The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-01
Witnesses Examined Relative to Election
Affairs in Rapides Parish.
Gen. Emory's Testimcny-He Tells what
Part the Troops TOak in the way
of Bringing Order Out
of Chaos.
One Of the Green Family to the Front
He Tells 4th Of July Story.
The Evidence OF Judge Trimble- 1t is to
the Point and Shows How Kellogg,
Packard & Co. Intimi.
dated White Men.


dated White Men.
The committee assembled at 100 ocloc
in the room of the United States Distri.
Court, Custom-House building, to continu
the investigations inaugurated Wednesda
afternoon.
Gen. Fred. N. Ogden was called to th
stand, and was told by Mr.. Foster that he wa
called that he might give some informa
ton concerning the organization known as tn
White League.
Gen. Ogden said that the object Of the OF
ganization was clearly set forth in its consti
tuition, which was then read by the Secre
tary.
Thereafter the witness said the organizatio,
was simply for protective purposes, and tina
all officers were pledged to observe strictly
the articles Of the constitution. The organi
cation extends throughout the State, but Their,
is no officer who may be considered as til,
commander thereof.
The organization in the city of New Orleans
numbers about two thousand eight hundred
The League was partially organized force
when the affair of September occurred.
During the few days Of the Penn admins.
tration, Mr.. Penn authorized the organization
of a militia, but this force, which was then
looked upon and known as militia, can not be
regarded as such now. Could not say how
many arms are in possession Of the force.
Knows nothing as to the extent Of the organi.
cation throughout the country parishes. The
organization does not possess an armory OF
armories.
Mr.. Phelps desired to know if all guns now
in possession Of the members, are their indi-
vidual property.
In most instances, the General replied,
they are.
In reply to a further inquiry regarding
the numerical strength Of the League, the
General reiterated that, in the city, he did
not think it exceeded twenty eight hundred
men.
Mr.. Phelps stated the evidence showed
that the organization was purely mill
tary, and desired to know if the meetings
now held had for their object any other in
tent, such as political deliberations, etc.
Mr.. Phelps asked what political action the
League took with reference to the election,
the object of his inquiry being to establish
or refute certain allegations touching the
intimidation of the colored voters.
The witness said that the organization had
no such object; that is. to intimidate-
its intent being solely to maintain peace
and order. To instance this, he men
toned the action of the League on
election day, and the precautions taken to
prevent any disturbance at the polls-the in
structions given with reference to this. With
reference to the relations existing between the
League in the city and that in the country,
the General replied that there were none,
other than general recognition, that oil had
the purposes in view above related.
Mr.. Phelps desired information relative to
the material condition of the city-the
causes Of the depression in trade and general
stagnation of commercial affairs.
The witness replied unhesitatingly that it
was to be attributed to the character Of the
Government
Relative to the necessity of the White
League organization, the witness related that
it arose from the fact that there existed the
metropolitan brigade, who were under con-
slant drill, to be used by the usurpation to
enact their nefarious purposes; and, further
there existed negro militia, who were at all |
times drilling, and were known to be armed |
The white people apprehended trouble or
imagined that it might begin at any moment, |
as the negroes with arms in their hands |
might at any moment become aggressive.
Mr.. Foster desired to know directly if the |
White League was not military organization.
and if the object was not intended to support
the Democratic party.
The General replied emphatically that no
such object obtained.
Relative to the organization being ont on
the 14th of September, the witness replied
that it was for the purpose Of getting a con,
signment Of arms belonging to them.
Touching the condition of the city during
the days of the Penn Government, the Gen
eral replied by saying it was satisfactory to
the Conservatives, and order prevailed
1t might possibly have been imprudent for |
a Republican, during the exciting period i'm
mediately following the 14th of September,
to have expires sed dissatisfaction at the turn
matters had taken, but had the McEnery
Government become well established Republi-
cans would lave been free from all molesta-
ton whatever; in fact, would have received
protection had it been necessary to extend
it to shield them from violence; this would |
readily have been accorded them by the bet
ter class Of people.
The General related the fact that since the
election great number of colored men who