The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-01-07


ture, and all Of them are now in New
Orleans, The others are Parish Judge
Cresson, Sheriff Hetfner and several
minor officers, including police jurors
justices Of the peace and Constables
There is on the part OF most OF these such
apprehension Of danger in assuming their
duties that, except the Parish Judge,
do not think any Of them will attempt or
could be induced 10 take his office. The
Parish Judge is q man OF courage and
coolness, and ! cannot tell whether he
will attempt to take his office ornOt, Ihave
notseen him recently and have no definite
information OF his purpose. As long as
any or all Of these officers choose or re-
fuse to exercise the functions Of their
office l conceive ! am not called upon to
do anything in the matter, My instrlc,
tions cover the following points and will
be carried out; That | recognize ~ the
legal State officers only such persons as
are recognized Us such by the recognized
Executive or Judicial officers Of the State
that in the legal exercise Of their duties
such officers must not be disturbed or in
tcrfered with; II violence occur II shall be
my duty to suppress it. That my advice
to all persons Is. that II any question Of
right exists for any person to hold office,
that such person shall be taken before
the proper legal tribunals. The leading
radicals have left. The usual worrying
and harassing OF the negroes goes on with.
out intermission, but lately no acts Of
violence have como to my notice; such
acts are now confined to plundering, with
or without some show Of legal forms, and
driving them from their homes to seek
places to live elsewhere,
Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
LEWIS MERRILL,
Maj, III CdrFN Commanding.
Between one and two o'clock the COM
mittee adjourned to the State House to
take the testimony of Governor Kellogg
with regard to the White League, In
answer 10 Mr.. Phelps, Mr., Kellogg said
the White League, as destructive
organization, was organized in the month
OF April or May last In the Llche
parishes, notably in 81, Martin and st,
Mary parishes. When he went TO Wash.
ingtOn IN June last everything was quiet.
The United States troops were recalled
shortly after, but everything still re.
mained quiet. The Metropolitan police
at that time were we'll organized and
disciplined force. lie believed that the
thousands Of visitors who came to the
city during Mardi Gras would testify that
no city, not even the parish, was at that
time 70 we'll policed az New Orleans. In
February the PcdyuRe commenced pub.
fishing articles about the organization OF
Black League, and stated that large
quantities Of arms had been shipped to
the country parishes.
Governor Kellogg Submitted an official
report Of the AljHtant General, showing
that only about one hundred and thirty
arms had been sent 10 the country. Fifty
Of these were designed to arm company
Of white cavalry In Catopula parish, and
forty Of them were burned up In the Court
House, where they were stored. The bal
anCe were mainly old muzzle-lOaling En-.
field guns, and many Of them were loaned
to the cadets Of the Baton Rougt
University. lie absolutely denied that
there waa any Black League, and ASSERTED
that the leaders Of the White League were
well aware Of that fact, though many o.
tho rank and file were undoubtedly be
hind It.
Mr.. Phelps here left the Committee to
return 10 Washington,
Mr.. Kellogg continuing his tcstimon!
narrated surprising incident which ht
said had been brought to his knowledge
in such manner that he was bound II
pay some regard to II, Of a plot TO as
sassinatc the President The cOnSpirat
nrs IN which were to rendezvous at Bal
timore. lie rGhonOratGd the Whit,
League from any connection with TIL
plan, which he believed was confined to
few yisiOnaries, and he gave the commit
tee the name and address Of his informant
In connection with the Returning Boar
he denied emphatically again that he hat
any caucus or consultation with them
and said they were alone responsible 70
their decision. IN fact he thought thu
the powers conferred on the Board wer,
excessive and he would not apprOv
Of them, hut the law was the one ap
proved by Yarmouth in the interest o
the fusioniSts before he came Int
office. He submitted 10 the committee
number Of documents to prove allegeC
fraudulent naturalization and registru
tiOn.