The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-31

the Governor can pardon persons who are con-
victed OF contempt
To Mr.. MarrIHad no information, before the
Colfax affair occurred, that the negroes had
| taken the town and were holding it.
| committee from Grant parish waited on wit
ness, and said that if Nash was appointed
| Sheriff, the people would be satisfied. The CON-
mittee advised witness that there was danger OF
| a disturbance. Don't remember reading in the
| Republican, Of April, 1872 announcements that
the colored people were well armed and that
| they would fight in certain events.
Knew that trouble brewing in the parish.
Received letter from Col. Hunter, in which was
given the disturbed condition there. it was i'm
possible to send force there to prevent the
t1ct which occurred. The disturbed condition Of
affairs here did not allow Of the sending of such
assistance The steamboats, would not have
given transportation to such assistance Two
officers of the militia We're sent there, but az
rived too late. Ward, Of Grant parish, was com.
mlssloned by witness as militia officer, but he
was not furnished arms.
There was preconcerted plan to prevent wit
ness sending assistance to Colfax. Witness was
systematically deceived on the one hand, and
every obstacle thrown in his way on the other, to
prevent assistance reaching Colfax. Had at the
time about 400 or 500 Metropolitans at his dis
posal. The force sent to st. Martinsville were
numbered about one hundred, with one Napo-
leon gun. Never admitted 1T any time that Penn
was elected Lietenant Governor over Antoine and
that Lusher was elected Superintendent of Public
Education over Brown. Might have, in some
conversation, left such an impression, but did
not distinctly say So
Ta Mr.. Marshall Thinks that the legislation
was as bad before the war as it has been since.
Before the war the defalcations of tax-collectors
simply startling. The debt at certain pc
RODS before the war sometimes large,
amounting sometimes to over twenty millions.
The debt, when Warmoth took charge of the ad-
mlnistration, was about ten millions. 1t was
during his time largely increased but has since
been reduced, and is now $23, 1913, 407 80. The
taxable property fthe State is two hundred mil
lions.
The assessments are extremely low. There is
more business here to-day than there has been
in twenty years, and there is also more money.
There is no doubt that the system of assessment
is injurious and should be abolished. Witness
has endeavored to have the system abolished,
but has, up to this time, failed. There may be
property here that VIII not rent for more than
enough to pay the rent and insurance. The
delinquent tax list in this State amounts to nine
million dollars. The witness attributes nearly
all the onerous laws, and the debt that now bur
dens the people, to the Warmoth administra-
tion.
As general thing the carpet-baggers OF the
State did not, as a rue, di-suade the coored
people from favOring the unltication movement
Witness urged its adoption. 1t is possible the
of the State would rely more upon the
Conservatives had they not been estranged by
certain legislative measures passed soon after
the war, looking to subyersion of certain OF
their rights There is no doubt but that the
military maintained the present administration
in power after the order issued from the U. s.
Circuit Court. Did for months maintain his gov
eminent without the assistance of the M litarv.
If the military were withdrawn it Is quite like iy
the administration would be overthrown.
Believes that the impression that the admins
tration is usurpation, has something TO do with
the turmoil now existing in the State Let Con.
gress say Mr.. McEnery was Governor and witness
would Immediately retire. If Congress had
acted there would now have been no trouble
here. The funding scheme was Endorsed by the
Chamber of Commerce and a committee Of the
most prominent citizens. The witness congratu-
lated himself upon having secured limitation of
the State debt and limit to taxation.
Mr.. Marshall said that it had been proven to
the committee that in the parishes the law of
limitation had been so construed that it has no
practical effect.
Mr.. Marshall referred to the system of levying
what is termed, in the parishes, judgment tax. |
To question from MIR. Frye, the witness re- |
piled that the Funding Board had not funded ille-
gal obligations to the. amount Of ten millions as
alleged.
Witness explained to Mr.. Frye all about the |
Funding Board, what it could do and what it |
couldn't |
The importing business Of New Orleans has |
the cause OF which is to be attributed |
to the difficulties at the mouth of the river the
OF railroads leading to interior ci-
ties, etc. The volume of trade here is now as
Western trade is larger.
The monopolies are the Slaughter House, the |
Jas Works, the Water-Works, the Levee, the
Lottery and the Sanitary companies.
The bill creating the savings bank monopoly Of |
Shreveport was approved by witness at the in
stance of the Lieutenant Governor and Congress
nan Smith. Thinks prominent Democrats were
Imong the incorporators OF the bill. Possibly
Mr.. Leonard was one of the said incorporators.
The witness mentioned number of parishes
ri ba turbufcnk- Witness
las been called to an organization known as the
White League. In those parishes where the
League exists there is much turbulence.
The League is supported by contributions |
There was one matter before the other committee
o which witness had no oppor unity of replying,
md that was the charge that he had contributed
me thousand dollars from the public funds to the
shreveport sufferers. The money, he SAID, was
rom his own pocket. There is clause in the reg
stration law prohibiting the courts from inter
ering IN registration affairs. There is also
aw prohibiting courts from interfering in the
natter Of assessments but 1t is generally held
lull and void.
ID. j. VI. 4. Jewett.
Is United States Commissioner for the District
Il Louisiana. Resides in Jackson parish. Has
wed in Louisiana four years, and during that
ime has circulated in North Louisiana extern
lively in private and public capacity. Since
lis residence there system OF organized vio
ence for political purposes has never been
bsent Frauds in the conduct of elections is
hargeable to the white people, or rather Demo-
rats. Received 1850 attidavits that the votes of
hat many Republicans had not been counted in
he election of 1872, and that they had been
ounted for the Democratic party. {
Witness disclosed many frauds Of this charac-
Or, whereafer it was not healthy for him to live
mere. He then gave lengthy narrative, where
! he made known the difficulty, Republican Off
als himself included, have always had to hold t
heir positions. He related the fact of his urg-
lg the presence Of United States troops, and
at they were furnished. The Marshal. one of
10 most efficient in the Stare, went forth to make
rests, and did make several A great many of
le white men Of the country took to the woods, :
nd formed camps, in which it would have been
angerous to attack. These men would have t
ought United States troops.
If no troops had been in the country witness !
oubts if there would have been Republican :
1te cast west of the Ouachita River. Among I
le negroes in that section there existed univer-
ii terror. The Greens Of Lincoln are wealthy, +
.telligent and honest. The list of murders, Of
potical character since 1853 are as follows |