The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14

OF United States troops, all of the officers at
Shreveport were compelled to abdicate by the
White League, which took possession Of the
place. Among those obliged to abdicate
We're: Walsh, the Mayor Rapers, the Sheriff
Wheaton, Clerk of the Court Durant, the
Recorder, and Ferguson and Renfro, Admins
traitors.
Two colored men who had given evidence
IN regard to frauds committed in the parish
were compelled to flee for their lives and
reached this city last night having been
smuggled through in a cargo of cotton.
In the parish Of Bossier the White League
have attempted to force the abdication Of ex-
Judge Baker, the United States Commits
sioner and Parish Judge, together with
O'Neal, the Sheriff, and Walker, the Clerk of
the court, and they have compelled the Par
ish and District Courts to suspend opera
TONS
Sudge Baker states that White Leaouers
notified him several times that if be be-
came candidate on the Republican ticket
or if he attempted to organize the Republican
party, he should not live until the election
They also tried to intimidate him through
his family, by making the same threats to his
wife, and when told by him that he was
United States Commissioner they Motif ed
him not to attempt to exercise the functions
ishes can it be truly said that the law is pro
perly enforced, and in some of the parishes
the Judges have not been able to hold court
for the past two years. sa9ta
Human life i'll this State is held SO cheaply
that when men are killed on account of politi-
cal opinions the murderers are regarded
rather as heroes than as criminals in the To-
calities where they reside, and by the White
League and their supporters. An illustration
of the ostracism that prevails in the State may
be found in a resolution of a White LIE que
club in the parish OF DeSoto, which states
that they pledge themselves, under no Cir
cumstances, after the coming election, to en-
ploy, rent land to or in any other man.
ner give aid, comfort or credit to any man,
white or black, who votes against the nomi-
nee of the white mans party"
Safety tor individuals who express their
opinion in the isolated portions Of this State
has existed only when that opinion was in
favor of the principles and party supported
by the Ku-Klux and White League organiza-
ton. Only yesterday Judge Myers, the Par
ish Judge OF the parish of Natchitoches,
called on me upon his arrival in this city and
stated that in order to reach here alive he was
obliged to leave his home by stealth and after
nightfall and make his way to Little Rock,
Ark, and come to this city by way Of Mem
phis. ,@'A
He further states that while his father was
lying at the point OF death, in the same vii
lage, he was unable to visit him tor fear of
and yet he is a native of the
parish, and is prescribed for his political SEN
timents only. 1t is more than probable that
if bad government has existed in the State, it
is the result of the armed organizations
which have now crystalized into what is
called the White League, instead of bad
government developing them. They have, by
heir terrorism, prevented to consid-
srable extent the collection of taxes,
,he holding of courts, the punishment of
and vitated public sentiment by
amiliarizing it with the scenes above de-
,cribed.
am now engaged in compiling evidence
or detailed report upon the above subject |
out it will be some time before l can obtain |
Ill the requisite data to cover the cases that |
AVE occurred throughout the State. l will |
4lso report in due time upon the same subject
n the States of Arkansas and Mississippi.
Yours, ETC., A5t
p H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant General.
The documents conclude with extracts |
rom Louisiana papers, showing the platform
# the White League and the intentions Of
he organization, the following serving as q
pecimen
The lines must be drawn at once, before
ur opponents are thoroughly organized, for
y this means we will prevent many milk-and-
ider fellows from falling into the enemy's
anks. While the white mans party gusrsn-
ees the negro all of his present rights, they
10 not intend that white carpet-baggers and
enegades shall be permitted to organize and
repare the negroes for the coming cam
align.
Without the assistance of these villains the
egroes are totally incapable of effectually Or
anizing themselves, and unless they are pre-
iously excited and drilled, one-half of them
ill not come to the polls, and large per
ent Of the latter will vote the white mans
cket.