa,
consumed by the arguments of law
yers, several of whom represented
each party before the Board. l have
no evidence that the proceedings Of
this Board were not in accordance
with the law under which they acted
Whether, in excluding from thei'
connt cnrtain rnturn. they were riphI
or wrong, is a question that depend,