Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-01-01
What James Lewis. COl0red, Has
to Say About It-Witnessses
from Rapides Parish
Conflicting les.
tim0ny.
A Member OF the Returning
Board Makes Statement
The negroes and the
Whites -Intimida-
ti0D and Elec-
zion.

NEW ORLEANS, December 3l.-At a
quarter pas eleven o'clock the con-
gressiOnal committee reassembled in the
room OF the Uuited States circuit court,
large number of spectators being pres
ent. The first witness called was Gen.
ersl +. n. Ogden, who said: am com
msnding officer of the White League in
the city; the object aud purposes OF the
White League are clearly defined in
their constitution. The constitution
was here submitted and rsad] Our or
gGuizstion is simply for defensive pur-
poses; the condition of affairs in LOuisi-
ana called foe such an organization; it
was established in July, 1874; we called
it the White League because we could
only rely upon the white people ia our
condition; with political offices we have
nothing to do; in the city of New Or
leans our roll will call from twenty-five
hundred to twenty-e eight hundred men;
| have organized out of these two regi-
ments of infantry and one OF artillery;
we have officers for these regiments;
Governor Penn authorized the men to
organize the militia when he was acting
governor; I was under Governor Penn's
orders on the fourteenth of September;
some of the organizations now are
armed; can'tsay how much, as l have
not received my reports; we have no ar
tillery only what We made ourselves for
the fourteenth of September; some of
the arms captured on the f. urteenth of
September Were captured by parties out
side of my com mand; those Immediately
under my command took none OF the
captured guns; some of these outside
parties who took the guns have since re-
ported and claim TO be members of the
White League L don't know the strength
pf the League in the parishes.
To Mr. Pnelps-Immediatel on the
organization OF the Lesgue, it assumed
military character; We had no armOry;
the guns held by the members of the
Crescent ity league weIe obtained by
themselves; we have had very irregular
meetings since the fourteenth of Sep
tembCr; We have other companies who,
| see, meet often; Issued no orders since
the fourteenth of september regarding
drill; the Off ;ers of the company attend
70 that; sometimes was present q drill;
we have no armOries that | know OF;
the Leagues have not met lately for dis
custom; the last meeting was held about
two weeks ago; then called a meetirg G
of the Crescent City White League club:
the meeting was to get funds to pay the
expenses of process on held after the
election; we also passed resolutions Of
non interference with the returning
board; this club was really only a club
of the League organization; our club has,
taken no political steps since the four
teenth of SeptemO Der; we passed no res
UlutiOns limiting to any member to dis
charge a negro who voted the Republi-
can ticket; we had no pledge that any
body should vote any particular ticket;
before the election Il summoned
my stan and al few other
city on the second of Nfvember. di-
vIded my command int0three divisions,
one under command ofsColonel Behan,
another under Colonel Giynn and
third under Major :. They were
to place fifteen men nsar each poll to
prevent disturbances. II did this be-
Cause / was told sthat measures
would be taken ito create
quarrel. Leagues in dther parts of the
State are not under smy command,
though believe they could obey me il
| issned orders. There, is no central or
Federal Organization; believe League
existed in one of . the northern
parishes of the State before New Or
leans l don't know tkat any RepUbi-
can is q member of Ou9 club. A gentle
man who was in the Federal army fell
in with us on the fourt zenith of Septem-
ber. New Orleans is pOt as prosperous
in business as heretofore. The decline
of prosperity in New Orleans is owing to
our administration. Some of our trade
with Texas has been taken away by ST.
Louis; L don't know whether the loss of
our Texas trade is the cause of the de-
cline. My men informed me that many
colnred men voted the Conservative
ticket at the last election; many colored
men came to me for protection from the
after the election, and /
gave it to them.
To Mr.. POtter-I put out men on
day to prevent disturbances, as
of the kind would be con-
st'ued into intimidation. The organi-
zation grew out of the condition Of cur
affAirs here; our people were in terror Of
the Metropolitan police, who committed
Outrages, and Were sent out into the par
ishes to execute orders of usurpation;
the Metropolitan brigade was armed;
they turned out on the streets and drilled
WIN arms lHeI0 "HS negro DlllLlAt i
heard there was black league but never
saw it.
To Mr.. Foster-On the fourteenth of
we went out on the streets to
get arms belonging to US that were on
board ship. The police were on the
levee, and as we were going to get the
arms l was informed OF the advance of
the police, and then formed my line of
battle. The White League was not an
for the purpase Of helping
the D-mHcratic party; we helped both
parties in preserving the peace; the
meeting held that day demanded the
sbdicstiOn Of the governor; was sct-
ing concert with the people; one of
the puTp ses Of the organization on the
morning OF the fourteenth was to get
these arms; the League did not know my
purposes: / acted not with the commit.