Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-09
4 COySERTATITE WITNESS,

The Congressional Committee now in
New Orleans investigating the difficulties
in Louisiana do not find, as the sub-com-
mittee reported, no evidence of intlmida-
ton of the republican voters. On the con-
trary they have found abundant proof that
intimidation of the worst kind has been
employed in the South for political pur-
poses. The subcommittee heard but one
side of the case, and that the conservative
side. BY some means yet to be explained
they were brought under the influence OF
the leading conservatives, so that the COM
mittee were led to view things through
conservative eyes, and obtained scarcely
glimpse of the real situation. We can
imagine how this might have been done,
how good-natured men might have been
deceived by the artfuness of the White
League chiefs, and the subcommittee
were undoubtedly SO deceived. We have
NO doubt that they represented matters in
Louisiana as they appeared to them. We
do not believe they intended to make
false statement, but they were deceived
themselves, and so their report was de-
ceptive document. This explanation does
not however exonerate the committee.
They should not have permitted them
selves to be cheated They should have
investigated thoroughly and impartially,
heard patiently and fully both sides, and
then have decided justly in regard to the
CASE They had an important trust COM
mitted to them and they should have dis
charged it with their eyes open and ac-
cording to the best Of their ability, wheth-
or their decision pleased the White League
or not. %
In this article our purpose is simply to
call attention to the report which we find
in the Tribune of Saturday Of the cross
examination OF the editor of a conservative
paper in Louisiana, by the Congressional
Committee at New Orleans. The Tribune
report says: i
t NEW ORLEANS, Feb. SIN the cross examina
ion of Mr.. Hunter, editor of the Caucasian, be
fore the Congressional Committee yesterday, Mr.
Frye read several letters from that paper, and
asked the witness if such extreme ideas were his
opinions, and he replied in the affirmative. Ore
Of the articles called President Grant an infamous
dunkard and knave. Another item could be con-
strued directly into revolutionary advice. 1t as
serted that NO defeated republican should eveI
take his seat in Rapides Parish. Witness said
Ny associate editor participated In the Grant Par
ish massacre. The republican newspaper in
Rapides was mobbed, and the material destroyed;
the persons who did it were employees ola demo-
cratic newspaper. My father, r. 7. Hunter, is a
Last Ditch democrat The letter now produced,
stating that there was intimidation of men in
Rapides Parish at the election, is in the handwri-
ting Of r. A. Hunter. He being present and
stating that the letter private and not intend
Cd for publication, Mr.. Frye withdrew it, To
Mr.. Hosr-We were prepared with force if it was
necessary to seat our candidates. Ifhe police had
mot interfered we should have left the members TO
settle it themselves. If the police had interfered
and the United States troops had not been present
there would have been somebody hurt on the Ath
Of January. / was prepared myself to come down
with ten or twelve armed men to protect our men,
bers in their rights as we considered them; l had
been through the war and for myself could hold
my own; SO colored men were killed at Colfax and
two white men died; the Caucasian praised the
men who took part in the Cofax massacre; ap'
proved of it as most of our people did; my paper
counssled resistance to the United States troops in
. certain emergency; had not the Colfax affair
ended - it did not less than 1000 niggers would
have been killed later.
This conservative editor having been
brought face to face with the files of his
own newspaper felt compelled to acknowl-
edge the truth, and his testimony goes to
confirm all that General Sheridan said OF
the condition of the South. Our readers
who look at this mans testimony will find
that which viii convince them of the bar
barity practised in the South towards the
colored people. Nobody at the North has
accused the democrats OF Louisiana of any
worse crimes in their efforts 10 bully and
cheat the republicans out Of their rights
than are confessed by this conservative
witness. lie knew all about the massa-
ores that had taken place, was armed and
equipped to take part in fight on the 4th
of January last, and seemed to think ii
was all right. Will the maligners of Lit
tie Phil" take notice OF this testimony.
TIE CIVIL RIGHTS ELL.