The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-04-17
A. Mass meetings, aud tax payers
meetings.
Q. Did you never read notices IN
there of White League meetings

tent'on white Leasures,' stating tina
q meeting would be held at such an.
such time, signed Genius, Orderl,
Sergeant, and Russell, Captain.
Q. BY the Chairmaa.-Do 20,
know any thing about their drilling
A. They organized a Militia N
there under the McEuery govern,
lnent.
Q. Did they ever drill With arms
A.eNo, the only time ccer saw
them bear arms was OH the eth day
of July, the day tho designations
were demanded. I was standing mex,
to the President of the meeting, afte,
this3 resolution was adopted, that a
Committee of nine was appointed to
wait upon these gentlemen and re-
quest their resignation. l heard the
President say, "Captains of compa
nies;;" then he stopped and said
"You, gentlemen. who have charge
of these men, will get them together
and keep them together. saw five
or six companies. Mey formed right
in the street. They only had pistols,
however.
Q. Were these meetings opened to
the general publici
A. No, only the members, sup
pose.
@. This meeting you spoke Of ;
how did you happen to he there,
A. This was a mass meeting on
the 9th Of July, held in public.
z. Was that held in pursuance to
a call made to tho White Leagues!
A. No, that was before tho White
League was organized.
Q. Have you any knowledge of the
existence Of any military organiza-
ton which met in sscreta
A. The only military organization
I knew of, was tho State Militia un-
der Gov. McEnery.
Q. When was that organized3
A. Just after the 18th of Septem-
Der, when they received instructions
to organize the Militia. Col. Burke
was made Colonel Of the regiment in
Natchitoches, believe.
Q. What effect did the formation
of these companies, or that organiza-
ton have upon the colored popula.
tiOn3
A. Well, sir, I don't know as I
could answer that question.
@. What effect did the expulsion of
the officers have upon the colorsd
population
A. Well, they thought this: If the
leaders of tho party were driven away
and could not Stand the pressure,
they certainly could not.
Q. BY Mr.. Marr.-That is your in
ference I
A. was told so BY three or four
just before the election. They came
to me for advice they could not uu-
derstand all this.
@. BY Mr.. Field.--How did Judge
Myers happen to leave there Z DO
you know whether he was threaten
ed3
A. I don't know. He left three
days before the mass meeting. /
know it was whispered about that
they Intended to ask them to resign.
1t was advocated in the paper, the
N7diMtor. 1t came out 10 an AZ
ticle, that the committee Of seventy
should call meeting to fierce the
resignation Of these officers AID Mr.. |
Myers and Mr.. Beullt left before the
meeting was held.
@. Have they ever been back there
sincei
A. Yes, Boult was back but lie 70.
signed rs Parish Judge.
@. Has Myers ever been able to 60
backi
A. l don't know whether he has |
been. able to 60 back. He has never
been back. | have heard that he
cannot get back. 1t is often spoken
of.
Q. Publicly
A. Yes, the journal advocated
hanging every Republican to lamp.
post.
Q. What paper advocated that I
A. The Peoples indicator.
@. What effect, in your opinion did
All these publications have upon
the colored people in the parish
A. l think it had . tendency to 10. |
t;midate them.
@. So as to prevent them from reg.
istering and votings
A. l know that on the day Of election
several colored mon voted the De-
mocratic ticket, that wanted to vote
tue Republican ticket. Ono was q
member of q club, an officer of Re-
publican club. He came to me and
said, "Now l am compelled to vote
the Democratic ticket" ~ asked
him "why." He said, Ill don't, the
old man-meaning his employer
will just drive me away. l told him,
"Well, you just vote it, your home is
dearer to you than the party and l
think We will have enough without
your VOTE"
Iwould like to state in regard to
the present condition Of tho parish.
The parish a. returned by the con.
sentative Board is Republican. Every
officer elected has been commission
ed and not one of them is now OK.
e.cising tho functions Of his Office.
At the last election two Democrats
Ian for office. There was no oppo.
sitiou to them; and they arc now
seeking to set commissions fro1n the
same Executive that the Democrats
refuse to recognize. Bnt o Republic
can cannot hold Office; and | have
been told repeatedly that q Republi
can never should hold Office in that
parish.
Q. What Democrats were they who