The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-02-04
The Louisiana investigation.

The Louisiana Investigation.
/ New ORLEANS. February 3.-Charles
/ W. Burt testified that he resides in
Shreveport; has resided there two years
I and half; occupation, merchant; Is
from New York; was very cordially re-
ccived by the people; witness social i'll
tereourse with the people Of that section
has been most pleasant; the residents
express desire that representative men
from the North should settle
in that country; the feeling of the resi-
dents is loyal to the Government. Troops
have been in Caddo parish nearly ever
since the witness has lived in the parish
if the troops were absent from the parish
AN officer of the Federal government call
ing upon the people would receive AS
sistance in making arrests; does not know
of Il white league in Shreveport; the
election last fall was as quiet n the wit
ness ever saw held in any State; there
WAS a disposition ON the part Of the peo-
pic that il should be- 50; the general de-
Sire of the people without regard to race
is for order and good government; there
is great depression in business and
shrinkage in values there, which has
in part, resulted from the high
taxation and mal-administration general
Is. The city OF Shreveport, although
patrollcd by volunteer police force, was,
at the time of Major Merrell's appear
ance, as orierly as any town in New
England; the i'll feeling against most OF
the Republican officials is owing to their
corruptncss: there are some who are re.
,pcctcd; Mr.. Wise. although Il Republl-
can and an oticeholder, is widely es-
trrmcd.
Mr.. Frvc-Saw negroes vote the Con-
scrvutivc ticket for two months and u
| half previous to the election; under the
/ volunteer police the city was quiet; be-
longs to white mans club, but did not
join the White League; knows Of no
White League in the city: does not know
of any resident being engaged in the
| CouShatta massacre.
/ To Mr.. WhCelcr-If il had not been
/ for the prompt action of Major Merrill,
/ there is no doubt but that the labor res
olutionS would have been rcscinded.
:. b. Steers Resides i'll Shr"vcport;
is native If New York WAS we'll re-
ceiyed by the white people ofShrcveport;
the people are anxious that respectable
men should come from the North and
settle there; Republican office holder,
if he be- upright and honest, will he
respected; thought during the first
few wears of his residence in tho
South, that the two races could never
live amicably, but there is now better
feeling existing, and We're it not for the
intcrposition of certain white Republic
ans. the whites and blacks would get on
peaccably; the white people regard hel-
iogg rs an usurper, and TO that may be
attributed the late troubles; It is the
opinion that affairs have not been admin
istcrcd honestly, and certainly the peo-
pie have been exceedingly patient.
There II no Hostility Existing
Against the General Government.
There is no desire for the re-cstablish-
mcnt of slavery; any man who would
attempt to deiraud negroes in the settle
ment would lose castes esamong the better
class of people; know of no White
League organization; there are political
clubs in town. The election
passed OF very qMetlN ana many negroes
voted the Conservative ticket. Cross ex-
amincd BY Mr.. Frye as to the difference
between the Warmoth and Kellogg gov
ernmcnts: there is little; number Of
colored men voted the Conservative
ticket; the Republican officials of the
parish are to some extent corrupti there
was a public card signed by northern
residents of Shreveport denunclatory Of
of Merrills reports; most corrupt APP
preparations have been made by Radical
officers in the government of Shreveport,
particularly in the management Of the
Savings Bank monopoly. Mr.. Marshall
here reminded Mr.. Frye that cross
examination should not be conducted as
in Police Court.
Several other witnesses. white and col
orrd, were examined, and gave in tcsti-
mony thoroughly corroborative Of the
foregoing. 1t was shown by them that
there WAS no intimidation excited; that
the last election was perfectly quiet and
fair, and that no distinction politically,
was made on account of color