Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-14

I
2 number Of negroes we're killed, the Judg
states that most Of those who were kille
were taken prisoners. Fifteen OF sixtee
Of the blacks had lifted the boards an
taken refuge under the floor Of the court
house. They we're all captured Abou
thirty-seven men were taken prisoners; th
number is not definitely fixed. They Wer
kept under guard until dark, when the
were led out two by three and shot. Mos
Of the men were shot to death; few wer
wounded, not mortally, and by pretendin,
to be dead, were Afterwards, during thl
night, able to make their escape. Anon,
them was the Levi Nelson named in the IN
dietment. The dead bodies Of the negroes
killed In this affair, were left unburied til
Tuesday, April Is, when they were burie,
by Deputy Marshal and an officer o
the militia from New Orleans. These per
sons found iifty-nine dead bodies. Thel
Showed pistol shot wounds, the great ma
jOrity in the heart, and most Of them il
the back Of the head. In addition 70 the
dead found, some charred remains Of dead
bOdiers were discovered near the court
house. Six dead BODIES found under 4
warehouse, all shot in the heart but one Ol
Two, who were shot in the breast. The only
white men Injured from the beginning OF
these troubles to their close, were HadnOt
and Harris. The eOurt-heuse and its con
tents were entirely consumed. There is
no evidence that anyone in the crowd Of
whites bore any lawful warrant for the ar
rest Of any blacks. There Is no evidence that
either Nash or COzabOl after the affair ever
demanded the Office to which they had set
up claim. But Register continued to act
as Parish Judge. These are the fa-ts in
this case as l understand them to be ad-
mltted. To hold the people Of Louisiana
in general responsible for these atrocities
would not be fair. But it is a lamentable
fact that insulIerable ObstructiOns were
thrown in the way Of Furnishing these mUr-
derers, and the sO-called Conservative pa
pens Of The State not only justified the mas
sacre, but denounced as Federal tyranny
and despotlsm the attempt Of the United
States officers TO bring them to justice.
Fierce denunciatiOns ring through the
country about officers interfering in said
election matters in Louisiana, while
every one of the COlfax miscreants
goes unWhipped Of justice, and no way can
be found in this bOasted land of ciViliza-
ton and christianity, to punish the perpe-
traitors Of this bloody and mOnstrous crime
Not unlike this was the massacre in Au-
gust last. Several Northern young men Of
capital and enterprise had started the little
and fourishing town of COushatta. Some
Of them were Republicans and Ofice-hOld-
ers under kellogg. They were, therefore,
doomed to death. Six Of them were seized
and carried away from their homes and
murdered in cold blood. No one has been
punished, and the Conservative press Of
the State denounced all efforts to that
end, and boldly justified the crime.
Many murders Of a like character have
been committed in individual cases,
which cannot here be detailed. For exam
pie, I. 5. Crafford, Judge Of the parish, and
the District Attorney Of the Twelfth Judi
cial District Of the State, on their way to
court, were shot from their horses by men
in ambush on the Sth Of October, 1873, and
the wife Of the former, in a communication
10 the Department Of Justice, tells a pitiful
tale Of the persecution of her husband be-
cause he was a Union man, and Of the
efforts made TO seiz5 those who had CON-
mitted a crime which, to use her language,
left two widows and nine orphans desti-
.ute. To say that the murder Of a negro
0r a white Republican, is not consider |
ID a crime In Louisiana, would !
be unjust to a great part of the !
people, but il is true that a great number Of |
such murders have been committed, and no |
)ne has been punished therefor, and mani |
estly the spirit Of hatred and violence is |
stronger than the law.
Representations were made 70 me that |
~
and that there was no danger |
d public disturbances if they were taken |
away. Consequently, early in last sum-
nsf the troops were withdrawn from the |
State, with the exception Of small garri- |
iOn at New Orleans barracks. Il was |
stated that comparative state Of qUiet |
lad supervened, and that political |
excitement as 70 Louisiana affairs seemed |
o be dying out, but the November election |
gas approaching, and il was necessary for |
)aTty purposes that the flame should be |
'elighted. Accordingly on the 18th Of |
ID. B. Penn, claiming that he |
vas elected Lieutenant Governor in 1872, |
ssued an infammatOTy proclamation cali |
nc upon the militia Of the State to arm,
!ssemble and to drive out the usurpers, as |
be designated the officers Of the State. The |
White Leagues, armed and ready for
he conflict, promptly responded. On |
he same day the GOyernOr
made a formal requisitiOn upon me, in |
pursuance Of the act Of 1875, and section |
/, article Of the Constitution, to aid in |
domestic violence. On the /
lext day ! issued my proclamation COM
handing the insurgents 70 disperse within ]
i've days from the date thereof, but before |
he proclamation was published in New /
orleans, the organized and armed fOlces
Usurping government, had /
AIKEN fOrcible possession Of the State
lOuse and temporarily subverted the gov
rnment. Twenty or more people were
Tiled, including a number Of the police
f the city. The streets Of the city were
tanned with blood. All that was desired
n the way Of excitement had been ac-
Omplished. And in view Of the steps
AIKEN 10 repreSs it, the revolution was
apparently, though it is believed not
eally, abandoned, and the cry Of Fed
raj usurpatiOn and tyranny in Louisiana
vas renewed with redOubled energy.
troops had been sent to the State un-
er the requisitiOn Of the Governor, as
ther disturbances seemed imminent. They
7ere allowed to remain there to render the
Executive such AID as might become
ecessary to enforce the laws of the
tate, and repress the continued violence
Ihich seemed inevitable the moment
'ederal support should be withdrawn.
'riOr to and with a view to the late
lection in Louisiana. white men
themselves together in
rmed bodies called White Leagues,
nd at the same time threats were made
\ the journals Of the State, that the cleo
on should be carried against the Repub-
cans at all hazards, which, very naturally,
realty alarmed the cOlOned voters.
By section Of the act Of Feb. 2S, 1871,
is made the duty of United States Mar
lals and their deputies, at polls where
Otes are cast for Representatives in Con
ress, to keep order and prevent any viola
Ons Of the sO-Called enforcement act, and
her ofienses against the laws Of the |
nited States, and, upon a requisitiOn Of
le Marshal Of Louisiana, and in view Of
med organization and pOrtentOus circum-
ances, / caused detachments of troops TO
e stationed in various localities in the
tate, to aid him in the performance Of his
hcial duties.
That there was intimidation Of Republic
an voters at the election, notwithstanding
MS precaution, admits Of no doubt. The
blowing are specimens Of the means
sed: On the l4th Of October, eighty
ersons sigued and published the follow
lg at Shreveport:
ave, the undersigned, merchants Of the
ity of Shreveport, in obedience tOa request
{ the Shreveport Campaign Club, agree 70