New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-09
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
MAKING UP THE RECORD
What the President Of a Colored
Democratic Club Knows.
Fifteenth and Last Days Session

There was Az early and full attendant
of the committee yesterday, and the test
mony was concluded On the part Of tn
Conservative side.
James Buckner-I have resided in Ne,
Orleans thirty-fve years; was one of tn
first 10 sign my name for White League
it was for self-prOtectiOn; there had beel
Outrages and robberies, and ladies at HON
were often insulted and assaulted on tn
streets; we at first thought to patrol tn
city but did not DO it; there were man,
robberies in the Fourth District; our meet
ings were held with open doors; the League
was first organized in june, 1874; it was no
political organization; we had {
platform and by laws printed; think the
League had great moral effect; We nevel
intended to come in conflict with the police
the police seized some boxes OF our arms
and we learned that they intended to seize
more; l know by personal observation thai
the negroes were armlng; colOred clut
applied to us for protection against the
Radicals; we hired attorneys to defend some
who had been arrested, and some member
of one colored club were beaten
witnessed the las: election here;
visited nearly all the polls above
Canal street, and saw no intimidation;
did not learn OF any intention to resist the
| United States troops: business is very much
| depressed, and real estate is without sale;
money can hardly be procured on real
property; people are unable to pay their
taxes; do not think the former board of as
| SCISSORS was honest; brokers seemed to have
| too much to do about the assessments; sold
| piece Of property because could not pay
! the taxes; it was assessed for $1,000, and
sold it for $500; know Of some cOlored men
who voted the Conservative ticket; know
nothing of Ostracsm here; if man is honest
it does not matter what political opinions
he holds.
To Mr.. Hoar-The arms the White League
procured were Belgian muskets; We con-
sideIed ourselves a military organizations
we did not consider ourselves police, but
did not think 1t incumbent to obey all
orders the League il still in existence; we
began to drill to preserve the peace,
and stopped for the same purpose;
our drilling caused excitement; know
OF a Black League; called it White
League, because, for myself, did not
like to come in contact with negroes; on
the fourteenth of September the overthrow
ing of the government was in the regular
order Of things; we marched down the levee
TO get property that belonged to us, and
that mere fact overthrow the State govern
ment: nobody objected Or resisted; We
did not discuss political affairs in
White League clubs, except national poll
tics; there were some young men in humble
circumstances; most of them were of the
best families, but there were some l would
net associate with; would sit at table with
any white man, but never did with a color
ed man.
To Mr.. Wheeler think the taking
possession OF the State government was an
afterthought.
To Mr.. Frye-We were under arms at
eight O'Clock September II; took possession
Of State House Tuesday; was on General
Ogdens staff: he was commander-inc chief;
there were nine companies originally; re-
ceived orders at about one o'clock to report
az Poydras street: Sunday evening was a:
the association rooms; don't think Burke
or any captains were there; General Ogden
was there and his staff; were there to con-
slider how to get our arms; an attempt at
law had been made TO get the arms from
the police and failed: don't recollect what
court; on the previous seizure there were a
dozen police in charge: the consultation was
for the purpose OF dispensing the police
by calling all the White League together;
700 reported under arms; am of the |
opinion that it required that number Of |
men to take the arms; in my opinion, such |
a case, to require such measures, never |
occurred in any other place, or any other |
time than that one time; don't know of any |
white Republicans except officials and their |
satellites. don't belong to any company; |
my only connection was to carry orders on |
the fourteenth; don't know how many there |
were on the roll; the organization has in |
creased IN numbers; never had any cOmnu-
nication with White League ont of the
State; don't think it is strong enough to
take possession Of New Orleans at ore
hours notice; can't say how many would
meet at Clay etatue II General Ogden
ordered it; would not carry the order unless
was satisfied it was for virtuOus pur-
pose; no one would come unless it was
it was for a virtuous purpose:
hey wcnld assemble at Exposition Hall if
called upon, but not armed; the money to
support tie League is from voluntary |
asked for from the merchants;
about $1,000 has been received; there are
many who have no pistols, and so reported
when it was desired to know how many
here were: the ammunition was sent to the |
nen OF the White League by the ladies,
heir mothers and sisters, and divided
lmong them; the organization was peace
.ble one till then; We have no ammunition
low; don't regard it as in very defenseless
condition; the League was organized to
,rotect the white people because the police
hey were taxed for did not do it; don't
Inow who bought the arms in New York;
ve received no money from the North; no
ne Of the organization took any arms from
he State House; have never seen any; |
10 orders have been issued to report the
tate OF the organizations; l gave advise to
General Ogden TO call all the League out
nd how to proceed. ! did not give any |
riders TO Kill any one or to fire, but did for
he placing of a gun; pointed at body of
gen; they were not citizens of New Orleans,
ut police: we did not regard them as
itzens, but outlaws opposed to citizens |
lghts: the cannon was bought from Mr..
chwartz; did not hear any officer giving
Nv order to fire; knew what it was placed
here for; General Ogden was present; the
Metropolitan Police parade with cannon
nd muskets; they have pistols on their
eats; the white men who prevented an
rress last night were not White Leaguere;
hey would have assisted an officer under $
lch circumstances; General Longstreet is
stracised by everybody; don't know that =
[r. Oglesby is. OF that families have been 6
,Guested TO ostracise him; We had no |
yreement to kill any one who opposed I
); We marched down the levee. !
le police fired on us and we returned | !
le fire; the organization 1s the same as r
light be in Massachusetts; never heard of {
target company with muskets, ammuni- G
on and cannon marching down the streets a
id firing on any one who oppose them; r
would &c right for the colored men to | +
I've sn organization, armed with cannon. y
c.; We would not interfere with them if v
ev were only intending TO take their own | Y
operty, but would thank our stars then i,
Q had had foresight enough to form. an e
ganization opposed to them; gave s 100
$500 to the White League cheeriully; b
id $1,000 taxes under protest; the taxes u
We been reduced; never supported War a
9TH; always considered McEnery Governor 7
d so does the White League: don't know D
at Warmoth cheated Kellogg out Of his r,
,jority; know OF the fusion with Wa1moth
{ not of the bargain to turn over tho 8,
.ctinn machinery in con sidarafiOn of an | 4