New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-29
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
A FEW MORE REVELATIONS
TESTIMONY OF GOOD WITNESSES

TESTIMONY OF GOOD WITNESSES
The sixth days proceedings opened witt
small audience. all the committee, attor
news and witnesses present.
Lieutenant Charles De Rudio, recalled
According to my belief the great cause Of
complaint on the part of white people o!
the st. Martin section of country is because
the negroes are guaranteed equal rights by
the government: 100 families were driven
away by planters because of politics. these
facts have been published in the local
papers: only last Saturday quite number
Of cOlored people were sent OFF; there is a
turbulent spirit among the whites; they
told the cOlored men that in few davs
they would FIX them,' as the troops
would soon be removed; last election day
tue backs were not permitted to vote as
they were inclined; heard of four negroes
who were shut up on the night before the
election to prevent them voting; there were
other similar cases; had not the soldiers
been there the negroes would have had NO
chance at all; before the troops arrived
blacks could not register; as it was, they
had only three days in which to register;
there is White League in St. Martin par.
lsh; saw some Of them armed on election
day; they had a cannon that they got
out Of the bayou; they seized and took
arms from houses of cOiored people; know
that only from general rumor; asked some
white men why they acted as they did; they
said they had been in the army and knew
how to obey orders; never saw any violence
myself, but heard of numerous instances;
there is little disposition to punish white
Conservatives for killing or injuring ne groes;
negroes are punished tor crimes; a cOlored
mans arm was broken, and doctor refused
to set it because the man had no money;
somebody paid the fee, and the arm was set;
white Republicans are Ostracised; white
Republicans have been refused bread for
money; Democrats complain that Repub-
lican officials are dishonest; found the
Republican officers good men; Republicans,
white or black, would not be liked as
officers, whether honest or not; the White
Leaguers do not associate with Re-
publicans; the juries generally were
composed of a majority OF cOlorei men;
think that without the troops the
United States marshal could not have made
arrests; did not actually see cOlored men
intimidated the White League association
deem to be both political and military in
its character; I gathered rhat much from
two officers of that organization: am not
pre;udicad against the people Of St. Martin
Captain James H. Gageby-To Mr.. Frye:
Belong to the army, and have been sta
toned in st. Martin parish since last Oct0.
Der: of the White League learned from
observation that its object was a political
one. to endoavor to place in power men of
their choice: Republicans believed that the
White League intended to carry the election
at all hazards; have heard that the White
Leaguers were armed; the effect was to in
timidate coiOred men; was told that White
I avI1o T
there learned positively that there was
intimidation; had not troops been there
election day negroes could not have voted
as they desired; many cOlored men did not
register. as they were afraid to; some were
discharged before and after election; if a
man voted the Republican ticket he was
discharged; heard complaints against Kel-
ogg's officials; most of them are natives of
louisiana; do not think the Conserva-
ives there would be satisfied with
any Republican official: the whites
ire not disposed to give the negroes legal
lights by any means; Colored De Blanc,
! White League leader, told United States |
rarshal that if white men were to be ar
ested for discharging cOlored men he might |
IS we'll be arrested at once. for he would !
discharge his men who voted the Repub-
ican ticket; he did discharge them imme-
lately afterward; that is the general senti. |
aent among the whites; many negroes !
,orked on shares, but most Of them have |
zen cheated out of their dues; SO far as |
ave learned no suits have been instituted |
D recover; it was believed that there would |
9 riot on election day; the supervisor Of
lection requested my assistance at the
oils; spoke to the leaders and the men
ho had gone tor their arms returned with.
ut them.
Cross examnation-To Mr.. Marshal: l
ave heard that the clerk of the parish
1urt was indicted for murder; the men
hO threatened to get arms on election day !
lid they did so because they had heard
lat cOlOrad men were arming.
To Mr.. Hoar-I think that the people of
t. Martin are more violent in their Oppo.
ton to the government than men are
snerally. as politicians, in opposing their
)ponents; the object of the Democrats is
get their own men, whether good or bad,
to Office.
Mr.. Hoar annOuced that counsel must |
md in list of the witnesses they wish,
10 parishes and the points expected to be
ade. This course is necessitated by de-
re on the part of the committee to make
| estimate as to future proceedings.
Colonel H. A. Morrow called I
: the Democrats-Been in the army since !
50; for the last few months have been in | ]
|
g state of affairs in louisiana to see if |
ore troops we're needed and to look at the
neral situation; the feeling manifested in
g parishes of Claiborne. Ouachita, CaddO,
nc0ln, jackson and other parishes, ac-
riding to my information, is not in opposi. '
N to the federal government; l think the t
ain cause of dissatisfaction is in cOnse- l
ence of a belief thas they have twice =
en- detrauded in their elections; another l
e. ~ -r,l,,A - S-I- ~. / z
gro should not have the position ne has | q
en- placed in because he is not qualified for 9
,h places: do not know about the char b
ter of Kellogg officials; l found that e
my people thought processes of cOurtsihad b
On used to oppress them; with few excep.
ns, | was assured that none of the negrO's il
hts would be taken from him; have heard a
n say that "the darkey must take back o
IT, will furnish the committee a copy II
my report on some of the parishes; I a
md that troops were needed in Claiborne, | i,
ID portion Of his report on Claiborne | Il
'ish, concerning the troubles of Lieuten- | n
; Hodgsonl; it was difficult to get a citi. v
to take the position of deputy marshal | d
Shreveport; my idea of the character of a;
people at those places is that they ft
ire peace restored; talked with man | X
Shreveport about the situation, and he ir
/ he would be id If he would raise a |
p Of anything as long as the Kellogg tt
'ernment existed; l think the proper b.
,edy to cure the general existing de- I'll
ndercy would be to put natives in Office: W
re is social Ostacism in Shreveport. ci
o Mr.. Hoar-Did not talk much with d.
roes in the country; found that money n,
been collected to sustain colored y
ools, but that it had been stolen; did it
find a disposition on the part of white II
Pile to educate colored people. Nj
o Mr.. Marshall-The great desire on the "
t of niueteen-twentieths of the white ga
pie is to live in peace; many men said u
: would prefer military rule to the al
sent government. OF