New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-01
TIE LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY OF THE CHIEF OF THE WHITE
LEAGUE.


GEN. OGDEN EXPLAINS THE ORGANIZATION AND
OBJECTS OF THE WHITE LEAGUE-TEE oRGANI-
EATON FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES ONLY-WHAT
THE LEAGUE DID ON SEPT 4-GEE. OGDEN
APPLIED TO FOR PROTECTION BY NEGROES.
NEW-ORLEANs, Dec. 31.-At 11:15 this morn
ING the Congressional Committee reassemned III room
OF the u Circuit Court. large number OF spectators
were present
The first witness called was Gen. F. N. ogden, who
said am commanding oGicor OF the White League IN
tins city; the object and purposes OF the Waite League
are clearly defined their constitution. (Tne consttn
ton was here submitted and read Witness continued:
Our organization simply for defensive purposes the
condition OF affairs in louisiana called for such an or
canzLtiOn; It was established in July, 1871. and We
called It White League because VIC could only RELY
upon white people coniitlOn with political offices
e bo;s nothing to do; in the City OF NeSOHednS our
roll will call from 80 10 1850 Ten; have organized
out OF these two regiments OF infantTE AM one P ai
ery; have officers for these regiments; Gov Pchi
authorized TO organize militia hen he ~as act
ing Governor. under Gov. = ms orders on the
I4th OF september of the organ zttous now are
armed; l can't say how much, have not received
my reports; we have artillery. only what we made
ourselves for the l4h September; OF the arms
captured the 14sh OF September we're captured D'
parties outside OF my commaudj those immediately
under my command took OF the captured guus some
OF those outside parties took the guns have since
reported,
don't the strength Of The League IN the parishes
To Mr. Phelps-Immedatey Oh tine organization OF
the League assumed military character; we had 10
armory guns held by the members OF the Crescent
City White League obtained by Themselves; we
have had very irregular meetings since the IAN OF sep
TENDER; we have other companies who l s'e meet
ofen have issued orders since the 1ith Of Scptem
Der regarding drl officers OF the company attend TO
that; sometimes prevented drli; wo have no arno
rics that know OF the League has not met lately FOR
discussion the last meeting WIS about two weeks ago
I then called meeting OF the Crescent CITY Whte
League Club; the meeting waste get funds TO The
expenses Of procession hcld after the election; we
also passed resolutions OF nonnerercuce with the Re
turning Board; this club really only clab or ia"
League organization; clLb has taken no political
steps since l4th OF September we passed no resOu
lions limiting that any member should discharge any
negro who voted the Republican ticket; we had NO
pedg e that any body should vote particular ticket;
before election / summoned my saf and a few
other gentlemen TO take steps to police the city;
on the al of November l divided my command intO
three divisions, under the command OF Col Brhhn
another under Col Gwynn, and a third under Major
-; they to place IS men near each pOh 20 pre-
vent Disturbances; / dill this because was told That
measures would taken TO create q quarrel; the
Leagues the State are not under INV commlnd
though believe they would obey II issued orders;
there federal or central OrRInz alton believe
League existed OF the northern parishes Of the
State before in New Orleans; do not know thar any
Republican is member OF our club; 'nteman who
was in Federal army fell in with Us on tho 1Nh Of
September; New Orleans Is not prosperous In nus
ness as heretoore the decline OF prosperity In New
Orleans is owing TO our Administrations some OF
trade with Texas has been taken away by g. LOUIS
don't know whether the loss OF Texas trade tne
cause Of the decline my men informed that many
colOred voted the Conservative ticket at the cleo
ton many coored men came TO me for protection from
Republicans after the election, and gave it
To Mt PO,ter-I PVT out men on election day 10 pro
vent disturbance ae anything OF that Kind would be
construed intimidation; the organization grew out
OF the condition OF affairs here our people
terror OF the Metropolitan police, who committed out
RACES and sent out into the parishes 10 execute
the orders OF the usurpaOn tho Metropolitan Brigade
we're all armed: they turned out on tho streets and
drilled with arms there negro milius company
heard there wGs a Black League, but never saw 1t.
To Mr.. FOster-on tho 14th Of September went out
Cd streets to get arms belonging to US that
board a ship the police the levee, and rs we
we're going get arms, Informed OF the advance
Of the police then formed my line Of battle tue
White League not organization formed for tho
purpose OF helping the Democratic party; We
helped both parties in preserving peace; the
meeting held that day demanded the abdca-
ton Of the Government acting in concert with tho
people, Of the purposes Of the organization
morning the 14th get these arms; the League
dd not know my purposes; acted not with the Com
"a
purpose tia. morning was a peaceful one.
TO Nj. POtter-We surrendered the State House 10
Col. OOkr; during Penns GOvcrnOrship the city
perfectly quiet politics are pretty much divided the
cOlorcd line; made efforts to gam NJ the
COOred vote, but used intlmidaOn N the Federal
Government mad not interfered would had per
feet quiet her: during the few days
eminent do not believe IL wOud have heeu
man TO express 81 npathy with the Kellogg Govern
ment on account of he excitement.
Gen. Ogden sked, the conclusion of his evil
dence by Mr. Potter furnish the names Of the negro
men who called on him for protection, which he did
TESTIMONY OF JAMES LEWIS.
James Lewis (coo cedl late City Administrator test
fed that he tainted with the condition OF tie
coored people politically; they Republicans; do nj
think you hno an out OF hundred who are Demo
Gratis; voted The Democratic ticket ths election
than before Il assigned for the cause
Of the change In ~ II SOte but believe the principal
is that they afraid Of losing situations;
there gas seer organic ttion among the COlOred
people, knew Of reason why the whites should have
feared negro 81 ."DCc; never saw eJiOred men
drilling who ,U belong 10 the militia:
iteTc ere Oul. about half doZsn Demo.
srdtc negroes ~ ae Third Ward; there ABOUT
n il the process ron the seventh WdrI; cOiOIcI
eiDOcratic club listed upon paper, reality 40
isA think there - DargJctAc club Consisting o Is
man the city any tiWO; think about 1870 voted
tue Con crvaur 'ycAeti seme Of thon told ME they
Y N0 the PUN "a ticket wrapped up COnserVd-
tive ticket for Irnr ~ being Sst-cJcd believed some
few OF them ,cwaTded appointments; u Is
kdidy nat many Sis wnO, II they had Above TO
XcI their POI - al views, WOBi1 have voted tue Rt
pubI ticket; i"'e were sqdtds OF CiuZHns every
30 hn y place wnu 90 presence lntiHdated tncm.
TEsTDiCNY OF CAPT. JEEFRIEs
Capt Jeffres OF pdes Parish tcsli1 ID that the ece
ton IN Ale1andriI passed of quietly; there was com
pany Of Un<ed states Infantry encdmped in square,