The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-07
NEW ORLEANS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1875.

ANA O1tA1LkA1VO9 l. IL y IL
appeared shortly thereafter in the parishes o
st. Landry and St. Mary parishes. 1t theI
spread throughout the State. Everything
was quiet up to June, when witness went t.
Washington. Left Washington on the It'll
Of June. Up to July no city was more quie
than New Orleans. About that time pub
LEGATION in the Picayuae appeared, purportine
to disclose secret organization known as the
Black League.
Owing to the strong feeling engendered by
this article the Metropolitan Brigade did moi
parade as usual on the Fourth of July. The
disclosures as regards the Black League were
published on the LIST of July. This was Ger
tainly without foundation in fact. Regard
ing the assertions which appeared in the
papers that the State Government was send
ing arms to the country to arm the negroes,
witness denied; that the only guns sent were
to the regularly organized militia in 1873.
The number sent was about three hundred
in all.
Has taken the pains to ascertain whether
any arms were privately shipped to negroes in
the country parishes, and found no well
authenticated instance save one, when few
old muskets were sent to Grant parish subse-
quent to the Colfax affair. Does not doubt
that many people believed conscientiously
that there existed q Black League, and al
though not the case, it was taken as pretext
upon which to form the White League to
overthrow what was called African supremacy
in the State.
In the Baton Rouge Democratic Conven-
ton Mr.. Mari advocated the over throw of
the State government. "Mr., rather Col. Nc
Emery" advocated the driving out, and even
the killing of the authorities of the State.
Referred to the speeches made by Mari, Ellis
and others at Varieties Theatre, and said he
could produce from them some choice ex-
tracts.
Subsequent to the speeches, arms were i'm
ported for the use of the White League; large
quantities came from Baltimore and other
cities. Some of these arms were consigned
To MIR. Olivier, on Canal street. Mr.. o. as
signed, voluntarily, a consignment of arms to
the police, the said arms being on board the
steamer Mississippi The arms belonged to
q certain White League club, the name Of
which witness did not care to disclose, because
it had been confded to him by member
thereof 1t was the intention of the League
on the 14th of September to go down to the
Mississippi and take possession of the arms
1t is not likely that the police would have
been found under arms that day, had not an
infamatory appeal been made to the citizens
reciting that private arms had been seized
This produced the collision. A committee
was appointed to confer with witness, asking
him to abdicate. Witness declined to confer,
or hold any communication whatever with
them. Thereafter it was advised at the meet
ing that all clubs and citizens should repair
to their homes andrendezvous, and arm them
selves.
Told Gen. Longstreet and Badger they
should use their own discretion as to the dis
position of the local forces metropolitan
Police Brigade). Mentioned the collision and
the result, specifying that nearly q hundred
men were killed.
Produced documentary evidence to show
the number of arms stolen, as he claimed,
from the arsenals. Does not think that it was
the intention of the League, before the fight
on the fourteenth, to overthrow the State
Government; but the result OF the collision
determined that it was the intention of the
League, however, to accomplish the over
throw of the Government before the election
Of November. Asserted that after the resto-
ration of the State Government, he had au-
thentic information that a secret organization
was formed, having for its object the assassi-
nation of the President of the United States. |
These parties were to, or did rendezvous at
Baltimore, for the execution of their object |
Being closely cross-questioned relative to
to this organization Of assassins, by Messrs.
Zacharie and Fenner, ultimately advanced
the conclusion that the organization did not
have much foundation in fact HE knew,
and realized before he concluded that others
present knew, the committee included, that
the story was fabrication which had its orr
gin in his own fertile imagination.] Thinks
the registration passed off generally through
the State very quietly. The registration was
very large, and in THU city the vote was
okl>a IA al
the Union.
The law under which this Returning Board
was organized was passed on the Goth of No
vember, 1872; explained the power of the |
board, asserting that it actually made the |
returns He does not think that the law is as |
it should be- and denounced it in the Senate |
during Warmoth's administration; denied that |
he ever conferred with the Returning Board, |
or rather the Republican members thereof
acknowledged that he had conferred with An |
derson about the st. Helena returns, when it |
was charged that ensures had been made on |
the said papers.
Does not think that the association whose |
object was the assassination of the President, |
was formed in the White League
Thinks it was composed ofignorant persons |
outside of the League.
Arms were sent to Lafourche. Madison and |
Catahoula parishes to be used by the regular |
ly organized militia All this was in strict |
conformity to law.
Never heard that private arms were taken
from citizens on the streets.
Was asked by Mr.. Foster if Gen. Badger or
Gen. Longstreet ordered the crowd on the |
levee to dispense?
Kellogg said he did not know, but hes an
idea that Badger did SO.
Dibble made long statement to prove that
all forms of the law were complied with as
far as ordering the crowd to dispense under
the riot act.
Mr.. Phelps withdrew before the conclusion
Of Kelloggs statement, having to leave in or
der to take the p. M. train on the Mobile |
road for Washington. Mr.. Foster remained
and listened to the conclusion, as he was not