The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-14
trial enterprise and professional pursuit has

PANAOoSAOAAsA AAs~N
, been wrecked
The League is Indifferent as to the name Of
: the political party which administers the pub
lie affairs of the State but it demands that
: oppression, in the shape of confscating tax.
alton, shall cease, and that prosperity to
white and black shall dawn upon the people
once again.
1T opposes the Republican party at the
3 present time because that party exercises its
personal rights of the people The govern
ment under it's control is organized and ad-
ministered for no purpose but robbery. and
to execute its infamous scheme the functions
OF the executive, Legislative and judicial
powers OF government are perverted from
their legitimate purposes. The executive is
grasping, mendacious and corrupt. Legisla-
ton is openly bought and sold, and worse
than all, the Judiciary, the last refuge of an
oppressed people, is in great part shame
lessly corrupt, and is the most infamous part
OF the whole scheme of oppression.
To render our condition hopeless of solu-
ton except by at least show OF force, cleo
ton and registration laws were framed which
were intended to render the power of our
oppressors perpetual.
But worse than all, they illegally established
a standing army in time of peace, in direct
violation of the Constitution of the United
States, which forbids any such power to
State. This organization, disguised under
the name OF metropolitan police, is uniformed,
drilled, supplied with the most approved
arms, brigaded and divided into infantry,
cavalry and artillery, and although ostensibiy
body OF police, is really military organi-
cation, and is used not as conservators of the
peace, so much as force to perpetuate op-
preston. With this illegal body, acting at
the polls, past experience has demonstrated
the futility OF the ballot, and all the machin-
cry of representative government to secure
personal rights is rendered abortive by its
agency.
It has invaded the country parishes, and in
its train has followed every conceivable hor-
ror. The negroes, encouraged by its presence,
and perhaps, by the teachings Of it's officers, |
have risen IN its wake, burned, robbed and raw
lshed, and made reign of terror too horrible |
to dwell upon. Used as this organization has |
been, all hopes of enjoying personal rights |
and security of property were futile. To |
defend ourselves from its aggressions, to Sc
cure the right of the ballot, BY which our re-
demption might be eventually secured, was
the main purpose for which the White League |
was established. Hence, the organization was
purely defensive against an armed and illegal
body used in the interest of oppression.
1t is not secret but open. It is not politi-
cal, as it advocates no political principles in
opposition to those of any other party, and it
has no candidates to represent it. It is now
opposed to the Republican party because that
party is In power, and exercises that power to
the destruction OF everyinterest, and were the
Democratic party in possession of power, and
exercised it as the Radical partyis now doing
the White League weuld equally oppose it.
In short, it deprecates mere partisanship, and
aims only to render person and property Sc
cure, to white and black-a purpose ap-
parently overlooked by the government of this
State.
Sheridan truthfully alleges that he has seen ]
no evidence of the existence of Black League: |
nor has he of the White League-that is, {
he has no personal knowledge of the existence ]
of these bodies. But if testimony taken before l
he committee is of any value, and the uncon- /
ignored, Sheridan could not be ignorant of :
he military organization Of the blacks in this !
md other States. Their drilling has been
notorious, and their alacrity and promptitude
II action when called upon, exhibit the effect :
II this discipline. Their attack and military
possession of Donaldsonville, during which !,
laws and Shomberg were murdered, are pain =
ully remembered. The great numbers and
he rapldity with which they assembled at
}olfax, and in the attack of Vicksburg, uner-
'ngly indicate military organization
aen having deep and abiding interest in
he permanent welfare of the State, fully c.
enslble OF the paramount Importance of S,
ecurity to all. and who, as being composed N
4 greater part of old residents, have the d
indest and most indulgent feelings toward Ir
le negroes, demonstrated by the fact that no d
egro has yet received wrong injury or even d
q insult at their hands, but on the contrar;.
1ey have used their power for the protection
negroes when the constituted authorities
filtered them to be maltreatod with impunity
These gentlemen are fully sensible of the
7ils inherent in armed associations, but are
osolutely certain that, without the White y.
eague, neither property, person nor life m,
ould be safe from the aggression Of other liz
med organizations controlled by the un- nc
rincipled and the ignorant, and hence have
anded themselves together for mutual pro-
ction and in self-defense gu
l have something to say in regard to "busi-
.ss and social ostracism," and Sheridan's
ission to eradicate this evil, but reserve it
r another communication.
MEMBER OF THE WHITE LEAGUE
Mrs. Smeddley, of London, Ontario, did
ore than turning over a new leaf. She ..
0ped with full blown book AGENT H.