Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-25
LOUISIANA.

Shreveport, January %. We the undersigned
brethren residents of Shreveport, Louisiana, have
read with inexpressible astonshment, the state
ments made by Gen. Merrill and others, represent.
ing this community in condition of anarchy and
its people lawless and defiant stating that in this
vicinity there are not less than $50 political Grim
inals, that the freedmen are systematically NAL
treated and cheated Of their earning, and that
1000 have been driven from their homes in penu-
ry. We most solemnly assert that all such state
ments are baseless Misrepresentation and absurdly
false. There is no lawessness here or in this vi
cinity that has come to our knowledge. The only
disorder we have known was made by this militia,
slanderer just before election, by sending his SOL
ders over the country, arresting unressting citi-
zens for imaginary ofenses, who have not been
been held for trial because there was no evidence
of guilt. If ordinary crimes are not vigorously
punished by our present judicial organization, it
Is through fault of the intelligent part of the
community, who have had no voice in the selec-
to small extent, and mostly if not altogeth
err vagabonds and the viscious If there be any
restitution among the colored people, it is in no
sense from want of remunerative employment.
The relation Of the two races is unusually friend
y, arising doubtless from the fact that at the re-
cent election many colored men voted with the
tax payers for the conservative ticket. We think
the good order here quite remarkable, when VIC
reflect that the parish officials and representatives
who were elected by 600 majority in as orderly an
tlcCtlOu Us ever WltucSScu, uAVt Dccu lOI SCI
ond time cheated of their success by the present
ruling dynasty, and win only add that the state.
ments referred to are so outrageously false and
groundless that they could only have riginated
in a crazy brain, or poorly concealed malice.
S. b. Steere, cotton buyer, New York.
f. L. Denison, cotton buyer, Rhode Island.
T. J, Howard, cotton buyer, Connecticut.
{. W. Brunt merchant, Iowa.
Z. H. Crosby, New York.
D. A. Shapley, planter, New York.
A. E. Wright, planter.
Frank Lewis, boot and shoe dealer, Boston.
New York, January %. A New Orleans special
says the congressional committee y erday re-
solved that the examination of the committee be
confined to the action of the returning board in
connection with the election of 1874; to the ex-
istepce and organization Of the White League; to
the question Of force and intimidation in connec-
ton with the elections and officials in the State Of
louisiana and to the organization of the legisla-
ture on the 4th Of January, 1875, and the proceed
ings connected Herewith.
New Orleans, January 49, The Congressional
Committee of Investigation to-day was confined
to action of the returning board. No new devel-
opments.
The conservative caucus to-day adopted the fol-
lowing, which was read to the Congressional COM
mittee and accepted by the chairman to be taken
under consideration.
Resolved, by this House caucus, composed Of
conservative members returned by the returning
board, and those claiming to have been undoubt-
edy elected, but defrauded by the board-That,
desiring in the interest of afflicted State to
have solution Of our political troubles, and re-
lying on the integrity and fairness of the four
gentlemen, membe.s Of the Congressional COM
mtttee now in New Orleans, and in advance of any
investigation on their part we, as body, hereby
ask them, if the task is not considered too oner-
Gus, to take the returns Of 1874 together with all
fair and reliant testimony, and upon such returns
and evidence declare what members of the legis-
lature were elected