The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-02-05

of knowing; but | do believe that the
Deputy United States Marshals have used
United States soldiers in cases where
there was no necessity for them, and from
my Investigations in the parishes of Qua
chita and Lincoln l am quite certain that
these civil officers discharged their duties
in an unnecessarily harsh if not a cruel
manner.
1t was represented to me that the mar
shals are in the habit of providing through
the )untry in the night time, accompa-
MED by posse of soldiers, to make ar
rests of citizens who could be arrested by
tn marshals unaided, and under any cir
cumstances should be arrested in the open
daylight.
Trese night arrests seem to have pc
cular terror for the people, and my atten-
ton was repeatedly called to them.
Another subject of complaint was the fact
that citizens are arrested without the
shadow of a cause and after long and
vexatious delay and great expense are set
at liberty without affording them even
preliminary hearing; and another subject
Of bitter complaint, especially in Coushat:
ia, is the fact that there is not United
States commissioner in the parish. and
persons arrested are required to be sent
red miles distant, for even an examina-
ton. The expense of getting witnesses to
50 distant point will make even justice
luxury that only the rich can procure. A
man of moderate means could not hope
to prove his innocence if the presence OF
many witnesses was required for the pur-
pose. The people of Coushatta complain
ed also, and | think justly, that person
had been sent there last fall as commits
siOner who was brOther-iu-law to another
OF the unfortunate men who were so bru-
tally and dastardly murdered in August
last However brutal may have been
the circumstances attended the massacre
of these men, it will be at once cOncede
by every man at all familiar with rules in
american and English courts that near
relation of the persons murdered is not a
proper person to SIT as judge IN even
preliminary hearing. These were com
plants made to me against United States
officials, and | therefore report them for
the information of the department com
mander. The complaints against the
State officers were SO numerous that
mere enumeration of them would fill
volume. Corruption and jobbery in Of
| fee, partiality and favoritism in the ad-
ministration OF justice, eXhOrbitant taxes,
rising in some instances to Z and 8 per
cent. on the appraised value of the prop
| erty, ruined credit, depleted State and
parish, and multiplication of officers in the
persons of favored individuals, are few
Of the charges made by the people against
| their State authorities.
The political condition Of the State is
the one subject Of conversation every
where in public and private and among all
| classes, except the Negro, who feels no in
| terest in it, because he does not cOmpre-
| hendi t.
The dissatisfaction is widespread and
deep, and l am firmly convinced that
| sooner or later there will be an outbreak
| of public feeling which will be attended by
| scenes of fearful violence. The determi-
nation to escape from the rule of the pres
ent State government is fixed in every
mind, and whenever the opportunity
presents itself blow will be struck for
the liberation of louisiana" to use the
| expression in common use. A combina-
ton or organization among the white men
ramifes every parish and neighborhOod ;
and there is perfect Unanimity of senti-
ment, and will be concert Of action when
| ever the time comes to take a decisive
stand. Without going into needless de-
tails, | give the following as my deep
seated conviction
The present State government can not
maintain itself in power single hour
without the protection of Federal troops.
! | do not believe the present State authOrl-
ties, even with the protection of Federal
troops, will be able tC collect taxes and
perform the functions Of government after
an early day IN the new year; opposition
to them will be made at every turn, and
every step they may attempt to take will
| be beSet with distractions. Outside of
| New Orleans there is no party or Organi-
zation in the State with sufficient strength
or influence to afford the slightest aid.
The State government has not the conf
dence or respect of any portion of the
community | do not believe the Legisla-
ture, as organized under the recent action
of the Returning Board, will be allowed to
assemble except under the protection OF
United States soldiers. Whether the re-
ported action of the board is correct or
not, | am unable to say; if it is not these
remarks will have no force, as the cOntin-
gency upon which they are based will not
arise. | do not mean by this that the sol
diers must necessarily be in force in the
State-house, but the presence on the
ground of representative of the military
power, with authority to declare in the
name of the General Government, that the
Legislature will be under Federal protec-
ton, will be necessary to prevent, in my
judgment, a terrible scene of disorder, and
perhaps, bloodshed. | not only do not be-
lieve, but | am absolutely certain that
there will not be at any time in Louisiana
any organization or authorized resistance
to the General Government If the ex-
pressions of the people are to be believed,
and | do believe them, there is a very sin
cer7 desire to live quietly under the pro
lection of the Constitution Of the United
States and enjoy the blessings of the Ma
tional Government. But there is no dis
guising the fact, that the protection af-
forded by the Federal Administration to
the government of the present State Exc
ecutive is the cause of bitter, personal and
political feeling in the breasts of nineteen
twentieths of the white inhabitants OF the
State l shall not be astouished if two
Legislatures are organized on the 4th day