The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-03

Government Troops have been in Caddo
parish nearly ever since witness has lived in
the parish.
i If troops were absent from the parish a
law officer of the Federal Government calling
upon the people would receive assistance in
making arrests. Does not know Of a White
League organization in Shreveport. The
election last fall was as quiet as witness ever
saw held in any State. There was DISPOSE
ton on the part of the people that it should
be SO. The general desire of the people with
out regard to race is for order and good gov
ernment There is great depression in bust
ness and shrinkage in values there, which has
resulted from high taxation and maladminis-
tration generally.
Knew Maj. Merrill before he went to
Shreveport; Maj. Merrill did not consult with
witness relative to the condition of affairs
there knew him first in Omaha. If the State
officers whom the people believe were elected
| two years ago were placed in control Of the
State government, there is no doubt but what
peace and order would follow. The white
people have no disposition to defraud the ne
gro Of tee rights guaranteed him by the laws
of the country, Many negroes voted the Con-
sentative ticket, and in the town of Shreve-
port witness thinks the failure of the Freed
mans Bank lal the effect of causing many
negroes to vote thus.
Relative to the resolutions passed in Shreve-
port to the effect that negroes who had voted
the Republican ticket, thinks that it would
have been rescinded as soon as it was found
to be an infringement Of law had it not been
for the high handed action of Major Merrill,
who in the opinion of the people, went be-
yond his duty as an officer OF the army. Does
not know of any instance where the resolu-
tons referred to were enforced. A negro
who mi. hit be wronged by his employer could
get justice at the hands Of the white people
were they in power.
The city of Shreveport, although patrolled
by volunteer police force, was at the time
of Majo Merrilps appearance as orderly as
any town in New England. III feeling against
most Of the Republican officials is owing to
their corruptness. There are some who are
respected. Mr.. Wise although Repub-
lican and an ofiice-holder, is widely esteemed.
To Mr.. Frye-Saw the negroes vote the
Conservative ticket For two months and q
half previous to the election, under the vo-
iunteer police, the city was quiet.
Belongs to white mans club, but did not
Join the White League; knows of no White
League in the city Of Shreveport; does not
know OF any residents being engaged in the
Coushatta massacre; everybody with whom
witness conversed of this affair condemned it.
To Mr.. Wheeler If it had not been for the
partisan action of Major Merrill, there is no
doubt but that tie labor resolutions would
have been rescinded
s. Il. steers.
Resides in Shreveport; is native of New
York; was well received by the white people
Of Shreveport; the people are anxious that re-
spectacle men should come from the North
and settle there; Republican office-h9lder, if
he be upright and honest, will be respected
Thought, during the first few years of bis
residence in the South, that the two races
co1ld never live amicably; but there is now
bett feeling existing, and were 1t not for the
interposition of certain white Republicans,
the blacks and whites would get on peace
ably. The white people regard Kellogg as a
usurper, and to that may De attributed the
lite troubles. It is the opinion that affairs
have not been administered honestly, and
certainly the people have been exceedingly
patient.
There is no hostility existing against the
General Government. There is nc desire for
the establishment Of slavery. Any man
who would attempt to defraud his negroes, in
settlement, would lose caste among the better
class Of the people. Knows of no White
League organization There are political
clubs in the town. The election passed off
very quietly and many negroes voted the
Conservative ticket
A good many negroes have acted with the
tax payers for several years. The negroes
co-operated with the Conservatives because
they desired change in the Government.
Wages had lowered, and they charged it upon
bad government, aud desired change. The
whites desire to live on friendly terms with
the negroes, and do SO live. 1t is fact that
when the negro wants aavice upon any SUBJ
ject other than politics, he generally goes to
the Conservatives, or rather Southern people.
Has read the reports of Maj. Merrill upon the
and thinks they were not we'll
founded.
In 1872 the local officials who had been
by Gov. Warmoth surren-
dered their offices to the Kellogg officials
when the courts decided against them. There
is feeling Of hostility toward the State
Government, but not against the General
To Mr.. Frye-As to the difference between
the Warmoth and Kellogg Governments here
is little. A number OF colored men voted
the Conservative ticket. The Republican
officials Of the parish are, to some extent, cor
rupt. There was public card published and
igned by Northern residents OF Shreveport,
of Merrill's report. Witness
wrote the card.