New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-04
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
MoNcuRE AND MARI TO THE FRONT
DEMOCRATIC DAY

WUVbVnI AUU WHnh W JnC tnUV
A DEMOCRATIC DAY
All the members of the committee as
sembled early and proceeded with the hear
ing, Mr. Steers being recalled at the reques,
| Of Mr.. Marshall.
shatta is about sixty miles from Shreve
port; the massacre occurred, about thirty
miles from there; there were rumors Of
disorder from various sources; the great
dissatisfaction was with an appropriation Of
$685. 600 for q Jail; the contract was cOnsid.
cred job and subsequently rescinded; the
| people objected to an appropriation fol
streets. but raised $36. 900 to improve them.
| To Mr.. Frye-Am conservative Repub
lioan; didn't vote in 1870; voted Fusion
ticket in 1879, for Greeley; didn't know il
| was the Democratic ticket; voted white
| mans ticket in 1874; don't consider it is
| exactly opposite to Republican; didn't say
| was Republican,; vote with what consider
| the best portion of the Republican party;
never heard of Republicans arlning body
| of $500 men and committing fifty murders;
never voted for Grant; voted for Lincoln in
| 1860; lived in Wisconsin then; the bonds
/ for railroad were Issued at the. request of
| the white elelnent-by general consent.
J. c. Moncure-To Mr.. Marshall: Resides
in Shreveport since 1861; native OF Virginia
was candidate for State Treasurer at last
election; the negroes soon after recOnstruc-
| tion were organized in solid body, not in
the best intereets Of the State, but of
strangers among US, whom we did not be-
ocratic candidate for the Legislature in
1870; there was fair canvass and election;
addressed myself particularly to the ne.
grOes; made an impression on them; our
opponents dissipated these Impressions by
private meetings, inducing them to believe
we were not sincere and intended to deceive
and oppress them; they became convinced
tho people of Louisiana we're not their
friends; was elected because of division
among Republicans; in 1872 the new phase
was the fusion of parties; there were plum
deriDg schemes in the Legislatures of 1871
and 1872; one was the State House scheme
to raise $500, 900 annually for ten years; the
limit of the debt having been reached, we
defeated that, some Republicans aiding;
don't think Louisiana has been ruled by
Republicans; my war is not against Re-
publicans, but against dishonesty and mis-
rule; used the adoption of Greeley by the
an evidence of honesty; was reelected in
1872, but never reaped any advantage from
it; there was cOl0red man on the State
ticket and on the parish ticket; I was q
Democrat; Mr.. George L. Smith, white
Republican, and j. Sella Martin, colored
Republican, were on the ticket; in 1874,
having tried all other means to divide
parties not by color, but to induce white
people and colored people to divide them
selves on great political issues. we
endesvored to unite all white people;
it was never designed that any
rights Of the negroes should be infringed;
We believed more negroes could be induced
to work with us by making no appeal but
announcing that We would elect none but
competent white men to Office; believe
the campaign was an honest ard fair one,
and the result accomplished at the polls
was honestly obtained; the campaign was
active and earnest; free from violence; the
Republicans were organized; Lieutenant
Governor Antoine addressed the people;
heard his address; the relations between
the races were as kindly as they could be
until the election came on, when these
people found it necessary to excite them;
We live on infinitely more friendly terms
with the colored people than the white
sp0neibility tor their protection should be
placed upon us and they would be better
protected than they are under the govern
ment which We did not choose; if the COL
Ored people believe the appeals that they
will be reduced to slavery or deprived OF
their right of citizenship they are justified
in banding together. the Conservative ele-
ment has no intention of injuring them;
knows of no intimidation unless the action
Of men in Shreveport relative to employment
may be considered 50; there was every Op-
pOrtunity at the polls in Shreveport for any
one to vote as he pleased; one poll was en-
tirely controlled by negroes, hardly q
white man being around it: about 500
voted the Democrati ticket Witness gave
special instances within his :knowledge.]
there has always been dissatisfaction re-
gsrding schools; it was reported that $50 900
was in the treasury in 1872 of school fund; |
no one knows what has become of it; there |
was NO school open at the time of election,
and complaint was made; don't believe |
there was single voter who feared to cast |
HE vote for Republicans; knows one colored |
man who always voted the Democratic |
ticket, but had to refrain from voting in |
1874 because he would lose standing with !
his race; knows no fact of bribery in legis. |
lation, but is we'll satisfied money was used |
for certain schemes; learned that lots had |
been distributed among the mem bers in the
State House scheme; knows nothing of the
character OF the men pushing such schemee;
saw nothing anywhere in the election to
influence colored people; when
.r0ops went to C0ushatta the people were
running away; almost all had
eft to avoid arrest; the whole community
vas disorganized; we told them not to avoid
Irrest; there we're large numbers of people
q the woods; raw the effect Of troops at
SatchitOches; considered it . very intimi-
lating one; there has always been purpose
o inf0rce the law against white people as
|gaint cOl0red, except in o case of great
outrage; it q cOlOred man should commit q
ape on q white woman and be shot down,
he public would not be impressed particu-
srly.
To Mr.. Hoar-If q virtuous colored
Voman were raped by white man, he
h0uld receive the same treatment and the
would have the Same feelings;
nows many virtuOus colored women wSo
1ould have tho same protection as q white
roman.
To Mr.. Marshall-The colored women are
OF generally virtuous; the contracts of
olored mon are protected 40 we'll as white;
0thing. IA statement of h0micides in
;Addo parish certified by the district attor-
ey was handed witness, who believed it
Orrect.l We are within eighteen miles Of
he Texas line and it is easy for criminals
, escape; don't know Of any political muir
era; Caesar Hamilton killed white man, |
'as sent to the Penitentiary; was pardoned
Y Governor Kellogg, and soon after killed
colored man; don't know that he was one
{ the jurymen. A jury panel generally
rs majority Of negroes; the grand jury
lways has some on it; the list is drawn from
,gistered voters mixed up in box, by the |
ldge, clerk and sheriff; the average would
Q the ratio OF the proportion of the races;
10 parish vote was about 300, registration
bout 400; not much difference between
'rmer years; knows Of no armed organiza-
on; none called White League; there are
olitical organ stions.
10 Mr.. HOar-As rule the members
the Democratic party upheld slavery |