The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-01-21

The courts we're all broken up in
this district and the District Judge
driven of. In the Parish of Caddo,
prior to the arrival Of the United
States troops, all of the officers at
Shreveport were compelled to abdi-
cate by the White League, which
took possession of the place. Among
those obliged to abdicate were Walsh,
Mayor; Rapers, Sheriff; Wheaton,
Clerk of Court; Durant, Recorder;
and Ferguson and Renfro, Admins
traitors. Two colored men who had
given evidence in regard to the frauds
committed in the parish, were com.
PEELED to fee for their lives, and
reached this city last night, having
been struggled through in = cargo Of
cotton. ; In the Parish Of Bossier the
White League have attempted to
force the abdication of Judge Baker,
United States Commissioner and
Parish Judge, together with O'Neal,
Sheriff, and Walker, Clerk of Court,
and they have compelled the Parish
and District Courts to suspend opera
tions. Judge Baker states that the
White Leaguers notified him several
times that if he became candidate
on the Republican party, he should
not live until election. They also
tried to intimidats him through his
family, BY making some threats to
his wife, and when told by him that
he was United States Commits
sioner they notified him not to at
tempt to exercise the function of his
Office.
In but few Of the country parishes
can it be truly said that the law is
properly enforced, and in some Of the
parishes the Judges have not been
able to hold court for two years.
Human life in this State is held 60
cheaply that when men are killed on
account of political opinions the MUIR
derers are regarded rather as heroes
than'a IS criminals in localities where
they reside, and by the White League
and their supporters. An illustration
Of the ostracism that prevails in the
State may be found in the resolution
of the White League Club in the
Parish Of De Soto, which stated that
they pledge themselves "under no
circumstances, after the coming cleo
ton, to employ, rent land to, or in
any other manner give aid, comfort,
or credit to any man, white OF black,
who votes against the nominees of
the White Mans party"
Safety for individuals who express
their opinion in isolated portions of
this State has existed only when that
opinion was in favor of the principles
and party supported by the Ku-Klux
and White League organizations.
Only yesterday Myers, Parish Judge
in the Parish of Natchitoches, called
on me upon his arrival in this city,
and stated that in order to reach here
alive he was obliged to leave his
home by stealth, and, after nightfall,
make his way to Little Rock, Ark,
and come to this city by way Of
Memphis. He further states that,
while his father was lying at the
point of death in the same village, he
was unable to visit him for fear of
assassination, and yet he is a native
of the parish, and prescribed for his
political sentiments only.
1t is more than probable that, if
bad government has existed in this
State, it is the result of armed organ
izations, which have now crystalized
into what is called the White League.
They have, by their terrorism, pre-
vented to considerable extent the
collection Of taxes, holding of courts,
punishment of criminals, and vitiated
public sentiment by familiarizing it
with the scenes above described.
l am now engaged in compiling
evidence for detailed report upon
the above subject, but it will be some
time before 1 can obtain all the re-
quisite data to cover the cases that
have occurred throug hout the State.
/ will also report in due time upon
the same subject in the; States Of Ar
kansas and Mississippi.
(Signed) P. II. SHERIDAN,
Lieutenant-Ge