New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-30
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY %, 1875


ton party. My object was to secure fair
| registration and election, and contrast this
with our treatment in 1872. The opposi-
ton claim 1000 majority IN the last election.
(SOme desultOry conversation, relative to
the compiled returns, between Mr.. Mar
shall, Mr.. Mari, Mr.. Elan and Governor
Kellogg. followed.] After the election,
there was good deal of threatening and
intimidation, and the board complained of
it. About December r. the element oppos.
ing upifcation took advanced ground
whether privileges then allowed colored
people should be exercised.
| December Is the boys drove out children
from the schools, and the schools were ad-
journed till after the holidays. There was
| great excitement, and a determination to
crush out the mixed schools, and a return
to the system of star cars, resulting in the
| letter Of Governor Warmoth and death of
Mr.. Byerly. l have shown, think, that
this opposition is simply the determination
to get back to the old style of things. The
| opposition to Governor WarmOth is con-
tinued with more intensity against me. and
| is the legitimate result of ii; Mr.. Marr's
address on unfair registration, the organiza-
ton of the Returning Board, as published
over his signature as stating that the be-
| lief was the Democratic party would not be
| allowed to poll its full strength. The cen
| aus gives New Orleans population of $780,
| 600. 1t is asserted there is a falling off of
| whites and increase of bl acks. The registra-
| ton showed &c 600, and voting 40 OO0-more
| voters than Chicago, With population of
| 35O,OOO; 1900 men were naturalized by the
! Second District, or probate court, the Judge
| Of which was chairman of the Democratic
naturalization committee, and page after
page of names are certified by the same
| persons; there was a larger vote by 1000 or
| 5000 than was polled before; data of these
! facts were filed; 5000 majority was claimed
in 1872; $4,000 was claimed this time; l
proposed that the question Of the election
| of 1872 should be submitted to the com
| mittee in order to avoid the complication of
| the Legislature.
Mr. Hoar said the legality of the proceed
| ings of the election of 1872 might be proper
to be examined. but to determine who re-
ceived the majority Of votes, was imprac-
| ticab!e, and the question of who was elected
to office seemed to him immaterial.
Governor Kellogg said he merely desired
to put the record right His offer was made
before the fourth for the purpose of avoid
| ing the legislative complication, and Colonel
McEnery's answer was after the fourth. He
desired to submit it now, and even go fur
| Their.
To Mr.. Hoar-Only portion of this was
given before the sub committee. Mr..
Potter had gone and the articles in the
| Picayune on the subject were submitted.
Governor Kellogg's testimony was here
continued to the evening session.
Captain George e. Head, called by Mr..
Marr-Was attached to the command of
| General Emory; came to Louisiana Septem-
upon to furnish troops, October IA, by
Deputy Marshal Selye; my troops were
| ordered to Lincoln parish and Homer; when
| the requistion was made out WAS shown
! q warrant and about $50 names, Mr.. Selye
| stating all of these were not to be arrested;
made no arrests himself at all; can only
| state facts; as to troops called for po-
| iitical purposes, no statement of that
kind was made to me: if to influence the
| election is a matter of opinion; a detach
| ment was sent to Homer election day. re-
| turning the same day; don't see that their
presence under the instructions that gave
them could be intimidation; the arrests
were made by Captain Hodgson, of the
| cavalry; the sergeant reported that there
was no equity marshal there; Major Selye,
when in Jail at Vienna, had blank warrants;
| Selye l should refer the matter to General
Emory; my orders We're, on requisitiOn, to
investigate the necessity for any arrest, but
they were obscurely worded; always sup
posed Major Selye was one or the wo. kers
OF the Republican party: if tie package he
had were all warrants there were great
many; don't know whether there were any
| other arrests made; Major Selye was ar
| rested himself for contempt of court at
Vienna.
To Mr.. Frye--Was not located there for
the purpose of sending out detachments; it
was a quiet par:sh-a Republican parish;
was not there to prevent intimidation; no
arrests at all were made at Monroe, or war
rants served except the attempt 70 do so at
Homer; these warrants generally charged
intimidation; very soon no one was in1imi-
dated by my presence; issued orders to my
troops to keep away from the polls; went
ms self at close of the day when the voting
was over; did not attempt to intimidate
any voter; think Mr.. Selye suggested my
going there; heard OF no troubles Immediate
~ around me; none at Lincoln; gave
Hodgson up on his arrest; many people,
$50, came for him, armed; the sheriff said
they were armed, thinking the warrant
would be resisted; think the warrant was
for contempt of court; detailed Hodgsons
force to follow the posse to defend their
officer if attacked; did not anticipate any
trouble.
To Colonel Field-Raad the warrant, but
don't remember specification OF contempt.
To Mr.. Zacharie-Major Seelye said he
would till up a warrant for me TO take him
from the sheriff.
To Mr.. Frye--He (Seelye) said he was
frightened; did not see any reason why he
should be; the $50 men were enough to
frighten him.
To Mr. Zacharie-Mr. Dinkgrave arrested
Mr.. Selye ia court: didn't see the warrant;
think it charged embezziement; he produced
a pardon of Governor Kellogg remitting
the fine and imprisonment: he was sen
fenced Saturday morning. and, think, was
pardoned Tuesday; it requires two days to
reach Monroe; there is a telegraph both
ways.
William RILEY, colored-Lives on Soniat
street; voted at last election the Democratic
Conservative ticket: don't wish to state
anything till know whether | am safe for
my life; was threatened last evening; L am
not safe in telling what know: would he
willing to state it privately to the commit
tee.
Thomas Lightfoot and two other witnesses
stated the same thing and were directed to
wait in the room.
Mr.. Zacharie stated this proceeding was
ridiculous. That a guarantee was needless
To say mans life was IN danger for any
testimony he might give before this com
mittee was absurd. One of these witnesses
was down on his own list. He didn't !
understand what weight the testimony was
expected to have.
Mr.. Frye said the committee would give |
it such consideration as it deserved.
Mr.. Ezenach, called by Colonel Field; |
being sworn, says-Lives in NatchitOches, |
born there; left last Thursday; there Was a |
great deal of intimidation in the parish; at !
a mass meeting ali were armed; afterward !
saw two bodies of armed men on different |
corners; am a Republican: don't consider |
my life safe On that account; was shot at |
the night after election; was clerk of regis
tration: Mr.. Pierson was shot at near the
the colored people were very
much alarmed; al least 500 did not vote !
from fear; the leaders were afraid to can
yass the parish, and kept il their houses;