Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-01


tered protest against the five boxes in tn,
parish. There is no secret organization il
hapides. l addressed the eolOred people
by invitation. TWenty-seven cOlored meI
on my plantation voted the Conservatiy,
ticket. There was no intimidation
AFederal officer told me It was the quietes
election Se ever saw. The eOlOred people
voted the Conservative ticket because Of
the inefficiency of the present officials
We promised them protection in all theil
| rights, if We were successful in the cam
/ paign. There is a strong attachment be.
tween the cOlored man and his old master.
About a hundred and fifty white people
and four hundred colored, in the parish, ab-
stained from voting. The Supervisor Of
Registration told me several times that The
election was a fair one.
| @. W. Stafford and John Prescott, OF
| Rapides parish, were examined. Their
testimony substantially cOrrobOrated the
statements Of Capt. Jefries.
A Negro Senator Asserts There was
naturalization.
g. Y. Kelso, Of Rapides parish, was also
before the committee. BE is a cOlored
State Senator. he said there was intimi-
datIon by threats to discharge. They did
not have any Republican meeting IN the
parish on account of the bad feeling against
them, and the fear that they would be
broken up by violence.
The committee then adjourned to meet
at the psTlOr Of the St. Charles Hotel at
SPIN.
Testimony Of 3. Il. FOrman.
After hearing Gen. Ogden's statement,
the committee called B. r. FOrman, a
member of the Returning Board Of 1872,
who replied to the interrogatories substan-
TALLY as follows.
The Metropolitan police were used al
most solely as a political engine. Armed
with Winchester rifles, drilled as soldiers,
instead Of being protection to the citizens
aud their property, they were used for pur-
poses Of intimidation and were guilty OF
frequent acts Of violence for political OBJ
jectS. The force was composed largely of
negroes, and this, with tie Black League
and negro militia, made the condition of
affairs dangerous 20 the white people.
Many hoped that an opportunity
would occur for the overthrow of the
kellogg usurpation, but the subject had
never been discussed or resolved upon
in the White League. Referring to the
great financial depression and pTostration
of business, be said it was the result Of
the high rate Of taxation assessment and
the corruption of the judiciary, thus afford
ing no adequate security or protection to
life and property. The rate of taxation
for the State is S1.4O on the 500 Of valua-
ton, and for the city $ on the 500, max
ing the aggregate $40 per cent, and this
on an assessment often double the value of
or.1 rrar,aro11r- ,ro f1,sr-T
than the property IS worth. The assessors
are appOintees of the Governor, and re-
ceiYe a commission or percentage on the
amount assessed.
The primary cause of all the trouble is
the perpetual interference by the Federal
Government with local concerns, by meant
Of the army and Federal officials in New
Orleans. If the Federal army had not
seized the State-house and controlled the
organization of the Legislature in 1872, the
McEnery government and Conservative
Legislature would have had peace and COM
plete control; if the Federal army had not
demanded the surrender Of the State-hOuse
and public buildings on the 18th of
September, 1874. the McEnery government
would have had complete, undisputed and
peaceaOle control of the State until the end
VI HlAEAA AEAlaA VI tlAAIN1 DEalE anu
fdence would have been restored. All we
wish, all We need, is 10 be allowed to gov
ern ourselves and select our own Legisla-
ture and officers, without interference by
Federal officials, civil or military. We are
fully capable Of self government.
Judge TrImbIe
was the next witness. He SAYS that the
election was perfectly quiet in bis section,
five parishes. He knew Of no
except that produced by the
United States cavalry raiding through the
At the conclusion of Judge Trmble's |
the committee adjourned TO
meet tomorrow at 10 A. NJ, at the Custom |
house.
GEN. Emory
was called and testified as follows:
Il have been commander here for three |
years. | was here before and during the |
election. All my troops were brought here |
before the election" After giving in de- |
all the disposition Of his troops on the day |
IF the election, Gen. Emory said they /
were so placed by order Of |
a superior authority, based on a re-
IuisitiOn from Attorney General Williams. |
He had DO knowledge Of the White
l. eague. His impression was that the |
peace was kept on election day only by the
presence of troops. There were several re-
7ieRs before the election, but they were not |
made 10 affect public sentiment /
when the Committee VIII Get
Through.
The committee will probably get through
n two OF three days, there being a large
number Of persons in the city from the in
error, to attend the meeting of the Legis-
AZURE, all the witnesses wanted eau be
al once.
WaFmOth Justified.
The grand jury to-day, declined to find a
rue bill against ex-GOv. Warmoth.