The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-04

dry, and, although never took any part i
politics, co-operated with the CONSERVATIVE
party, in order to secure good governmen n
Went to Republican meeting one nigh
when one Allen spoke, who endeavored t
make negroes believe that the Democrat
meant to enslave them again. Such talk dis
: gusted witness, and he never attended anott
er Republican meeting
The colored people in the parish appear t
be making good living; they get on well
and are on the most friendly terms with tn
white people; negro can get justice in tina
country before white jury as. readily as
white man; numbers of negroes several hun
dredivoted the Conservative ticket heart
many say that they would not vote anothe
Republican ticket; they said Republicans hat
not fulfilled the promises made; the intelIi
gent portion of the negro community know
that their interests are identical with tn
whites, and allege that as reason for sup
porting the Conservatives; the election va
exceedingly quiet. and negroes voted freel,
and as they desired.
Witnesses property is worth 50, 600 or $40,
900. Every industrious negro who had saved
money had deposits in the Freedman s Bank
Believes that the election in DeSoto, Caddt
and Bossier Parishes was fair.
| To Mr.. Frye-There is no doubt that the
failure of the Freedman's Bank caused many
negroes to vote the Democratic ticket. This
was only one cause, however. They alleged
various reasons for doing SO.
Il. H. Mari.
| Mr.. Mari stated that he has never held Of
| fee, or has he ever been a candidate. Was
elected chairman of the Committee of Seven.
| ty about eighteen months ago. The said
committee was devoted exclusively to obtain.
ing the recognition Of the McEnery Govern.
| ment.
Spent the winter Of 1873 in Washington,
in such interest. Visited the country parishes
last year with a view of ascertaining what
policy should be adopted at the convention
subsequently held at Baton Rouge. It was
the Kellogg government The witness offered
the platform adopted at the Baton Rouge
Convention.
There was desire to avoid anything that
could be construed into acts of intimidation
At the Inauguration of the campaign, negroes
expressed desire to organize colored clubs,
to cooperate with the Conservative party.
These persons consulted with the Conserva-
tive Central Committee and were told that
they might proceed with the work, but M ust
depend wholly upon themselves; that no
pecuniary aid would be advanced. The ne
groes were assured Of all their rights, and
offices to which they might be elected would
be secured to them.
Mr. Marr-Does not think the census of
1870 is a fair representation of the relative
voters Of the white and colOred races of the
State, for the reason that q number Of white
persons were absent when the census was
taken.
1t is fact that numbers of white men were
at that time travelling in Europe and in the
North. There is capital error existing out
side of Louisiana relative to the vote cast
here at the late elections.
The supposition prevails that in the cleo
tons the color lines were strictly drawn, SO
much so, that every negro voted the Repub-
Gcan ticket This was not the case, for every
endeavor was made to secure as much of the
colored vote as possible, in which men of in
fuence with the negroes took part in 1872
Gen. Hugh J. Campbell, Gen. George
Sheridan and Governor Warmoth made earn
est efforts in that direction, and succeeded to
q great extent
As to what Delahoussaye. the witness from
ST. Martins parish, said of dis patch sent by
witness concerning affairs there, Mr.. MARI
denied emphaticaly. In reference to incen-
diary speeches alleged to have been made by
witness, he affirmed that he had counseled
the people, that under q republican form of
government, they have the right to put down
a usurpatlon even if arms have to be resorted
to. Compromise between the whites and
negroes was urged by the Conservative lead
ers, and in several parishes such compromise
was effected.
Mr.. Mari said that the Grant parish af
fair, referred to by Mr.. Beckwith in his testi-
mony, Tuesday, was one Of the things evil
lently not we'll understood. The people of
Louisiana have been misrepresented con-
,erning it.
Mr.. MARI then related the circumstances
which led to the event.
To Mr.. Hoar-Certain laws passed bv the
Legislature Immediately after the war affect
ng the laboring population were, doubtless,
ll-advised, but it must be taken into consid-
ration that, under the circumstances, the
question Of dealing with the negro politically
It that time was most difficult one.
The refusal of the General Government to
axe cognizance of the repeated representa-
ions of the white people Of this State relative
0 their political condition has no doubt
aused widespread distrust as to the fairness
nd impartiality which naturally they should
xpect at its hands. Two hundred gentle
aen from this city, who called upon the At
orney General of the United States to repre- ,
ent the cause of the people, were unwar- {
antably repealed by that oficious Off cial.
his circumstance alone had had the effect
creating much Of this distrust
If let alone, the whites of this State and the |
egroes would get along most amicably. Rep
ssentations made to the negroes that they ,
ill be re-enslaved has caused much of the ,
xisting troubles; had it not been tor this the
aces before this would have arrived at a per-
'ct understanding. 1t has been repeatedly |
nd positively affirmed that the white people
ere DESTROYS Of securing the negro in al his
ghts under the law. In this they were per- ,
city earnest and honest. There is univer- !
Il sentiment among the whites that unre-
ricted suffrage with the negroes is detrimen-
i to good government in the South. q