New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-05
THE CONGRESSIONAL Committee
coN1lAvANcl6f THE INVESTIGATION
Further Startling Developments

4
Further Startling Development
The fifth days proceedings, Monday, Jan
nary 4, found a full audience, with the com
mlttee, congressman Foster, Phelps AM
Potter looking fresh, ready for hard work.
The attractions at the State House were
insufficient to keep the curious away from
go rare treat az that afforded by con
gressional committee.
Judge Dibble and Mr.. John Ray ap
peared for the Republican side of the quas
ton, and Mr.. F. c. Zacharie for the Demo
Gratis.
an invitation from Democratic committee
to attend the opening session Of the Legis
lnture.
The subject Of the abduction of Mr.. A. j
Cousin, q member of the House from St
Tammany parish, was brought up.
Judge Dibble explained that he had In
formation which proved that armed mel
had arrested Cousin, and that those meu
were not officials of this parish, but from
another parish; the arrest was simply made
to prevent Cousin taking his seat as Re.
publican member of the House; that due
course OF law was not pursued in making
the arrest; that he was 80 imprisoned thai
all chance for him to obtain o writ of
habeas corpus was denied him.
Mr.. Phelps called Judge Dibble to pro-
duce witnesses to prove that Cousin had
been kidnapped. 1t was announced that
there was documentary evidence, but
Judge Dibble did not care for that; he had
better, but could not possibly produce
Cousin, as he was at present prisoner in
tho piney woods OF St. Tammany, and
probably would be held until such time as
the House was organized, and there would
exist no further objection to his presence.
DR.. S. E. Chaille was the first witness
called, and read from a paper some Stats
tics OF his own compiling. He stated that
TOR the last eight summers he has been
North, and invariably persuaded people not
to come to Louisiana it they wish to pros
per; we have bad government here-one
not surpassed on the face of the earth; we
have had violence mere not only recently,
but in former years; l do not think much
of the Judiciary Of our State; there are ex-
ceptions..
E. II. Riddell-Resides In New Iberia;
there is Ostracism in my section because OF
persons being Republicans; it was demon
strated in many ways; one man was killed
on that account; men were discharged from
employment because they were Repub-
licans; they were threatened with death if
they did not leave the parish; two men were
hung for stealing cattle; many affidavits
had been oppressed; at least 300 cOlored
Republicans did not vote at the last cleo
ton; the parish in former times was Re-
publican; not more than ten white men in
the parish failed to vote; q church for
cOiOrod people was burned, " hich intimidat.
ed the members; Iwas clerk Of the parish
court; the assessments on property were
greatly reduced: the assessments
were not at one time ~ proportion. but
lately there has been partial remedy;
col0red men were threatened with dis
charged before and after elections; aft.
davits we're made to that effect; some
arrests were made, and some of the accused
ran away; refused to take straw bail, and
was in consequence waited on by large
number Of persons to induce me to accept
the bOndsmen; some of the accused pre-
ferred to be sent to New Orleans for
hearing; tho colOred people, as a general
thing, are industrious; lands in Iberia par
sh have been SOLD for taxes; as a general
hing the State bid in: where individuals
purchased they bid above the assessed
value4 l know of one plantation that sold
for full double Of its assessed value; it was
sold for taxes
T. Fontelieu-Men In iberia parish who
who belonged to the Republican party were
men were discharged because
hey we're Republicans: the White League
passed q resolution for members to dis.
charge persons who voted the Republican
ticket; from $50 to 300 persons were pro.
,cribed because of politics; nearly every
white man voted at the last election: two
churches of the colored people were burned
oh Petit Anse; there are about thirty i've
white Republicans in Iberia parish. few
,olored men voted with the Conservatives;
no<
,hurches were burned by White Leaguers;
understood the White League prganiza.
ion as political society.
Sam Waketield-Reside IN iberia parish:
he social Prescription OF white Re.
)ubllcans it heavy, complete: all Repub.
leans are prescribed; have known conserva.
ives to discharge cOlored men who voted
he Republican ticket: prescription was
openly proclaimed generality the Sugar
Boacl published chat fact: from $50 to l75
Republicans failed to vote; white men gene
rally voted; there have been some dis.
charges since election; one man was hung
n July, but do not know what for; there
8 or was vigilance committee OF white
men; l am colored man; after Jack was
lung white planters asked their coloreGe
people what they thought of that, but
cling them at the same time that that was
What they would get if they attended
Radical meetings; the color line is not |
irawn very close in our parieh.
c. Hodges-Reside in Kenne1s never
threatened or intimidated any man about |
he manner of his voting; I have certii- |
ate from the colored folk to that, effect;
AVE over 100 employed on my place.
w. 4. Whitaker--Reside in New Orleans;
az q warrant in the hands of constable
II the arrest of Representative Cousin,
rom st. Tammany; l told the constable he
ould make the arrest and that there was
10 danger according to law; do not know :!
What time the crime as alleged was dated;
lid not know that accused was q member
f the Legislature; l afterward learned that
;Ousin was a returned member of the
louise; on that l looked at the State con-
ttutien and found that had given proper
can not say what the date of
he charge was, bat believe it was in the
'ast year.
The committee then adjourned to meet at
he st. Charles Hotel at 1880 p. M.
At the evening session, held in the ST.
,harles Hotel, parlor p, the following ties.
imOny was taken. The room was densely
r0wded with spectators, all of whom
eemed to anxiously drink in every word !
ttered by witnesses:
General Hazard-Reside IN New Orleanes |
m q cotton dealer; white man may be a
republican and not be ostgacised here on |
ccount of his politics; condition of things |
4 values here is greatly depreciated; the |
xisting State government does not have |
he confidence Of the community; if the |
ederal troops were withdrawn the present |
government could not and would not stand |
single day; l mean all branches Of the |
tate government; my politics are Demo
ratio, and have been since was born; that /
long time: think that white men who
re Republicans do not receive that cordial
eception which Democrats do; one reason |
, the latter are not known; if two gentle
len were to come here from the North,
9th of same qualifications, the Democrat
,Ould be received with the greatest cor