The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-07
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
Thirteenth Days Proceedings.
Gen. John Young.

Gen. John Young.
Resides in Claiborne parish. Came to Louisi
ana from Ohio in 1874. The registration last fal
entirely fair and free, and witness thinks thai
his election to the Legislature was wholly owing
Homer poll when large Republican majority
was cast The negroes voted without being IL
any instance moested. The whites and negroes
live on as amicable terms as in any portion oil
the State. Nehren, who testified before the Com
mittee last week, claiming to be Republican,
always looked upon in the community as a
Democrat.
He claimed to have heen threatened; he was
threatened with thrashing by some of the
young men of the town for abuse to his wife.
Witnesses opinion is that il the election was fair
and full and those returned who were honestly
elected, the people would cheerfully acquiesce in
the result. The Re urning Board has caused the
trouble. Before the courts those negroes vino
are unable to employ counsel are invariably de-
Tended by some member OF the bar present.
Witness has defended hundreds.
The feeling toward the Federal Government is
probably not as cordial as before the war, but
The flag would be treated with respect, and a
marshal can serve process in any part of the
parish without molestation. There is no desire
on the part Of the people to have slavery re-
established. Republicans play upon the credulity
of ignorant negroes by assuring them that by
supporting the Democratic ticket they are assist
ing in return to the system Of slavery. W. H.
Maxey told the negroes that this would be the
case. Is in favor of a qualified suffrage. Negroes
invariably prefer to be tried by white jury.
Heard Mr.. McEnery make speech in Homer,
in which possibly, he INDUCED in some denun-
citation OF Republican State officials. Did not
understand McEnery to advise violence. As a
rule there is disposition on the part of planters
to defTaud negro laboIer. 1t is not their interest
to do so, even If higher motives did not restrain
them.
10 Mr.. Fryc-In 1868, Gen Grant got but two
YER faH in Of
Louisiana.
The election of that year was possibly marked
by good deal Of intimidation. There existed an
organization known then as Knights of the White
Camelia. Mr. Frye desired to know honestly !"
ii witness did not think Kellogg and Penn were
elected in 1872. Witness replied, that in his opin-
ion a fair count would show the election Of Nc
Emery.
To Mr.. Hoar-There might have been fraud in
the election Of 1872, in other portions Of the
State, there was none in Claiborne parish
Gen, Allen Thomas.
Resides IN the parish OF Ascension. Has re-
sided there for the past five years. Was can
didate for the House in the last election was
nominated by the Conservatives. There was a
split in the Republican party of that parish on
account Of come distasteful nominations.
The Dunn Republicans agreed to support Mon
cure for Treasurer, Breaux f,r Congress and wit
ness for the House. If Democrats would support
certain candidates Of the Dunn faction for parish
officers The negroes Of this faction were so lntim-
they dared not fulfil the compact made with
Democrats. The regular Republican ticket had
the post-otfice stamp upon 1t and was marked
Correct Never knew planter to discharge a
iaborer for voting the Republican ticket.
A negro riot occurred in DonaldsOnviei in 1870.
Laws and SchOnberg were murdered by them.
1t most horrible and brutal murder. The
negroes took the town and picketed it. The
leader was one Oliver (colored), the Sheriff Of the
Parish of st. James. They were tried in the
Parish OF Jefferson before a negro. jury aud
acquitted. 1t was proven that the divers were
in command, that one Of them gave the command
to fire. and that one of them ran a sword through
Laws, and turned 1t in his writhing body.
There is no disposition to separate from the
General Government. The negrois the best paid
laborer in the world, and there is no disposition
on the part of the planter to defraud him. The |
Republican officers of the parish Of Ascension are
better than the average throughout the State. |
Several OF them would doubtless receive many
votes were they again to run for office. The Dis
trict Attorney, Clerk of the Court, and the Re- |
corder are the officers to whom witness alludes.
Negroes are specially protected by the courts in
Ascension.
To Mr.. Hoar--Since the war the relations be- |
tween the races have been yearly improving.
Gen. Frank Nichols, |
or Assumption parish.-ls lawyer by profession |
and served through the war officer in the |
Confederate army. The campaign Of 1874 in AS
sumption was quiet one, and the registration
and election were full and free. The Conserva-
tives held no public meetings. There was no
intimidation before after the election, but 1t |
has been charged that the Supervisor Of Elec-
toH was intimidated on the day after the election
to the extent that he was forced to receive the
returns from certain polls after the expiration Of
the twenty hours prescribed by law.
This is not true. Witness is charged with be-
ing one of the intimidators. Upon this affidavit
the Returning Board threw out the polls, and re-
turned two Republican Representatives to the
House
The said Supervisor received the returns be-
c.fn 1o.Ir h,pf r,ln No
where Republican maj rity OF ffty-two votes
were cast, was received after o'clock. This
poll was not thrown out by the Returning Board.
The relations between the races have been most
kind, and as to the murders, only one negro has
been killed by a white man, the said white man
being Republican.
As to social ostracism on account of politics
there is of it practiced in the parish. If a
Republican is thus prescribed, it is owing wholly
to his personal character. Doubtless, Southern
people regret their failure in the late conflict, j
but there is now no desire to renew it. The pre-
vailing feeling is one OF loyalty Planters do not
ascertalned on the morning after the election
that the parish had gone Conservative, the Re-
publican Commissioners of Election purposely t
lbsented til mselves to avoid certifying to the s
returns before the clerk OF the court. L
There is all idea prevalent among the negroes,
nculcated by white Republican leaders, that the a
Democrats desire to re-enslave them. There G
exists negro organization of some character,
nut witness could never ascer ain what it is. f
Negroes, when importuned to vote with the Con- &
crvatives, affirm that they can not do so they e
intimate that they are restrained. !
To Mr.. Frye-Does not think that there exists f
n louisiana larger class OF vag abonds than in {
nv other community. II
Certain legislation enacted by Democrats in o
louisiana Immediately after the war was exceed A
1glv unwise. t
The idea in forming the white mans party, n
vas not to arouse the prejudices and passions Of
White men, but was solely to arouse them from d
lethargy and was simply an appeal to the pride d
{ the race. This indifft renee which prevailed e
,as in consequence of the fact that they had 3
cen systematically defrauded of the fruits of s
revious elections ii