The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-01-29
LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION
Testimony of Col. Morrow, u. =. A

their rights at the election; secondly,
that they feel themselves to have been
imposed on bv some of the processes OF
law; there is also a feeling on the part oil
the people that is more imaginary than
real, in relation To the negro; they do not
r,garl the black man rs exactly entitled
to the position that he occupies. For
instance. in the parish of Natchi-
troches jury of blacks,
not one of whom could
write his name, had case involvin
SlSO,OO0; that was regarded by botn
parties rs something that was not right.
/ found elsewhere that there was an
opinion that colored men had been placed
in the possession of more Importance than
his education entitled him to. | did not
look into State affairs, rs | did not deem
it as my duty rs Military officer to
do so.
Mr. Zacharie-State the condition of
otfairs between the races, and what it is to
be attributed to?
Col. Morrow talked freely to all
classes Of people in relation to the negro,
and thinking at that time that the clec-
tion here had been carried by the Con-
seryatives, | was anxious to know what
effect it would have upon the condition Of
the black man; whether the power that
had been acquired would be used to op-
press him, or whether he would bealowed
to 20 forward and enjoy the privileges
guaranteed him by the general laws of
the land and the Constituting; with n
few exceptions, ! WAS answered that the
negro would have mono of his rights taken
away from him; these rights would
be guaranteed to him; that there
would be no effort to control
them in anv respect. There were ex-
ceptions where it was said that the
darkev would have to take back seat,
but, as rule, the best class Of people,
| could name some of them if necessary,
expressed the former opinion.
Mr. Zacharie-To what do you attri-
butte the disturbed condition between the
race?
Colonel Morrow-I had but little op-
portunity to witness anything of that
sort; | was told everywhere by the otli-
GERS and citizens that there was no diff
! Guilty at Shreveport; | saw General Mer-
/ rll and other officers who gave me an
account of the disturbed condition.; |
talked with a great many colored people
/ when | could get hold of them, but
very few could give any information; |
| saw but one colored man who could give
information worth anything; he was a
| Baptist minister; he seemed to deplore
the condition of the State and hoped that
things would get better; he seemed to be
conservative in his views but II friend OF
Mr.. Kellogg. / reported that there was
no necessity for troops in North Louisi-
ana. and believe that my report was con-
| ,idcred very acceptable, for | know that
| it was received by Mr.. Mani, represen
tative from this district, who expressed
! himsclftO me that it was
! An Entirely Fairand Manly Report
1t WAS part of my special duty to look
/ into the case of Lieutenant Hodg,on; the
result of my investigation was that | EN-
bodied charges against him of having
/ used the military har>hly and unneces.
sarlv. Colonel Morrow read from his
report the result of his examination into
/ the Hodgson affair. 1t related chiefly to
| his rude treatment of Mr. Hurey,
| whom he arrested in the night time, and
/ insulted while he had him in charge; his
indecent reply to Judge Trimble, when
| the latter issued his writ of hGbeGS corpus
/ and his implication in cutting the wires
| of the Western Union Telegraph Com
/ pany.
Mr.. Zachcric-From your observations
| throughout the State, do you think that
/ if.undcr a free and fair election, Repub'
/ licanS of ordinary ability or honesty were
elected, would the people submit to the
officers so elected?
! Col. Morrow do believe so, for the
reason that in Natchitoches parish, the
sheriff being fair man and fairly elected
told me that there was no disposition to
interfere with his work.
Mr.. Zacharie-Did the Conservatives
ever claim more than that they were en-
| titled to be inducted to Offices to which
| they were entitled?
Col. Morrow-They claimed nothing
more.
Mr. Zacharie-W ere the citizens will
ing and ready to help the United States
Mar>hals in executing proceedings in
that section of the country?
Col Morrow-Gen. Merrill and Judge
LeviZee informed me that there was such
a state OF feeling there that the L. 5
Marshal could not eXecdte processes un.
assisted. The question became a practi.
cal one, whether could get reliable per-
sons of Shreveport who would accept thc
position of L. 5. Marshal and perform
the duties. General Merrill Informed
me that Judge LeviZce had tried that
but could not get anybody to accept the
position. | made inquiries. and deter.
mined to see if | could get any citizen tC
I take the place. Some names were given Il
me; handed the names TO Judge Levi.
| zee, who said that they were all excel
( lent men, and he would be glad to give
Office to any of them; on the day follow
ing he appointed deputy Marshal, and
for all | know, he is there yet; | was in.
formed by the citizens that ifthis deputy
Marshal was interfered with, they would
furnish posse to assist him.
There Is Nothing that they Desired
More than to Have Peace
restored to the country. | should say il
needed it,
Question-Did you notice any result:
that could be attributed to bad govern
ment?
Auswer-Fences are down, houses are
abandoned, &c, throughout the whole
country; it looked to me like an army
had passed through; l don't Eno"
( whether il can be attributed TO bad gov
eminent; the people always complain o
bad government; the people seem L
have fallen into state Of dependency
there does not seem to be ordinary
American vitality in them; l was told a
Colfax that the general complaint wa
that money, not justice, determined tn,
decree of Court; | will furnish copy o
my report, it embodies the results of m.
investigations in the Red River parishes
Ouestion-Wha hat do YOU think woulI